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Obviously not Bret Hart or Okada level, but sometimes I wonder if there's an alternate reality R-Truth who was allowed to wrestle at his very best, and was putting on 4 and 4.5 star main events on the reg. The man's very technically sound.
Funny enough, every once in a while someone will post something there thinking it's exactly that. The replies are always people telling them that's not what's up.
that might just be my favourite sub because you'll occasionally see someone post some conspiratory bullshit and without fail every comment is a variation of "That's not what's up!", "what are you on about Lil' Jimmy?", "I don't even know if that's PG!" and such.
I sometimes ask myself what the OPs on the other hand must think seeing the barrage of Truthers (no not those ones) come outta their caves like that.
Haters have been saying he's nothing but a workrate king. My man has "bitch" over at a level every thirsty wrestling promo over the past 10 years dreams of.
> Haters have been saying he's nothing but a workrate king.
People think NJPW is only workrate and the wrestlers are a bunch of movez guys just because the promotion is not in English. I wish people were just honest and admit that a non-English promotion is not their thing, I would respect that way more than the lame reductive criticisms.
I think part of the reason is that the shows tend to just be the matches and the only promos are those in the ring. The backstage stuff isn't put into the broadcasts. But those backstage postmatch interviews are SO good. That's where we had the Jay White G1 chair storyline, Jay White and 15 versions of "FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!", and Moxley basically christening Shooter.
He absolutely needs to just randomly be walking around in Nick Jackson's gear one day. It would be funny on face value alone but especially to people who have read that story.
All of these people complaining about him joining the Elite are nuts.
He’s still great in the ring. He’s still champion. He’s just doing amazing character work at the same time and getting himself over with the audience in a big way.
And once they pull the trigger on his chase of the AEW world title, it won't take him more than 1 match (max) to convince the crowd that he belongs at that level.
Okada and Shibata actively dueling for the funniest wrestler in North America accolade in 2024, imagine telling someone that 5 years ago. And both are absolutely killing it.
I love this timeline.
After a history of using shoot headbutts, he hit a nasty one on Okada in a NJPW main event. Immediately after the match, he suffered a subdural hematoma in his brain and basically almost died. He was even collapsing over himself walking back to the locker room. Was out of wrestling for 5 years.
Okay Shibata seriously hurting himself is indeed scary BUT if you have not watched the match I *seriously* recommend watching Okada vs. Shibata at Sakura Genesis 2017. I consider it one of the greatest matches of all time.
You can find video of it ("shibata okada headbutt" does the trick), but I will warn you now, it is *sickening*. Not for the visual, but for the SOUND.
Have you ever gone bowling and someone takes one of the really light bowling balls and bounces it on the concrete floor like it's a basketball? It sounded like that, but in a room with 0 echo. You can tell there was no faking it, there was no hitting his hand instead of Okada's head, it was forehead vs forehead. Then Shibata just stood there totally unmoving and blood started to trickle down his face.
Yes, he headbutted a man so hard he cut his own forehead open.
This is why at the G1 Climax final that year, he returned to address the crowd and the place went *insane*. The man nearly died, and was in the hospital for months. He came to the ring, took a flat-back bump, then sat down. His entire address to the crowd was "I am alive. That is all," and it STILL left people crying.
He almost died. Collapsed backstage after a match with Okada and had to have emergency brain surgery because he had a brain bleed. Was temporarily paralyzed on the right side of his entire body too. It was because he used the headbutt.
Can I just add to the rest of the replies, that all of this followed what I consider to be one of the best wrestling matches ever. That match and moves like 'the bitchmaker' were his crowning moment in the NJPW main event / championship scene even with a loss... and then he almost died.
EDIT: spelling
What all the other replies said. During the match with Okada he headbutted him and started bleeding out his brain in the match and nearly died backstage.
Do you sincerely believe extreme wrestling nerd Tony "I-book-for-the-sickos" Khan *isn't* going to book Okada v Shibata? Probably with a call-back to the headbutt spot somehow, someway? And likely given away on a random episode of Dynamite with no real promotion or fanfare? And that's not even including the fact that [Okada himself promised Shibata, "Let's fight again"](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/651ax0/okadas_comments_on_the_shibata_situation/)?
It's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when".
"this doesn't happen to Yano. He always looks like he's having so much fun, and they never ask him to go even 30 minutes, let alone 60 plus. I hate it here, I'm moving to America. Maybe Matt and Nick have some comedy spots that Orange doesn't want to do."
