Am I the only one that's noticed how much ESPN has been promoting the sport of pro wrestling over the past several months?
We've seen the likes or Triple H, Charlotte Flair and The Miz on different ESPN shows. While we've only seen people from WWE, ESPN had New Japan Wrestling champion Kazuchika Okada on one of their shows this week.
As you can see in the video below, Okada said he would demonstrate a pile driver on host Max Bretos. It looks like he may have been kidding, because he was smiling when he said it. Bretos on the other hand looked terrified as he emphatically stated, "no pile driver."
Okada then decided to settle for chopping Bretos in the chest after one of the other hosts told him that they would need him to do something a little easier.
During the first attempt, Bretos ran off and of course came back and took a shot to the chest from Okada.
Once the clip was over, ESPN then promoted New Japan Wrestling's Strong Style Evolved event live on Axs TV this coming Sunday at 8pm eastern time.
The 30 year-old Okada first signed with NJPW back in 2007, but then left in 2010 and decided to return after a short stint with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Okada is the current IWGP Heaveyweight Champion and has held the title for a total of four times during his career and is the current longest reigning champ.
Okada's has really made a name for himself and was recognized for his dispute with Kenny Omega, as it was voted the dispute of the year for 2017 by Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
It looks like Okada has a new threat in Zach Sabre Jr., after Sabre won the New Japan Cup Tournament Champion while defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi.
With Sabre winning the tournament, he will not get to challenge any champion that he wants and he made it clear that he wants to face off against Okada after challenging him.
Sabre is also 30 years-old and is originally from London, England. He just signed on with NJPW in 2017 after spending a year with WWE as well as time with Pro Wrestling Noah, Triple X Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Guerilla.
While Okada has been dominant during is time with NJPW, he could have his work cut out for him against Sabre.