Style.

April 6, 2025.
I was at Korakuen Hall.
To watch this match.
And, it was this card that was announced after all the matches had finished.

And it's the main event!
I want to see it!
This will be the second time Aoki and Higuchi face each other.
When and where was their match in 2022?
I watched that one too.

Aoki lost that time.
But it was a wonderful match.
I want to go!
As soon as I got back to Awaji Island, I asked to change my shift.
I got the okay.
Everyone, thank you so much.
However, a string of shifts is waiting for me in return.
Six consecutive 24-hour shifts.
Golden Week has begun.
It's busy only at times like this.
Lots of tourists are flowing into Awaji Island.
There's nothing here on Awaji Island!
Why!
That's what the islanders think.
I somehow managed to finish my shift on the morning of the 5th.
I went home, took a bath, got ready, and with my wife pushing me on by saying, "Have a good time!", I headed to the bus center.
The usual highway bus from Awaji Island to Shin-Kobe Station.
From Shin-Kobe Station, I took the Shinkansen to Tokyo.
Shin-Kobe Station was also crowded.

Tokyo Station was even more crowded.
I was tired.
I spent the day resting slowly at the hotel.

Well, it's the 6th now.
A rainy Suidobashi.
It was nice weather yesterday, too.
To Korakuen Hall.

Into the venue.

Second row.
It was an easy seat to watch from.

These words really resonated with me.
Now, the main event.
Higuchi's entrance.

The main event.
Baka Survivor rings out through Korakuen Hall!
Aoki's entrance.

Match start.
Lock up.

Aoki goes for a pin while locking up the arm.

But Higuchi is huge.
It's hard to get into a pin.

He tries for a pin from various angles.

If he goes for an armbar...

Higuchi hits a Boston Crab!

Aoki manages to escape.
From there...

From a test of strength, he pins Higuchi down.
Higuchi bridges!

Aoki puts his weight on him.

It's a good exchange.
Both wrestlers separate and brawl outside the ring!

The steel post attack doesn't work on Higuchi!
Hard-headed!
Higuchi lands a chop!

Aoki, not to be outdone, attacks with an umbrella...

Sleeper hold!

Draining his stamina, followed by a piledriver!

That won't work! In that case, a Gotch-style piledriver!

When that fails too, a reverse cradle!

A full nelson into a European clutch!

And then a dial-up pin!

Higuchi kicks out of that too! Armbar!

He lifts him up, brain claw into a slam!

Higuchi's relentless assault!

The chops are incredible!

Aoki endures the lariat!

Another one! And just then, a Fujiwara armbar!

From there, he locks the arm!

I was reminded of 'that person.' The one who made Andre the Giant tap out with an arm lock. Higuchi manages to escape. He goes outside the ring. In that case, Aoki goes for a tope suicida!

He immediately brings Higuchi back into the ring. From the top rope.

Flying knee drop! A diving bomb!

Followed by an octopus hold!

2022. It's just like when he first faced Higuchi. I was reminded of 'that person' once again. From there, a full nelson!

Will he force a submission with the full nelson!

From there, the Aoki Clutch!

It's locked in!
No, Higuchi has countered it!
From there, Aoki delivers a headbutt!

But Higuchi's head was harder.
Aoki, on the other hand, took the damage.
Higuchi, seizing the moment, applies the brain claw!

Aoki taps out!

Higuchi wins!

Aoki lost.
But he seemed to accept it.

The two wrestlers praise each other.

Aoki left in silence.

Watching that, Higuchi bowed toward Aoki.
Then, he bowed to the audience and left without even a mic appeal.
That was good.
Because the ring is everything.

I was excited.
Even while being forced to chew over the first match of 2022.
Because the finish back then was a headbutt.
Memory is truly fascinating.
I was very satisfied.
And because I was remembering 'that person'.
That person is no longer here.
But the chain is definitely being passed on.

Pro-wrestling today is interesting.
I want the people who say,
'The old days were better,' to watch it.
Let's all watch Wrestle Universe.

Aoki unfortunately lost, but he should hold his head high.
Because the 'subject' was Aoki.
And I really want Higuchi to win the tournament.
That's what I thought.
DDT has many different styles.
That's why it's interesting.
The viewers are too.
The first match between Ueno and Antonio Honda was like that too.
It makes you empathize.

Pro-wrestling is the best.
Because I received energy again.
When I get back to Awaji Island, it's another six-day work week.
Let's do it.
I'll do it.
Because I'm a pro-wrestling fan.
I am a pro-wrestling fan.

Thank you, Shinya Aoki.
Thank you, Kazusada Higuchi.