As a junior heavyweight-style match, this was pretty fun stuff. Shingo Takagi is the king of bombz, and the current Open the Dream Gate champion. I've always liked the fire he brings to the ring, and I think he'll only get better the older and more experienced he gets. Masaaki Mochizuki got his start in WAR and BattlArts, so he likes to kicky-kicky and submit. He's the aging ring warrior here, and man, he takes a fucking beating from Shingo. Mochizuki wrestled smart as if he was aware of the danger Shingo poses to his well-being. The arm work was okay but really, it wasn't going anywhere in a DG match. Mochizuki's kicks were not kind to Shingo and at one point, he wrecks Shingo with a kick to the head in the tree of woe position. Shingo looked strong and his power movez looked legit, but this was the Mochizuki show, and he made Shingo look that much stronger. The finishing stretch where a frenzied Mochizuki is just trying to survive was the highlight of this match. Shingo blasted him with Pumping Bombers, a big-time Made in Japan, and ultimately, the Last Falconry, but Mochizuki didn't let his age slow him down and he can still outwrestle most guys 20+ years his junior. High energy and high emotion -- I give it a definite seal of approval. Shingo being this unrelenting beast of a champion is something I've wanted to see and I hope he gets a lengthy reign.
