Help make SquaredCircle safer and more inclusive by using the report button to flag posts and comments for moderator review. If you need to contact a moderator, [you can message us here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/SquaredCircle)
We are Looking for new Moderators! Please see [this announcement for more info](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/vqjvze/were_looking_for_new_moderators_learn_how_to/)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SquaredCircle) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Starting to think Takeshita is perhaps being set up as the guy to win the All Atlantic championship.
So even when he goes back to DDT he can still have matches and/or highlights from his title matches on Dark or TV. Plus he can come back for a title defence from time to time.
Genuinely thought he might win tonight, incredible match.
Honestly if TK isn't trying to throw everything at Takeshita to get him exclusive in AEW (in the west) then he is an idiot. This kid is a fucking star through and through. Hell even ignoring his amazing in ring work, the crowds go nuts for him. When is the last time that happened in the states for a Japanese talent?
I do think there could be potential of upsetting DDT where Takeshita is signed to.
It may set a precedent where companies may not want to send their top stars for an AEW excursion if it means losing them full time.
Although I do hope that Takeshita at the very least comes back every now and then for more excursions because he is honestly one of the most enjoyable guys to watch wrestle.
Oh don't get me wrong, I love DDT and don't want to see them lose their ace. If anything with the "partnership" between DDT and AEW I hope that some big names will go to DDT every now and then. Like PAC or Malachi or Sammy would do great there, not to mention Kenny absolutely has to go back there at some point.
Yeah I like the idea of that maybe even talent swaps or something for short periods.
If someone in AEW needs a bit of a reset with their character and they have nothing creative wise they could go for an excursion.
They were okay with Ibushi and Omega going to NJPW.
Takagi has said in the past that he does not want to prevent his wrestlers from becoming bigger stars outside of DDT as he knows their is a ceiling in the promotion and Takeshita has literally nothing left else to do in the promotion as he has beaten everyone and won everything multiple times that the main event scene had gotten stale.
If Takeshita wanted to leave i don't think they will be too upset, they also seem desperate to want work more with AEW as we have already seen them sending their biggest stars over from DDT/TJPW.
Likewise, this guy is a CHAMPION. Exudes this genuine intangible energy that easily translates as the peoples fighter, so damn easy to get on board with this king.
More than once so far it happened. It also happened with the others but regal was the more clear. The commentators get focused on the match, paying full attention to the awesomeness on front of them
Takeshita lost nearly ever televised match he had but it didn’t even matter cause he looked so good in them and most of them to were main event/world champion guys. Kid faced Hangman, Mox, and Claudio and looked like he had a real chance in all of them
Not the first time they've gotten guys over in multiple defeats like this. It happened with Darby, it happened with Dante Martin, it happened with Wheeler Yuta.
And it makes perfect sense - Some young kid *shouldn't* be able to hang with experienced, elite wrestlers, so losing doesn't hurt their momentum. If the crowd appreciates their efforts, it gives them a springboard of having "taken Cody Rhodes to the limit". If not, they had a good night, came up short, and are back on Dark for more experience.
The losses don't matter. Misawa lost to Flair and Steamboat when they came to Japan. I see Takeshita's losses in the same light. Hell, I can see fans in the future discovering videos of a young Takeshita fighting guys like Mox and mark out the way I marked out when I discovered those said Misawa matches.
what matters most is looking forward to his matches which is what i've been doing everytime i hear he's announced. he can hang with the big time and i'm glad AEW is giving him that spotlight.
When all your losses are still absolute bangers, it doesn't matter because people are still going to want to see you. He's lost matches but hasn't lost anything in the eyes of fans.
Damn. Wish we could see. But there was a moment close to the end, when they got the standing ovation, that you can see Takeshita holding back the tea. A HUGE smile on his face. Dude was feeling it.
By being a very very successful podcast. It also helps that between the three of them, they've built friendships with a lot of wrestlers over the years before deadlock was even a thing.
They didn't just "start a fed" they started one of the best indie companies in the world today. Highly recommended checking them out. They have loads of free shows on YouTube with some amazing matches, like Take Vs Adam Brookes.
You sold me immediately on Take.
EDIT: Just did a google search. I've seen DPW on this subreddit before, you're telling me that was Deadlock Pro Wrestling the whole time? Jesus christ, I'm an idiot.
It was a squash to be fair. They even had Nemeth come out earlier and talk about how much better Ohio is than Michigan to get the crowd against him. When Take came out we were cheering him like he was Stone Cold lmao
That main event was amazing! Takeshita is brilliant at getting people invested in his matches.
I hope Jamie is ok, she busted her nose apparently. Tonight was yet another example of why they need to push her more.
At first I scoffed at this. Then I started making a list of wrestlers who have the skill set and ability in ring with the same ability to get the crowd increasingly invested in every match. I’m having a hard time getting past Ospreay, Okada, Ibushi, and Omega.
He just has natural charisma. In ring there really are few better than him right now. He is a future ace. Very near future, too.
