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FEB.11.2023

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Okada slays Dragon Takagi in Osaka thriller

Kazuchika Okada moves to V1 with World Heavyweight title

The main event at The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11 saw the IWGP World heavyweight Championship defended, Shingo takagi challenging a familiar enemy in Kazuchika Okada, but doing so with cheering crowds for the first time. 

Watch the replay now!

A test of strength opened proceedings, both champion and challenger feeling each other out in the main event, Shingo deciding to pick up the pace by hitting the ropes to land a tackle and vertical suplex. Okada stuck in the corner was victim to Shingo’s chops, but Shingo soon found himself laid out on the outside after being perched on the top rope and suffering the champion’s dropkick. In signature Okada fashion the focus moved to Shingo’s neck, a basement dropkick and neckbreaker laying the foundations for the Money Clip and Rainmaker. 

Shingo fought back with forearms and echoing chops but Okada appeared unfazed, briefly locking in the Money Clip until Shingo unleashed a lariat combo. Picking up the pace Shingo put together a series of vicious offence ending with a backdrop and pinning attempt. Sending Okada over the ropes with another lariat, Shingo hurtled the Rainmaker into the unforgiving steel barricades and dropped his foe with a deadly Death Valley Driver; Okada barely able to make it back into the ring before the 20 count.

Shingo took Okada to the heavens but dropped him back down to reality with a huge suplex off the top rope, the follow up basement lariat doing further damage to Okada’s neck. Dominating the champion for the large portion of this match Shingo ripped Okada’s skin off with another vicious chop to the chest, but the Rainmaker was able to find a semblance of solace with a neckbreaker counter. The match finding itself outside the ring again was this time to the favour of Okada, the champion crunching the challenger’s head and neck into the floor with a tombstone piledriver. 

Okada rolled Shingo back in the ring so he could lock in the Money Clip, but the Dragon still had fire in his belly and scrambled for the rope break. Heading to the top rope of his own volition this time, Okada soared from the top to hit the elbow drop and follow up with the Rainmaker to end proceedings, but Shingo retaliated with his own venomous Rainmaker instead. An incensed Okada stepped to Shingo as they went to war with a series of fierce forearm strikes, Shingo eventually coming out on top and dropping his knee to the back of Okada’s head and neck. Continuing the assault Shingo brutalised Okada with his own style GTR and Made In Japan for a bitingly close two count right at the 25 minute mark.

Not giving Okada time for air, Shingo fired away with a Takagi-Driver 98, basement elbow and pummeling Pumping Bomber. Desperate times calling for desperate measures Okada attempted to sneak a win with a roll-up, and although Shingo kicked out it afforded him the opportunity to finally unleash the Rainmaker, but the champion was too broken to follow up with a pin. Both men back on their feet they exchanged quick-fire ferocious offence, Okada seemingly on the cusp of victory until Shingo countered with Last of the Dragon. The victory seemingly a formality Shingo, he rolled onto Okada for the pin but somehow, someway Okada survived. 

At the 30 minute call the wounds of war were apparent, Rainmaker’s were attempted by both men to no avail. The action almost too quick to call, Okada and Shingo unleashed everything they possibly could from an enzuigiri to a Dragon suplex; Okada ultimately unleashed the Cobra Flowsion and hit the final Rainmaker to slay the Dragon and retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

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