DRAGON V. DRAGON
Shingo Takagi’s Entry In The Owen Hart Foundation Tournament
Wrestler: 鷹木信悟 (Shingo Takagi)
Moniker: Rampage Dragon or The Dragon
Company: New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Faction: Los Ingobernable de Japón
Shingo Takagi Vignette:
“My Time Is Coming. Kita, kita, kitaaaa. I’m Shingo Takagi, ‘Rampage Dragon’ NEVER Openweight Champion. AEW Owen Hart Tournament, I’m ready!
Walker Stewart: ‘Takagi. The former world champion faced off against Jon Moxley in the past.’
今、「日本の龍」はアメリカにいます！(Now, the 'Japanese Dragon' is in America!) That’s all, I want to say.”
Obviously in the actual vignette, it was hyped up more than reading it.
Before we talk about Shingo Takagi’s inclusion, let’s dive into the Owen Hart Foundation and the announcement of the partnership.
The Owen Hart Foundation:
The Owen Hart Foundation is an annual professional wrestling tournament produced by All Elite Wrestling. This tournament is a result of a partnership between AEW and the Owen Hart Foundation.
The Owen Hart Foundation is a charity based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is named to honour the late great Owen Hart, who passed away at World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF, now WWE) Over The Edge PPV in 1999. In December of 2000, Martha Hart (the widow of Owen Hart) announced the opening of The Owen Hart Foundation.
This charity focuses on providing universities/college scholarships for children in need, as well as housing for low income families. The foundation also supports a variety of charities in the community of Calgary and provides assistance to many communities around the world. Every year, Martha would host a high- profile fundraising event for the Owen Hart Foundation. Like in 2021, OHF hosted a performance that featured Canadian comedian, Russel Peters and it sold out.
So why did Martha start The Owen Hart Foundation? Quite simple. Owen Hart. She stated that the creation of OHF is to leave behind a meaningful legacy for the late great Canadian wrestler and a father devoted to his family. Martha knew Owen would be happy that she was helping others in need, especially in the area of education.
AEW X The Owen Hart Foundation Partnership:
On September 20, 2021 - AEW made a press release on their website and their many social media platforms.
“All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and The Owen Hart Foundation (OHF) a nonprofit charity which provides a vast range of assistance and opportunities to individuals in-need across the world, are collaborating to honor the legacy of late wrestler Owen Hart, a beloved figure in the professional wrestling community and beyond. This collaboration includes launching the annual Owen Hart Cup Tournament within AEW, which will see the winner receive a Cup known as “The Owen,” as well as the production and distribution of unique and original Owen Hart merchandise, including specified retail goods as well as the upcoming AEW console video game.”
Source: All Elite Wrestling’s website
On December 17, 2021, AEW would reveal both men and women versions of the tournament, with winners receiving a trophy called The Owen. Along with the trophy, both respective winners would receive championship belts that are modeled after the Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship. It is a title that Owen Hart had held twice throughout his career. Based on the Hart Family colours, pink and black, the Women’s winner receives a pink belt while the Men’s winner receives a black belt.
The first Owen Hart Foundation Tournament for both men and women happened in 2022 and the first winners of The Owen were Adam Cole and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. The second Owen Hart Foundation Tournament would have all tournament matches being in Canada and ended in Owen’s hometown of Calgary. This also featured an entry from New Japan Pro-Wrestling as Satoshi Kojima would enter in the men’s bracket. Owen Hart had a career stint in New Japan Pro-Wrestling in the late 80’s. He captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating Hiroshi Hase on Day 5 of the 1998 IWGP Champion Series tour. Ricky Starks and Willow Nightingale would emerge as the 2023 winners of the tournament.
In the closing ceremony on AEW Battle Of The Belts VII after Collision, we had an appearance from one of the most influential wrestlers of all time and New Japan Pro-Wrestling Legend, Jushin Thunder Liger. I just wanted to include this because it was a pretty shocking appearance and he wore his entire gear as well.
2024 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament:
In last year’s edition of the OHF, Tony Khan would announce that the winners of the tournament would receive World Title shots in their respective divisions. The title matches would take place at All In London. When people put their names in the ballot, one of these names was the Rampage Dragon himself, Shingo Takagi.
