Shingo Takagi

Takagi in August 2022

###

Chūō, Yamanashi, Japan

**Shin Takagi** (鷹木 信 *Takagi Shin*, born November 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name **Shingo Takagi** (鷹木信悟 *Takagi Shingo*) or also known simply as **SHINGO** (stylised in all capital letters). He is currently working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former three-time NEVER Openweight Champion, while also being a former one-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, a former one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion, a one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, and the KOPW 2022 Champion, while also being a provisional holder, as part of *Los Ingobernables de Japon* stable.

Born in Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan, Takagi was initially trained in the Animal Hamaguchi dojo, before joining the Dragon Gate Dojo and becoming its first graduate. He is best known for his work in Dragon Gate, where he is a former four-time Open The Dream Gate Champion, a former five-time Open The Twin Gate Champion, a former six-time Open The Triangle Gate Champion and a former one-time Open The Owarai Gate Champion. Takagi was the first graduate of the Dragon Gate Dojo. He was known as the promotion's top heel for many years, leading the villainous VerserK stable through its many incarnations until resigning from Dragon Gate in September 2018.

Takagi also developed a rivalry with fellow trainee BxB Hulk, in which both were trained by Dragon Gate franchise wrestlers, CIMA and Magnum Tokyo respectively. Both were part of the same unit New Hazard and won together the Open The Triangle Gate Championship twice and Pro Wrestling Noah's GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, before Takagi turned on Hulk. Their rivalry main evented several tours and major pay-per-views such as the 2008 and 2010 Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival and transected the rest of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, also the main event 2014 Final Gate. The two would team for the first time in ten years and a face each other a final time on October 7, 2018, on Takagi's last match in Dragon Gate, which was won by Hulk.

Through Dragon Gate's working agreements with the American promotions Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro Wrestling and German promotion westside Xtreme wrestling and Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, Takagi has also held the ROH World Tag Team Championship and the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, while also being the winner of the 2009 16 Carat Gold Tournament. He has also won Dragon Gate's premier tournament, the King of Gate and Dragon Gate's top tag team tournament Summer Adventure Tag League.

Upon joining NJPW, Takagi made his surprise debut in NJPW as part of the *Los Ingobernables de Japon* stable in the junior heavyweight division, where he remained undefeated until June 2019. Following Takagi's move to the heavyweight division, Takagi became the first person to hold both the NEVER Openweight and NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships simultaneously in February 2020. In April 2021, Takagi became one of the company's prominent figures winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. With the win Takagi became the only wrestler to win both world champions in both Dragon Gate and NJPW. At the end of year, the *Tokyo Sports* magazine named Takagi the 2021 MVP in all of Japanese professional wrestling and in January 2022, Takagi headlined NJPW's biggest annual event – Wrestle Kingdom. After this, in April, Takagi returned to the mid-card, where won the KOPW trophy and defended it the remaining year until becoming the official KOPW Champion at the end of the year of 2022. He would win it once again until May 2023 before he won the NEVER Openweight Championship for his third time in November.

## Early life

Takagi was the youngest of his three siblings. After entering junior high school, he attended a judo dojo, while playing on the school's baseball team at the same team. Takagi became interested in professional wrestling, after watching Atsushi Onita's deathmatches especially a No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Cage Death between Onita and Genichiro Tenryu. After graduation from high school, he began attending Animal Hamaguchi dojo.

## Professional wrestling career

### Early Career

Takagi during his time in the Animal Hamaguchi dojo, gained over 330lb (150 kg) from overeating from a weight of 168 lb (76 kg), and later started participating in bodybuilding competitions as a goal to lose weight, but he was not satisfied with the results. After spending three years at the Animal Hamaguchi Dojo, Takagi entered in the Dragon Gate dojo, after being impressed about the uniqueness of Dragon Gate's wrestling style and the atmosphere of the Dragon Gate dojo. Takagi ended up becoming the first gradutate of the Dragon Gate dojo.

### Dragon Gate (2004–2018)

#### Debut and and Blood Generation (2004-2006)

Takagi made his professional wrestling debut on October 3, 2004 in the 2004 Rey de Parejas, where he and CIMA and TARU lost to Shuji Kondo, Takuya Sugawara and "brother" YASSHI. Takagi was brought by CIMA joining his Crazy MAX stable. However, Crazy MAX was disbanded later that year. Shingo would then form a stable with the remaining members of Crazy MAX and Stalker Ichikawa and Super Shisa named WakuWaku Fujii Land. Waku Waku Fuji Land would be disbanded to create Blood Generation. Being the first new wrestler to debut in the promotion, his well-trained physique and breakthrough led him to, a year after his debut, to win the Open The Triangle Gate Championship with CIMA and Naruki Doi at the 2005 Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, challenging Masaaki Mochizuki for the Open The Dream Gate Championship on September 18 in a losing effort and winning the 2005 Wrestling Observer Rookie of the Year award. Takagi made into the semifinals of the 2005 King of Gate, losing to eventual winner Ryo Saito, this rose him to become the top wrestler in promotion.

In May 2006, Takagi left Dragon Gate to go on a learning excursion in the United States for an indefinite period of time. After that, he only returned three times to Japan, most notably in July to face Yutaka Yoshie at the 2006 Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival in a losing effort. Afterwards, he took some time off due to an injury he sustained during the trip, but returned in mid-September, changing his ring name from Shingo Takagi to SHINGO.

#### New Hazard and Heel Turn (2007-2008)

On April 17, 2007, a 7-on-7 elimination match was scheduled between the Typhoon and Muscle Outlawz factions; in the weeks leading up to this match, CIMA and Naruki Doi (from Typhoon and MO'z respectively) proclaimed that someone on the opposing team would betray their partners. Typhoon won the match, after which BxB Hulk, a Typhoon member, attacked CIMA, presumably to join Muscle Outlaw'z. Cyber Kong of MO'z also attacked his faction partner, Gamma, and Hulk and Kong shook hands, announcing the formation of a new stable. They said they would be joined by Shingo Takagi and Yamato Onodera, both wrestling in the United States at the time.

Takagi returned on May 6, teaming with Hulk to defeat the Tozawa-juku team of Akira Tozawa and Keni'chiro Arai; Onodera, using his former ring name YAMATO, returned the following night, teaming with Hulk, Kong and Takagi to defeat Muscle Outlaw'z. After the match, the four unveiled their name and logo, proclaiming themselves New Hazard. On May 10, 2007, shortly after forming the stable New Hazard, Takagi along with BxB Hulk and Cyber Kong - defeated the Typhoon team of CIMA, Susumu Yokosuka, and Ryo Saito for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship. They held the championship until July 13, 2007, when the team were forced to vacate the championship as BxB Hulk had sustained a jaw injury. Takagi and Kong replaced Hulk with Jack Evans, and challenged for the vacant championship against the Muscle Outlaw'z team of Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino, and Magnitude Kishiwada, but were unsuccessful. On July 10, BxB Hulk suffered a broken jaw in a match against Ryo Saito in a tournament to decide the #1 contender to the Open the Dream Gate champion; this forced New Hazard to vacate the Triangle Gate title on July 13. As a result, a scheduled title rematch against Doi, Yoshino and Kishiwada was changed to a decision match featuring the same Muscle Outlaw'z team facing Kong, Takagi and Jack Evans, with MO'z coming out on top. On February 24, 2008, Takagi, Hulk and Kong would defeat Mushozoku (Don Fujii, K-ness., and Masaaki Mochizuki) to regain the titles.

