Kazuchika Okada defeated Chris Jericho to retain his IWGP Heavyweight championship today in Osaka, Japan. Okada used a traditional pinning combination to get the win and an enraged Jericho attacked the champion after the bell.
Jericho draped a chair around Okada’s neck and tossed him into the steel post on the outside. Hiroshi Tanahashi, who was at ringside doing commentary, made the save and prevented Jericho from delivering even more punishment.
Jericho then cut a promo critical of both Tanahashi and Okada. Okada was unable to deliver his usual post-match promo due to Jericho’s attack.
Kazuchika Okada IWGP Heavyweight Championship Statistics
This is Okada’s 5th reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion and his title defense against Jericho was his 27th combined. He is now just 1 behind Tanahashi’s all-time record of 28 total title defenses.
Okada already holds the record for most combined days spent as champion (1580+), longest single reign (720 days), and most title defenses in a single reign (12).
Upcoming NJPW Schedule
Up next for New Japan will be the Kizuna Road tour from June 14th to 25th. The promotion will then be in Australia for a show in Melbourne on the 29th and Sydney on the 30th.
The G1 will then kick-off in Dallas on July 6th before returning to Japan for the rest of the tour beginning on July 13th.
