NJPW's Kazuchika Okada Thinks The IWGP Heavyweight Championship Has Been Devalued By Having A Double Champion

The build to Wrestle Kingdom 14 centred around the Double Gold Dash between Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, Jay White, and Kota Ibushi. The four wrestlers fought for the right to be the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and IWGP Intercontinental Champion and by the end of January 5, Tetsuya Naito had captured both titles.

EVIL is the current Double Champion, having defeated his former leader at Dominion on July 12, and the battle between Bullet Club and Los Ingobernables De Japon looks set to engulf New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

A man separate from the war, Kazuchika Okada, recently sat down for an interview with Tokyo Sports and he admitted he thinks the IWGP Heavyweight Title has been devalued by having a double champion.

The Rainmaker said (translation by Berry Meijer): "Honestly, I can't really see it right now. The main factor is that the conflict between Los Ingobernables de Japón and Bullet Club was immediately linked to the double title. I doubt the current situation. As for Los Ingob's inner riot, do whatever you want. It would be nice if the fans would be interested. I am not interested at all. The belts involved are at its poorest. Well, even if the value goes down, I'll raise it, so please do whatever you want right now.

"I felt that the value of the heavyweight belt was halved when the two titles were won together. And that's why if Mr. Naito (Tetsuya), who won the double crown first, was able to show something, he should've shown it. I lost because I couldn't do it. But the biggest prize in the industry, the IWGP Heavyweight, seems to be far from its ideal. I don't mean to complain. I think there's a different way to create excitement. In that sense, I'll have this match with Yujiro-san, so, for now, that's fine."