Tomohiro Ishii (8) vs. Shingo Takagi (4)
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Ishii would fall out of the running for the Finals if Takagi found the victory tonight. This main event was seen as a dream match for many, and the audience knew how high the stakes had become with Naito and Goto's wins thus far. Red Shoes Unno refereed.
They locked up in the middle of the ring and once Ishii was against the ropes, Takagi made a clean break. They attempted strikes and sliding lariats, both of which failed to connect as the men knew each other's styles very well. They were matched in strength and momentum as well.
Is this man the funniest man in wrestling?
As Takagi rose up first, he gave Ishii leg drops and failed at a pinfall. Takagi put Ishii in a hold that Ishii easily broke by grabbing the bottom rope. Takagi still kept using his knees, but Ishii kicked Takagi's back as he used the ropes for momentum.
Takagi wasn't strong enough to stay upright when Ishii smacked Takagi and ground his face into the mat with his boot. Ishii brought Takagi back up and absorbed everything Takagi hit him with, cornering him into the turnbuckle.
Ishii shoved Takagi's head into the post before they traded strong chops. Takagi was able to overcome Ishii with a double-handed chop and a suplex. Takagi threw him from corner to corner before dropping backward onto a prone Ishii, but he wasn't able to keep Ishii down for three.
Ishii got a DDT for all of his reversal efforts as well as Takagi's backdrop suplex, and Takagi attacked Ishii's neck without end in sight. Ishii reversed Takagi's attempt at a power slam and gave Takagi the same treatment.
Back in the corner, Ishii reddened Takagi's chest with chops, but Takagi's moment to break free came quickly. Takagi stood on Ishii for a moment and Unno didn't break the hold. Ishii didn't have anything in the tank but he kept going.
No matter how often they smacked each other down, they returned to their feet to maul each other in equal measures. They draged clotheslines, backdrops, and striking combos until they were back down. Ishii's ear was bloodied by the exchange.
Ishii superplexed Takagi from the top rope as he was the first to his feet, but he couldn't finish a powerbomb before kicking Takagi in the face a few times. Shingo kicked out of Takagi's finally-connected powerbomb, and Ishii couldn't chip away at Takagi anymore.
Takagi's clothesline and Noshigami move were followed up by a sliding lariat; Ishii kicked out of the pinfall attempt. The crowd cheered Takagi even as he failed at his Made In Japan finishing move and Takagi used that positivity to beat at Ishii as he rose back to his feet.
Takagi caught Ishii's sliding lariat and gave him the Made in Japan finisher, and Ishii kicked out once again! At this point, it felt as though every single second was electric with the audience's chanting.
Takagi couldn't deliver his Last of the Dragon finisher right away, and he received an inseguri and German suplex as Ishii fought back. Another stiff lariat followed by a sliding lariat did the same to Takagi: it couldn't keep him down for the 3-count.
They were so evenly matched that they were frustrated before the 20-minute mark. Ishii would mirror one of Takagi's attacks, and vice versa. They got momentum again, and both men were able to kick out at their respective 1-counts!
Takagi dragged Ishii up on his shoulders, hit his Last of the Dragons finisher, and stayed in the running for the Finals by the barest measure.
Results: Tomohiro Ishii (10) def. Shingo Takagi (4) via pinfall.
See you tomorrow for Night 17, A-block's last night before the Finals! Find out who will advance to the last match on Night 19!