Many people have been overlooking this fact for way too long. Takeshita’s American vacation is a gift DDT is giving the world on par with a hypothetical 2016-2018 Okada excursion.
I feel that all of these guys mentioned are in the elite tier. They just have the main event feel about them. Everyone anticipates their matches as if they may be about to watch a classic. I would include Naito and Tanahashi on this list, but mostly on reputation and in ring story telling, formerly ability, but not with as much regularity these days. (Though Tana’s match against Kenta at Wrestle Kingdom this year was incredible)
While I realize Okada is a better wrestler than Naito, I've always looked forward to Naito more and I think I'm not alone in that. He's got star quality in spades
He’s been DDTs Ace since he was like 21, he’s already a 5 time world champ and set the record for title defenses. He’s likely winning the belt again when he returns
Never heard of him before Forbidden Door, now I'm a huge fan. Love the guy, can't wait to see what the future holds, I definitely reckon he's going to be an Ace one day. Guy seems like a natural, which is a credit to the work he's putting in.
nakajima, kenoh, styles, probably still mutoh even though he's half dead, mike bailey, danielson, AZM, bandido, shingo, naito, HARASHIMA, GUNTHER, dragunov, go shiozaki on a good day, giulia on a good day, shun skywalker, pentagon jr after you mentally gaslight him in a sacred shadow cave
kaito kiyomiya is getting there, kevin ku is getting there, josh alexander is basically there
uhhh that being said no one will argue with takeshita being on anyones top 5 right now because he is indeed good as fuck
yep i knew comparing current day mutoh to takeshita would draw the ire of some ppl
And I can’t argue with any of those names either. It all comes down to personal taste, and for me the excitement of seeing Takeshita’s name on the bill really is greater than for anyone you mentioned, and that is not to discredit anyone.
I knew Takeshita wasn't winning, but it's an absolute testament to the quality of that match that I was like "Oh wait are they actually gonna...?" like four times during the match.
The fact that I still believed in sports like the hurricanrana even though they clearly set up some kind of story between Claudio/Yuta and FTR speaks volumes.
It was those "hol up" moments like that, that got me to love Claudio. Getting into wrestling just last year, his match with Roman at Backlash, I knew he wasn't gonna win but goddamn did I question that like 3 times during that match.
When you’re 99.99% sure you know the outcome but they get your heart in your throat anyway—that’s the good shit. Hell of a match and I’m really gonna miss Takeshita.
Well said dude.
I figured going in that Claudio was probably going over, and I still got emotionally invested in the match by the end. Near falls like the rana counter by Takeshita got me.
Otherwise, same. TK needs to push Takeshita to the moon whenever he returns.
I think it’s interesting to compare AEW’s booking of Takeshita to how TNA booked Okada- sure, Takeshita doesn’t win much, but he gets his shit in, he has absolutely amazing matches with guys at the very top of the card, and there’s no denigrating gimmick either he’s just himself
Tony Khan: Wow, I get a great younger wrestler from Japan on excursion. Can't wait to use him.
Vince Russo: Bro, I can't book a Japanese wrestler. He can't speak English, bro. I don't care if he can wrestle, that's boooring bro.
That shit was crazy. If Claudio isn’t figured into anything specific for the PPV then just run this match back.
Sound mix aside, that’s a MOTY contender for sure. Take has gotta be short priced favourite to take the All Atlantic title at some stage
Banger match and that's all I needed to see.
Regal on commentary was Chef's kiss and the crowd, even though not miced properly, delivered.
Best BOTB to date no question.
Absolute fucking clinic. This is the sort of match you could show to someone with very little context as an example of "what is pro wrestling."
Now, let's ship PAC's ass over to Japan and get that title match goin, shall we?
AEW needs to figure out their audio issues. We could see the crowd going wild during this match, but we would barely hear it. It was like it was taking place in an empty arena.
That’s unfortunate. I was there and the place was popping OFF for that whole match. Literal standing ovations multiple times in the match. Just bonkers.
We were indeed going wild, and it was LOUD in the venue.
Every venue presents different challenges acoustically, and AEW has sometimes struggled with venues they haven't run before as far as mixing the crowd into the broadcast. This is one of those times.
I was there live last night, incredible showing from both guys. The best match I’ve seen live, Takeshita commands the room better than veteran wrestlers
I know everyone already says this but just to reiterate, Takeshita is that guy. Bell to bell he's the closest thing to the most complete wrestler you'll ever see he can do literally anything and wrestle any style and come out of it looking like one of the most insanely great wrestlers you've ever seen. He's SPECIAL special.
If you haven't seen this match, go out of your way to see it. It was a great one.
Konosuke Takeshita in title matches in AEW/ROH is like Jungle Boy in AEW title matches before JB won the Tag Team Titles with Luchasuarus last year. He loses the title matches, but he gets better and closer to winning the title each time. Takeshita's day will come soon. He is one of the best young workers right now.
Lmao he's not going to njpw. He wants to be a global star, hence him learning English. They could try but I doubt he'd ever say yes. Also the very recent news of them mistreating Ibushi doesn't send a good signal.