On May 14, 2008, Takagi and Kong turned on Hulk shortly before a scheduled Open The Triangle Gate Championship defense against Genki Horiguchi, Gamma and YAMATO of the Muscle Outlaw'z, citing Hulk as a weakling. Takagi and Kong then joined up with Genki, Gamma, YAMATO and Yasushi Kanda, ending both New Hazard and Muscle Outlaw'z and forming Real Hazard, a new faction. Takagi then teamed with Gamma and YAMATO to win the newly-vacant Open The Triangle Gate Championship, defeating Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino and Hulk. On June 28, they lost the Open The Triangle Gate Championship to Keni'chiro Arai, Taku Iwasa and Shinobu of the Tozawa-juku faction.

#### Face Turn and Typhoon (2008)

The following day, he fought BxB Hulk to a one-hour draw in a number one contender's match for CIMA's Open The Dream Gate Championship. They were immediately scheduled for a rematch on July 27, but this time the Open The Dream Gate Championship was on the line as CIMA had to vacate the championship due to a neck injury. On July 10, doubt was already cast over his standing in Real Hazard when he stopped them and Tokyo Gurentai members from trying to give CIMA an unwanted haircut. This caused tensions to stir between him and the others, especially with Kong. On July 27, Takagi defeated BxB Hulk to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship. After the match, Takagi apologized to Hulk and retracted his statement about him being weak. Soon after, Kong attempted to attack CIMA, who was at the announce table, but Takagi stopped him. After a brief argument, Real Hazard attacked Takagi and kicked him out of the group for showing compassion towards Hulk and CIMA, but he was saved by Typhoon.

Typhoon offered him membership in the faction, but he turned it down. He later teamed with Dragon Kid, a Typhoon member, in the Summer Adventure Tag League Tournament, and the pair reached the finals before they were beaten by Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino. Following this, Takagi changed his mind and joined Typhoon. Takagi's membership caused tension within the faction, and led to Susumu Yokosuka challenging Takagi to a match on November 16 for the Open The Dream Gate Championship. Takagi retained, and then tried to banish Yokosuka from Typhoon as punishment. Ryo Saito tried to stop him, and then CIMA was called out. Takagi gave him a lariat before he could say anything, resulting in his banishment from Typhoon. After that, Takagi announced that he would not be participating in the annual King of Gate Tournament, due to being the reigning Open The Dream Gate Champion.

#### KAMIKAZE (2008-2011)

Takagi began teaming with Akira Tozawa and Taku Iwasa after the faction they had been members of, Tozawa-juku, had disbanded, with the trio officially forming a new faction on December 19. On December 28, Takagi lost the Open The Dream Gate Championship to Naruki Doi, who had won the King of the Gate Tournament. On January 11, 2009, Dragon Kid joined the new faction, with Takagi called the faction KAMIKAZE. On February 15, Takagi, Iwasa and Dragon Kid won the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, but lost the championship to CIMA, Gamma and KAGETORA on April 15. When YAMATO left Real Hazard, he joined KAMIKAZE, reforming his team with Takagi. On July 19 Takagi and YAMATO failed to capture the Open the Twin Gate Championship due to YAMATO being blinded by a protein powder attack from Keni'chiro Arai. The duo won the annual Summer Adventure Tag League Tournament in August, and then the Open The Twin Gate Championship the following month. They held the titles until December 27, when they lost them to CIMA & Gamma. In February after Cyber Kong resign with Dragon Gate, Takagi called him out after winning a match, and he surprisingly appeared. He appealed to the president Takashi Okamura to be reinstated, and was welcomed back, joining the stable

On March 22, 2010, Takagi and Cyber Kong defeated CIMA and Gamma to regain the Open The Twin Gate Championship. Takagi participated in the 2010 King of Gate tournament and defeated Dragon Kid in the finals on April 14, 2010. This allowed him to contest Open The Dream Gate Championship match against his stablemate and champion YAMATO at the Dead or Alive PPV on May 5, 2010, but YAMATO retained the title by making Takagi submit. On May 13, 2010,Takagi and Kong would lose their Twin Gate title to K-ness and Susumu Yokosuka on May 13, 2010. Takagi would then renewed his old feud with former tag partner BxB Hulk, after pinning him in a match, Hulk was furstrated with Takagi pinning him, in another match Takagi and Hulk started to brawl with each other but they were sepeared by their stablemates and Takagi, tensions would boil leading to Hulk challenging Takagi, leading to a Hair vs Hair match at the Kobe World Pro Wrestling Festival 2010 on July 11. Takagi won the match and shaved Hulk's hair, as per the stipulation.

#### Face Status (2011-2015)

After returning from an injury, Takagi disbanded KAMIKAZE on May 13, 2011 and the following day joined forces with Masaaki Mochizuki's new stable, to battle CIMA's Blood Warriors. On June 8, 2011, the new group was named Junction Three (JIII) in reference to it being an union between the former members of WORLD-1, KAMIKAZE and the Veteran-gun. Later that night before Hulk was scheduled to team with Tagaki, Naoki Tanizaki came out dressed as Black Hulk. With Takagi distracted with Tanizaki, Hulk hit Takagi with a chair, turning heel and joining Blood Warriors. On August 3 to 7, Takagi and Susumu Yokosuka partipated at the 2011 Summer Adventure Tag League, Takagi and Yokosuka were eliminated at the second round by their stablemates Dragon Kid and Masato Yoshino. On September 2, it was announced a Hair vs. Mask 6-Way Steel Cage match. The six participants would be Akira Tozawa, Hulk and Cyber Kong at the side of Blood Warriors and the side of Junction Three, YAMATO, Takagi and Kagetora. On October 16, Junction Three would lose at the main event with YAMATO losing his hair to Kong. On November 31, after Hulk and Tozawa defeated Yokosuka and Kagetora, Takagi and YAMATO attacked Hulk and Tozawa and challenged them into a title match. On December 25, Takagi and YAMATO unsucessfuly challenged Tozawa and Hulk for the Open The Twin Gate Champions. After a ten-month rivalry, Blood Warriors defeated Junction Three in a fourteen-man elimination tag team match on February 9, 2012, forcing JIII to disband.

