Loss. It’s about time Takao gets some of that.
A little thing that would have been neat: if Rei and Takao had switched opponents in the American finals. If Rei had gotten revenge against Steve, while Takao had lost horribly against Eddie. Not because the story isn’t good the way it is, but because for Takao, that would have made this his second major loss in a row, creating a bridge between the arcs, and plunged him so much deeper into despair. Imagine how devastating it would have been. His loss against Eddie unbalances him, makes him doubt himself, and when he tries to rise again he is smacked in the face with this massive sacred beast, and he just can’t handle it. It would have made his trip through Europe so much more desperate.
Either way, I’m glad he loses here. It gives him depth.
