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NJPW: Shingo Takagi has to win the New Japan Cup

By Raphael Garcia

TOKYO, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 14: Shingo Takagi looks on during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling 'Road to Castle Attack' at Korakuen Hall on February 14, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 14: Shingo Takagi looks on during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling 'Road to Castle Attack' at Korakuen Hall on February 14, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images) /
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The finals of the New Japan Cup are set. Shingo Takagi faces off against Will Ospreay for the chance to hoist the trophy above their head and earn a shot at Kota Ibushi and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. It seems like this year was set up to be a breakout moment for Takagi, and to cement that moment he must pick up a victory over Ospreay in this final match.

Takagi’s run through the tournament this year has been epic. He has wins over Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, KENTA, and Evil. That upset win over Okada set the stage. The moment that match was announced it was easy to see that Takagi was going to get the upset and make a run through this tournament.

Since coming up from the JR Heavyweight division, Takagi is widely recognized as one of the best wrestlers in the industry. The last two years of his career have been something to see. While Takagi was never in the “main event” picture, his matches were some of the most “must-see” components of New Japan programming. When he won the NEVER Openweight title in early 2020 it seemed like he had immediately outgrown that belt. His title defense against Jeff Cobb at Wrestle Kingdom 15 would have been the main event battle at any other show or for any other promotion. It had all the feeling of a big fight and a major part of that is Takagi’s presence and presentation.

Ospreay is not to be trifled with either. As the leader of the United Empire, it was just a matter of time before he was presented as a top-level heel. Winning the cup and putting him against Ibushi is an understandable move, unfortunately, that would come at the expense of Takagi. At some point, fans will get Ospreay versus Ibushi for the title, but perhaps that does not need to happen right this moment. If this were another promotion, it would be easy to predict that type of outcome. But New Japan does an astounding job of putting on the main event matches that matter, regardless of if someone is recognized as a “face” or a “heel.”

Shingo Takagi versus Will Ospreay is going to be a great match and will probably end up on the list of top matches in 2021. The moment this tournament was announced it felt like Takagi’s time to pick up a major victory to cement himself as a top challenger for everything available in New Japan. It is his time and that must come with getting his hand raised at the end of the 2021 New Japan Cup.

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