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NJPW star and former IWGP world heavyweight champion Shingo Takagi defeated Taichi on this morning’s NJPW Golden Combat Collection foremost occasion, the place the match was contested underneath 30-count guidelines, which suggests a competitor has to pin their opponent to the match for a mixed 30-seconds. Takagi received 30-29. This makes him the primary KOPW holder apart from Toru Yano because the trophy was launched a pair years in the past.
NJPW has since issued a recap of the match, which you’ll try beneath.
The primary occasion of the Golden Combat Collection on April 25 in Hiroshima noticed the primary KOPW 2022 match in the principle occasion, and the primary such match to happen with out Toru Yano within the combine. As an alternative Shingo Takagi and Taichi would face off in a 30 Rely Guidelines match, whereby the winner needed to get a cumulative depend of 30 on their opponent to be victorious.
Fast pins from each males early would see 0, 1 and a couple of counts bringing the overall to 3-3, earlier than Taichi tasted a senton after which bailed out of the ring. Again inside, each opponents introduced a really totally different tempo, and closed fist jabs from Takagi could be met with a hook kick for an additional two from Taichi, bringing the core to 5-3. Taichi stored up the tempo on the ground as he introduced Shingo into the guardrail and ringpost, earlier than blasting his challenger with one other hook kick, a 7-3 lead seeming commanding over Takagi.
Taichi maintained the benefit, and scored one other two to maneuver to 9; a fast rollup for Takagi would shut Taichi’s result in 4 counts, however the Dragon was nonetheless down 9-5 till a Ryukon Small Bundle introduced that hole down to 2 on the ten minute mark. A DDT and sliding lariat opened the door to Noshigami, and Shingo tied the match up at 9-9, however Taichi would escape Made In Japan, and hit a gamengiri, a two placing him again in entrance at 11-9.
One other two gave the trophy holder a 4 depend benefit as soon as once more off a leaping excessive kick, and a pointy elbow at level clean vary scored, however the Yokozuna didn’t; a Made In Japan counter giving Shingo two and transferring the rating to 13-11. Nonetheless although, the challenger couldn’t even up the scores and at fifteen minutes deep, solely Taichi was on the midway level, main 15-11.
Going large, Takagi scored with a superplex, however nonetheless solely bought two, leaving him trailing by a two depend extra. Taichi would escape from a Final of the Dragon try, and met Pumping Bomber makes an attempt with an Ax Bomber of his personal; a Black Mephisto quickly adopted, and although the duvet was a weak one, a six depend ensued to present Taichi an enormous 23-13 lead.
At risk, Shingo went for a collection of falls, a Shingo model Taichi model Gedo clutch getting three earlier than a floor cobra for 3 after which Final of the Dragon for 4. The mixed ten meant the rating was 23-23, and each have been testing each other’s wills earlier than Taichi bought 5 from his personal Taichi model Gedo Clutch. Solely needing two to Shingo’s required seven, however Shingo rocked Taichi for a Pumping Bomber to get one.
Taichi bought one other one from an Ax Bomber, placing him at 29-24; Takagi hit Pumping Bomber after which a barrage of elbows and a headbutt befoer one other Final of the Dragon bought six to present Shingo the victory.