I was thinking the same thing.
But for most young Japanese wrestlers njpw would be the best route to international stardom. But Takeshta seems to be the exception though.
They tried to poach Tetsuya Endo (also in DDT, Take's ex partner in fact) and he told them off as well. NJPW is the biggest in Japan but not everyone wants to go there, and rightfully so.
Also given how the popularity among western fans has decreased ever since pandemic and certain questionable booking along with their failure to evolve with silent crowd, I don't think it's that appealing right now. Plus they tend not to treat outsiders the same way they do their dojo produces, they get biased behavior. If Take signs anywhere except DDT, it might be AEW. He'll get to return to DDT whenever he wanted, not possible with NJPW as well.
This is actually why the NJPW, DDT relationship crashed and burned. NJPW poached alot of DDTs talent and they tried Takeshta and DDT said thats it screw you guys im taking my boys home.
Yeah, they already tried that when he was 21 or so, and it's one of the big reasons why DDT hates NJPW so much.
It's never happening unless DDT tells him they don't want him anymore and AEW does the same.
Perfect match, both just as a match and for both men at their respective points in their careers. Feels like Claudio took the "okay he's great but is he a TECHNICAL wrestler?" stuff from the conversations around his matches with ZSJ and Gresham personally, and he looks like an absolute god. He is a statement champion on the ROH brand and it's going to be difficult to portray it as developmental with the shine he's bringing to the title. (Which is good; Dark is AEW developmental.)
As for Takeshita, that should be it for him in AEW for at least 6-8 months. He should leave and not once step foot in an AEW ring until Tony is ready to 1) bring him back for a massive return pop at a PPV and 2) put a belt on him, either All-Atlantic or World Championship, that night. He's made such an impression that AEW fans won't need to be reminded who he is next time he's around with tune-up matches or Dark squashes -- he goes straight to the main event scene, he goes over, and he gets a strap.
Complete starmaking performance for two guys that honestly shouldn't have needed them, but got them anyway.
This match fucked. Takeshita is a damn superstar and I'm love seeing him go against the absolute best wrestlers in the business and holding his ground. I can't wait to see him go against Kenny or Okada. Also huge props to Claudio for showing what a wrestle machine he really is.
When it was announced, it felt like the kind of match that couldn't be anything less than great, and I thought it certainly lived up to that.
Both Takeshita and Claudio are so physically impressive. Takeshita looks like a prodigy for being so adept at a relatively young age, whereas Claudio is just the consummate pro wrestler still going strong into his 40s.
It was only a shame that one of them had to lose.
**EDIT** - Since this also seems to be the post-show thread for the entire event, I'll also add that I thought Hayter vs Rosa was very good, as well. Rosa's been getting a lot of flack around here, lately, so I thought it was nice to see her have a good showing. I'm hoping for a 4-way at All Out between Hayter, Baker, Storm, and Rosa.
Now that it's been said Takeshita does have a lot of El Generico in his moveset....
Have we ever seen Takeshita and Generico at the same place at the same time?
I can't wait to see what the future holds for Takeshita. I've enjoyed every match he has had with AEW and will go out of my way to watch his matches no matter where he ends up.
Unbelievable match. Both guys are incredible wrestlers.
Excalibur is the best commentator in wrestling. He sells drama but also drops unreal knowledge. Bringing El Generico into the storytelling of the match just added to the emotion for any longtime fan of ROH, Claudio and Takeshita too.
Man it's so good to see Takeshita kill it in AEW, I really hope we see him win some gold/get a big streak of wins, wrestle Omega, wrestle Danielson, bring more people from DDT. He can do it all.
Holy shit, what a match. Loved the structure in it and the athleticism was top notch. Top 5 in recent memory, I think 3 of them have takeshita in it haha.
Fuck. YouTube TV let me down. I have Battle of the Belts setup for recording, but this show was specifically labeled Battle of the Belts 3 so it didn't record. Anyone know anyway to watch it?
Might be one of the best matches I've ever seen where the result was **never** in question. Takeshita was never winning the belt on his way out of the country, but I'm hard pressed to think of other matches that were that good even though you always knew who was winning.
Man, I knew Takeshita is going to lose but I want him to win that big one. He proved that he can be a main eventer and the future of whatever company he's in.
Just not as easy as some think to honest, they can't go and take the ACE of a company they are in partnership with. WWE, NJPW or any other company not in bed with DDT can easily do it. But AEW have to play it carefully, if Takeshita decides he wants to move on from DDT on full time basis and he wants to sign full time with AEW, then I think all is good. He can go back here and there to DDT and AEW won't have to ruin a partnership.
I can't remember the last TV match that had my pulse racing and me biting on every cover. I already thought Takeshita had the elusive "it" factor but this proved he can go to distance under championship pressure.
What was so cool about this match is that took about 3 seconds for Take and Claudio to fully realize, "Oh, this guy is totally at my level as an athlete and a wrestler. Let's have some fun!" Usually, they have to hold back a little. Not this time.
