Non-title singles match ends in team effort for BULLET CLUB

The semi main event on August 10’s Summer Struggle card in the Yokohama Budokan saw IWGP World heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi in non-title singles action against Yujiro Takahashi, Yujiro seeking to prove his own worth while wearing down the Dragon before his title match with EVIL on September 5. 

Takagi had pledged to end Yujiro’s night in just five minutes, but it was Yujiro getting off to a fast start on offense. His assault didn’t last long before Takagi delivered a crunching tackle however, and took over in the corner before delivering a series of elbows and a senton for two. The senton appeared to take the wind out of Yujiro, who was dead weight for the Dragon, until he low bridged the champion over the top rope and then booted him from the apron. 

Now with an opening, Yujiro shot Takagi into the ringside steel before landing a reverse DDT on the floor. Takahashi kept up the pressure back inside with a side suplex getting two from the referee; Shingo fired back, and though the back of his head was still troubling the champion, a lariat and shoulder tackle knocked Yujiro for a loop. A suplex followed for two, but Yujiro was able to cut Takagi off with a basement dropkick and Fisherman Buster for two. 

As the match passed ten minutes, Takagi unleashed elbows and went for Pumping Bomber,  only to get hit by a lariat from Yujiro and a Miami Shine for two. Rejecting Pimp Juice, Takagi hit Noshigami and a wheelbarrow German before a sliding lariat for two. Yujiro bit his way out of a Last of the Dragon attempt, and shoved the champion into the referee, which was the cue for both Dick Togo and EVIL to hit the ring, but they would both be quickly floored, and Last of the Dragon followed. EVIL pulled the referee clear of the ring just before three though, and struck the champion low to draw a disqualification loss for Takahashi. 

Post match, EVIL took the IWGP World heavyweight Championship and blasted Shingo over the head. Takagi and EVIL meet for the title September 5 in MetLife Dome.