After Junction Three was disbanded in February 2012, Takagi and YAMATO decided not to align themselves with any of the units that were formed. The duo were certainly fighting various battles against groups with greater numbers, but were oftentimes able to score victories every now and then. At the same time, Chihiro Tominaga had finally graduated to the main roster after nearly six years as a trainee. Although he was offered membership in WORLD-1 INTERNATIONAL, he declined and instead appealed to Takagi and YAMATO to team with them. They were not interested in forming a unit at first, but did allow him to second them on an occasion. Overtime, they started to watch his back during his feud with Mondai Ryu. Ultimately, they helped him weather the storm of MAD BLANKEY attacks to help Tominaga defeat Ryu in a match where Tominaga's hair and Mondai Ryu's entrance theme were on the line. Following the match, Takagi and YAMATO decided to form a unit with Tominaga and introduced a new Super Shenlong, who would be better suited with the entrance theme Tominaga had won. They form -akatsuki- on April 19, 2012, with the name Akatsuki, roughly translate as rebirth. The concept of the unit was to be seen as a revitalization for its members. For Takagi and YAMATO, it would recharge their careers which had been teetering on being stagnant. On July 22, Takagi and YAMATO defeated Jimmy Kagetora and Jimmy Susumu to win the Open The Twin Gate Champions, they would lose the titles to Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki on September 23, 2012. Takagi and YAMATO won the titles for their third time together on May 5, 2013, by defeating BxB Hulk and Uhaa Nation.

Due to the lack of movement caused YAMATO some discomfort as the months went on, though Shingo was able to calm him enough that they were able to remain on the same page. But in the end, YAMATO had enough. During a defense of Twin Gate Championship on June 15, 2013 against Tozawa and Hulk, YAMATO accepted a chair from Hulk and smashed it over Shingo's head. He followed with a Gallaria and allowed Hulk to hit Shingo with the First Flash for the win. YAMATO betrayed Takagi, claiming to have carried him the last few years with unlimited chances, but now he was free and joined up with MAD BLANKEY. While the betrayal derailed Akatsuki, Takagi continued to display a strong will by ending CIMA's year-and-a-half reign as Open the Dream Gate Champion on July 17. Though this would be seen as the start of a new beginning, YAMATO quickly stepped in and challenged for the title. Furthermore, he continued to bury his former team at every which way possible. The two groups would agree to a Losing Unit Disband match with the added bonus of the one to lose the fall to be stripped of either their mask or hair. With MAD BLANKEY have greater numbers, Shingo accepted Cyber Kong's invitation to join Akatsuki, seen as a means of returning to the strength he once held. On August 1, -akatsuki- was forced to disband, after losing to MAD BLANKEY in a five-on-four tag team match. Also part of the stipulation, Super Shenlong was forced to unmask revealing his true identity and it was Yosuke Watanbe. On August 23, Takagi lost the Open The Dream Gate Championship to YAMATO in his first defense.

During that after Tozawa had led Mad Blankey to victory against -akatsuki- in a match, where the losing stable would have to disband, the rest of Mad Blankey turned on Tozawa, kicking him out of the group and assuming YAMATO as their new leader. On August 30, Mad Blankey turned on Uhaa Nation after he refused to wrestle Tozawa, they would align with Uhaa which did not sit well with Kong. He would rejoined the group and took his place at unit strong man. In order to continue his battle with Mad Blankey, Takagi formed a new stable named Monster Express with Akira Tozawa, Masato Yoshino, Ricochet, Shachihoko BOY and Uhaa Nation. On December 22, Takagi and Tozawa defeated Doi and YAMATO to win the Open The Twin Gate Championship. They lost the titles to Eita and T-Hawk on July 20, 2014. On August 31, Shingo, Tozawa and Uhaa Nation unsuccessfully challenged for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship against Cyber Kong, Naruki Doi and Kzy with Shingo getting pinned after Kong hit him with the Cyber Bomb. Shingo and Tozawa lost in the Summer Adventure Tag League semifinals against T-Hawk and Eita. On December 28, Shingo unsuccessfully challenged for the Open The Dream Gate Championship against BxB Hulk. In August 2015, Takagi started showing some signs of a heel turn, after berating T-Hawk for losing against Yoshino at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival and started to have some tension with Yoshino, due to forming a team with T-Hawk. Takagi and Yoshino were both parts of the same stable Monster Express. Yoshino and Takagi agreed to a match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Yoshino at Dangerous Gate.

#### Second Heel Turn (2015-2018)

On August 16, 2015, at Dangerous Gate, Takagi defeated Masato Yoshino to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship for the third time. Shortly afterwards, Takagi was kicked out of Monster Express after turning on his then-stablemates Yoshino and Shachihoko BOY, and mocking Yoshino for losing the physical Open The Dream Gate Championship and for having to use the old relic of the previous one, and Shachihoko BOY for being Monster Express weakest member. After the match, Takagi stated that Dream Gate wasn't enough he asked T-Hawk to team with him to take on YAMATO and Naruki Doi for the Open The Twin Gate Championships. On August 30, 2015 during the Open The Twin Gate Championship match Takagi turned on T-Hawk and align himself with Kotoka and Eita and the remnants of Mad Blankey thus setting the foundation for their new heel stable. Takagi would then form a new heel unit with the remnants of Mad Blankey, becoming the co-leader of the unit alongside Naruki Doi. On September 23, 2015, the new unit was named VerserK (the name was chosen as the allusion to "berserk" should stand for the representatives of VerserK being the strongest wrestlers of the Dragon Gate Roster). On February 14, Takagi lost the Open The Dream Gate Championship to Jimmy Susumu in his fourth defense, also following the match, tentions boiled between YAMATO and Takagi and after he lost the Dream Gate Champion Takagi challenged Jimmy Susumu into a rematch and if he lost he would leave VerserK. He would regain the title from Susumu on March 6, becoming the first four-time champion. After the match Ryo Jimmy Saito hit Takagi with the red box and challenged him for the Open The Dream Gate Champion.  On March 23 Takagi defeated Ryo Jimmy Saito to make his first title defense of the Open The Dream Gate Championship after the match all the members of VerserK congratulate and shook hands with Takagi for the win except for YAMATO who refused to shake hands with Takagi. On March 28 the problems between YAMATO and Takagi got even worst when YAMATO hit Takagi during the close of the match against Monster Express which allowed Big R Shimizu to pick up the win and everyone seemed to point blame at each other as a clear rift was looming over the group. On April 3 the issue continued to remain as strong as ever among the group.

On April 7 after VerserK lost to Jimmyz, Doi and Tanizaki decide to be on YAMATO's side and Kotoka and Kong decide to be on Takagi's side and Mondai Ryu just chose the both sides and the General manager Takayuki Yagi capitalized on this opportunity of 6 entrants was the exact number he wanted for the cage match at Dead or Alive, so all six were now entered into the match and Kong protested, but Ryu of all people stood up to him and Kong said he wasn’t going to be able to climb any cage, so Ryu should take his place and Ryu refused to be apart of it. They had a singles match where the loser would be put into the match which Ryu won by reversing the Cyber Bomb for an upset win within 30 seconds. The rules for this year are once again that the last fighter left in the cage will lose their hair or mask. However, there is an extra penalty that will only apply to those with their hair at stake. They will have to preserve the bald head for the minimum of one year. If Kong were to lose his mask, he has to permanently keep it off. Therefore no extra penalty applies.

