13 Ups & 3 Downs From NJPW Dominion 6.9 2019

4. Tommy & Taichi Do It Again

Tomohiro Ishii brings out the best in New Japan's most divisive wrestler.

Taichi is a heavily gimmicked Sports Entertainer whose over-the-top act and constant shenanigans rankle one side of NJPW's fanbase, who see it was an affront to the promotion's supposed "real sport" feel. Others (read: Hamflett, Michael) love the lip-syncing banter merchant and the variety he brings. Regardless, both sides are usually united when he meets Ishii, against whom Taichi enjoyed the best singles match of his career in this year's New Japan Cup.

This NEVER Openweight Title clash was of a similar standard. Taichi, in his endless quest to prove himself to his mentor Toshiaki Kawada, stood up to the brutish Ishii. At one point, Dangerous T even bettered the 'Stone Pitbull' in a kicking battle. That didn't mean eschewing the usual heel tactics, though, as Taichi still found time to down the referee when it looked like his opponent was in the ascension, buying him vital time in this battle against the man with the hardest head in the world.

A dramatic series of late-match kickouts put Taichi over as a guy edging closer to showing he belongs in the ring with guys like Ishii, though his reign ended via verticle drop Brainbuster. Perhaps the 'Holy Emperor' would have fared better had he not tried to fight fire with. Either way, Ishii has his old NEVER Openweight strap back for the first time in over three years, having once again helped Taichi to a banger midcard match.