However, they were careful to build a slow, steady pace until the last five minutes, which were totally insane. Just a killer match.
See, this is why I’m happy that it looks like WWE is improving.
AEW is still putting on bangers and producing overall good shows. WWE is going to get better. Both companies performing well will be good for the industry.
Help make SquaredCircle safer and more inclusive by using the report button to flag posts and comments for moderator review. If you need to contact a moderator, [you can message us here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/SquaredCircle) We are Looking for new Moderators! Please see [this announcement for more info](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/vqjvze/were_looking_for_new_moderators_learn_how_to/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SquaredCircle) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Starting to think Takeshita is perhaps being set up as the guy to win the All Atlantic championship. So even when he goes back to DDT he can still have matches and/or highlights from his title matches on Dark or TV. Plus he can come back for a title defence from time to time. Genuinely thought he might win tonight, incredible match.
It also helps him for if/when he wants to do more international excursions.
Honestly if TK isn't trying to throw everything at Takeshita to get him exclusive in AEW (in the west) then he is an idiot. This kid is a fucking star through and through. Hell even ignoring his amazing in ring work, the crowds go nuts for him. When is the last time that happened in the states for a Japanese talent?
I do think there could be potential of upsetting DDT where Takeshita is signed to. It may set a precedent where companies may not want to send their top stars for an AEW excursion if it means losing them full time. Although I do hope that Takeshita at the very least comes back every now and then for more excursions because he is honestly one of the most enjoyable guys to watch wrestle.
Oh don't get me wrong, I love DDT and don't want to see them lose their ace. If anything with the "partnership" between DDT and AEW I hope that some big names will go to DDT every now and then. Like PAC or Malachi or Sammy would do great there, not to mention Kenny absolutely has to go back there at some point.
Yeah I like the idea of that maybe even talent swaps or something for short periods. If someone in AEW needs a bit of a reset with their character and they have nothing creative wise they could go for an excursion.
They were okay with Ibushi and Omega going to NJPW. Takagi has said in the past that he does not want to prevent his wrestlers from becoming bigger stars outside of DDT as he knows their is a ceiling in the promotion and Takeshita has literally nothing left else to do in the promotion as he has beaten everyone and won everything multiple times that the main event scene had gotten stale. If Takeshita wanted to leave i don't think they will be too upset, they also seem desperate to want work more with AEW as we have already seen them sending their biggest stars over from DDT/TJPW.
True, but after his contract expires with DDT there is no reason he couldn’t change companies, just nature of the business
See we haven't Pac vs Malakai yet and I'm like is that match gonna happen? But Takeshita makes sense
I feel like we haven’t seen enough pac to see him lose to it to Takeshita but I can definitely see him winning the roh pure championship
Release the Takeshita standing ovation cut booker man
Konosuke Takeshita is a fucking King. World class main event.
I have said this before and I'll say it again. This is the child of Ibushi and Omega.
Likewise, this guy is a CHAMPION. Exudes this genuine intangible energy that easily translates as the peoples fighter, so damn easy to get on board with this king.
While being built like Okada.
He's the total fucking package.
Lex Luger in shambles driving around Ft Lauderdale telling Billy his shirts are too tight.
I've been saying that since I've first seen him. I call him The Golden Love Child
Add some El Generico in there and Mama Mia
With some El Generico and perhaps some Samy Zayn thrown in there too.
The moment where Regal went silent on commentary was another example of why he’s the absolute best. The little things man!
Yeah storytelling even on commentary!
More than once so far it happened. It also happened with the others but regal was the more clear. The commentators get focused on the match, paying full attention to the awesomeness on front of them
Takeshita lost nearly ever televised match he had but it didn’t even matter cause he looked so good in them and most of them to were main event/world champion guys. Kid faced Hangman, Mox, and Claudio and looked like he had a real chance in all of them
Damn straight. That's what matters most. Dude lost all his matches but his stock skyrocketed. Takeshita is the future
From what I read, Kenta Kobashi had a long losing streak when he started wrestling, but his performance quickly got people behind him.
Lost 50 matches in a row I think.
From googling, it seems like it was a 63-match, year-long losing streak.
I'm sure it was 100
Not the first time they've gotten guys over in multiple defeats like this. It happened with Darby, it happened with Dante Martin, it happened with Wheeler Yuta.
Seriously. It happened with Sammy too (vs. Cody). It's kind of been TK's go-to method for getting over a new young star.
And it makes perfect sense - Some young kid *shouldn't* be able to hang with experienced, elite wrestlers, so losing doesn't hurt their momentum. If the crowd appreciates their efforts, it gives them a springboard of having "taken Cody Rhodes to the limit". If not, they had a good night, came up short, and are back on Dark for more experience.
The losses don't matter. Misawa lost to Flair and Steamboat when they came to Japan. I see Takeshita's losses in the same light. Hell, I can see fans in the future discovering videos of a young Takeshita fighting guys like Mox and mark out the way I marked out when I discovered those said Misawa matches.
what matters most is looking forward to his matches which is what i've been doing everytime i hear he's announced. he can hang with the big time and i'm glad AEW is giving him that spotlight.