Shingo Takagi:
As much as some people love Shingo Takagi, some are unaware of The Dragon. So let’s do some background for them, shall we?
Shingo Takagi was born on November 21, 1982 in Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan. It is ironic that I’m mentioning this because at time of writing, on April 2, Shingo Takagi will face Hiroshi Tanahashi. Shingo Takagi would start his pro wrestling training at the Animal Hamaguchi Dojo. He would spend three years in the Dojo before joining Dragon Gate Dojo to finish his training. The reason for that switch is that Shingo was impressed by the unique Dragon Gate style. Shingo would become the first person to graduate from the Dragon Gate Dojo. He would make his debut for the promotion on October 3, 2004. He teamed with CIMA and TARU in a losing effort against Shuji Kondo, Takuya Sugawara and YASSHI.
Shingo Takagi would have a breakout year in 2005. At Dragon Gate Kobe Pro-Wrestling, Shingo would win first championship. He won the Open The Triangle Gate Championship alongside CIMA and Naruki Doi. He would challenge for the Open The Dream Gate Championship against then champion, Masaaki Mochizuki. He would fail to capture the championship. Shingo Takagi would receive the 2005 Rookie Of The Year reward from the Wrestling Observer. In the company’s first King Of Gate, which is an annual round robin tournament for the company, he would make it to the semifinals, losing to eventual winner, Ryo Saito.
In May of 2006, Shingo left Dragon Gate to go on a foreign excursion to the United States. A foreign excursion is, in a sense, the final part of a wrestler’s training. They have survived the Dojo system, spending a few years in the promotion as a young boy and now, they need to go learn new skills in a completely different environment and unfamiliar place. Shingo would wrestle in many promotions on the US Independent scene including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. He would become a regular wrestler in Ring Of Honor where he became ROH World Tag Team Champion alongside Naruki Doi. Shingo would have his final match in ROH at the Good Times, Great Memories event on April 28, 2007. He would fail to capture the ROH World Championship against Takeshi Morishima. He would make many appearances for ROH following his excursion.
Shingo would return to Dragon Gate and have a successful run in the promotion. He would win the Open The Dream Gate Championship four times, which is the top prize in Dragon Gate. He won the Open The Twin Gate Championship five times, which is the tag team title of the promotion. He would be a six time Open The Triangle Gate Champion, which are the trios titles in the company. Shingo would also capture the Open The Owarai Gate Championship, which is more known as the comedy title. Another fun fact: Shingo would win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship with his partner BxB Hulk. Shingo would have his last match as part of the promotion against his old tag team partner, BxB Hulk and leave Dragon Gate on October 7, 2018.
One day later at NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling Event, Shingo Takagi would make his shocking debut for the promotion. He would be revealed as the newest member of Los Ingobernable de Japón, which Tetsuya Naito announced on October 2. He would team with fellow LIJ members, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI to defeat CHAOS’ Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, SHO & YOH. At Wrestle Kingdom 13, he and BUSHI would capture the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships from El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru of Suzuki-Gun. They would eventually lose the titles to YOH & SHO of Roppongi 3K, but that didn’t stop Shingo Takagi. He would go undefeated in the annual round robin tournament for the junior heavyweights, the Best Of The Super Juniors. He would lose in the tournament final against Will Ospreay in one of the best junior heavyweight matches in the company’s history and received 5 ¾ stars from the wrestling observer newsletter.
After defeating Satoshi Kojima at Dominion, Shingo would enter the biggest round robin tournament in wrestling, the G1 Climax. He would enter as a junior heavyweight and would enter into the heavyweight class after the tournament. As a full fledged heavyweight, Shingo is widely known as one of the most consistent and explosive wrestlers in the company. He would win the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships with EVIL and BUSHI at Wrestle Kingdom 14, Night 2. He would also capture the NEVER Openweight Championship by defeating Hirooki Goto at The New Beginning In Sapporo and became the first wrestler to hold two NEVER Titles at the same time.