On May 5 during the Steel Cage Survival Double Risk 6 Way match Doi turned on YAMATO and blaming him for losing the Open The Twin Gate Champions and the rest of the stable turned on YAMATO and he was out of the stable and they prevented YAMATO from escaping at all times until Kzy came to his aid. He blocked a potential Kotoka escape. Maria followed suit. Takagi got back into the cage to attack YAMATO more. Finally, BxB Hulk made his return to the ring to run off Takagi and lead YAMATO to his escape and Kotoka to get his hair shaved for one year.  Takagi took part in King of Gate, he finished his block with 5 points, at the end of the tournament YAMATO challenged Takagi for the Open The Dream Gate Champion and the General Manager Yagi announced that the match was going to be on the 2016 Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival. On July 23, Takagi lost the title to YAMATO. Takagi participated in the Summer Adventure Tag League with Cyber Kong, at the end of the tournament, Takagi and Kong finished their block with only 3 points. On October 12, VeserK were able to defeat Monster Express in a 5 vs 4 Loser Revival Captains Fall match, forcing Monster Express to disbands.

On January 18, 2017 Takagi, T-Hawk and El Lindaman participated at the New Years Unit War 6 Man Tag Team Tournament. Takagi, T-Hawk and Lindaman defeated Ben-K, Kotoka and Masato Yoshino at the finals to win the New Years Unit War 6 Man Tag Team Tournament. On March 4 Takagi, T-Hawk and Kong defeated Jimmy Susumu, Jimmy Kanda and Ryo "Jimmy" Saito to win the Open The Triangle Gate Champions. However, the titles were vacated after Kong was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Later that YAMATO announced that he would defend his title in the Dead Or Alive Steel Cage Match against Takagi, Doi, Hulk and Kong in which would lead tensions starting to rise between Shingo and Kong including Takagi costing Kong's matches together. On May 5, Takagi unsuccessfully challenged YAMATO for the Open The Dream Gate Championship at the Dead Or Alive Steel Cage match, being the second man to be eliminated. In May took Takagi took part of the King of Gate taking part of block D. Takagi would finish the tournament with 8 points (4 wins and 1 loss) advancing to the semifinals. On July 1 Takagi, Lindaman and Takashi Yoshida defeated Naruki Doi, Ben-K and Big R Shimizu to win the Open The Triangle Gate Championship.

During the year of 2017, all units in Dragon Gate started to feuding with each other. This led to a tournament the 5 Units Survival Race, where all units faced each other in multiple matches. On September 16 after VerserK and Jimmyz lost their respective matches, it was announced that VerserK would face Jimmyz on September 18 in a losing disbands match at the Dangerous Gate. On September 18 VerserK forced Jimmyz to disband in a Ten-Man Elimination No Disqualification Loser Disbands match. On November 3 Takagi, Yoshida and Lindaman lost the titles to YAMATO, BxB Hulk and Kzy also involving Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino and Kotoka.

On January 13, Takagi along with the rest of the members of VerserK renamed the stable to ANTIAS. On March 6, Takagi defeated Ryo Saito to win the Open The Owarai Gate Championship. During this time, there were tensions between ANTIAS stablemates Takagi, Kanda, and Lindaman, with Takagi, accidentally costing Kanda his Open The Brave Gate Championship on two different occasions and Kanda mocking Takagi for being the Open The Owarai Gate Champion, Lindaman then started to act as the peacemaker, but Kanda and Takagi started to blame him for their losses which led to the three blaming, each other for their losses. Tensions calmed down on May 6 at Dead or Alive, after Takagi, Kanda, and Lindaman escaped the seven-way steel cage match, with Takagi taking over the leadership after Lindaman didn't help him escape the cage and Eita and T-Hawk losing the Open The Twin Gate Championship early that night. This also led the Open The Owarai Gate Championship being declared inactive due to the stipulation of the match, where if Takagi escaped the championship would be inactive. Following the Dead or Alive, Takagi took part in King of Gate, finishing the tournament with a record of two wins, one double count out and one loss in his last match against Susumu Yokosuka prevented him from advancing to the semifinals. On June 10 after Masato Yoshino won the Open The Dream Gate Championship, Takagi confronted Yoshino and mocked his win. Afterwards he challenged him to a title match, which was made official by the general manager Takayuki Yagi. On July 22 at Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival, Takagi unsuccessfully challenged Masato Yoshino for the Open The Dream Gate Championship.

#### Departure (2018)

On September 6, it was announced that Takagi would become a freelancer on October 7. Takagi had previously discussed the subject with Dragon Gate, he also brought up the subject again following Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival, but his decision was to become a freelancer. He also announced he would remain a member of ANTIAS until September 24 and would work the rest of his contract unaffiliated. Later in September ANTIAS was renamed to R.E.D and Takagi announced that would not be part of any stable, thus turning face in the process. On September 24 at Dangerous Gate, Takagi made his last pay-per-view appearance as a Dragon Gate wrestler losing to KAI. After the match, Takagi's longtime rival BxB Hulk came to the ring and offered him to be his opponent on his last match in Dragon Gate. He agreed to Hulk's offer, but he asked him to team with him after ten years in the next Korakuen Hall show on October 2, which Hulk agreed. In the backstage, Takagi was criticized by his former ANTIAS stablemates for teaming with Hulk and it was decided that Takagi and Hulk would face Eita and a mystery partner. At the event, Takagi and Hulk teamed for the first time in ten years, losing to Eita and the returning PAC, who was revealed to be Eita's partner. On October 7, Takagi wrestled his last match in Dragon Gate losing to BxB Hulk.

#### Sporadic Returns (2019–2024)

On July 21, 2019 at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Takagi made a special appearance for Dragon Gate, appearing in a pre-taped vignette, congratulating Dragon Gate on its 20th anniversary. On August 1, 2021 at Speed Star Final, Takagi made a special appearance for Dragon Gate, appearing in a pre-taped vignette, congratulating one of his longtime rivals Masato Yoshino on his career.

On December 6, Takagi made a surprise return to Dragon Gate, saving YAMATO from an attack by Z-Brats, before challenging him to a tag team match, where he would team with his long time rival BxB Hulk to face YAMATO and Madoka Kikuta at Final Gate. At the event, Takagi and Hulk faced Kikuta and YAMATO in a winning effort.

On July 2, 2023, at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Takagi made his return to Dragon Gate accompanied by Punch Tominaga defeating Konomama Ichikawa in the second match of the Bosou 10 Match Series Revival.

On January 10, 2024, Takagi returned to Dragon Gate to face Masaaki Mochizuki in a match on the 30th Anniversary of his professional wrestling career, which Takagi won.

### Ring of Honor (2005–2008)

Shortly after becoming a member of Blood Generation, Shingo began wrestling for Ring of Honor (ROH) in the United States. He made several ROH appearances before becoming a regular wrestler in ROH in late 2006. He became one half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions alongside Naruki Doi on March 3, 2007, by beating The Briscoe Brothers in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. The two lost the championship back to the Briscoes at *All Star Extravaganza III* on March 30.

Shingo had his final official ROH match at "Good Times, Great Memories" on April 28, 2007, unsuccessfully challenging Takeshi Morishima for the ROH World Championship. He challenged The Briscoe Brothers for ROH World Tag Team Championship unsuccessfully at ROH's *Live in Osaka* show with his partner Susumu Yokosuka on July 17. At Wrestlemania weekend in 2008 at "Dragon Gate Challenge II" and "Supercard of Honor III", he and BxB Hulk wrestled The Age of the Fall (Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs), and El Generico and Kevin Steen respectively in his last two ROH appearances.