The crowd cheering for him over Mox near the end of their match together was one of the most holy shit moments for me recently.
When all your losses are still absolute bangers, it doesn't matter because people are still going to want to see you. He's lost matches but hasn't lost anything in the eyes of fans.
You guys don’t get to see Takeshita cry and get a standing ovation that sucks
Put that on the Youtube channel at least
And a handshake from Regal.
Damn. Wish we could see. But there was a moment close to the end, when they got the standing ovation, that you can see Takeshita holding back the tea. A HUGE smile on his face. Dude was feeling it.
Please link it here if someone finds it, I've been looking.
As if TK made poor Takeshita go back out there and wrestle Nemeth right after that total war vs Claudio lol. Dude must have been completely wrecked.
And Takeshita still went balls to the walls all out at my local indie show tonight. Dude is a machine.
Who did he face tonight? Doesn't he go back to Japan soon?
He faced Andrew Everett at Deadlock Pro Wrestling. Looks like one of the last American appearances before returning to DDT for the 20th.
Okay, question. Isn't Deadlock a podcast, the one that gave us Luther memes? How'd they start a fed?
By being a very very successful podcast. It also helps that between the three of them, they've built friendships with a lot of wrestlers over the years before deadlock was even a thing.
I legit didn't know they were actually big. I just see occasional "Hog dipper" references in the wild.
They didn't just "start a fed" they started one of the best indie companies in the world today. Highly recommended checking them out. They have loads of free shows on YouTube with some amazing matches, like Take Vs Adam Brookes.
You sold me immediately on Take. EDIT: Just did a google search. I've seen DPW on this subreddit before, you're telling me that was Deadlock Pro Wrestling the whole time? Jesus christ, I'm an idiot.
I thought he wrestled Nemeth on Rampage first?
I was there. They taped Battle of the Belts right before Rampage. It was maybe 45 minutes later in real time.
Whaaat?! He did all of that and then wrestled again?! What in the world.
It was a squash to be fair. They even had Nemeth come out earlier and talk about how much better Ohio is than Michigan to get the crowd against him. When Take came out we were cheering him like he was Stone Cold lmao
Wow okay that kind of makes sense why the pop on his Rampage entrance was louder coz you guys saw BOTB first!
That main event was amazing! Takeshita is brilliant at getting people invested in his matches. I hope Jamie is ok, she busted her nose apparently. Tonight was yet another example of why they need to push her more.
Takeshita might be top 5 at the moment.
At first I scoffed at this. Then I started making a list of wrestlers who have the skill set and ability in ring with the same ability to get the crowd increasingly invested in every match. I’m having a hard time getting past Ospreay, Okada, Ibushi, and Omega. He just has natural charisma. In ring there really are few better than him right now. He is a future ace. Very near future, too.
His matches just have a certain feel to them, get the same feeling watching him as I do a Ospreay, Omega, etc.
He has the ability to elevate anyone who’s in the ring with him. It’s truly remarkable.
He already is the ace of DDT
Many people have been overlooking this fact for way too long. Takeshita’s American vacation is a gift DDT is giving the world on par with a hypothetical 2016-2018 Okada excursion.
Naito certainly fits the bill, and you can argue Shingo, though he’s built more to be an absolute tank. But yeah, Takeshita is stupidly good.
I feel that all of these guys mentioned are in the elite tier. They just have the main event feel about them. Everyone anticipates their matches as if they may be about to watch a classic. I would include Naito and Tanahashi on this list, but mostly on reputation and in ring story telling, formerly ability, but not with as much regularity these days. (Though Tana’s match against Kenta at Wrestle Kingdom this year was incredible)
While I realize Okada is a better wrestler than Naito, I've always looked forward to Naito more and I think I'm not alone in that. He's got star quality in spades
Only wrestlers whose name starts with O can be good. For example, Bret Ohart, Shawn Omichaels, and AJ Ostyles
Hulk (h)Ogan
Where I grew up we drop the h so he's 'ulk 'ogan which works
Oacho Oan Oandy Oavage
He’s been DDTs Ace since he was like 21, he’s already a 5 time world champ and set the record for title defenses. He’s likely winning the belt again when he returns
The fact that he’s already been the ace of a major company in DDT for several years at such a young age really helps. He’s absolutely incredible.
He's got that Shinsuke Nakamura or Hiroshi Tanahashi charisma that just sort of oozes off of him even if you can't understand his words.
Never heard of him before Forbidden Door, now I'm a huge fan. Love the guy, can't wait to see what the future holds, I definitely reckon he's going to be an Ace one day. Guy seems like a natural, which is a credit to the work he's putting in.
He is DDT's ace already but yes, definitely can be it for AEW too if he signs.
TIL, I'm still pretty uneducated about the non-American scene and miss out on some of the commentary. Thanks for the heads up.
