Shingo Takagi with a key win in Korakuen Hall
Night four on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku saw eight man warfare between Los Ingobernables De Japon and the United Empire boil down to two on two tag action, with SANADA and Shingo Takagi taking on Aaron Henare and Will Ospreay in the main event.
After early meetings in the tour started inside the ring, the main event started with an instant move to the floor, as Ospreay and Henare targeted their Hiroshima and Fukuoka opponents. Taking advantage of damage done outside the ring when back in the center, Henare effectively controlled SANADA with stiff strikes and effective combinations with Ospreay, who got two from a backbreaker.
A basement dropkick to Henare would give SANADA some space, and a double dropkick to both United Empire members would finally bring Takagi inside. A giant vertical suplex to Ospreay, and the champion was left open for strikes in the corner from the Dragon, but a springboard forearm would level Takagi in response.
Shingo would change up his usual offense by teasing a Ryukon lariat and instead going downstairs with a DDT, but a roundhouse kick from Ospreay would allow both men to make tags, SANADA coming inside to take down Henare with a headscissors and a Liger style apron plancha at the ten minute mark. Though the focused Henare would not be held down long, a rugby punt finding the mark on Cold Skull, a springboard dropkick would bring Shingo back inside before the ultimate Weapon could make a tag of his own.
Shingo would get two from a sliding lariat, but Noshigami was blocked by Henare, and the Maori was able to connect effectively with Ospreay for a double team to drop the Dragon. Henare would follow with a Rampage tackle, but SANADA would provide expert backup, and sandwiched the United Empire with crunching blows.
Ospreay would prevent Last of the Dragon connecting however, and the match began to break down. Takagi would throw hard strikes and connected with Noshigami on Henare, before landing Pumping Bomber for two. As the Dragon looked for the kill, he was caught with a brutal headbutt, but Streets of Rage would be prevented by SANADA. A Dragon Sleeper would wear Henare down just long enough for Takagi to connect with Last of the Dragon and the three count for LIJ.
Post match, Takagi addressed a visibly rattled Ospreay, stating that there was ‘no future’ for him in defeat, and that he needed more than anything to beat Ospreay in Fukuoka. With both men’s will to win at a peak, who will be the one to emerge with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship May 4?
