Context though. How did he get the pin? He got murdered by the BC and was getting out maneuvered by Fale until he got a HELL of a bailout from his team. Okada is still coming off as someone whose confidence is shot and his ability is being affected. He looked like a fiery underdog babyface today for the first time since he was a young lion. This deal with Fale and the BC is absolutely working. It takes him out of the spotlight (which is absolutely crucial) and allows the exploration of a new side of his character. It plays.
Thinking there needs to be a Naka/Ibushi unification match is an off base, way too basic approach to booking and I'm very happy they're not doing it. Naka/Ibushi is a golden pairing, and god bless them for not doing it a third time right now.
The main drive between me loving the Tana/Okada booking and now AJ as champ, is that NJ is accepting their future is looking pretty thin, and are doing the right things for that. Okada is now in the midcard locked in a feud he's making work and not burning through even more singles matches and getting fans on his side in a new way. And now we get Ibushi/AJ.
Tana got the belt in time for the Dome to do a big number with Okada. That's obvious, but I think it's
insane to criticize them for that. That's the business. That's where the money ultimately is. There is nothing wrong with them using what they have to explore other options and keep the marquee guys fresh for the big show. Okada and Tana had the belt between them for something like 4 years until AJ won last year. Let's not act like three changes (especially when one of them is the previous champ getting the belt back) is turning it into the Hardcore Title.
Tons of people (you among them) clamor for someone else to be given a shot. Of everyone in NJ, isn't it obvious Ibushi is the most promising? Isn't AJ the
ideal person to put him over if that's the case? We've seen what happens when you take a chance on a guy going over the #1 dude in the company and the fans don't buy it. Going over Tana or Okada for a first time champion would be a curse as much as it's a blessing. You might fukk around and have a Rikio situation. But with AJ, you have a super over heel who is respected as a champion but in being a chickenshyt heel of course people will more readily buy into someone beating him without also having to buy them immediately as elite.
Booked a fresh match just to sell a show? Or did what people have been low key complaining for for years and given someone else a chance to take a step to that next level?
And NJ booking deserves to get criticized, but NOT the heavyweights. Okada/Tana, Ishii's rise, Honma's similar one, Naka's reign, they're nailing a lot of thing simultaneously. It's the juniors where the plot has been completely lost and KUSHIDA who is inexplicably getting a rough deal. I feel that maybe Kenny signing last summer had them change shyt up, but KUSHIDA being a double champ, then dropping to Taguchi of all people, then off to Kenny (makes sense, BC is hot and Kenny is over) but THAT'S the sort of belt juggling that should be complained about. Not the main event scene.
But even the fact that we're debating whether or not Kota wins proves my ultimate point. AJ as champ is best for business
Every defense of his is a toss-up and literally anything can happen this year...until we end up with either Tana or Okada with the belt in time for 1/4
but the more time goes on, the more Gedo is becoming Gabe Sapolski in his late years in ROH. Not really good booking, but just a bunch of piff matches 
