Shingo Takagi and Hirooki Goto make TAMASHII debuts, brand heads to Adelaide
NJPW TAMASHII embarked on its latest three day run this past weekend, and a lot of anticipation circled around the main event of the whole tour, a standing room only capacity crowd at the Croxton in Thornbury seeing only the second ever singles match for Robbie Eagles and Shingo Takagi.
Five years removed from their prior encounter at BOLA in 2013, Eagles was determined on taking down the imposing Dragon, pursuing the base of the KOPW 2023 Champion at every turn. Yet there was just too much Shingo Takagi, and a Pumping Bomber would end Robbie’s night, handing Eagles his first singles loss in TAMASHII after what those in attendance were hailing as a match of the year contender.
It wasn’t all bad news for TMDK in Melbourne, Slex, The Business able to defeat Edward Dusk with Slexecution. For many, Dusk’s debut was the first chance to lay eyes on the charismatic wrestler, who made an impression, but not enough of one to beat the Melbourne mainstay.
If business was mixed for TMDK, it was booming for Rogue Army in Melbourne. As Bad Luck Fale and Jack Bonza represented the BULLET CLUB subgroup, a schoolboy saw a quick win over the Natural Classics, Tome and Stevie Fillip. Yet Bonza and Fale recognised the brothers’ incredible ability, and recruited them into the club, now six strong after Caveman Ugg and Lyrebird Luchi’s inclusions back in February. (Melbourne photography by Digital Beard)
Speaking of Luchi, an injury meant quick card changes to Sydney the night before. What was set to be a tag match for Hirooki Goto and local fan favourite Richard Mulu against Fale and Luchi turned into Mulu and Goto going one on one. Mulu put up an impressive effort against Goto, eventually falling to the GTR, but respect was shown by the CHAOS member to the NZ Dojo graduate, and was followed with words of encouragement online.
The main event capped off a lousy night for Rogue Army, as Shingo Takagi got revenge on Jack Bonza one on one. Before TAMASHII was launched, Bonza aligned himself with Bad Luck Fale in an attack on the Dragon, and Fale got involved in this match early and often as well.
The best laid Rogue Army plans were ruined however, and it would be Takagi racking up another win to send Liberty hall home happy in the main event.
Also in Sydney, Jessica Troy took on Cherry. ‘The Arm Collector’ picked up yet another limb in submission victory, as female competition continues to heat up in the Oceania brand.
Hot both in Sydney and Melbourne were the Velocities, Paris De Silva and Jude London. The high flying tag team scored a win over rivals MK+ Ultra in Sydney after a spectacular Shooting Star Press from De Silva to Kai Drake. (Sydney photos courtesy New Photography)
TAMASHII’s Adelaide debut started the tour with an event headlined by Hirooki Goto taking on local veteran Chris Basso. Basso pushed Goto hard for 15 minutes, but a GTR secured the victory on a night that also saw Shingo Takagi take down the well travelled AJ Istria and more.
Watch the matches soon on NJPW World!