### Other promotions (2006–2007, 2018)

Throughout 2006 and 2007 Shingo appeared in several American promotions, including Full Impact Pro and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. On February 27, 2007, Shingo won the Southern Thunder Pro Wrestling Texas Heavyweight Championship by defeating Texas Renegade. On September 5, 2007 he made his Hawaii debut for Action Zone Wrestling (AZW) teaming with Sabaki in a losing effort to AZW Tag Team Champions Devilshock. On March 8, 2009, he won his first wrestling tournament in Germany by emerging triumphant at wXw's annual 16 Carat Gold Tournament. In 2009, he began wrestling for Dragon Gate USA. In September 2018, Takagi took part of the Battle of Los Angeles, making into the finals in a three-way match, also involving Bandido and Jeff Cobb, which was won by Cobb.

### New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2018–Present)

#### Junior Heavyweight Division (2018–2019)

On October 8, 2018, at King of Pro-Wrestling Takagi was revealed as the newest member of Los Ingobernables de Japón, who had previously been announced by L.I.J. leader Tetsuya Naito on October 2. At the event, Takagi made his return match to the promotion teaming with L.I.J members, BUSHI, Naito and SANADA in a winning effort against CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Sho and Yoh). Takagi got the victory for his team after pinning Sho. Takagi had previously appeared on the promotion's Lock-Up events in 2007.

Afterwards, Takagi and BUSHI were announced to take part in the Super Jr. Tag League as NJPW had decided to categorize him as a junior heavyweight wrestler going forward. Later that month, Takagi and BUSHI, finished the tournament with a record of five wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On November 3 at Power Struggle, Takagi and BUSHI were defeated in the finals by Sho and Yoh in a three-way match along with reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. On January 4, 2019 at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome, Takagi and BUSHI defeated Kanemaru and Desperado to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in a second three-way match also involving Sho and Yoh. On March 6, 2019 BUSHI and Takagi lost the titles to Sho and Yoh. Takagi entered the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors tournament ending winning all of his matches, advancing to the final. On June 5, Takagi would lose to Will Ospreay at the finals of the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors. The match would receive a considerable acclaim, with Dave Meltzer giving it a five and three-quarter stars and calling it the best junior heavyweight match ever [...] he had "ever seen and one of the best matches in any division". This would be Takagi's final match and only singles loss in the Junior Heavyweight division. During his time in the Junior Heavyweight division, he would stay both undefeated in singles matches and overall unpinned and unsubmitted until June 5, 2019; during this period, he suffered only three defeats in 72 consecutive matches, all of which were tag team matches in which a partner was pinned.

#### Heavyweight Division (2019–Present)

##### Transition and NEVER Openweight Champion (2019–2021)

Following his lost in finals of the Best of the Super Juniors, in a post-match interview Takagi asked NJPW to give him a match with a heavyweight wrestler. On June 9, at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, Takagi made his intentions of participating in the G1 Climax, after defeating Satoshi Kojima. From July 13 until August 11, Takagi took part in the 2019 G1 Climax, where he finished the tournament with a record of four wins and five losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. Following the tournament, Takagi announced that he would moving into the heavyweight division. From November 16 until December 8, Takagi and *Los Ingobernables* member El Terrible took part in the 2019 World Tag League, failing to win the tournament with a record of six wins and nine losses.

On January 5, 2020, on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome, Takagi, BUSHI and EVIL won a four-team gauntlet match to become the new NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions. The following day, at New Years Dash, Takagi teamed with EVIL in a winning effort against NEVER Openweight Champion Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii in a winning effort, after Takagi got a direct pinfall over Goto. Afterwards, Takagi challenged Goto to a title match. On February 1, at The New Beginning in Sapporo, Takagi defeated Hirooki Goto to win the NEVER Openweight Championship, becoming the first wrestler to hold both the NEVER Openweight and NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships simultaneously. In June, Takagi took part in the 2020 New Japan Cup, being eliminated from the tournament by Sho in the first round. On August 29, at Summer Struggle in Jingu, Takagi lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Minoru Suzuki in his fourth title defense. From September 19 until October 16, Takagi took part in the 2020 G1 Climax, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins and five losses, failling to advance to the finals of the tournament. During the tournament, Takagi defeated Suzuki in a rematch on October 16 in his final round-robin match. Takagi received his rematch for the NEVER Openweight Championship on November 7 at Power Struggle, defeating Suzuki to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the second time. From November 15 until December 6, Takagi and SANADA took part in the 2020 World Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of five wins and four losses, failling advance to the finals of the tournament.

##### IWGP World Heavyweight Champion (2021–2022)

     On January 30, 2021 at The New Beginning in Nagoya, Takagi lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi. In March, Takagi made it to the finals of the 2021 New Japan Cup, but was defeated there by Will Ospreay. On April 4 at Sakura Genisis, after Ospreay won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, before Okada could answer Ospreay's challenge, Takagi issued challenged Ospreay to a title match, claiming that he had defeated Okada in the first round of the 2021 New Japan Cup, while also seeking revenge for losing to Ospreay in the finals of the tournament. This led to Ospreay accepting Takagi as his first challenger, with Okada being next in line. On May 4, on the second night of Wrestling Dontaku, Takagi unsucessfully challenged Ospreay for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. However on May 20, it was announced that Opsreay would be vacacting the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship due to a neck injury suffered in his match against Takagi.

On May 25, Takagi announced his intentions to take part in the title match for the vacant IWGP Word Heavyweight Championship. On June 7, at Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall, Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. On July 25 at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Takagi made his first successful title defense against Hiroshi Tanahashi. Afterwards, EVIL appeared in a pre-tapped video, where he challenged Takagi to a title match, before laying him out with the *Everything Is Evil*, leading to his second title defense on September 5 at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, where he defeated EVIL. From September 18 to October 18, Takagi took part in the 2021 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of six wins, two losses and a draw against Yujiro Takahashi at the final day, thus missing the finals of the tournament by a single point, marking the first time in twelve years that a match in the tournament ended in a double count-out since Giant Bernard faced Masato Tanaka in the 2009 G1 Climax. On November 6 at Power Struggle, Takagi avenged a loss suffered during the 2021 G1 Climax by making his third successful title defense against Zack Sabre Jr., setting him up against the G1 Climax winner Kazuchika Okada in the main event of the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 16. On December 13, *Tokyo Sports* named Takagi the 2021 MVP in all of *puroresu*. At the event on January 4, 2022, Takagi lost the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Kazuchika Okada.In March, Takagi took part in the 2022 New Japan Cup, losing in the semifinals to eventual winner Zack Sabre Jr.

