Summary
- The Yakuza series features wrestling moves, and wrestlers return the favor in their matches.
- Hikaru Shida recently used an attack straight out of Yakuza 3 in an AEW Dynamite match.
The Yakuza series has always drawn inspiration from professional wrestling for its finishing attacks, and real-life wrestler Hikaru Shida recently returned the favor by busting out Kazuma Kiryu’s Super Finish: Hell's Gauntlet during the latest episode of AEW Dynamite. Most of the mainline Yakuza games put players in the role of Kiryu Kazuma, a former member of the Kanto-based Tojo Clan who wishes to leave his violent past behind. This is often easier said than done, as Kiryu regularly finds himself fighting off all manner of criminals on the mean streets of Yakuza's Japan.
Part of the Yakuza franchise’s lasting appeal is its combat, which features Kiryu and other protagonists beating down enemies with martial arts and improvised weapons. Wrestling moves like suplexes and powerbombs are often used as brutal finishing attacks, which in turn has drawn wrestlers and wrestling fans to the Yakuza series. In-ring legends have even cameoed in Yakuza games, with the most notable being the legendary Yoshiaki Fujiwara’s appearances as The Florist. Other wrestlers like Hiroshi Tanahashi, The Great Muta, and AEW performer and executive vice president Kenny Omega have all guest starred in Yakuza titles over the years.
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As such, it would only be fitting for the competitors of All Elite Wrestling to draw from Kiryu’s moveset during actual matches, and Hikaru Shida just did exactly that on the July 24, 2024 edition of AEW Dynamite. During her match with Dr. Britt Baker, Shida performed a combination of moves resembling the Super Finish: Hell's Gauntlet Revelation attack from 2009's Yakuza 3. This was pointed out by Twitter user FawfulEric, who edited a clip of Kiryu performing the move himself after seeing Shida's version.
AEW’s Hikaru Shida Unleashes Yakuza 3’s Super Finish: Hell's Gauntlet
All Elite Wrestling seems to be filled with gaming fans, as plenty of the company’s in-ring competitors have paid homage to a wide variety of franchises ranging from fighting games to JRPGs. Early last year, the aforementioned Kenny Omega channeled Final Fantasy 7 villain Sephiroth before his match with Will Ospreay at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom, complete with the iconic “One Winged Angel” theme. Before that, former AEW performer and current WWE superstar Jade Cargill walked into her match against Tay Conti at the 2022 AEW Revolution event dressed as Jade from Mortal Kombat.
Yakuza is another gaming series that meshes well with pro wrestling, as demonstrated by Hikaru Shida performing Kiryu’s Super Finish: Hell’s Gauntlet during her latest AEW outing. Any Yakuza fans watching the match probably got a kick out of seeing one of the game’s moves being pulled off in a real-life wrestling match, and Kiryu himself would certainly be impressed at Hikaru Shida’s apparent tribute to one of his many devastating finishers.
Sega's Yakuza franchise is a series of action-adventure and role-playing games that revolve around characters who are a part of or associated with dangerous criminal organizations.
The various games in the series tend to be led by gripping, emotional narratives but are supplemented by hilarious side stories and enjoyable mini-games that give players a welcome break from the drama.