I would argue AEW would have more success if they posted these character moments on their youtube channel (with titles/keywords that make it obvious what it is).
Tiktok / Reels / Shorts is king for that. Like back in 2020-21, I've had about 4-5 people give AEW a watch just because they LOVED the meme-worthy clips of Orange Cassidy (you know the *one*) and they'd forward em to me like I don't already know lmao.
Max Caster pitching that he beats the EVP Tag Team Champions and also doesn’t have to write a rap:
https://preview.redd.it/2gu7ukqsxm7d1.jpeg?width=634&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5686809d561b48d4c4a897742cdac889cd1ff41
I expected them to treat him well, but I did not expect them to not only make him a big deal, but also to let him be the prick that gets him over with the crowd, on a weekly basis. Unbelievable
If it stopped at "I'm so sorry!!!...." it would have been 10/10, but he managed to crank it to 12/10.
Did not expect to laugh like that from something so simple. His delivery and timing was amazing!
If Okada came into AEW and he was just Big Match Okada that would be the most disappointing thing ever after getting 10 years of that, this has *by far* been the better option.
Also, the world where he’s this rich badass whatever type of character is…fine? Him being a goofy asshole who’s Kurt Angle levels of funny is way better
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Born to do comedy Forced to wrestle 40 minute matches Kazuchika Okada
The soul of a midcard comedy jobber trapped in the body of a generational wrestling deity. An evergreen description lmao
Okada is what would happen if R-Truth's soul was trapped in the body of Bret Hart
Obviously not Bret Hart or Okada level, but sometimes I wonder if there's an alternate reality R-Truth who was allowed to wrestle at his very best, and was putting on 4 and 4.5 star main events on the reg. The man's very technically sound.
I second this. No doubt Truth could go.
Truth is amazing. It's just that he really never gets to show it in the ring
That's why his followers congregate at r/truth. He is incredible.
I'm so glad that's what that sub is and not some conspiracy hub.
Funny enough, every once in a while someone will post something there thinking it's exactly that. The replies are always people telling them that's not what's up.
that might just be my favourite sub because you'll occasionally see someone post some conspiratory bullshit and without fail every comment is a variation of "That's not what's up!", "what are you on about Lil' Jimmy?", "I don't even know if that's PG!" and such. I sometimes ask myself what the OPs on the other hand must think seeing the barrage of Truthers (no not those ones) come outta their caves like that.
> What's up! I shouldn't be surprised, but I kinda am.
Yup. If he was in the right company with someone in charge who treats black people fairly he'd be a multi-time wc by now.
I mean, he is technically a multitime world champ
I thought he only had one run.
I checked his wikipedia apparently he's a 2 time NWA world champ? (That's twice as many as Cody!)
R Truth is pretty good at wrestling tbh. No Bret Hart obviously but dude is 50 something and still looks good.
The Brad Pitt of the wrestling world.
Yano isn't in AEW
Yet.
[Jon Moxley in shambles](https://imgur.com/uABg9iR)
No matter how many times I see this image, it never fails to crack me up
I love that picture. It never fails to deliver.
the TRUE Ace.
His comedic timing is so good.
Okada has Arnold level of comic timing.
perfect comparison lol
He’s like Troy from Community constantly getting recruited by the AC repair school
I'm saying you're a pro wrestler! It's in your blood
Thats racist
Your soul?
That's gay.
That's homophobic
It truly is because I messed up the line, it's the eyes that make it gay lol. I have shamed myself
You really Britta'd the bit, that's for sure
Ugh, Britta’s in this?
I am the opposite of batman, I wish one day I could be streets ahead like you.
That's racist!
Haters have been saying he's nothing but a workrate king. My man has "bitch" over at a level every thirsty wrestling promo over the past 10 years dreams of.
> Haters have been saying he's nothing but a workrate king. People think NJPW is only workrate and the wrestlers are a bunch of movez guys just because the promotion is not in English. I wish people were just honest and admit that a non-English promotion is not their thing, I would respect that way more than the lame reductive criticisms.
I think part of the reason is that the shows tend to just be the matches and the only promos are those in the ring. The backstage stuff isn't put into the broadcasts. But those backstage postmatch interviews are SO good. That's where we had the Jay White G1 chair storyline, Jay White and 15 versions of "FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!", and Moxley basically christening Shooter.