He would win the NEVER Openweight Championship 4 more times and is becoming synonymous with the title. The biggest achievement for Takagi is defeating Kazuchika Okada to become the brand new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, which is the top prize in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Shingo Takagi’s AEW Matches:
I hope you have read this far, because I'm going to break down four matches of Shingo Takagi in AEW, including his first round match against “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson. You will be surprised that 2024 was the first time Shingo Takagi wrestled a lot on AEW TV. The two matches prior to this were on the Forbidden Door shows. The first of these was him teaming with Sting & Darby Allin as the Dudes With Attitudes to defeat the BULLET CLUB’s El Phantasmo & The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) (with Hikuleo).
This was originally supposed to be an Eight Man Tag Team match with Hiromu Takahashi and Hikuleo included. But Hiromu Takahashi was unable to be cleared for the show. That is the reason why this was changed to a trios match. This doesn’t get mentioned much given that the All Elite Wrestling X New Japan Pro-Wrestling Crossover was riddled with injuries to multiple wrestlers. The second match was on the AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door II: Zero Hour. He teamed with his Los Ingobernable de Japón teammates, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI to defeat Kyle Fletcher, Jeff Cobb & TJP of United Empire.
If you want me to do a full match-to-match breakdown of the first ever AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door, I will do it. Will I drive myself insane? Probably, but it might be fun.
Match #1: AR Fox vs Shingo Takagi [3:44]
Show: AEW Rampage (Jun 21)
The first singles match of The Dragon’s four matches is a short, but fun match with AR Fox. This is the first time Shingo Takagi wrestled in a match for AEW outside of the Forbidden Door shows.
With that being said, in front of 4,326 fans in the EagleBank Arena. In the semi main event, it’s AR Fox vs Shingo Takagi. Let’s roll with it.
Before we started, AR Fox didn’t have an entrance. That is telling for the result and another moment is that this was AR Fox’s first match on AEW TV in 2024. I just checked and it’s actually true. I know this has no significance, but it’s too strange not to mention.
AR Fox attacks Shingo from behind as the bell rings. Shingo comes back with a knee to the gut, a quick headbutt and a chop. Fox hits a jumping leg lariat kick as Shingo tries to do a rope rebound attack. Shingo rolled out of the ring as Fox went for a springboard. Shingo moved to the side, so in midair, Fox landed on the apron. Shingo tries to pull the leg, but Fox kicks him off. Fox would dive on him with the Catapult Moonsault. It is a trademark move for Fox where he runs from the apron to jump off the middle turnbuckle to do a moonsault. It is quite innovative.
Back in the ring, Fox would hit Swanton from the top for a count. Each time Fox kept striking him, Shingo kept getting up. Fox ran to the ropes for a rebound which was a mistake, because Shingo rocked him with the Ryukon Lariat (A left arm lariat preceded by a back elbow and a jab). Shingo tried a Vertical Suplex. Since he noticed Fox was trying to escape, he turned it into a Takagi-style Twist & Shout (Snap swinging neckbreaker parodied from Hiroshi Tanahashi). When Shingo had Fox in a seated position, he started doing the Hammer and Anvil Elbows, which is a move that is associated with the now defunct Blackpool Combat Club.
Fun Fact: Shingo Takagi actually does the Hammer and Anvil elbows as part of his matches now.
Shingo would go for the Sliding Bomber (Running lariat to a seated opponent). Fox would not only duck it, he kipped up and thrust kick Shingo in the face. Fox ramped up the offence with a roundhouse. When Shingo ducked another thrust kick, Fox quickly hit a Cutter. Fox Fox climbed up to the top rope and hit the 450 for a two count. Shingo immediately clutched his ribs as he rolled to a nearby corner for breathing room. Fox had Shingo up on the top turnbuckle and tried his running Spanish Fly. The problem is that Shingo held onto the ropes and Fox kind of dropped himself on his head.
You know what Shingo did afterwards? He Pumping Bomber’ed Fox like there was candy in his skull. Shingo went for Last Of The Dragon (Wrist lock Samoan Driver), but Fox reverses into a Surprise Rollup for a two count. Shingo tried a lariat, but Fox ducked that. Fox did a kip up for an Enzuigiri, but Shingo ducked the kick. Shingo follows up by pushing Fox to the ropes and as he rebounds back, Shingo hits him with the Death Valley Driver.
Shingo clobbers Fox with another Pumping Bomber and Fox’s back is folded like being in a reverse Scorpion position. Shingo finished him off with the Last Of The Dragon to get the win.
