New NEVER Champion reigns after chaotic bout
The semi main event saw the NEVER Openweight Championship on the line at Sakura Genesis, Shingo Takagi challenging EVIL after collisions during the New Japan Cup.
HOUSE OF TORTURE’s pre-match attempts to have Yoshinobu Kanemura as the referee were spoiled by official referee Marty Asami, the match able to begin and the crowd in full support of Shingo. The challenger wasted no time, delivering Genichiro Tenryu style blows in the corner before landing successive elbow drops and a big senton. Failing to gain an advantage thus far, EVIL sought safety on the outside of the ring to regroup and Shingo fell directly into his trap; the champion thrusting Shingo into the barrier and the timekeeper’s table. A chair shot on the outside kept EVIL in control and when the two returned to the ring EVIL slyly choked his opponent with the rope from the turnbuckle.
The pace now suited EVIL entirely, methodically stopping Shingo from gaining any momentum, but a quick-thinking dragon screw leg whip and vertical suplex levelled the field. A follow up DDT and lariat in the corner kept Shingo in control, heading to the top rope next to send EVIL plummeting with a lofty superplex from the top rope. As Shingo looked to bring an end to proceedings, right on cue Yujiro Takahashi made an appearance which distracted Shingo just long enough for EVIL to hit back with a mid-kick; all the while Yujiro exposed the steel turnbuckles which Shingo coldly felt shortly after.
Darkness Falls had Shingo plunge, but it would only earn EVIL a two count. Everything would not be EVIL though, Shingo avoiding the finishing manoeuvre but falling victim to a chairshot to his back from Yujiro. The back now weakened EVIL locked in the Darkness Scorpion, Shingo scrambling for a quick rope break. BUSHI would head to the ring to level the odds, only for it to be revealed it was Dick Togo in a mask who would then be met by the real BUSHI. Referee Asami would inadvertently be blinded by BUSHI’s mist though, Kanemaru gleefully heading to the ring acting as the new referee with HOUSE OF TORTURE now outnumbered Shingo four-to-one.
A collaborative assault left Shingo vulnerable to a Magic Killer, Kanemaru delivered a fast-paced three count and EVIL seemingly retained the title. Kanemaru not a sanctioned referee though saw the match continue as Hiromu Takahashi entered with his own referee shirt to clear out HOUSE OF TORTURE. Shingo landed his own Everything is EVIL, and as Hiromu acted as the referee and the three count was imminent, Kanemaru returned to attack Hiromu and stop the count.
At the twenty minute mark Shingo’s right hand sent Kanemaru tumbling out of the ring and BUSHI’s wild topé took out Togo at ringside. Taking a page from HOUSE OF TORTURE’s playbook, Shingo spat whisky into the face of EVIL before turning the champion inside out with a intense Pumping Bomber. An officially sanctioned referee in Red Shoes Unno would finally make his way to the ring, just in time for Shingo to blast EVIL with Last of the Dragon, earn the victory and win the NEVER Openweight Championship.
