Kazuchika Okada Defeats Bryan Danielson At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18

Kazuchika Okada defeats Bryan Danielson.

Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada II was one of the headline matches at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4 and the contest quickly became personal as Okada removed his opponent's eye patch to expose his broken orbital bone. Danielson was able to fire back, though, with a Busaiku Knee and he applied the LeBell Lock moments later before he locked in the same submission that forced Okada to tap out in their first match at Forbidden Door 2023.

This time, though, Okada managed to get his feet to the bottom rope as The Rainmaker used the Tokyo Dome to spur him on. Soon after, Okada managed to reverse an Armbar into a Rainmaker but he was unable to follow up with a pinfall attempt. A second Busaiku Knee from Danielson landed only one minute later and Danielson led the Tokyo Dome in YES! chants as he went for the move a third time to the back of Okada's head. Okada ducked and hit a Cobra Flowsion, however.

Danielson fired back from an Okada Drop Kick and he went for another Busaiku Knee but Okada avoided it and connected with the Landslide and a second Rainmaker to score the 1-2-3.

After the match, Kazuchika Okada spoke to Danielson before the two men bowed to each other, paying the other the ultimate respect. Will there be an eventual rubber match? That remains to be seen.