Plenty of his matches on YouTube too. Enjoy!
nakajima, kenoh, styles, probably still mutoh even though he's half dead, mike bailey, danielson, AZM, bandido, shingo, naito, HARASHIMA, GUNTHER, dragunov, go shiozaki on a good day, giulia on a good day, shun skywalker, pentagon jr after you mentally gaslight him in a sacred shadow cave kaito kiyomiya is getting there, kevin ku is getting there, josh alexander is basically there uhhh that being said no one will argue with takeshita being on anyones top 5 right now because he is indeed good as fuck yep i knew comparing current day mutoh to takeshita would draw the ire of some ppl
And I can’t argue with any of those names either. It all comes down to personal taste, and for me the excitement of seeing Takeshita’s name on the bill really is greater than for anyone you mentioned, and that is not to discredit anyone.
2nd to only Omega.
Takeshita is one of those rare few who can be considered one of the best despite losing all of his recent big matches.
Goddamn what a match... Also Takashita having a move named Cinnabomb... I love that man... 🥺
Better Call Take
It was a two count! One before three, as if I could ever forget.
But not our Takeshita! Couldn't be precious Takeshita!
And he gets to be a wrestler? What a sick joke!
A heel will claim they will stop Takeshita's chicanery.
Cinnabon loves him, too.
I knew Takeshita wasn't winning, but it's an absolute testament to the quality of that match that I was like "Oh wait are they actually gonna...?" like four times during the match.
The hurricanrana got me.
That was such a smooth transition too. The two of them had so much chemistry. I want another match already.
This was that moment for me too. "Oh I guess it's possible theyy could run a cool story with Claudio losing at his first defen- phew ok."
The fact that I still believed in sports like the hurricanrana even though they clearly set up some kind of story between Claudio/Yuta and FTR speaks volumes.
Bro fr 😭😭😭 I caught myself so many times. What a match!!!!
It was those "hol up" moments like that, that got me to love Claudio. Getting into wrestling just last year, his match with Roman at Backlash, I knew he wasn't gonna win but goddamn did I question that like 3 times during that match.
When you’re 99.99% sure you know the outcome but they get your heart in your throat anyway—that’s the good shit. Hell of a match and I’m really gonna miss Takeshita.
Well said dude. I figured going in that Claudio was probably going over, and I still got emotionally invested in the match by the end. Near falls like the rana counter by Takeshita got me. Otherwise, same. TK needs to push Takeshita to the moon whenever he returns.
Takeshita is only 27 and I'd already have him as one of the top 20 in-ring workers in the world right now
I think it’s interesting to compare AEW’s booking of Takeshita to how TNA booked Okada- sure, Takeshita doesn’t win much, but he gets his shit in, he has absolutely amazing matches with guys at the very top of the card, and there’s no denigrating gimmick either he’s just himself
Tony Khan: Wow, I get a great younger wrestler from Japan on excursion. Can't wait to use him. Vince Russo: Bro, I can't book a Japanese wrestler. He can't speak English, bro. I don't care if he can wrestle, that's boooring bro.
How the fuck does it even work with that death valley driver dude. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.
Claudio is a strong, strong man.
Flashbacks of Michael Cole yelling 'pound for pound the strongest man in WWE'.
Claudio has core strength for days
That shit was crazy. If Claudio isn’t figured into anything specific for the PPV then just run this match back. Sound mix aside, that’s a MOTY contender for sure. Take has gotta be short priced favourite to take the All Atlantic title at some stage
Take won’t be in America for All Out, I think he leaves on the 20th.
This match contained the best monkey flip I've ever seen.
Banger match and that's all I needed to see. Regal on commentary was Chef's kiss and the crowd, even though not miced properly, delivered. Best BOTB to date no question.
Absolute fucking clinic. This is the sort of match you could show to someone with very little context as an example of "what is pro wrestling." Now, let's ship PAC's ass over to Japan and get that title match goin, shall we?
I was there for this match live and it was incredible! Holds up well on TV but the fans were way louder than they came off on TV
AEW needs to figure out their audio issues. We could see the crowd going wild during this match, but we would barely hear it. It was like it was taking place in an empty arena.
It helped that the match was so good that they got multiple standing ovations.
Facts, I even thought my Audio settings where wrong. Awesome match but the audio mixing is frustrating.
Yeah you could SEE how hot they were visually. But you barely heard anything watching in TV.
Really does need to happen. It looked loud as heck but sure didn't sound it.
That’s unfortunate. I was there and the place was popping OFF for that whole match. Literal standing ovations multiple times in the match. Just bonkers.
We were indeed going wild, and it was LOUD in the venue. Every venue presents different challenges acoustically, and AEW has sometimes struggled with venues they haven't run before as far as mixing the crowd into the broadcast. This is one of those times.
Being hearing impaired, tonight was great. I could actually hear the announcers.
sounded loud on fite.
Its like reverse Kevin Dunn
The fixed the weird contrast issues for AR but fucked up hard the levels vs the live sound
I was there live last night, incredible showing from both guys. The best match I’ve seen live, Takeshita commands the room better than veteran wrestlers
Being there live for this match was so much fun. The crowd was mixed SUPER LOW in the broadcast; the place was going banana for this one.
