Minoru Suzuki emerges from war with Shingo Takagi in Jingu

Minoru Suzuki landed a Gotch Style Piledriver to seize possession of the NEVER Openweight Championship from Shingo Takagi Saturday in Jingu, ending an impressive fighting championship reign for the Dragon and starting his second run with the title. 

There was little waiting for Suzuki and Takagi to engage in Jingu as both charged right at the bell and tore into one another with forearm blows before the fight spilled outside the ring. A sadistic smile played on Suzuki’s face as he inflicted damage around the outside, but Takagi would fire back once in the ring, the sound of thudding blows sounding even in the open air arena setting. 

Quick shifts in control and sudden acceleration would be the key to the match, Suzuki able to smoothly transition several times into rear naked chokes, but Takagi able to resist a follow up Gotch Style Piledriver on several occasions, landing Made In Japan and a Pumping Bomber for distance and two counts, but unable to score a finishing blow. 

When Takagi went for Last of the Dragon, Suzuki would escape and land a dangerous Fujiwara style headbutt to the back of the champion’s skull. Takagi would battle back to his feet time and again, but the vicious blows from the challenger eventually became too much to withstand. More heavy forearm shivers would be followed by another sleeper, and the Gotch Style Piledriver finally connecting for the three count. 

Post match, Shingo made no excuses for his loss, but asked for another battle, saying they were not done ‘until one of us ins in the hospital, until one of us can’t go anymore’. Whether that match happens is in the King’s hands.