##### KOPW Champion (2022–2023)

On April 9, on the aftermath of Taichi winning the KOPW trohpy, Taichi promise to raise the KOPW 2022 trophy to ‘the main event level’ and afterwards nominated Takagi to be his first challenger, in the backstage area, Takagi accepted his challenge wondering whether Taichi would regret his words, stating that he would pick the hardest rules possible, with him a deserted island Ganryujima death match as a half joking example, with Taichi then leaving. On April 20, a fan vote was held by each men proposing each stipulation, Takagi proposed a Takagi-style 3 falls match, with Takagi promising to "fly to the top" with the trophy, Taichi, on the other hand, Taichi deemed Takagi's stipulation not understandable and proposed a 30 Count match. Three days later, it was announced that Taichi and Takagi would face each other in a 30 Count match, following the result of a fan poll. Two days later, Takagi defeated Taichi in a 30 Count match to become the provisional KOPW 2022 champion. At Wrestling Dontaku, Taichi scored a direct pinfall victory over Takagi, before challenging Takagi in a post-match interview to a title match. This led to a match on June 12 at Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall, where Takagi succesfully defended the trophy against Taichi in a 10 Minute Unlimited Pinfall Scramble match.

From July 16 to August 17, Takagi took part in the 2022 G1 Climax. Finishing with a record of three wins and three losses, Takagi narrowly failed to advance to the semifinals after losing to El Phantasmo on the final day. Afterwards, Phantasmo began trying to embarrass Takagi, after proclaiming to be his "daddy", leading both to agree to a "Who's Your Daddy match" at Declaration of Power on October 10. At the event, Takagi succesfully defended the trophy against Phantasmo in a Who’s Your Daddy match. Afterwards, Phantasmo attacked Takagi, before destroying the KOPW trophy. A rematch was later announced leading on October 15, during a tag team match between Takagi and Phantasmo, the match ended in a disqualification after Phantasmo hit the referee with a trash can lid. Phantasmo hit the *CRIII*, before putting Takagi in a trash can and hit him with the *Thunder Kiss '86*. Phantasmo then proposed a "New York Street Fight" while Takagi, on the other hand, at the backstage area preposed a "Last Daddy Standing", with a fan vote being held a week later. Three days later, it was announced that Takagi and Phantasmo would face each other in a New York Street Fight, following the result of a fan poll. On October 28 at Rumble on 44th Street, Takagi succesfully defended the trophy against Phantasmo.

On November 22, Taichi challenged Takagi for a rematch for the KOPW championship, Takagi initially was reluctant on offering a shot a the trophy due to not having a "grand enough stage^, leading to Taichi to reply and appoint the title match at his promoted event on December 15, leading Takagi to accept. On November 29, a fan vote was held by each men proposing each stipulation, Taichi proposed a 30 Minute High Score match, with Taichi citing how the World Cup inspired him on discovering the that a true sporting competition was a about "managing the clock’, Takagi, on the other hand, Takagi proposed a Takagi-Style Lumberjack Last Man Standing match, citing that there would be "no flukes" and that "something decisive will win the match". Taichi then tried to propose more stipulations with Takagi refuting them. Takagi presented his newly remodeled trophy, with Taichi suggesting that the central column was a toilet paper roll, while preceding to denigrate the trophy further. Four days later, it was announced that Takagi and Taichi would face each other in a Takagi-Style Lumberjack Last Man Standing match, following the result of a fan poll. On December 15, at TAKATaichi 50th Anniversary, Takagi defeated Taichi in a Takagi-Style Lumberjack Last Man Standing match to become the official KOPW 2022 champion.

On January 5, 2023 at *New Year Dash*, Takagi became the first Provisional 2023 KOPW Champion after defeating Great-O-Khan, Toru Yano, Sho in a four-way match. After the match, O-Khan stared down Takagi, holding his Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship, as way of asserting his superiority over him. In a backstage interview, O-Khan challenged Takagi to a match, which Takagi accepted; despite seeing the KOPW Championship as a way to challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. On January 22 at The New Beginning in Nagoya, Takagi defeated O-Khan in a Mixed Martial Arts rules match to make his first sucessfull title defense. On February 11, at The New Beginning in Osaka, Takagi unsucessfully challenged Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. On March 6, at NJPW's Anniversary Event, Takagi along with his stablemates, Tetsuya Naito and SANADA faced the United Empire's Jeff Cobb, Great O-Khan and Aaron Henare. Takagi's team lost after Henare directly pinned Takagi to win the match in an upset win. This led to an increasing momentum heading to into their match, where Takagi was eliminated in the first round of the New Japan Cup, after Henare defeated him once again. Henare then challenged Takagi for a title match, which Takagi accepted and decided to let Henare to choose the stipulation of their match, which Henare chose a Ultimate Triad match. On April 2, Takagi defeated Henare to retain the Provisional KOPW 2023 Championship. On April 8 at Sakura Genesis, following a match between Just 5 Guys and *Los Ingobernables de Japón*, Taichi confronted Takagi following their match. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, having previously been defeated by Takagi three times for the Provisional 2022 KOPW Trophy in the previous year, Tachi issued Takagi a challenge for a rematch for his title, in order to move on from his past. Afterwards, he confronted Takagi repeating his challenge, which Takagi accepted. Two days later, NJPW made the title match official. While the rules for KOPW title matches are traditionally decided by fan vote, Taichi did not propose a rule set for the match, adding that since he lost to Takagi three times, he did not deserve to choose the rules. He instead allowed Takagi to pick the stipulation for the match, which led him to decide for a Takagi-Style Triad match. On April 29 at Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni, Takagi lost the Provisional KOPW 2023 Championship to Taichi in a Takagi-style triad match.

##### Return to the NEVER Openweight Champion and various feuds (2023–Present)

From July 16 to August 8, Takagi took part in the 2023 G1 Climax, where he finished the tournament with a record of three wins, three losses and a draw, failing to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. On October 14 at Royal Quest III, after Takagi faced Tomohiro Ishii in a winning effort, he was confronted by reigning NEVER Openweight Champion Tama Tonga, who challenged him to a match for his title, having been previously defeated by Takagi during the 2023 G1 Climax, which he accepted, setting up the match at Fighting Spirit Unleashed. On October 28, at Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Takagi defeated Tonga to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the third time, before losing the title back to him on January 4, 2024 at Wrestle Kingdom 18. The following day, at *New Year Dash*, during a post-match interview, Takagi challenged Jon Moxley to a match at Battle in the Valley. Moxley accepted only on the condition that it was no disqualiofication match