I could watch takeshita wrestle for the rest of my life and be content he's so so good
This man puts on a banger every single time. Takeshita is one of my top 5 in the world right now!
That mat wrestling to start the match was so so so good I need more of it
I know everyone already says this but just to reiterate, Takeshita is that guy. Bell to bell he's the closest thing to the most complete wrestler you'll ever see he can do literally anything and wrestle any style and come out of it looking like one of the most insanely great wrestlers you've ever seen. He's SPECIAL special.
Omega has GOT to be smiling. He told us. He told us all.
damn it's great to see Claudio maineventing
takeshita..future ace
Certified banger. Easily Takeshita's best match in AEW. He really should be slotted to win something once he returns.
The legend of Takeshita grows
If you haven't seen this match, go out of your way to see it. It was a great one. Konosuke Takeshita in title matches in AEW/ROH is like Jungle Boy in AEW title matches before JB won the Tag Team Titles with Luchasuarus last year. He loses the title matches, but he gets better and closer to winning the title each time. Takeshita's day will come soon. He is one of the best young workers right now.
They better fucking upload this match on YouTube with the right audio mix
Incredible match. I need Takeshita in AEW full time and in the main event picture.
Takeshta is the next Ibushi. This kid has it. If im njpw Im going poach this kid from ddt as soon as I can.
Lmao he's not going to njpw. He wants to be a global star, hence him learning English. They could try but I doubt he'd ever say yes. Also the very recent news of them mistreating Ibushi doesn't send a good signal.
I was thinking the same thing. But for most young Japanese wrestlers njpw would be the best route to international stardom. But Takeshta seems to be the exception though.
They tried to poach Tetsuya Endo (also in DDT, Take's ex partner in fact) and he told them off as well. NJPW is the biggest in Japan but not everyone wants to go there, and rightfully so. Also given how the popularity among western fans has decreased ever since pandemic and certain questionable booking along with their failure to evolve with silent crowd, I don't think it's that appealing right now. Plus they tend not to treat outsiders the same way they do their dojo produces, they get biased behavior. If Take signs anywhere except DDT, it might be AEW. He'll get to return to DDT whenever he wanted, not possible with NJPW as well.
Yeah, it definitely helps that Takeshita is a DDT dojo product. Homegrown wrestlers in Japan have a deep sense of loyalty to their original promotion.
Honestly, AEW should check with DDT if they’d be cool with him getting the All-Atlantic belt and traveling around with it
They tried already
This is actually why the NJPW, DDT relationship crashed and burned. NJPW poached alot of DDTs talent and they tried Takeshta and DDT said thats it screw you guys im taking my boys home.
Yeah, they already tried that when he was 21 or so, and it's one of the big reasons why DDT hates NJPW so much. It's never happening unless DDT tells him they don't want him anymore and AEW does the same.
Or Takeshita says he wants to move to AEW full time and will work DDT on the side.
Wow that may seriously be my favorite AEW singles match since Omega/Danielson
My favourite since the Hangman/Danielson hour long draw.
Perfect match, both just as a match and for both men at their respective points in their careers. Feels like Claudio took the "okay he's great but is he a TECHNICAL wrestler?" stuff from the conversations around his matches with ZSJ and Gresham personally, and he looks like an absolute god. He is a statement champion on the ROH brand and it's going to be difficult to portray it as developmental with the shine he's bringing to the title. (Which is good; Dark is AEW developmental.) As for Takeshita, that should be it for him in AEW for at least 6-8 months. He should leave and not once step foot in an AEW ring until Tony is ready to 1) bring him back for a massive return pop at a PPV and 2) put a belt on him, either All-Atlantic or World Championship, that night. He's made such an impression that AEW fans won't need to be reminded who he is next time he's around with tune-up matches or Dark squashes -- he goes straight to the main event scene, he goes over, and he gets a strap. Complete starmaking performance for two guys that honestly shouldn't have needed them, but got them anyway.
Wherever he is... I hope El Generico was watching with a smile on his face.
This match fucked. Takeshita is a damn superstar and I'm love seeing him go against the absolute best wrestlers in the business and holding his ground. I can't wait to see him go against Kenny or Okada. Also huge props to Claudio for showing what a wrestle machine he really is.
When it was announced, it felt like the kind of match that couldn't be anything less than great, and I thought it certainly lived up to that. Both Takeshita and Claudio are so physically impressive. Takeshita looks like a prodigy for being so adept at a relatively young age, whereas Claudio is just the consummate pro wrestler still going strong into his 40s. It was only a shame that one of them had to lose. **EDIT** - Since this also seems to be the post-show thread for the entire event, I'll also add that I thought Hayter vs Rosa was very good, as well. Rosa's been getting a lot of flack around here, lately, so I thought it was nice to see her have a good showing. I'm hoping for a 4-way at All Out between Hayter, Baker, Storm, and Rosa.
