Kazuchika Okada is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and his record of six-star matches only proves that.
The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has been the ace of New Japan for many years, carrying the company and helping draw millions of fans to the promotion.
He has won multiple G1 Climax’s, and headlined a number of Wrestle Kingdom shows, en route to becoming NJPW’s biggest star since Antonio Inoki.
Dave Meltzer is also a fan of Kazuchika Okada, awarding him six-star ratings for his matches on multiple occasions.
Kazuchika Okada Six-Star Matches
Kazuchika Okada has had four six-star matches in his career.
While he has had eleven matches that ranked above the five-star mark, only four have embarked into six-star territory.
However, one thing is shared between all four of them – in each of his greatest matches, Kazuchika Okada has wrestled against Kenny Omega!
It seems bizarre to think, but it’s true. Every singles match between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada has been rated at least six-star by Dave Meltzer (with one even breaking the seven-star barrier).
All four of these matches took place in NJPW, and were all main event matches for the promotion.
They had a variety of stipulations, with the best being a 90-minute two-out-of-three falls match that took the wrestling world by storm.
Here is every match that Kazuchika Okada was awarded six stars or more by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (Wrestle Kingdom 11)
Kazuchika Okada’s first six-star match came in his Wrestle Kingdom 11 main event match against Kenny Omega.
Their titanic clash had been highly anticipated for months, ever since Kenny Omega won the G1 Climax.
Both men were considered the best wrestlers in NJPW, and the battle between the two of them was sure to be incredible
However, nobody could have predicted just how good it would be.
The match was perfect. They told a perfect story with wonderful psychology, mixed with some fast-paced action and high spots that keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat for the entire bout.
While this was the first six-star match of either man’s careers, it certainly would not be the last.
- Dave Meltzer Star Rating – 6 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 9.80
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (NJPW Dominion 6.11 In Osaka-Jo Hall)
The second battle between Omega and Okada somehow eclipsed the first, adding to Okada’s list of six-star matches.
The drama was amped up, the action was more fast-paced and violent, and the callbacks to their previous clash just added to the match.
These incremental changed bumped this match up to the 6.25 star mark, becoming the first match to go above and beyond the legendary six-star match rating.
This match ended in a 60-minute time-limit draw, setting up a third clash down the line.
- Dave Meltzer Star Rating – 6.25 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 9.66
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (NJPW G1 Climax 2017)
Kenny Omega finally defeated Kazuchika Okada for the first time, although this time in a non-title bout.
The pair battled in the 2017 G1 Climax, with the winner of the tournament going on to wrestle in the main event of the Tokyo Dome.
Many have called this their best encounter, with the 30-minute time limit forcing them to up the pace and bring the best out of one-another.
However, they still managed to have a better match, with their fourth and final encounter ranking six-stars or above.
- Dave Meltzer Star Rating – 6 Stars
- Cagematch Rating – 9.71
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (NJPW Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall)
This match surpassed the six-star rating and earned itself the iconic seven-star rating from Dave Meltzer.
In their fourth and final encounter, Kenny Omega finally defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship – but he had to work for it.
Fought under 2 out of 3 falls rules, Kenny Omega wrestled Kazuchika Okada in a 90-minute bout that blew any and all expectations away.
Simply, no other match can match this. It had fantastic storytelling, incredible selling and brilliant callbacks to the previous bouts between the two. A true modern classic.
- Dave Meltzer Star Rating – 7 Stars (Highest Rated Match Ever)
- Cagematch Rating – 9.78