New IWGP World Heavyweight Champion crowned at NJPW Dominion

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Originally published at New IWGP World Heavyweight Champion crowned at NJPW Dominion

Headlining New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Dominion show was Shingo Takagi and Kazuchika Okada competing for the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. The title was vacated after Will Ospreay went down with an injury and was unable to compete. The third IWGP World Heavyweight Champion was crowned in the main event and it was Shingo Takagi.

There was a series of reversals between the two men in the final sequence of the match and that sequence ended with Takagi hitting his “Last of the Dragon” finisher to win his first world title in New Japan.

Takagi’s name is joining Kota Ibushi and Will Ospreay as IWGP World Heavyweight Champions.

Following his win, Takagi called out Ibushi, who he wants to defend the title against and Ibushi accepted. Next up on the docket for NJPW is their Kizuna Road tour that stretches throughout the month of June and following that is the Summer Struggle tour.

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Deemed this one of the cards I wanted to wake up early and watch live and glad to have been rewarded with getting to see the moment Shingo got crowned. Made a legitimate surprised awkward noise of glee at 7 in the morning because I never thought they’d really do it (at least now). After Ospreay’s injury, this is the presumed/favorite for in-ring wrestler of the year for 2021 and going with him when he’s this hot should bring deserved attention to NJPW. Assuming he’s holding it more than short term, it opens up a hell of a lot more G1 possibilities for fresh matches at WK with Okada, Naito, and Ospreay all having deep-rooted stories to tell with Shingo, as well as a redemption story against guys he hasn’t been able to beat in Jay White and Tanahashi should they go there.

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