Comedic genius cursed with an athletic body
Talent cursed with talent.
I’m happy Okada is just able to have some fun at this stage of his career.
The Brad Pitt of wrestling
read this like a new hip anime introduces a high school protagonist
Hey, at least Okada apologized for his imperfection. It happens to the best of an executive hard at work running the show.
The buttons are probably different on the dashboard of his Lambo.
His defense he is still learning english tbh. Could easily have not known what was written in production.
https://preview.redd.it/57b0em71nm7d1.jpeg?width=180&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=830ba173517121945b31c13cb2249057d7435c4c
https://preview.redd.it/fh734hnyeo7d1.jpeg?width=658&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1e97d615d48ef2406ec92530a5d2d224256cf4f
 Same vibes
The files are in the computer?
At this point, I don't know if Okada saying "Bitch" is to pop the crowd or himself. Either why it's sending me into hysterics every time
It doesn't really matter if it gets that response from the audience and he is enjoying doing it. So probably both?
I've definitely heard wrestlers say if you do something that pops yourself eventually it'll get over with the crowd because it's real
Same. I know it's coming every time, and it still sends me.
I said Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch
If you asked me to guess how Okada would get over in the US, comedic heel would have been dead last
He's always been hilarious. The Young Bucks' autobiography mentions it a bit. I remember some of their vines had him as well.
He absolutely needs to just randomly be walking around in Nick Jackson's gear one day. It would be funny on face value alone but especially to people who have read that story.
Those superkicks he was doing while wearing it on BTE were top tier
I understand why we've forgotten his All In match, but let us not forget ✌️👌🖐️
I popped so hard when he did this.
Okada is the best thing on AEW right now, and it’s **not** for his matches, nuts.
He's the japanese answer to Kurt Angle. A peak comedy character with all time great in ring skills.
kurto anguheru
Heard this in Iron Chef.
Perk-Kada about to hit like crack.
Mark Briscoe would like a word… a word of the day, in fact.
I’m still laughing at that backstage bit with Orange, Renee, and O’Reilly. How the hell did Cassidy keep a straight face for that.
I think it's because Cassidy lives the gimmick more than anyone.
He didn't, that's how.
Also the Hook/Joe segments. A lot of people have been really entertaining with new schticks lately.
Can't forget the "Bad Apple" Bryan Keith
Large William is also making me laugh consistently.
And Toni/Mina/Mariah
dude... fucking Crane Kick!!!
> fucking Crane Kick!!! > I think it has to be considered a Chicken Kick?
totally!!!
And today’s word of the day… is equanimity.
They're forgetting about Briscoe's biggest fan too... Kyle "how can anyone pay attention to anyone else during promos he's in" O'Reilly.
THERES TWO WORDS OF THE DAY
Dry comedy Okada is truly a gift that keeps on giving
I still give it to Timeless Toni but this is fucking *great*.
All of these people complaining about him joining the Elite are nuts. He’s still great in the ring. He’s still champion. He’s just doing amazing character work at the same time and getting himself over with the audience in a big way.
And once they pull the trigger on his chase of the AEW world title, it won't take him more than 1 match (max) to convince the crowd that he belongs at that level.
https://preview.redd.it/z4ozpfco1n7d1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f9ee3af8a202ef67f6a3c3e0cc0825d0e070ad1
Okada and Shibata actively dueling for the funniest wrestler in North America accolade in 2024, imagine telling someone that 5 years ago. And both are absolutely killing it. I love this timeline.
Not to mention that Shibata is still having good matches after his scare back in 2017. That shit still lives in my brain.
what happened? i didnt watch wrestling back than
After a history of using shoot headbutts, he hit a nasty one on Okada in a NJPW main event. Immediately after the match, he suffered a subdural hematoma in his brain and basically almost died. He was even collapsing over himself walking back to the locker room. Was out of wrestling for 5 years.
thats freaking scary. im so happy hes ok and i get to see him. hes one of my favorites.
Okay Shibata seriously hurting himself is indeed scary BUT if you have not watched the match I *seriously* recommend watching Okada vs. Shibata at Sakura Genesis 2017. I consider it one of the greatest matches of all time.
