Shingo finally takes back the NEVER belt in Nagoya
Less than two weeks after his last NEVER Openweight Championship defence, Shingo Takagi took to the ring again with his NEVER gold on the line with El Desperado in Nagoya on July 25. The difference this time was that he didn’t walk to the ring with the title belt itself; Suzuki-Gun’s El Desperado having twice assaulted The Dragon and made off with the belt in recent weeks.
Desperado bailed from the ring early with ‘his’ freshly ‘obtained’ belt, but Takagi would strike to get the match started, before rapidly firing in closed fists and blows in the corner. Takagi would bring his challenger outside, and fling Desperado off the barricades, but the Suzuki-Gun member was able to buy some time with a shove in the ring post, and buy a clear opening with a chair over the knee.
The left knee was the clear and effective focus for Desperado until Takagi was able to strike with a Ryukon Lariat, before doing his own danage to the knees, a double Dragon Screw over the ropes making a significant dent. With the momentum swinging his way once more, Takagi thought he had room to land Noshigami, but he was effectively countered into a Numero Dos attempt. Desperado nonetheless was unable to convert into Pinche Loco with the champion landing a big DDT and sliding lariat, before finally hitting the Noshigami he had wanted.
Desperado would bail to the floor, and when Takagi came to meet him outside, a closed fist to the jaw was the result. Smartly, the masked man baited the referee by threatening a steel chair shot, only to grab the belt as he was disarmed, landing a heavy belt shot and again punishing the knee inside.
The severely hobbled Takagi was able to find his feet where he and Desperado traded bombs as the Nagoya crowd fervently clapped along. The knee held just long enough for Takagi to hit Made In Japan at the 15 minute mark, only grabbing two. Desperado tried to dance with the evil antics that brought him, El Es Clero getting two before a low blow was blocked by the Dragon, and Pumping Bomber connected. Last of the Dragon followed for three.
Post match, Takagi asserted that neither SHO nor Desperado ‘or anyone else has the love for this title’ that he does. WHo could be next to step up to The Dragon?
