Shingo Takagi Wants To Face Bryan Danielson This Year

It’s the Year of the Dragon, and Shingo Takagi wants to wrestle Bryan Danielson for the first time in fourteen years

By: James Carlin

The Chinese zodiac for 2024 states that this year is the Year of The Dragon, and the American Dragon has wasted no time making his mark with his critically acclaimed bout with Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 18. For another nicknamed Dragon, Shingo Takagi, the year didn’t start off so great as he lost his NEVER Openweight Championship to Tama Tonga.

But the former IWGP World Heavyweight champion’s loss hasn’t fazed him, as he spoke to Tokyo Sports about the prospect of wrestling the American Dragon once more as Danielson brought up Takagi as a name he’d want to face: “If you want to come and face me, why not do it in Japan? After all, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.” said Takagi, who had suggested the idea of having a  “Dragon Showdown” between the two inside a New Japan ring. h/t Tokyo Sports

It was back in 2010 that Takagi and Danielson encountered each other for the first and only time; wrestling each other for almost thirty minutes in Philadelphia as part of DragonGate USA’s Enter the Dragon event. Takagi additionally recently appeared in DragonGate to take on former JUCTION THREE stablemate Masaaki Mochizuki at Mochizuki’s 30th Anniversary show.

Since Enter the Dragon in 2010, the Takagi has evolved his style and in-ring physicality, making a re-match with the American Dragon a sight to behold as Danielson’s career begins to wind down and he faces off once more against many foes from his past, such as Kenny Omega and Zack Sabre Jr., who Danielson fought in 2009 and 2021, and 2008, 2009 and 2023 respectively.

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