## Personal life

On August 15, 2021, Takagi tested positive for COVID-19 amid its pandemic in Japan.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Last Falconry* (DG) / *Last Of The Dragon* (NJPW) (Wrist-clutch Samoan driver)
	+ *Made In Japan* (Pumphandle half nelson driver, sometimes while stalling)
	+ *Manjigatame* (Octopus hold, with a heel hook if grounded)
	+ *Pumping Bomber* (Lariat, sometimes to the back of the opponent's head, transitioned from a wrist-lock, or while sliding)
	+ *Stay Dream* (Avalanche wrist-clutch Olympic slam)
	+ *Takagi Driver '98* (Double hammerlock kneeling piledriver)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Atomic drop
	+ Back body drop
	+ Brainbuster, sometimes from the top rope
	+ *DDT – Dangerous Driver Takagi* (Snap DDT)
	+ *Deadly Drive* (Military press toss to an opponent on the top rope)
	+ Death valley bomb, sometimes done on the apron or in an avalanche, pop-up or spun-out variant
	+ Diving double knee drop
	+ Double leg slam
	+ Electric chair drop
	+ Enzuigiri
	+ Figure-four leglock
	+ Fireman's carry spinebuster
	+ Frankensteiner, used as a powerbomb counter
	+ *Jigokuguruma* (Wrist-clutch implant DDT) – adopted from Taku Iwasa
	+ Lifting side slam
	+ *Legend Falconry* (Wrist-clutch death valley driver)
	+ Multiple backbreaker variations
		- Argentine rack
		- Hanging inverted
		- Pendulum
		- *Pumping Breaker* (Lariat takedown, to an opponent hanging on the middle rope)
		- Side slam dropped into
		- Swinging side slam transitioned into a
		- *Takagi-style GTR – Great Takagi Revolution* (Spinning headlock elbow drop dropped onto the knee, usually done with an opponent standing in the middle rope or on the top of a barricade) – adopted from Hirooki Goto
		- Tilt-a-whirl
		- Wheelbarrow transitioned into a
	+ Multiple facebuster variations
		- *Blood Fall* (Backbreaker rack dropped into a sitout, sometimes done in a cut-throat variant)
		- *Complete Shot* (Reverse STO, sometimes done in a snap variant)
		- *Gallon Throw* (Reverse powerbomb)
		- *Noshigami* (Gory bomb) – adopted from Taku Iwasa
	+ Multiple gutbuster variations
		- Argentine, followed up by a standing senton
		- Fireman's carry transitioned into a single or double knee
		- *Sol de Japon* (Pumphandle double knee)
	+ Multiple lariat variations
		- *Diving Pumping Bomber* (Diving, with theatrics)
		- *Dragon Soul Lariat* (Short-arm)
		- *Short-range Pumping Bomber* (Short-range with a wrist-lock)
		- *Takagi-style Axe Bomber* (Crooked arm) – adopted from Taichi
		- *Takagi-style Rainmaker* (Ripcord) – adopted from Kazuchika Okada
		- *Ryukon Lariat* (Left arm, Usually preceded by a back elbow and a jab)
	+ Multiple piledriver variations
		- *Fire Thunder* (Sit-out reverse)
		- *Michinoku Driver II* (Suplex transitioned into a sitout reverse)
		- Snap, sometimes while kneeling
		- *Takagi-style Galleria* (Inverted facelock lifted and dropped into a sitout scoop slam) – adopted from YAMATO
		- *Tombstone* (Kneeling reverse)
	+ Multiple pinning variations
		- Rana
		- Small package
		- *Takagi-style Backslide From Heaven* (Backslide) – adopted from Genki Horiguchi
		- *Takagi-style Taichi-style Gedo Clutch* (Gedo clutch) – adopted from Taichi
	+ Multiple powerbomb variations
		- *Buckle Bomb* (Corner powerbomb)
		- Diving
		- Folding
		- Regular
		- Sitout, sometimes with a pop-up
	+ Multiple powerslam variations
		- Catch
		- Pendulum lift
		- Pumphandle
		- Regular
		- *Taka no Tsume* (Crucifix)
		- *Takagi-style Cozy Crush Dynamite* (Sitout side) - adopted from Satoshi Kojima
		- *Takagi-style EVO* (Pumphandle sitout side) – adopted from BxB Hulk
	+ Multiple strikes
		- Big boot
		- Back elbow strike, sometimes from the top rope
		- Closed-fist punch
		- *Corner Bomber* (Corner clothesline, with theatrics)
		- Elbow drop
		- Elbow stamp
		- Elbow strike
		- Fist drop
		- Headbutt
		- Knife edge chop
		- Mongolian chop
		- *Pumping Combo* (Repeating chops followed by a closed-fist punch, followed up by numerous chops and/or punches)
		- Rapid-fire elbows
		- Running elbow strike
		- *Senkou Youjutsu* (Shining wizard) - adopted from Keiji Mutoh
		- Thrust kick
	+ Multiple submissions
		- Bearhug
		- Boston crab
		- Cobra clutch
		- *Cobra Twist* (Abdominal stretch, sometimes transitioned into a crucifix pin)
		- Cross armbreaker
		- Dragon sleeper
		- Fujiwara armbar
		- Guillotine choke
		- *Mankiri* (Arm trap anaconda vice)
		- Omoplata crossface
		- *Sasori-gatame* (Elevated sharpshooter)
		- Single knee Boston crab
		- Stepover inverted heel hook
		- *STF — Shingo Takagi Facelock* (STF, sometimes in a inverted variant)
	+ Multiple suplex variations
		- Back
		- *Backdrop Driver* (High-angle belly-to-back, sometimes from the top rope)
		- *Butterfly* (Hand-clasped double-underhook)
		- Exploder, sometimes done in the corner
			* *Exploder '98* (Wrist-clutch exploder)
		- *German* (Bridging belly-to-back waist-lock)
			* *Dragon* (Full-nelson *German*)
			* Half-nelson *German*
			* Wheelbarrow *German*
		- Snap
		- Super
		- Vertical
	+ *Nodowa Otoshi* (Chokeslam) - adopted from Don Fujii
	+ *Original Falconry* (Wrist-clutch Olympic slam)
	+ *Pescado* (Slingshot crossbody to the outside of the ring)
	+ Pop-up throw
	+ Scoop slam
	+ Shoulder tackle
	+ Sidewalk slam
	+ *Sliding D* (Running elbow to a sitting opponent) - adopted from Masato Tanaka
	+ Slingshot foot stomp, with theatrics
	+ Standing, running or diving knee drop onto the knee or face of an opponent
	+ Standing, running or diving senton
	+ Spear
	+ Spinebuster, sometimes to an oncoming opponent
	+ Swinging side slam
	+ *Takagi-style Canadian Revolution II* (Double hammerlock inverted back to belly mat slam) - adopted from El Phantasmo
	+ *Takagi-style Dragon Screw* (Dragon screw)
	+ *Takagi-style Gun Stun* (Jumping cutter) - adopted from Tama Tonga
	+ *Takagi-style Neck Twist* (Whiplash)
	+ *Takagi-style STO – Super Takagi-style Ootogari* (STO) – adopted from EVIL
	+ Topé con hilo
	+ *Ura Noshigami* (Backpack stunner)
	+ *Whale Hunt* (Half nelson lifted and dropped into an Olympic slam) - adopted from Shuji Kondo
	+ *YO Throw!* (Spinning gutwrench toss)
* **With BUSHI**
	+ *Rebellion* (Double knee facebreaker (BUSHI) / Wheelbarrow facebuster (Takagi) combination)
* **With Eita**
	+ *Torture Kick* (Elevated sharpshooter (Takagi) / *Imperial Uno* (Eita) combination)
* **With SANADA**
	+ *Skull Crusher* (Noshigami (Takagi) / Jumping Cutter (SANADA) combination)
* **Nicknames**
	+ "Going My Own Way"
	+ "Mr. Selfish"
	+ "Pumping Hawk"
	+ **"The Dragon"**
	+ "Energetic Old Man"
	+ **"Dragon King"**
	+ **"Rampage Dragon"**
	+ **"Yamanashi's Wrathful God"**
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Legend Falconry" by Hiroaki Sano (Dragon Gate)
	+ "Rising Dragon" by Yonosuke Kitamura (NJPW)
	+ "Rising Dragon 2021 Ver." by Yonosuke Kitamura (NJPW)
	+ **"Rising Dragon 2022 Ver."** by Yonosuke Kitamura (NJPW)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Dragon Gate**
	+ Open The Dream Gate Championship (4 times)
	+ Open The Owarai Gate Championship (1 time)
	+ Open The Triangle Gate Championship (6 times) – with BxB Hulk and Cyber Kong (2), Gamma and YAMATO (1), Taku Iwasa and Dragon Kid (1), T-Hawk and Cyber Kong (1) and Takashi Yoshida and El Lindaman (1)
	+ Open The Twin Gate Championship (5 times) – with YAMATO (3), Cyber Kong (1) and Akira Tozawa (1)
	+ King of Gate (2010)
	+ Provisional Open The Triangle Gate Championship (1 time) – with CIMA and Naruki Doi
	+ Planning Jumbo Six Man Scramble One Night Tag Tournament (2008) – with YAMATO and Cyber Kong
	+ New Years Unit War 6 Man Tag Team Tournament (2016) – with El Lindaman and T-Hawk
	+ Summer Adventure Tag League (2009) – with YAMATO
	+ Fourth Triple Crown Champion
* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him #**86** of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 2011
	+ PWI ranked him #**43** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016
	+ PWI ranked him #**126** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017
	+ PWI ranked him #**9** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021
* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
	+ IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with BUSHI
	+ NEVER Openweight Championship (3 times)
	+ NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with BUSHI and EVIL
	+ KOPW (2022)
	+ Provisional KOPW 2022 (1 time)
	+ Provisional KOPW 2023 Championship (1 time)
	+ New Japan Rambo (2023)
* **Pro Wrestling Noah**
	+ GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with BxB Hulk
* **Ring of Honor**
	+ ROH World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Naruki Doi
* **Southern Thunder Pro Wrestling**
	+ STPW Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* ***Tokyo Sports***
	+ MVP Award (2021)
	+ Technique Award (2008)
* **westside Xtreme wrestling**
	+ 16 Carat Gold Tournament (2009)
* **Wrestling Observer Newsletter**
	+ Japan MVP (2021)
	+ Most Outstanding Wrestler (2021)
	+ Rookie of the Year (2005)

