Tag: Hiromu Takahashi

Naito vs. Hiromu official for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom, match order set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With one last addition, the match order for the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 main card is now set.

NJPW has confirmed that Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi will take place at Wrestle Kingdom on January 4. The match was booked after Naito and Hiromu — stablemates in Los Ingobernables de Japon — agreed to face each other at the Tokyo Dome following their World Tag League victory.

Naito vs. Hiromu will be the semi-main event of the Wrestle Kingdom card. It’s the first time they have ever faced each other one-on-one. The matchup was originally scheduled to happen at an NJPW anniversary show in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented that from happening.

While the World Tag League winners traditionally receive an IWGP Tag Team title shot, NJPW has left it up in the air as to whether Naito & Hiromu will ever challenge for the titles. The belts are currently vacant after HENARE suffered a knee injury. New champions will be crowned at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5 when Great-O-Khan and a yet-to-be-named partner face The Young Bucks.

“I’ve never won a tag team title before, and challenging for a heavyweight title is definitely interesting,” Hiromu said at a press conference. But he noted that it “isn’t a rule that the World Tag League winners have to challenge.”

Naito also said he’s focused on this singles match and they may or may not continue as a tag team after that.

Though he will be undergoing surgery on his left eye before Wrestle Kingdom, Naito is still set to compete in this match.

Here is the updated Wrestle Kingdom card and confirmed match order:

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 (Saturday, January 4 airing live on NJPW World) —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Shota Umino
  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay defends against Yota Tsuji
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI defends against El Desperado
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi defends against Konosuke Takeshita (Takeshita’s AEW International Championship will also be on the line if he is still champion)
  • Lumberjack match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL
  • Three-way match: NJPW World TV Champion Jeff Cobb defends against Ren Narita and Ryohei Oiwa
  • IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani defends against AZM
  • Four-way match: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight defend against Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita, TJP & Francesco Akira, and Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney

Mustafa Ali wants to face Hiromu Takahashi in 2025 NJPW Best of the Super Juniors

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Mustafa Ali is shooting his shot.

Ali came up short in his match against Hiromu Takahashi at Friday’s NJPW Capital Collision, losing after Takahashi countered Ali’s 450 splash and hit the time bomb for the win. After the match, Ali could be heard shouting at the announcers, who later said that Ali wanted a match against Takahashi at next year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament, noting that he and Takahashi were currently tied at one win each.

The two first faced off at Windy City Riot earlier this year in Chicago, with Ali scoring the win.

Since being released by WWE last fall, Ali has worked the independent circuit and TNA, where he won the X-Division title in February. After losing the title to Mike Bailey in July he departed TNA, losing to Nic Nemeth in a match that had been for the TNA World Championship.

Coming up short in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament, Takahashi has spent most of the summer working both in NJPW and CMLL, where he’s faced off against the likes of Mistico and Templario.

Hiromu Takahashi challenges Mustafa Ali for NJPW Capital Collision

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A singles match featuring two junior heavyweights could be added to the Friday, August 30 NJPW Capital Collision card.

In a new video posted to NJPW’s social media accounts, junior heavyweight legend Hiromu Takahashi issued a challenge to Mustafa Ali to face him in a rematch in Washington, DC at Capital Collision:

Hiromu & Ali met earlier this year at Windy City Riot in Chicago on April 12, with Ali scoring the victory.

Capital Collision streams as an NJPW World pay-per-view on Friday, August 30 at 8 p.m. Eastern time from the Entertainment and Sports Arena. The current official lineup for the event is as follows:

  • NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone in action
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Lio Rush
  • NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) defend against Hechicero & Virus
  • NJPW Strong Tag Team title number one contenders match: TMDK (Robbie Eagles & Bad Dude Tito) vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Titan
  • Tom Lawlor & Fred Rosser vs. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
  • Trish Adora vs. HANAKO

Hiromu Takahashi re-signs with NJPW

Posted on by Ian Carey

Hiromu Takahashi will remain with New Japan Pro Wrestling for the foreseeable future. 

Tokyo Sport’s Yusuke Okamoto reports that Takahashi signed a contract at NJPW offices on Monday. Okamoto attempted to get a word with the six-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion as he left the building, but Takahashi would only offer a quick confirmation of today’s news. 

A translation of Okamoto’s post reads:

[Breaking news] Hiromu Takahashi, whose contract was renewed today, quickly left the office without responding to any interviews from the waiting press (I was the only one). That’s all from the scene… Ah! wait a minute! This is LINE from Hiromu-chan! “I signed a contract ” It’s a contract! Hiromu Takahashi is under contract! That’s all from the scene!

El Desperado defeated Takahashi for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title at Wrestle Kingdom. Takahashi is scheduled to face DOUKI at The New Beginning in Sapporo on February 24 and Mustafa Ali at Windy City Riot on April 12. 

Mustafa Ali vs. Hiromu Takahashi set for NJPW Windy City Riot

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Former WWE star Mustafa Ali is set to make his NJPW debut after issuing a challenge to Hiromu Takahashi. 