After the match, Bryan Danielson comes out. The American Dragon wanted to shake hands with the Rampage Dragon. Shingo just swats his hand away, so they can stare at each other. We all know in pro wrestling, when you stare at each other, it’s super serious. Shingo just leaves with a smiling face as their match at Forbidden Door is building up.
Match #2: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japón (Shingo Takagi, Titán & Hiromu Takahashi) [10:52]
Show: AEW Dynamite (Jun 26)
InterFaction warfare is here. This match requires a bit more context, so let me explain.
On April 12 at NJPW Windy City Riot in Chicago, Jon Moxley beat Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. When he successfully defended his title for the fourth time against EVIL, Moxley challenged anyone to step up. Tetsuya Naito would be the person to step up to the challenge and the Forbidden Door match is made. So this trios match is a preview for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match.
With that being said, from the KeyBank Center in front of 4,117 fans. In the opening match (& with Bryan Danielson on commentary), it’s the Blackpool Combat Club vs Los Ingobernable de Japón. Let’s roll with it.
The match starts with Shingo and Claudio locking up. Given at the time of writing this, it’s near midnight, so I need this hooked into my veins. Claudio switches to a headlock. Shingo sends him to the ropes, but Claudio shoulder tackles him. Claudio runs to the ropes, Shingo goes for a Drop Down. Claudio stops and drops into a low side headlock. When they were at a vertical base, once again, Shingo used the ropes to send him across. Claudio does a shoulder tackle. Both men didn’t budge, so they mutually decided to strike each other. Claudio clammers Shingo with these uppercuts. Shingo would reverse his uppercut into a backslide position.
Shingo tried to lift him up for the Noshigami (Gory Bomb), but Claudio elbows his way out. Claudio Irish Whips Shingo into the corner. Shingo moves out of the way of an uppercut attempt and quickly hip tosses Claudio. Then they both stared at each other. It was not serious. They both simultaneously tagged in Wheeler Yuta and Hiromu Takahashi. Yuta goes for a strike, Hiromu ducks under for waist lock, Yuta goes for a back elbow, and Hiromu ducks again. Hiromu kicks him in the gut. Yuta reverses an Irish Whip and sends him to the ropes. Hiromu jumps over Yuta’s Drop Down, picks him up by his arm to Irish Whip him.
Yuta reverses to try the same, but Hiromu whips him into the middle rope and kicks it. Hiromu runs off the ropes and does a Tierras. Hiromu gives Yuta a lariat in a corner, rolls him into a seated position, runs off the ropes, and rebounds back into the high dropkick. Shingo got in the ring and only stood there for a second. Both Takagi and Takahashi shoulder tackle Yuta. Hiromu tags in Titán. LIJ did the first triple team move as Shingo and Hiromu catapulted Titán to Yuta in the corner. Titán did a flying clothesline and he landed on the outside. Titán immediately climbs up the top rope and hits a crossbody. He followed up with a dropkick that sent Yuta to the outside. Titán dives on him with a Tope Suicida.
Titán rolls Yuta back in for a pin attempt which didn’t work. Titán kept kicking him until Yuta fired back with an Atomic Drop / Enzuigiri Combo. Yuta tags in Claudio. Claudio Irish Whips Titán in the corner. Titán blocked his charge with a big boot and pieced him with a combo that ended with a dropkick. Titán goes for the crossbody, but Claudio catches him into a backbreaker. Moxley and Yuta take Shingo and Hiromu off the apron as we are in the Picture-In-Picture break. Moxley knees Titán in the corner of the barricade. Back in the ring, Moxley would do Hammer and Anvil elbows along with kicks to the back of Titán. Moxley suplexes Titán after he tags in Yuta.
Yuta hits a senton for a two count. Yuta tags in Claudio. Claudio just starts doing a neck vice grip, before the referee, Taito Nakabayashi noticed and got him off. Titán started the comeback with chops. But when he tried his spin kick, Claudio caught it and transitioned into the Giant Swing. Claudio would do a working arm hold right after a failed pin attempt.
We are back from the Picture-In-Picture break.
