Shingo Tagaki picked up a huge victory at Sakura Genesis 2024.
The Dragon defeated House of Torture’s EVIL to win the NEVER Openweight Championship in one of the biggest matches of the night. He regained the title he lost to Tama Tonga at WrestleKingdom 18, winning the belt for the fourth time in his career.
The match was as ridiculous as you’d expect a House of Torture match to be, and more. It featured multiple ref bumps, and countless interference from both teams.
It included Hiromu Takahashi dressed as a referee, as well as three HOT members also in refereeing attire. Members of HOT and Los Ingobernables de Japon brawled during the match. This took away from the in-ring action, and was disappointing considering how this match was between two former World Champions.
Shingo Tagaki Looks Set To Face Gabe Kidd
After the match, NJPW set up a future bout between Shingo Tagaki and Gabe Kidd.
The Bullet Club member interrupted Tagaki after the bout, and cut a promo on the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
The English wrestler called the title belt a “joke”, demeaning the hard-fought victory The Dragon just earned. He promised to “kill anyone” in his way, and promised to take the belt from Shingo. This was a confusing statement for somebody who thinks the belt is a joke.
Kidd ended by calling out NJPW management, and spitting on the company’s lion logo in the ring. He looks to be being positioned as a top heel, and could be one of the top gaijans in the company alongside Zack Sabre Jr and David Finlay.
