Kazuchika Okada Ties IWGP Title Defense Record, Is Challenged By Hiroshi Tanahashi

Kazuhika Okada's legendary IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign has been full of records, but Hiroshi Tanahashi wants to stop it dead in its tracks. 

At this weekend's New Japan Pro Wrestling Sakura Genesis show, Okada did battle with Zack Sabre Jr. in what was his eleventh defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Okada would emerge victorious from the main event match, and would place himself in history alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi as the most successful champions ever, as the two are now tied atop the successful defense list.

Hiroshi Tanahashi had no intent on allowing his longtime rival of just taking over his record. After the match concluded, Tanahashi came to the ring and laid down a challenge to Okada, suggesting that the champion would have to make it through him if he wanted to lay claim to the record himself.

Okada has already made history in the sense that he's now held the title for over 650 days — by far the most ever, and the first to surpass 500 days. However, Tanahashi made it to 11 title defenses in only 404 days. If Okada were able to beat Tanahashi and hold the title until June, he'd also be the first to hold the championship for two years. 

The two will square off at Wrestling Dontaku in May in Fukuoka.

You can see our full coverage of New Japan Pro Wrestling Sakura Genesis at this link