Case File No. 43: Kazuchika Okada

 

Photo Credit: AXS TV.

Today, I open the case file of AEW (All-Elite Wrestling) wrestler Kazuchika Okada, who became a mega star in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is currently AEW's Unified Champion.

HT: 6-3 WT: 236

Promotion: AEW

Credentials:

AEW Unified Champion (current)

AEW Champion (1)

AEW Continental (1)

Continental Classic Winner (2024)

IWGP Heavyweight Champion (7x)

Strengths:

-Combination of size and strength

-Athletic

-Very good in-ring performer

-Great at executing and selling moves

Weaknesses:

-Work on mic skills and promos

-Lack of personality

Final Analysis

I think Okada is close to being a complete package. He has a combination of size and strength; he's more athletic than he looks, has one of the best dropkicks in the business right now. I think the only one with a better dropkick is (fellow AEW wrestler) Kevin Knight, but I digress. A very good in-ring performer who excels at selling moves whether it's performing them or taking them, I rarely, if at all, see him botch anything. 

His mic skills/promos needs work. Although it looks like this has been toned down, but at one point, he would say a few sentences, and then follow it up with "b*tch!" That's not good mic skills; even those who found it funny at first, I'm sure it got tiresome after a while because I don't hear it too much nowadays. I do keep in mind that he's not from this country, so maybe his English isn't that fluent as of yet.

The other thing is working on his personality. It looks like AEW Creative are trying to give him one, but it seems forced versus it happening naturally. Although I think he has more personality than most male Japanese wrestlers I've seen because a lot of them have this stone-faced, dead look/personality.

Although most view Okada as great or elite already, I think he's close to greatness. He's one of the few wrestlers that I view as at least watchable nowadays. Not saying every match is "5 stars," but I can't think of a match I watched with him in it that was boring.

 If he improves on the mic and promos, and continues to work on his personality--I'm not saying he has to be polarizing, but find a way to be interesting and compelling in that area--I think he will eventually make the ranks of the rare elite. By that I mean, overall, because I'm sure he's an icon in Japan.

Case File No. 42: Jeremiah Fears

 

Photo Credit: Stephen Lew/Imagn Images.

Today, I look into the file of New Orleans Pelicans combo guard, Jeremiah Fears, who could be a Rookie of the Year candidate.

Team: New Orleans Pelicans

Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard

HT: 6-3 WT: 190

Credentials:

SEC All-Freshman Team (2025)

Strengths:

-Versatile

-Very good ball handler

-Good shooter, has a lot of range on his shot

-Can create his own shot

-Athletic

-Attacks the basket

-Good passer

-Active hands, shows discipline as a defender

Weaknesses:

-Get better defensively

-Get stronger

-Be more of a facilitator

Final Analysis

I think there's a lot to like about Jeremiah's game. As a scorer, he can create his own shot, whether as a shooter or attacking the basket. He has good range on his jump shot, and is not afraid of contact when attacking the basket.

He handles the ball very well; I don't see him turn the ball over very often. He's able to maintain his dribble in traffic. He's a good passer with good court vision. He has active hands as a defender, and for the most part, has discipline. I don't see him get in foul trouble often. Lighting fast, he is very good at playing passing lanes.

He has a light frame and can get overpowered by bigger players. While he's exceptional at getting steals, perhaps it's a situation where he's out of position, but I see him get beat more often than not. His assist average is way too low for a point guard, which makes me think he might be better off as a shooting guard. 

Jeremiah has shown a lot so far in his rookie season, and has tons of upside. I think he's capable of being of being an equally effective scorer and facilitator because of his court vision and ability as a passer, although, right now, the assist numbers doesn't reflect that. To be fair, part of the reason is because he's on a team with multiple ball handlers, so that could change if some of them were moved.

His numbers have taken a dip as of late, but overall, if he continues to develop and work on his defense, I see an All-Star caliber player in the future.