Hiromu ran in and kicked Claudio off Titán. Moxley and Yuta ran in and Mox chucked Hiromu out. He even threw him against the barricade. Meanwhile in the ring, Titán kicks Claudio’s legs from underneath him and double stomps him in the back. Claudio tags in Moxley. Mox quickly intercepts Titán from getting the tag to Shingo. Titán reverses an Irish Whip to send Mox to the ropes. Moxley tries to go for the King Kong Lariat, but Titán ducks under like he's doing a Limbo party. Titán heel kicks Moxley in the face. Shingo’s hand is warmed up as he gets the HOT TAG. He ran wild as he temporarily handled all of the BCC. After hitting a Flatliner and DDT - Dangerous Driver Takagi to both Claudio and Moxley, Shingo hits his vertical suplex onto Yuta.
Shingo and Mox engage in a strike exchange. Shingo was doing his routine for the Ryukon Lariat, but Moxley cut him off with the King Kong Lariat. Shingo immediately popped up with a lariat of his own. They both collided with lariats. Moxley does what he usually does and bites him. Moxley went to the ropes, Shingo followed suit and lariat him against the ropes. Shingo ran to the ropes and rebounded back to do the Pumping Bomber. Moxley blocked it, so instead he got rocked with the Ryukon Lariat by Shingo. Both men got the tag to Wheeler Yuta and Hiromu Takahashi. Both junior heavyweights clobbered each other with lariats and entered a strike exchange. Hiromu blocks Yuta’s run with an elbow by the ropes. Yuta would be the same across, but with a lariat.
Yuta blocks Hiromu in the middle with a back elbow. Hiromu answered back with a Thrust Kick. Yuta rebounds back from the ropes and hits the German Suplex. Hiromu immediately popped up and slammed Yuta with the Dynamite Plunger for a two count.
Hiromu kicks Moxley off the apron and clobbers Yuta with the Hiromu-chan Bomber. Hiromu sets Yuta up for the Time Bomb II, but Moxley comes in and cracks Hiromu in the back with a steel chair. That meant Los Ingobernables de Japón won by Disqualification.
The aftermath is absolute chaos. Both teams start brawling. All of a sudden, Tetsuya Naito’s music hits and for some reason, he is in his fancy suit. Moxley was trying his best to be patient when Naito started taking off his suit. Moxley had enough so he and Naito brawled to the back. Shingo beat up Yuta and even did the Hammer and Anvil elbows. Bryan Danielson saved his (then) student as this was Shingo’s way of mind games.
The Highlight of the Trios Match:
The Wheeler Yuta and Hiromu Takahashi sequences.
Match #3: Shingo Takagi vs Dalton Castle
Show: AEW Rampage (Jun 28)
The third stop on the Shingo Takagi train was his match against Dalton Castle. I hope Dalton Castle is recovering well. It is a shame that the Peacock got injured because he is very entertaining.
With that being said, in front of 2,951 fans at the PPL Center (& The home of Ian Riccaboni). In the semi main event, it’s Shingo Takagi vs Dalton Castle. Let’s roll with it.
“No more joking around. This is the man who will face crying Bryan Danielson in the first round of this year’s Owen Hart Tournament. We saw the brackets this past week.” - Nigel McGuinness
Someone needs to find a wrestler for Nigel McGuinness to hate. Nigel hating Bryan Danielson and displaying it to TV and PPVs are hilarious. I really recommend watching the commentary on the Technical Classic between Bryan Danielson and Zack Sabre Jr. at the first WrestleDream. It made me cry with laughter.
The match starts off with both men locking up. Since Dalton Castle was an amateur wrestler, he quickly pushed Shingo to the ropes in less than 2 seconds. After they break it up, Shingo pushes him across the other side. After they broke it up, Shingo went for the chop. Dalton ducked and trapped him in a headlock. Shingo pushes him off to the ropes. Dalton shoulder tackles, but Shingo comes back with his own to take him down. Shingo started delivering elbow drops on Castle before trying his senton. Castle moved out of the way and there was no water in the pool for The Dragon. Shingo rolled out of the ring as Castle followed. Shingo rammed his back twice into the apron and remember, the apron is the hardest part of the ring.
