Now returned to the main NJPW roster with the slightly adjusted name of ‘The Great-O-Khan’ he is positioned to be the rising star in the recently formed ‘United Empire’ faction under Will Ospreay. But eventually, the UK crowds grew to ironically love the heel act, especially after O-Kharn was given the mouthpiece of Lord Gideon Grey. The question mark that hung over his face through his entrance, the Mongolian warlord inspired gear, Andy Boy Simmonz’s insistence that he was some great and mysterious warrior it all took a bit of getting used to. The beginning of Oka’s time on excursion as the then ‘Great O-Kharn’ in RevPro UK was not exactly a confirmation of his mentors’ beliefs. Oka’s trainer Yuji Nagata had also fallen in love with the prospects’ amateur credentials and throughout O-Khan’s tenure as a young-lion it was always heard that Nagata never stopped insisting that his charge would grow to become a huge star. It was these aspects that caught the personal attention of Bushiroad (parent company of NJPW) president Takaaki Kidani who immediately signed the 2012 All Japan Wrestling Champion while Oka was still in university. Oka was a decorated competitor in amateur wrestling during his school days whilst also taking part in other combat sports including MMA, judo and kickboxing. ![]() However, Oka always had two extremely valuable factors in his favour the trust and belief of his mentors and the trust and belief of the company. During one NJPW show, he was even made to do squats for the entire runtime as his previous match was considered not up to standard. His peers graduated and went on excursion (with the exception of Henare who suffered an injury and then returned as a full roster member) and Oka stayed the course, grinding in opening matches, and even being somewhat outshone by his contemporaries such as Shota Umino and Ren Narita. ![]() Katsuya Kitamura had the look and the explosive offence, Hirai Kawato had a crowd connection that none of the experts could quite put their finger on, Henare’s natural in-ring skills and athleticism jumped off the screen and Oka was just there. ![]() Tomoyuki Oka was hardly the standout of his Young Lion class. So, in 2021, who will rise to the occasion? In no particular order, I believe that these 6 acts are the most likely. Titles were won and lost, stories began and ended and emerging talent graced our screens determined to make an impact. However, the wrestling industry is one tough beast, determined to survive at almost any cost, and survive it did. In perhaps the strangest case, one organisation made more of a profit than they had ever done before whilst also simultaneously making 30 wrestlers and backstage personal redundant. Throughout 2020, promotions had to combat severely reduced attendance, deal with the inability to have fans present in the arena at all, broadcast shows from remote locations and either postpone or cancel some shows completely. ![]() 2021 looks to be a year of rebuilding for the professional wrestling industry as it recovers from its (and everything else’s) dramatic downfall at the hands of the pandemic.
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