All Elite Wrestling has the feeling of 2021 in 2024. First, Will Ospreay arrived. Then Kazuchika Okada, or the Rainmaker, debuted on AEW Dynamite on March 7th. And one more surprise is on the way as Mercedes Mone will debut in AEW during Big Business in Boston.
Remember in 2021, when CM Punk, Adam Cole, and Bryan Danielson all debuted within weeks of each other—Cole and Danielson on the same night? Well, AEW has that feel again with these arrivals. Ospreay is already making noise with his matches, and Okada shocked the world on a recent episode of AEW Dynamite.
Okada left New Japan Pro Wrestling to join AEW, but nobody expected he would do what he did. After the Young Bucks suspended Hangman Adam Page for attacking officials at AEW Revolution, ‘fired’ Kenny Omega from the Elite, and continued to be the heel EVPs that they are, Eddie Kingston had about enough of it.
Kingston came down to the ring, and a fight ensued between the Bucks and Kingston. Okada’s music hit, and everyone expected him to save Kingston. Instead, Okada attacked Kingston and went heel by joining the Elite. Nobody saw that one coming. Okada has not been a heel since his early days of NJPW when he was a brash upcoming wrestler who played the spoiled rich kid.
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He is doing the same character here in AEW. It gives the Elite three cocky wrestlers who know they are better than everyone else. Not to mention how he works in job matches like on Collision, it appears Okada does not have time for less skilled wrestlers than he is in the ring. It was an excellent and shocking debut by Kazuchika Okada.
The new Elite had their first match on Collision, a squash, before they set up a trios match at Big Business with Kingston, Penta, and the returning Pac. This is all to set up for Okada and Kingston at AEW Dynasty for the Continental Crown.
AEW is in a great place despite what numbers and pundits say about what is going on backstage. The feeling of the old AEW is back, and the arrival of Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mone proves that. Not to mention the character work Swerve Strickland, Toni Storm, Samoa Joe, and others.
Having Okada on the roster gives AEW so many possibilities. Remember, Bryan Danielson and Okada still have another match left in their trilogy. So, it will be interesting to see how Tony Khan and AEW set that up.
But for now, Okada will be running with the Elite. Let’s see how quickly he gets gold in the company, as he is one of the biggest stars in the world of pro wrestling.
The post Kazuchika Okada Debuts and Joins The Elite appeared first on Full Press Wrestling.
