Report: Shingo Takagi’s Dragon Gate Contract Expires In October
Dragon Gate star Shingo Takagi is set to become a free agent in October.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, Takagi’s contract with the company expires on Oct. 7 and he will become a free agent at that time. Meltzer reports that Takagi has been wanting to leave for awhile, but former President Takashi Okamura wouldn’t let him. New management will allow his contract to expire and keep the door open for a return down the line.
Meltzer goes on to report that the free agent market in Japan for Takagi is “good” and that “he can make the same money doing the matches that he wants to do.”
The 35-year-old Takagi is a former four-time Open the Dream Gate Champion and current Open the Owarai Gate Champion. Before finding a home in professional wrestling, Takagi was a bodybuilder in Japan. In 2007, he and Naruki Doi won the ROH Tag Team Titles. He’s currently taking part in PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles tournament. On Saturday night, he was victorious in his first round matchup against Ilja Dragunov.
