NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Preview

El Desperado vs. YOH – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (May 4, 2021)

After winning the vacant IWGP Junior Championship, El Desperado finally cemented himself as the top Junior Heavyweight in the company. YOH returned from his injury at Sakura Genesis and instantly challenged Despy who had seen no challengers come forward.

Although the two have wrestled many times for the tag titles, this will be the first singles meeting between very different athletes. Roppongi 3K’s Silver Standard is cool, calm, and collected with a combined traditional Japanese style and high-flying style. Desperado is sneaky, passionate and focuses more on keeping the fight on the mat and winning by any means.

With higher stakes, fans might see a match where both men showcase very different sides to their personalities. Many have often criticized YOH for his lack of passion and emotion in the ring compared to his partner SHO. This bout against Desperado could be the catalyst to bring out a meaner side to the usually cool and collected YOH. Despy may have to adapt his style to deal with an opponent who is a hybrid athlete.

With Desperado finally achieving his dream of holding the Junior title, he will not be giving YOH an easy ride during the match. After a year on the shelf, YOH has more to prove. He needs to show that he is still as strong as ever and can stand strong as a singles wrestler. The question is, who has more passion and determination to be the face of the division?

---

Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (May 4, 2021)

It seems as if every time Will Ospreay and Shingo Takagi meet in the ring, they can create magic. Whether it was during the Best of the Super Juniors, G1 Climax or their recent New Japan Cup meeting, they never cease to amaze fans with their skills. However, their match at Wrestling Dontaku has much higher stakes, with both men battling over the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Since beating Kota Ibushi for the new title, Ospreay has had a new air of arrogance and confidence about him. For him, he has finally achieved his destiny of being at the top of the company despite all his critics. After narrowly missing out on the New Japan Cup, Shingo is at a stalemate in his career needing a big win to get back any momentum as a heavyweight.

As always, this match will be nothing short of a wrestling masterpiece. There is no denying that Ospreay and Shingo are seen as two of the best wrestlers in the world. They have a diverse and dynamic wrestling style. With both men having the pure strength of heavyweights, they combine aspects of their Junior past with speed, agility and style.

Both men have a lot to prove and a lot to lose in this match. Ospreay is out to show that he can stay at the top of the company. Yet, despite having nothing to lose, this is also a major proving ground for Takagi. He needs to show that he has the potential to hold New Japan’s top title. There is no denying that both men will put everything into the match. It should be another epic chapter to the duo’s historical rivalry.

What are your thoughts on the above story? Let us know in the comments on Twitter or Facebook.

• new japan pro wrestling
• Wrestling Dontaku
• NJPW
• Will Ospreay

Share this article with friends