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Hirooki Goto (10) vs. Shingo Takagi (4)
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Takagi's showing has been lackluster this tournament, and his low points didn't do his prospects any favors. Red Shoes Unno refereed.
Takagi and Goto tied up in the middle of the ring until they were forced to make a clean break against the ropes. They didn't hesitate to smack their bodies into each other in a show of endurance. But when it came to strength, Goto went down first. Takagi followed with a press, strong knees, and a vertical suplex, but Goto wasn't nearly done. He kicked out of Takagi's pinfall attempt at 1.
Takagi took time to recover ringside as Goto got to his feet. He invited Takagi back into the ring to a flurry of kicks; Goto had an arsenal of kicks and holds to match him. A long head scissors hold from Goto didn't take much out of Takagi, who broke the hold by the bottom rope.
Stiff elbows and chest chops were next for the men to trade, and Goto's bulk didn't stop Takagi from throwing him. He couldn't pick Goto up and received a backdrop. He couldn't keep Goto's shoulder down either. They reversed each other's attacks into they were struggling to their knees.
Goto couldn't complete his Yushi guroshi finisher, but he locked Takagi in a rear neck choke to set him up for a sliding lariat. Takagi's Noshigami move was his rallying point and he slammed his arm into Goto's chest. They met in the middle of the ropes, clotheslining each other. Goto kept Takagi on the mat with multiple quick pinfall attempts, but it was Takagi's Made in Japan finisher that almost put Goto away and doused his dreams for advancement.
Goto's stamina was incredible, and he fought his way out of Takagi's Last of the Dragons finisher. Takagi threw right elbows until Goto headbutted him. Goto's GTR finisher was followed up by a body slam. A Halloween bomber changed the momentum, and Takagi completed the Last of the Dragons. Goto's dreams dissolved and Tagaki finished the G1 with 6 points after a 3-count in the middle of the ring.
The next match would be Winner-Take-All.
Results: Shingo Takagi (6) def. Hirooki Goto (10) via pinfall
