Anchored the promotion through much of covid, establishing the new World Heavyweight Championship in the process. One of New Japan’s best ever outside signings and a true legend.

43 comments

1. Best wrestler in the world. No bias.

2. My Ace.

3. The Dragon.

4. What a king

5. Definitely the workhorse of NJPW as of now, taking away nothing form Okada, Jay, or Ospreay.

6. He really should be on top of the card right now, I was upset that Okada won at WK.

7. Maybe it’s because I began to watch njpw seriously when he was champion, but he is my current favourite

8. He’s truly should be one of the faces of NJPW and he’s also a really cool guy in general. I remember before the Forbidden Door show I met him in a Starbucks (shocker) and he stopped what he was doing to talk to us (even though it was through translation). For me he will always have my respect!

9. Dope masks too

10. Amen!

11. he’s my favorite non gaijin wrestler in njpw

12. He looks so incredibly badass in every photo I’ve seen of him. He never just looks like “some guy” even in candid pics. Real champion wrestler aura about him. Also his giant guns, but aside from that.

13. Can’t believe he was a Jr

14. Best wrestler in NJPW right now. I would put him even above Okada. I dont follow NJPW religiously, but every single Shingo match is must see. My man needs to be in the main event conversation 24/7.

15. I agree 100%. But boy did it piss me off that he never had the ‘Never’ titles opposite each other. They were always facing the same way!

16. Who is this

17. Shingo is in my current top 3 wrestlers of new japan.

    I freakin loved shingo since his debut as a junior until now.

    Shin-GOAT.

18. He is That Guy

19. We should seriously consider Shingo Takagi to be in the Top 20, maybe even Top 10, in the history of pro wrestling to ever do it. He’s that good.

20. Bro been good for a long ass time too. Got a set of hair on him too.

21. Agreed. Shingo is deserving of any and all praise, and then some.

22. The total package, guy is incredible and should be pushed up there with Okada.

    My absolute favourite wrestler alongside Naito.

23. ♥️ Shingo Takagi ♥️

24. Shingo is amazing

25. I really want to see Shingo do a match against PAC

26. Easily my fav after the obvious Okada.

27. Amazing how far he’s come. I remember watching him during his DragonGate days

28. Still feels like he’s massively underrated and under appreciated too.

29. The first ever NJPW match I watched was Shingo vs Okada for the WHW championship at wrestle kingdom I just happened to wake up right when it started and Shingo has been by far my favorite since

30. One of those guys, like Ishii, that can be an effortlessly cool, badass babyface but ALSO make any opponent look like a million bucks.

31. His NEVER run actually solidified it from being a hot potato belt
    Before it became a hot potato belt again

32. Facts! He carried the promotion throughout the pandemic days when he carried the IWGP World Heavyweight Title and delivered so many bangers in the process, He really deserve to get props for it.

33. Let’s Go! Go! Go!

34. ShinGOAT Takagi.

35. This title could have applied to ospreay

36. Shingo’s run throughout the pandemic was amazing. Had a very good argument for WOTY. Dude’s the total package. His in ring style is so hard hitting, tough as nails, loads of charisma. Glad he got a run with the top belt and I hope it’s not his last run.

37. Imo he looks quite good with the new IWGP belt too, I’d say it’s “his”

38. So badass.

39. The Man!!!

40. I should’ve prayed harder for Shingo during Wrestle Kingdom.

41. Coolest fuckin wrestler in the world right now.

42. He had a hell of a run. That rein in 2021 will go down in history.

43. Gonna be honest: I really didn’t get Shingo initially. As much as it established him as dominant, I really didn’t think making him a laughably chonky junior for his first year in the company helped, even it it did spawn his rivalry with Ospreay. Didn’t think he fitted in with LIJ oddly either.

    Glad to say I finally “get” Shingo, he’s a fantastic addition and making him world champion really helped dispel the notion that it was only ever gonna be the pillars/leaders of each faction winning the title. Had some great matches in the G1 and even put a couple of guys over massively. What a swell dude.