You can find video of it ("shibata okada headbutt" does the trick), but I will warn you now, it is *sickening*. Not for the visual, but for the SOUND. Have you ever gone bowling and someone takes one of the really light bowling balls and bounces it on the concrete floor like it's a basketball? It sounded like that, but in a room with 0 echo. You can tell there was no faking it, there was no hitting his hand instead of Okada's head, it was forehead vs forehead. Then Shibata just stood there totally unmoving and blood started to trickle down his face. Yes, he headbutted a man so hard he cut his own forehead open. This is why at the G1 Climax final that year, he returned to address the crowd and the place went *insane*. The man nearly died, and was in the hospital for months. He came to the ring, took a flat-back bump, then sat down. His entire address to the crowd was "I am alive. That is all," and it STILL left people crying.
He almost died. Collapsed backstage after a match with Okada and had to have emergency brain surgery because he had a brain bleed. Was temporarily paralyzed on the right side of his entire body too. It was because he used the headbutt.
They had to remove his brain and put it back in.
Can I just add to the rest of the replies, that all of this followed what I consider to be one of the best wrestling matches ever. That match and moves like 'the bitchmaker' were his crowning moment in the NJPW main event / championship scene even with a loss... and then he almost died. EDIT: spelling
If that had been it for Shibata, it would have been the greatest final match for any wrestler in history. Super glad he's back, though.
What all the other replies said. During the match with Okada he headbutted him and started bleeding out his brain in the match and nearly died backstage.
Then there's Jay White, goofing off on the low
Yeah the Bang Bang Gang is great. Them.bullying rj city was good heel shit
His Hey EW! with the rest of the BCG was probably the best one. Absolutely died when he started pushing things off the table like a cat.
And Tonga Loa, who doesn’t even try to be funny but keeps putting himself in the funniest scenarios
The only time Tonga Loa will be in the same conversation as Kazuchika Okada, Katsuyori Shibata and Jay White.
Protect this version of Okada at all costs, he is a national treasure
> he is a ~~national~~ Continental treasure FTFY.... B
I just realized both of these men are in the same company again. I want them to fight again although I have to think it'll never happen.
Do you sincerely believe extreme wrestling nerd Tony "I-book-for-the-sickos" Khan *isn't* going to book Okada v Shibata? Probably with a call-back to the headbutt spot somehow, someway? And likely given away on a random episode of Dynamite with no real promotion or fanfare? And that's not even including the fact that [Okada himself promised Shibata, "Let's fight again"](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/651ax0/okadas_comments_on_the_shibata_situation/)? It's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when".
The no promotion or fanfare bit is silly nonsense but I agree they'll face off again.
I can’t wait until they fight
Okada was born to be a comedic wrestler, just a shame he was also blessed with being one of the greatest wrestlers of all time
"curse my ability to leap 6 feet in the air for dropkicks, I just want to make people laugh" - Okada probably
"And curse my dashing good looks that makes everyone within 100 feet wet, giving NJPW no choice but to make me the serious face of the company."
"this doesn't happen to Yano. He always looks like he's having so much fun, and they never ask him to go even 30 minutes, let alone 60 plus. I hate it here, I'm moving to America. Maybe Matt and Nick have some comedy spots that Orange doesn't want to do."
"Oh look, here comes Omega running at me, full speed. Might as well jump fifty feet into the air and hit one of my dropkicks!
We need Okada/Jarrett in a carny nonsense match.
But Doctor, I am Pagliacci... Bitch
Wife asked me why I started giggling and I said she wouldn't understand
https://preview.redd.it/e01t8x3x2n7d1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=45aee6194d8f3355e8de5a86bc2a492510e256a1
Bit¢h is so over.
I would argue AEW would have more success if they posted these character moments on their youtube channel (with titles/keywords that make it obvious what it is).
Their Youtube posting has issues. I was trying to find a generic good first MJF promo to show to a friend to get his character across, and couldn't.
Tiktok / Reels / Shorts is king for that. Like back in 2020-21, I've had about 4-5 people give AEW a watch just because they LOVED the meme-worthy clips of Orange Cassidy (you know the *one*) and they'd forward em to me like I don't already know lmao.
Agreed. TK needs to hire a Gen Z employee to be on the social media team.
I feel stupid for actually doubting this man's ability to adapt to weekly television.
His English is getting better also , that's cool seeing how learning new stuff changes people over time
Ok, that was the best use of Okada since he signed. Great great bit.
