Kazuchika Okada: Jay White Representing NJPW As World Champion Is A Disgrace

Kazuchika Okada will face off against Jay White for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January. 

The January 4 meeting will be a rematch of the pair’s showdown at Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall where White pinned the Rainmaker to win his first world title in NJPW. 

Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Okada has made his feelings on White as champion abundantly clear:

“I find Jay White’s attitude embarrassing, to be honest. It’s a disgrace to have him representing New Japan Pro-Wrestling as our top champion, and that’s why I have to show just how great an Okada title match is at the Tokyo Dome—and to end that era of his.”

There are four matches booked for Wrestle Kingdom 17 at the time of writing. Along with the IWGP World Heavyweight title match, Mayu Iwatani or Kairi will take on an opponent yet to be named for the newly minted IWGP Women’s Championship, while IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori will face Hiromu Takahashi, El Desperado and Master Wato in a four-way match. There will also be a match to determine the first-ever NJPW World Television Champion.