When Shingo went to throw him back in the ring, Castle did his Rebound Hurricanrana. This is when he does a Tiger Feint motion to rebound back into an hurricanrana. Back in the ring, Castle hits the splash for a two count and immediately starts hitting the elbows. Castle kept hurling these strikes before going off the ropes. When he comes back, Shingo immediately stunned him with the Ryukon Lariat. Shingo throws Castle back to the outside and starts stomping on him. Castle tried to escape, but Shingo dragged him back and face planted him on the apron. Shingo suplexes Castle on the floor which causes Castle’s body to convulse.
Shingo applies the chin lock. Both men got in at the count of 9. The way Shingo kicked Castle is like The Rock kicking Jonathan Coachman for dancing. Shingo put his feet on his back while holding the rope. Then we cut to a commercial break. When we get back, Castle is chopping Shingo across the chest. Shingo reverses the headlock into a Back Suplex. Shingo walks across Castle’s body and hits the senton. Shingo starts hammering those Hammer and Anvil elbows to Castle. Castle collapses as Shingo was going to do a Sliding Bomber. Shingo was tabbing him against the head with his foot before Castle gets up and uses the hips to hit Overhead Belly-To-Belly Suplex.
Castle tried again, but Shingo got out of it. Both men duck under the lariats. Castle counters Shingo’s lariat attempt into a spinning back elbow. Shingo tries the Ryukon Lariat again, but Castle cuts him off with a lariat. Castle knees him in the corner, follows up with a spinning clothesline and hits a reverse sling blade for a two count. Castle immediately goes for the waist lock, but Shingo starts elbowing his way out. Dalton ducked under another elbow attempt to try the Bang-A-Rang (Spinning double leg facebuster). Shingo countered it into the Noshigami. Shingo blocked the boot and hit Castle with a Corner Bomber. Shingo pushes him to the ropes, set up for the Ryukon Lariat only to hit the DDT - Dangerous Driver Takagi.
Shingo goes to pick him up, but Castle immediately does a Jackknife cover for the two count. Castle hits the big boot only for Shingo to clobber him with the Pumping Bomber. Shingo finished Castle with the Last Of The Dragon to get the 1, 2, 3.
The Dragon builds more momentum for the First Round Match with Danielson.
Match #4: Bryan Danielson vs Shingo Takagi
Show: AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door III
Type: Owen Hart Foundation 2024 Men’s Tournament Quarterfinal
The final stop on the Shingo Takagi train is the marquee match. It is time for Dragon vs Dragon, American Dragon vs Rampage Dragon, Bryan Danielson vs Shingo Takagi.
So with that being said, from the UBS Center in front of 10,620 fans. In the third match on the show, it’s Bryan Danielson vs Shingo Takagi in the Quarterfinal of the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament. Let’s roll with it.
We kick off with a stare down as in the world of professional wrestling, it’s serious. From the camera angle, it seemed like Danielson went for an attack and Shingo side steps. Shingo cornered him and that’s when the grappling started. Danielson tries to grapple the arm, but Shingo switches it to a Hammerlock. Danielson spins out of it and takes down Shingo with a single leg.
“Because if this goes, hard-hitting, strike for strike, brittle Bryan may get broke.” - Nigel McGuinness
Danielson had the Rampage Dragon in a Muta Lock position and snapped himself down to hurt his ankle. Shingo got to the ropes. Both men engage in a Test Of Strength with Shingo getting the advantage momentarily. Danielson realises and takes him down with another low single leg takedown. Danielson transitions that into a Romero Special Dragon Sleeper. Shingo gets out of it and immediately starts feeling his knees. Danielson drags him to the center to hit an elbow on the right knee and applies a side headlock. Danielson floats over to the other side and maintains the hold.
Danielson wouldn’t maintain the side headlock for long as Shingo pushed him to the ropes. Danielson attempts to do a shoulder tackle, but Shingo absorbs it to fire back with his own. Shingo follows up with a running elbow and a senton. Shingo gets him to the corner and invites Danielson to strike him. Danielson struck him twice before Shingo headbutts him. Shingo chops him twice and jabs him before sending him to the corner across. Danielson backflips from the top rope over Shingo to follow up with a Crooked Arm Lariat.
Danielson hits a dropkick and goes for a dive. Instead Shingo caught him, draped him on the apron and hit a Magic Screw (Whiplash Neckbreaker) on the floor. Danielson was planted on his head and referee Aubrey Edwards called Doc Samson to check on Danielson.
