3 reasons why Konosuke Takeshita should dethrone Kazuchika Okada for the AEW Continental Championship
Kazuchika Okada debuted in AEW in March 2024. The Rainmaker immediately aligned himself with The Young Bucks to form a new version of The Elite. It did not take long for Okada to taste gold in AEW, as he dethroned Eddie Kingston in less than two weeks of his debut, becoming the second-ever Continental Champion in history.
The NJPW legend has had a decent run as the Continental Champion, having beaten numerous top contenders so far. However, Okada could soon drop his title to a worthy contender, now that The Young Bucks have decided to take a hiatus from in-ring competition. Having ruled the mid-card scene for over eight months, it is time that Kazuchika Okada finally moves on to the main event picture.
While he already holds the AEW International Championship, certain factors indicate that Konosuke Takeshita could be the best pick to take the Continental Title off Kazuchika Okada. The Alpha already has issues with The Rainmaker, which could lead to an interesting feud between the two top champions. In this article, let's look at three reasons why Konosuke Takeshita should be the one to dethrone Kazuchika Okada.
#3. Konosuke Takeshita needs to conclude his rivalry with Kazuchika Okada
At All Out 2024, Kazuchika Okada defended his AEW Continental Title against Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, and Konosuke Takeshita. The Alpha posed a serious threat to Okada in that contest, as he outshined the NJPW legend with his strength and athleticism throughout the match.
Although Okada managed to retain his title, the match sowed the seeds of an exciting rivalry between The Rainmaker and The Alpha down the line. The two individuals had a few tense backstage confrontations, but it didn't lead to anything significant. A trios match between The Elite and The Don Callis Family was the only major event to occur during the mini-rivalry.
Konosuke Takeshita would certainly be interested in adding another belt to his title collection by targeting Kazuchika Okada. Tony Khan must have the two Japanese stars reignite their feud in the coming months, so as to provide a satisfying conclusion to their rivalry.
Fans are eager to know who is the tougher competitor between Takeshita and Okada. As the only star to have overshadowed The Rainmaker throughout his title reign, it would make sense for The Alpha to be the one who ends Okada's reign as the Continental Champion.
#2. It would be a great way to combine the Continental and International Championships
AEW is often criticized for having too many championships on its roster. The men's mid-card division itself has three separate championships, including the TNT Championship, the Continental Championship, and the International Championship.
A great way to reorganize the mid-card division would be to combine any of the two championships into one. If Konosuke Takeshita sets his sights on Kazuchika Okada, it could lead to a successful merger of the International Championship and the Continental Championship. The two Japanese stars could wrestle each other in a Title Unification match, which would certainly be a high-stakes affair.
The Alpha could take down The Rainmaker in the upcoming contest to kickstart a new era for AEW's mid-card division. Defeating the reigning Continental Champion would lead to a significant rise in Takeshita's stocks, making him a legitimate contender to eventually challenge for the AEW World Championship.
#1. Kazuchika Okada would be protected in his loss against a fellow AEW Champion
Kazuchika Okada has looked quite invincible in his run as the AEW Continental Champion so far. The Rainmaker has done a great job in elevating the title's prestige to a higher level. In his eight-month-long reign as the Continental Champion, Okada has overcome several quality challengers, including Kyle Fletcher, PAC, and Claudio Castagnoli.
It is necessary that Okada gets a proper conclusion to his reign at the top of the mid-card division. The Rainmaker must lose his title only to a credible challenger, who could keep the prestige of the championship intact. Interestingly, Konosuke Takeshita ticks all the boxes to be a worthy successor to the NJPW legend.
Konosuke Takeshita is one of the most legitimate heels on the AEW roster, who strikes fear into the hearts of his opponents. The Alpha's hard-hitting combat style makes him a serious threat to Kazuchika Okada.
Having spent the majority of his time in the mid-card division, it is high time that Okada moves up the card in All Elite Wrestling. The Rainmaker's ascension into the main event scene could begin once he loses his title to Takeshita. Losing to a fellow champion like Konosuke Takeshita would protect The Elite member in defeat.
It would allow a successful transition for Okada, without having any impact on his credibility as a performer.