### Luchas de Apuestas record

1 **^**  This was a seven-way steel cage match, also involving El Lindaman, Punch Tominaga, Masaaki Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda and YAMATO

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Shingo Takago profile . Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2009-11-06.
2. ↑ 「六年前」鷹木信悟オフィシャルブログ「我道驀進」powerd by SPORA  (2019-09-09).
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dragon Gate news, April 2007 . DGUSA. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
4. ↑ Dragon Gate Aggressive Gate tour results . DGUSA. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DGProfile`
6. ↑ Open the Triangle Gate title history . Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
7. ↑ Summer Adventure Tag League 2008 . ProWrestlingHistory.com (**"August 9–28, 2008" is not a valid date.**). Retrieved on 2010-04-18.
8. ↑ Summer Adventure Tag League 2009 . ProWrestlingHistory.com (**"August 1–26, 2009" is not a valid date.**). Retrieved on 2010-04-18.
9. ↑ Dangerous Gate 2012 - 22 Sep 2012 . *iHeartDG* (2012-09-23). Retrieved on 2012-09-23.
10. ↑ Dead or Alive 2013  (in Japanese). *Dragon Gate* (2013-05-05). Retrieved on 2013-05-06.
11. ↑ ドラゴンゲートKobe プロレスフェスティバル 2013  (in Japanese). *Dragon Gate*. Retrieved on 2013-07-22.
12. ↑ 新時代の扉が開いたドラゲーで、暁を解散に追い込んだMBが戸澤を追放！鷹木のDG初防衛戦の相手がYamatoに決定！  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2013-08-02). Retrieved on 2013-08-01.
13. ↑ 意地を見せた斎了を下したYamatoに、土井から裏切られた吉野が挑戦表明！ジミーズを下したミレニアルズはベテラン軍を指名！  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2013-09-13). Retrieved on 2013-09-13.
14. ↑ *ja:吉野、鷹木、戸澤らの新ユニット本格始動 トライアングルゲート戦はＭＢに苦杯* (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Yahoo! (2013-10-07). Retrieved on 2013-10-07.
15. ↑ The Final Gate 2013  (in Japanese). *Dragon Gate*. Gaora. Retrieved on 2013-12-22.
16. ↑ *ja:Ｔ―ＨａｗｋとＥｉｔａがツイン王座奪取* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-07-21). Retrieved on 2014-07-21.
17. ↑ http://www.iheartdg.com/satl14.html
18. ↑ 鷹木がドリーム王座奪取 独裁政権樹立へ  (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-08-17). Retrieved on 2015-08-17.
19. ↑ 08/23 Gate of Generation . *iHeartDG* (2015-08-23). Retrieved on 2015-08-23.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Ring Of Honor Tag Team Championship . Ring of Honor. Retrieved on 2010-04-05.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Rose, Bryan 2018-10-08. SHINGO TAKAGI JOINS NJPW AT KING OF PRO WRESTLING . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2018-10-08.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 Puroresu Central profile . Puroresu Central. Retrieved on 2011-07-29.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 CageMatch profile . CageMatch.de. Retrieved on 2011-07-29.
24. ↑ Radican, Sean. RADICAN'S DGUSA "OPEN THE FREEDOM GATE 2010" PPV REVIEW: Ronin vs. Warriors International, Yoshino vs. YAMATO . PW Torch. Retrieved on 2011-07-29.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Radican, Sean. RADICAN'S DGUSA 9/4 ENTER THE DRAGON PPV REVIEW (Yamato-Hulk, Young Bucks-CIMA & Yokosuka) . PW Torch. Retrieved on 2011-08-28.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Vetter, Chris. DVD Review: ROH, "Good Times, Great Memories" (4-28-07) with Cabana's final match, Briscoes-Shelley/Sabin . PW Torch. Retrieved on 2011-07-29.
27. ↑ January 2005 News and Report Archive . *iHeartDG*. Retrieved on 2013-03-29.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Vetter, Chris. DVD Review: ROH, "SuperCard of Honor II" (3-31-07), with Whitmer-Jacobs in a cage, Dragon Gate six-man tag . PW Torch. Retrieved on 2011-07-29.
29. ↑ Open the Spanish Gate . Open the Garoon Gate. Retrieved on 2011-07-29.
30. ↑ Vetter, Chris. DVD Review: ROH, "Black Friday Fallout," (11-24-06), w/Daniels & Sydal vs. Delirious & Richards . PWTorch. Retrieved on 2011-07-29.
31. ↑ Vetter, Chris. 4/27 ROH in St. Paul, Minn.: Vetter's detailed live report of Aries-Morishima . PW Torch. Retrieved on 2011-07-29.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Shingo Takagi Nickname(s) - Cagematch profile .
33. ↑ Shingo Takagi entrance themes . Cagematch.
34. ↑ "PWI 500": 1–100 . *Pro Wrestling Illustrated* (2011-08-09). Retrieved on 2011-08-09.
35. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016 . *The Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2016-09-01.