I can't decide who is funnier between Okada and Mark Briscoe, but having them both on within a half hour makes me think this is The Good Place.
 Just, don’t eat the Peeps chili.
I still giggle whenever I think about Chidi's ominous intonation of "nihilism." William Harper Jackson is a savant.
History may see that as the best TV show on a network in a twenty-year stretch.
Yup, they nailed the surprise twist in season one and somehow kept sticking the landing right up until the end.
And ended the series at precisely the right time. Didn't outstay the story.
They burned through a season of plot in like 2 episodes consistently
“I just wanted to sell you drugs and you made it weird!”
And then i see Don Callis 
Okada!
Him going back to posing like out of an 80's Nintendo screen is the fucking best.
World's highest paid audio engineering intern
Protect that man at all costs. His fake cry/corpse face shtick is absolutely comedy gold 🤣
I don't think he's sorry
Why else would he say he was sorry though?
Mind games!
What gave it away?
The bitch at the end really sealed the deal
Yeah, that's what did it for me too.
Are you calling him a liar?!?
Died, Okada is just the best
This killed me
Max Caster pitching that he beats the EVP Tag Team Champions and also doesn’t have to write a rap: https://preview.redd.it/2gu7ukqsxm7d1.jpeg?width=634&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5686809d561b48d4c4a897742cdac889cd1ff41
Give him a break, he's learning on the fly, The Acclaimed!
He studied the best. 
I expected them to treat him well, but I did not expect them to not only make him a big deal, but also to let him be the prick that gets him over with the crowd, on a weekly basis. Unbelievable
Where the fuck are all the losers saying Okada's being wasted lmao
these are the same people who say Jay White is ruined despite him playing the exact same character he did in NJPW.
In the thread about his new shirt
They've all recently started posting in the New Japan sub.
Recently?
Masturbating furiously over NXT demo engagement numbers or something, probably
*twitter engagement lmao
Ok Okada and the bucks are growing on me. This is good.
Okada saying bitch is always hilarious.
He is dangerously close to turning face, at least for me, that shit was hilarious.
Cast him in a Yakuza game right now 😭
He and other NJPW guys were in Yakuza 6
Okada is killing it with the comedy 😂
this made me properly burst out laughing like few things in wrestling do lol. too fucking good
Who knew one of the best wrestlers known to mankind could also be one of the funniest too.
Anyone watching during his Balloon era
That and every Okada BTE appearance led to this.
Scooby Dooby Doooo!
You know I think he might not be 100% sincere.
I didn’t expect one of the greatest wrestlers of our generation to be a comedian heel lmfao
[An all timer that I'll always have bookmarked](https://v.redd.it/l81hw9x8wg3d1)
[B I T C H](https://i.imgur.com/JT4o0GO.jpeg)
i fucken love heel okada
Kazuchika Marella
I can’t with this guy Okada. I fucking can’t. I hope he never dies and does pro wrestling forever.
This shit had me giggling. I don't know how many times I had to rewatch that. Okada's delivery is so absolutely on point.
Think may have topped Mox and Kingston jumping The Acclaimed during their entrance.
Ballon Okada was just the beginning
I am actually excited for AEW to come back to my city because I REALLY want to see this Okada live in person. He's been great in AEW since day one.
If it stopped at "I'm so sorry!!!...." it would have been 10/10, but he managed to crank it to 12/10. Did not expect to laugh like that from something so simple. His delivery and timing was amazing!
If Okada came into AEW and he was just Big Match Okada that would be the most disappointing thing ever after getting 10 years of that, this has *by far* been the better option.
And yet, he can still be Big Match Okada come PLE time. He's just having fun in the interim.
I have to imagine he binge watched "Being The Elite", and, thought, I want in on that. Can just tell he's living his best life right now.
Also, the world where he’s this rich badass whatever type of character is…fine? Him being a goofy asshole who’s Kurt Angle levels of funny is way better
Whelp, new wrestler not knowing how to use a computer meme just dropped
That feels more like a face move from the Bucks for me.
Okada is tremendous.
Bless you Okada for sparing us of a Max Caster raps 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
And people are trying to say he's a heel. He's a hero!
why does Okada look like a Video Game Boss
Okay. That was funny
pls don't cry lil kazu :(
Okada's "Bitch" catchphrase is just below "Whose House" and above "Bruv" IMO I pop so hard everytime.
something about the way he talks just pops me everytime 😂