NJPW Summer Struggle In Jingu Matches Ranked

3. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori – IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title

After their 5.5* match during the 2018 Best of Super Jr final, fans were treated to another fast-paced bout between Hiromu Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori.

From the second the bell rang, the match was intense. Hiromu tried to get the advantage quickly with his erratic and unpredictable style. However, the Bone Soldier had a plan targeting Hiromu’s shoulder that he’d injured earlier in the tour with a La Mistica. From here, it was the common theme throughout with some very dangerous moves that made you flinch. The outcome almost seemed inevitable.

Yet, it didn’t stop the match from being a spectacle. These two wrestlers are the epitome of what the New Japan Jr Heavyweight Division is all about. There was the pure high-flying style of Hiromu combined Ishimori’s more hybrid style combining risk-taking and submission-based wrestling. There was one breathtaking spot where Hiromu went to powerbomb Ishimori off the apron, but the Bone Soldier just backflipped onto his feet to avoid it.

In the end, at just over 13 minutes, it all became too much for Hiromu’s shoulder. Ishimori trapped the Ticking Time Bomb in the Bone Lock for the win and his second IWGP Jr Heavyweight title reign.

Chris Charlton perfectly described this match as gorgeous but brutal. If the match was longer and showcased more of what these two men have to offer, it may have been higher on the list. However, with the focus Hiromu’s injury and Ishimori’s ability to capitalise on this, it instead perfectly blended style with storytelling.

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2. Shingo Takagi vs. Minoru Suzuki – NEVER Openweight Title

Although this match was in the first half of Summer Struggle in Jingu, the battle between Shingo Takagi and Minoru Suzuki for the NEVER Openweight title was one of the best of the night. Even in the lead-up, there was a lot of anticipation for a previously disregarded title.

Was it any surprise that it was one of the matches of the night?

With Shingo’s emphasis on his strength and Suzuki’s submission style, many were surprised at how fast-paced the match was from the start to end. There was speed, strength and continuous action that almost resembled a Jr Heavyweight match at times.

However, at the essence, this match was a fight and a brutal one at that. There was what seemed like hundreds of strikes thrown in the form of forearms, kicks or clotheslines. There was even a moment where Suzuki was continuously headbutting Shingo Takagi. Yet, no matter what was thrown either men’s way, they refused to stay down showing their heart and determination.

Despite the heart and strength of the Dragon, Minoru Suzuki isn’t the King of Pro-Wrestling for nothing. In a match that lasted just under 15 minutes, Suzuki managed to hit Shingo with a Gotch Style Piledriver for the win.

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1. EVIL vs. Tetsuya Naito – IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Double Title

Fans across the world were shocked when EVIL betrayed Los Ingobernables de Japon in July in favour of Bullet Club. Many were more heartbroken when he went on to take the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental title from his former leader Tetsuya Naito. So, this rematch had more at stake than just titles, it was for retribution.

At the start, the match seemed to be going similarly to their other meeting with EVIL using every trick in the book to win. He used chairs, distracted the referee and utilised Dick Togo in every way possible.

However, by using these tactics so often, you can only get away with it so often. At one point, Naito almost predicted Dick Togo’s presence and, rather than going for EVIL, went straight to the other side of the ring and kicked him out of the way. Also, for the first time during this feud, we saw LIJ members BUSHI and SANADA get involved. When Gedo came out and tried to cause even more trouble with Togo, the duo came out to get rid of the rubbish.

Finally, the two were on an even playing field with a battle between strength and athleticism. We then got a match that most people would’ve loved to have seen at Dominion.  It was time to see who the better wrestler was and the results came just after the 25-minute mark. Naito hit his patented Destino to win back the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental title.

As the sky turned to night and fireworks erupted throughout the stadium, it was the perfect fairytale ending for Tetsuya Naito and a match deserving of a Jingu Stadium main event.

What was your favourite match from Summer Struggle in Jingu? Let us know on Twitter!

• Tetsuya Naito
• new japan pro wrestling
• los ingobernables de japon
• Bullet Club
• EVIL
• NJPW

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