“Someone needs to save Bryan Danielson from himself, because Bryan Danielson isn’t gonna do it.” - Nigel McGuinness
Shingo rolled back into the ring as Danielson was in so much pain.
“No one wants to see Bryan Danielson hurt. I take that back.” - Nigel McGuinness
Danielson got in at the count of 8, but Shingo got him up and down with a vertical suplex for a two count. Shingo applies a chin lock and rotates Danielson into a low front facelock. Shingo lets go intentionally and hits a Knee Drop on his head. Shingo applies a chin lock to Danielson within the ropes. He lets go from the referee’s 3rd count and invites Danielson to strike him again. Danielson fires him with two Uppercuts. When he tries a third, Shingo reverses it into a backslide position. Shingo tried to go for the Noshigami, but Danielson elbows his way out of it. Shingo just rocks Danielson back with the Ryukon Lariat.
“My Time Is Coming. kita Kita KITAAAA!” - Shingo Takagi’s catchphrase.
Shingo went for a Sliding Bomber only for Danielson to duck and kick him in the head. Both men engaged in a vicious strike exchange. Shingo went for the German Suplex, but Danielson landed on his feet. Danielson successfully hit the German Suplex on Shingo. Danielson hits a running dropkick in the corner before heading up to the top rope. Shingo stops him from doing anything else with chops. Shingo climbs up and starts mocking his “Yes” Taunt. He went for the trademark Superplex, but Danielson slid under and pushed Shingo into his place.
Danielson nails Shingo with the Hammer and Anvil Elbows and hits an Avalanche Back Suplex for a two count. Danielson immediately starts firing the Yes Kicks. When he went for the Roundhouse Kick, Shingo caught the leg. Danielson slapped him in the face to get his leg off him. Danielson blocks two Lariat attempts and counters the third one into an Armbar. Danielson transitions from the right side to the left side. Shingo would lift him up and somehow hit the Takagi-style EVO (Sitout slam variation adopted by BxB Hulk).
Shingo hits a Corner Bomber and lifts him up to the top turnbuckle. Shingo finally hits his trademark Superplex and follows up with a Sliding Bomber for a two count. Shingo went for MADE IN JAPAN (Half Nelson Pumphandle Driver), but Danielson tried to escape. Shingo kneed him in the gut and went for the move again, but Danielson got out. Danielson switches to the back and pushes Shingo to the corner. Danielson rolls back and misses a corner dropkick. Shingo immediately fires with the Pumping Bomber and hits the MADE IN JAPAN for another two count. Shingo tried to lift him up for Last Of The Dragon, but Danielson elbowed his way out, despite his own poor state.
Shingo hits the Sliding D (Running elbow to a sitting opponent) to the side of Danielson’s head. Shingo kept mocking the Yes! Chants as he kept hitting the Hammer and Anvil elbows. Shingo went for the Sliding Bomber and Danielson countered it into a Reverse Armbar. He switches to the Omoplata to apply the LeBell Lock, but Shingo rolls forward to get out. Danielson hit a forearm strike and ducked the lariat. Shingo jabs him with a strike into another headbutt. Shingo went for Last Of The Dragon, but Danielson got out and smashed him with the roundhouse kick.
Danielson hits the Regal Plex (Bridging leg hook belly-to-back adopted by William Regal). Danielson smashes Shingo with the Busaiku Knee and Shingo kicked out.
“It’s time… to kick… his FUCKING HEAD IN!” - Bryan Danielson catchphrase
Bryan starts kicking his fucking head in and switches into the Triangle Choke along with elbows to the head. Each time Shingo lift him up, Danielson kept elbowing him in the head.
Danielson elbowed him enough to drop Shingo and transition into the Clarky Cat / Jim Breaks Armbar (Omoplata stepover scissored armbar variation adopted by Zack Sabre Jr.). Shingo was in too much pain and gave up. Bryan Danielson advanced to the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinal.
Shingo Takagi had a really good journey in the matches leading up to his First Round match. Even though the singles matches were on Rampage, it was loads of fun to see the matches he had with AR Fox and Dalton Castle. Sometimes, I would do these matches at night, but ended up with no sleep.
These were fun and thrilling matches to break down for the Rampage Dragon.
kita Kita KITAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Art by Brett Michelle