After plying his trade around the world, Shingo Takagi debuted in NJPW at King of Pro Wrestling 2018 in Los Ingobernables De Japon.

Instantly making a mark, he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships with BUSHI at Wrestle Kingdom 13, and made the finals of Best of the Super Jr. 26 before transitioning to heavyweight competition after G1 Climax 29.

New Beginning in Hokkaido in 2020 saw Takagi defeat Hirooki Goto to score his first singles championship in NJPW, the NEVER Openweight Championship, a title he has held twice. In 2021, that achievement was surpassed by a country mile, as he became the third IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and with six months of thrilling defences, was a convincing winner of Tokyo Sports’ MVP award.

Wrestle Kingdom 16 saw him lose the title to Kazuchika Okada, but Takagi pursued new territory. Taking the KOPW 2022 trophy from Taichi in a unique 30 count match, Shingo broadened horizons and elevated the KOPW name, ending the year with he KOPW 2022 trophy. Starting 2023 strong, he won the KOPW 2023 four way at New Year Dash to become the first holder of a freshly minted belt, while challenging Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World heavyweight Championship at new Beginning in Osaka. Takagi would eventually lose the KOPW title to Taichi, but continued to threaten every champion in NJPW with just cause.