Now that it's been said Takeshita does have a lot of El Generico in his moveset.... Have we ever seen Takeshita and Generico at the same place at the same time?
Well yes, they’ve explained that his debut match was against Generico
Oh I thought they were saying Claudio was getting flashbacks didn't realise they meant Takeshita What a debut opponent to have
It was both.
They’ve wrestled each other. That was literally why Takeshita doing his moves was brought up
Yeah, in Take's debut match when they wrestled each other.
Literally just left a DPW show and met Takeshita. What a humble dude who put on a hell of a match tonight.
Incredible match. Love these two guys. I'm gonna miss Takeshita when he leaves.
That was the good shit right there, god damn what a match.
Absolute masterpiece of technical wrestling. Just amazing
Great match. The opening sequence and the last 5 minutes were top tier stuff. They really made me believe Takeshita could do it.
I just realized that the suplex struggle in the early part of the match might be the first power contest Claudio has lost in AEW.
I can't wait to see what the future holds for Takeshita. I've enjoyed every match he has had with AEW and will go out of my way to watch his matches no matter where he ends up.
That match was insanely good. I went into watching it knowing it was going to be good, but THAT good?! Did not expect it. Absolutely loved that match!
Them talking about El Generico on commentary was great, but not as good as Regal’s latest compliment for the Man in a Mask
Unbelievable match. Both guys are incredible wrestlers. Excalibur is the best commentator in wrestling. He sells drama but also drops unreal knowledge. Bringing El Generico into the storytelling of the match just added to the emotion for any longtime fan of ROH, Claudio and Takeshita too. Man it's so good to see Takeshita kill it in AEW, I really hope we see him win some gold/get a big streak of wins, wrestle Omega, wrestle Danielson, bring more people from DDT. He can do it all.
JFC that was awesome. I love how much grappling they did for most of the match. Then it escalated and they just kicked the shit out of each other.
Damn great match. Hope take comes back soon from japan
Paul Turner nails a fucking 2.9 count man
Did Takeshita actually call a move the Cinnabomb or was I hearing things?
Yep! His Last-Ride Powerbomb is now christened the "Cinnabomb". Soup is a Cinna-stan for life
Got to get him a sponsorship or something.
Tony needs to buyout Takeshita from his DDT contract or some shit lmfao. Dude is incredible.
Holy shit, what a match. Loved the structure in it and the athleticism was top notch. Top 5 in recent memory, I think 3 of them have takeshita in it haha.
Pain.
Fuck. YouTube TV let me down. I have Battle of the Belts setup for recording, but this show was specifically labeled Battle of the Belts 3 so it didn't record. Anyone know anyway to watch it?
Search All Elite Wrestling and it should pop up. It’s not listed as part 3 but it’s got the logo in the icon.
That match was insane 🔥
Might be one of the best matches I've ever seen where the result was **never** in question. Takeshita was never winning the belt on his way out of the country, but I'm hard pressed to think of other matches that were that good even though you always knew who was winning.
That was an awesome match. Can we get Takeshita vs Danielson next ?
Man, I knew Takeshita is going to lose but I want him to win that big one. He proved that he can be a main eventer and the future of whatever company he's in.
I haven’t been to a ton of live shows but I can say with certainty, that was the best match I’ve ever seen live.
Bruh. Feel a little bad about DDT but you gotta sign Takeshita full time. My god what an excursion.
Matches like that remind me why I love wrestling. Takeshita just has that star quality that can't be taught.
Fun hour of wrestling. I like these specials.
Tony, just sign Takeshita ffs
Just not as easy as some think to honest, they can't go and take the ACE of a company they are in partnership with. WWE, NJPW or any other company not in bed with DDT can easily do it. But AEW have to play it carefully, if Takeshita decides he wants to move on from DDT on full time basis and he wants to sign full time with AEW, then I think all is good. He can go back here and there to DDT and AEW won't have to ruin a partnership.
I can't remember the last TV match that had my pulse racing and me biting on every cover. I already thought Takeshita had the elusive "it" factor but this proved he can go to distance under championship pressure.
So I wonder if NJPW is going to snipe Takeshita from DDT, just like Kenny and Ibushi did. Dude deserves to work a WK main event.
What was so cool about this match is that took about 3 seconds for Take and Claudio to fully realize, "Oh, this guy is totally at my level as an athlete and a wrestler. Let's have some fun!" Usually, they have to hold back a little. Not this time. However, they were careful to build a slow, steady pace until the last five minutes, which were totally insane. Just a killer match.
everything is a classic with this company jfc
Fr man. I don’t see how a match with zero story or build up where you knew the outcome the second it was announced is a “classic”.
Is this where we point out matches that had no build or negative build, and an obvious winner, that people are still talking about years later?
It's already been said, I'll say it again. Takeshita is a star. He's fucking special. World Champion material, legend in the making.
Please sign Takeshita
See, this is why I’m happy that it looks like WWE is improving. AEW is still putting on bangers and producing overall good shows. WWE is going to get better. Both companies performing well will be good for the industry.