Shingo Takagi retains in second defense; Desperado makes intentions known post match.
With recent conduct by the challengers to both the IWGP Tag Team and Double Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships casting controversial cards over the top two matches on the Dominion card, hopes were high that the NEVER Openweight Championship match between SHO and Shingo Takagi would provide the straight-ahead one on one combat that fans craved.
SHO instantly charged in at the bell with a snug lockup before the two collided center ring, SHO first to take his opponent off his feet with a shoulder block and vertical suplex. Trying to go big early, SHO looked for a suplex off the apron to Shingo, which proved too much too soon. Takagi would cut off SHO’s momentum as he went for a plan B dropkick, and instead sent his challenger careening off ringside barricades.
Takagi tried to control SHO with elbows to the right trapezius, but SHO came right back up and threw some hard shots before evading a sliding lariat and hitting a spear at the second time of asking. Three rolling Germans would follow for SHO, who then went to his New Japan Cup game plan, targeting the right arm of Takagi in a bid to prevent the NEVER Champion’s Pumping Bomber.
Takagi’s left still proved effective though, a Dragon Lariat leading to a backdrop suplex and some much needed space. Still, the challenger’s fighting spirit kept him standing up, a Deadlift German connecting as blows continued to grow heavier. Takagi seemed to hit the harder, his heavy lariat bowling SHO over, and a Noshigami following for two.
SHO prevented a Last of the Dragon attempt however, connecting with the Last Ride Powerbreaker and rocking the champion with a lariat that still only kept him down for a count of one. Another Deadlift German scored two as the challenger inched closer to stealing gold; SHO would try for Shock Arrow, but was backdropped out.
Both men kept swinging for the fences, that almost costing SHO as a lariat swing was countered first into a gutbuster and then Made In Japan. SHO would kick out of a subsequent Pumping Bomber at one, however, and maneuvered the champion into a rear naked choke, triangle and then cross arm piledriver for a near fall.
Takagi sprawled out of Shock Arrow, but SHO stayed one step ahead, kicking at Takagi’s arm and then finding a cross arm breaker, the submission mastery paying dividends as a head and arm choke followed for the challenger. Takagi powered out once more hitting a DVD and Takagi GTR over the ropes, before Last of the Dragon scored at the twenty minute mark.
While the crowd was absorbing the action they had just witnessed, El Desperado made a shocking appearance to attack Takagi at the entrance way. Jeering ‘You know what this means, right? You’re going to accept this challenge’, it was painfully clear who’s next on The Dragon’s summer opponent list.
