4 Ups & 5 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 (Night 1)

3. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado

El Desperado Hiromu Takahashi
NJPW

A shot of adrenaline when the show needed one, even after the IWGP Tag Team Title match, Hiromu Takahashi vs El Desperado was bonkers.

Forgoing strategy, the duo opted to beat each other senseless from the first bell. Instead of woking to stifle and control, they worked to kill, keeping a brisk, intense pace throughout, injecting their work with the dangerous edge you expect from this specific pairing.

While not at the same level as their peak work, the duo nonetheless provided one of the night's biggest highlights. Entering the ring in a jacket that looked like an octopus f*cked the NXT 2.0 logo, Takahashi pulled out his brutal sunset flip powerbomb to the floor within the first few minutes, having lost a striking exchange that increased in ferocity until he and Despy were literally throwing their entire bodies behind each blow.

Hiromu knocked the hell out of his opponent with multiple corner bombs, though a stiff straight punch to the mouth led to his demise. Echoing his first IWGP Light Heavyweight Title victory, Desperado dropping Takahashi with not one, but two Pinche Locos, cementing the biggest defence of his career against the division's standout star.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.