When KENTA laid out Katsuyori Shibata and joined the Bullet Club, it was clear that someone needed to get him back. With Shibata unable to get cleared in time to face his former friend himself, his closest ally Hirooki Goto stepped up to avenge him instead. Before he could manage this however, KENTA defeated Goto’s Chaos stable-mate Tomohiro Ishii to win the NEVER Openweight Championship, further adding fuel to the fire for an already intense grudge match.
When the bout itself came, it was unsurprisingly brutal and vicious. Hirooki Goto came in with an anger and ferocity that is rarely seen from the typically calm, collected shinobu warrior. KENTA was overwhelmed early on and though by the end it turned into the destructive back and forth battle everyone expected, in the end Hirooki Goto managed to take the NEVER Openweight title from KENTA, earning some retribution for himself and Shibata.
You can see an excerpt of my recap of this match below:
KENTA slings him between the ropes, Draping DDT, vicious! As is the Hesitation Dropkick against the corner that follows! KENTA up top now! Diving Double Footstomp, nearfall! KENTA stalks, charges, but Goto slips behind him for a sleeper only for it get reversed! KENTA sits him on the mat, steals Shibata’s PK! Buisaku Knee follows for a nearfall! KENTA with a throat slit, goes for the GTS but Goto escapes, headbutt takes KENTA to the mat! Goto with a lariat, but KENTA no sells! Spinning Backfists, brutal! Hits the ropes, Goto no sells a lariat, Discus Clothesline takes KENTA down for a nearfall! Yikes! KENTA catches a roundhouse kick and JESUS a brutal series of slaps! Back and forth, back and forth, just destroying each other! Goto wants the GTR, blocked, but on the second attempt he nails it and that is that!
Winner: Hirooki Goto
