Okada Retains Title Over Ospreay at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night 2

The newly crowned IWGP Champion, Kazuchika Okada successfully defended his title against the former champion, Will Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night 2.

Ospreay had to vacate his IWGP Heavyweight title due to injury before Takagi won it by defeating Okada at Dominion last July. Therefore, this was about Ospreay coming back to claim the title that he never lost.

Ospreay confronted both Okada and Takagi during the build-up and stated that he would be next in the line for the title shot after their match at the WK16 Night 1. Both Okada and Takagi agreed that the winner of the first night would defend his IWGP Heavyweight title against Will Ospreay in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night 2. 

Kazuchka Okada won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship by defeating Shingo Takagi in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night 1. This was the first time that Okada had won the version 5 IWGP belt.

Okada put on an impressive performance for the second consecutive night despite being put to the limit by Ospreay. But in the end, and after several Rainmakers later, Okada managed to retain the IWGP Heavyweight title.

The ending moments of the match were really intense. Okada hit two back-to-back Rainmakers to gain an edge in the match. Ospreay countered the third one and there was some back and forth action before Okada eventually connected another Rainmaker to get the pinfall.

Now, on the Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night 3, the wrestlers of NJPW will go one-on-one against the wrestlers from NOAH on January 8 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.