#204: Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb, NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15, Night 2 (1/5/2021).
This is for Shingo’s NEVER Openweight Championship.
There was a ton of uncertainty for Japanese wrestling as 2021 began, particularly for New Japan. In the face of dire odds, Shingo Takagi stood out as a pillar that helped to carry the company through the worst period it had faced since the days of “Inokism.” Despite the lack of crowd reactions due to COVID protocols, Shingo transcended all of that and was able to hold a high quality of wrestling in his matches due to his high impact style. Here, he was given the chance to shine in the Tokyo Dome, as he defended the NEVER Openweight Championship against fellow hoss Jeff Cobb. A recent addition to the United Empire faction at this time, Cobb was looking for his first true standout moment in the company, during the second day of their biggest event of the year.
The bell sounds, and both men stare holes in the other. They lock up, and furiously force each other away. They go chest to chest, and shove each other. Elbow exchange right away, and both men exchange shoulder tackles as well. Hip toss by Shingo, and a hard shoulder tackle. He only gets 1 off of it, as Cobb throws him off. Beautiful dropkick by Cobb. He sends Shingo to the outside next, and follows him there. Cobb with a hard forearm to the back, and a headbutt.
Cobb irish whips Shingo into the steel barricade, and chops him in the chest. Another whip, and Cobb then tosses Shingo over head with a belly to belly to the floor. Cobb brings Shingo back to the ring, and stomps on his chest. He continues his target of the back with another forearm. He connects with a back elbow, and Shingo kicks out. Cobb lifts Shingo up for a bear hug, and Shingo slaps his way free. He tries for a suplex, but the injured back prevents it, and Cobb is able to suplex him himself. He covers, and Shingo kicks out.
Cobb slaps Shingo’s head a few times, and elbows it as well. Shingo with a back elbow, and a punch to the jaw. He goes to lariat Cobb, who just takes it. Cobb repeats that to Shingo, who counters with a back suplex. On the apron, Cobb sends Shingo into the ring post, and connects with a clothesline to the back. He places Shingo on the turnbuckle, and looks for the Razor’s Edge to the floor. Shingo thankfully fights out of it, and knocks Cobb to the floor. Shingo follows up with a diving senton onto him.
Shingo brings Cobb back into the ring, and hits a clothesline in the corner, followed by a snap DDT. Shingo with a diving back elbow, Darby Allin style, and that gets him a 2 count. Shingo locks arms with Cobb, who throws him to the turnbuckle. Spin Cycle connects, and every time Cobb hits that, I’m impressed. Cobb with a huge diving back elbow in the corner, followed by a rolling gut wrench suplex series. Shingo blocks a powerbomb attempt with a hurricanarana.
Cobb lifts Shingo up and hits a Niagara Driver for a nearfall. Shingo boots Cobb, and gets hit with a huge lariat. Shingo fights back with a Death Valley Driver. Big lariat in the corner by Shingo, and he places Cobb on the top rope. Shingo with a huge super plex to the mat! Shingo grabs Cobb’s midsection and lifts him over head for a suplex. Shingo looks for the sliding lariat, and Cobb counters with an exploder suplex! Shingo with one of his own!
They bump heads on the mat, and exchange hard slaps to the face. They’re back to their feet, and they throw elbows. Cobb is bleeding from the nose. A couple of closed fists from both, and a clothesline from Shingo. Cobb with a release German Suplex, and Shingo rolls through that to hit the Pumping Bomber! Shingo’s momentum takes him to the floor, and he very nearly gets counted. He returns to the ring, and Cobb hits a running Piledriver! He covers, and Shingo kicks out. Cobb goes to irish whip Shingo, who collapses. Cobb looks for Tour of the Islands, and Shingo slips out and chop blocks the leg. He follows up with a Dragon Screw Legwhip, Tanahashi style! Shingo connects with Made in Japan, and Cobb is able to kick out! Shingo with a few lariats to Cobb, who doesn’t go down. Cobb with a headbutt to Shingo, and Shingo responds with a lariat in the ropes. Cobb reverses the next into a snap German Suplex!
Cobb catches Shingo, and hits the Tour of the Islands perfectly! However, his now hurt leg prevents him from capitalizing! He rolls over to Shingo, and the champion is able to kick out! Cobb goes to the mdidle rope, and lifts Shingo up from the apron. He headbutts him, and looks for Tour of the Islands from this height! Shingo fights out of it, and grabs Cobb for a powerbomb! He hits it, and both men are down.
Cobb blocks the Pumping Bomber with a lariat of his own. He tries for Tour of the Islands, and Shingo punches his way free. They each throw lariats, and neither man goes down. Closed fist by Shingo, and a headbutt. Shingo with Tour of the Islands to Cobb! Shingo with a huge Pumping Bomber that turns Cobb inside out! Shingo lifts Cobb up for Last of the Dragons, and that’s enough to put the big man away. Japanese commentary seemed to be losing their minds during this match.
MEAT! That’s the best way to describe this match. A fucking blistering effort from both men, and a real coming out party for Jeff Cobb. It was a hard hitting affair, with both men throwing caution to the wind throughout, and just resorting to hitting the other as hard as possible. In the true spirit of the NEVER Championship, this match fucking worked as a hoss battle. Cobb dominated much of it, using his size and surprising athleticism to stay one step ahead of Shingo. But the champion has that raw explosive offense on his side, and that was something Cobb simply couldn’t overcome.
This was their third singles meeting, and they haven’t had one since. RUN IT BACK, PRESIDENT TANAHASHI!