Ali threw down the gauntlet to Takahashi in a video airing during Saturday’s Battle in the Valley pay-per-view, challenging the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion to a match at NJPW Windy City Riot in Chicago on Friday, April 12. NJPW confirmed that the match is official in a social media post. 

The video featured Ali delivering a promo from behind a podium in his politician character as he announced that he was bringing his “campaign” to NJPW and calling out Takahashi specifically for Chicago. Ali is an Illinois native and a former police officer in a Chicago suburb. 

Ali announced his departure from WWE in September 2023 after a tumultuous seven-year run with the company that included him publicly requesting his release in 2022. 

In December 2023, Ali announced his “world tour campaign” in a video where he established his crusading politician character. 

Ali had his first post-WWE match in France last Saturday, then made his GCW debut on Friday’s No Compadre event with a win over Gringo Loco.

The video featuring Ali’s challenge to Takahashi is embedded below.

Lio Rush pulled from NJPW Destruction, YOH added to IWGP Junior title match

Posted on by Ian Carey

Lio Rush has been pulled from Monday’s NJPW Destruction in Ryogoku event due to illness. 

Rush had been scheduled to challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Mike Bailey and champion Hiromu Takahashi in a three-way match on the show. 

NJPW announced on October 3 that Rush was dealing with a fever and would miss the upcoming Road to Destruction shows. It was later confirmed at a press conference on Sunday that Rush has been pulled from Monday’s show as well and will be replaced by YOH in the title match. 

YOH was the sole survivor of an elimination match that headlined Saturday’s show in Miyagi. He pinned Takahashi for the final elimination and then cut a promo saying he wants to face the winner of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match in Ryogoku. However, with Rush having since been pulled from Monday’s show, YOH revealed at today’s press conference that he has been added to the three-way with Takahashi and Bailey. 

Gabe Kidd, Hikuleo, Alex Coughlin, Kevin Knight, and Jeff Cobb also missed shows this week due to illness. Hikuleo returned on Saturday but there has been no announcement regarding the status of Kidd, Coughlin, Knight, or Cobb, although their matches are still advertised for Monday’s show. 

The updated card for NJPW Destruction in Ryogoku on Monday, October 9 is below: 

  • DOUKI, Taichi, & TBA vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Tango Loa vs. Chase Owens
  • BUSHI, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, & Tetsuya Naito vs. Callum Newman, HENARE, Great-O-Khan, & Jeff Cobb
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors defend against KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
  • Master Wato, Shota Umino, & Yuji Nagata vs. El Desperado, Ren Narita, & Minoru Suzuki in match 5 of the Best of 7 series
  • Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin defend against El Phantasmo & Hikuleo
  • NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Kazuchika Okada defeated against Josh Alexander, Chris Sabin, & Alex Shelley
  • NEVER Openweight Champion David Finlay defends against Tama Tonga
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defends against Mike Bailey and YOH in a three-way match
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA defends against EVIL in a Lumberjack Deathmatch

IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match set for NJPW Destruction in Ryogoku

Posted on by Joseph Currier

“Speedball” Mike Bailey and Lio Rush are getting their IWGP Junior Heavyweight title shots in a three-way match.

NJPW has announced that Hiromu Takahashi will put his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the line against Bailey and Rush at Destruction in Ryogoku. The show is taking place on Monday, October 9 and will air live on NJPW World.

Bailey and Rush were both set up as the next challengers for Takahashi at NJPW’s events in Philadelphia this past weekend. At All Star Junior Festival USA, Bailey won a one-night tournament and then called out Takahashi for a title match.

Takahashi & Bailey then teamed together in a loss to Rush & Trey Miguel at NJPW x Impact Multiverse United. Rush pinned Takahashi after hitting a low blow. With the win, Rush also declared that he wanted a shot at Takahashi’s championship.

Bailey has a victory over Takahashi from when they faced off in NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament earlier this year.

Rush is the current Impact Wrestling X-Division Champion.

An IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title match with KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight challenging Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney has also been added to Destruction in Ryogoku. Plus, there will be a singles match between Tanga Loa and Chase Owens.

Here’s the updated card: 

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA defends against EVIL
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defends against Mike Bailey and Lio Rush in a three-way match 
  • NEVER Openweight Champion David Finlay defends against Tama Tonga
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney defend against KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
  • Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin defend against El Phantasmo & Hikuleo
  • Tanga Loa vs. Chase Owens
  • Best-of-seven series finale: Shota Umino, Master Wato & Yuji Nagata vs. Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki (if necessary)

Lio Rush issues challenge to Hiromu Takahashi for IWGP Junior title

Posted on by Ian Carey

Lio Rush has his eyes set on Hiromu Takahashi’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. 

Rush teamed with Trey Miguel and defeated Takahashi and Mike Bailey at Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 on Sunday in Philadelphia. The finish of the match saw Rush hit a low blow on Takahashi and roll him up for a three count. 

After the match, Rush, already the X-Division Champion, cut a promo about wanting more gold and challenged Takahashi to a IWGP Junior title match. Takahashi appeared to accept but this didn’t seem to sit well with Bailey, who had issued a similar challenge to Takahashi the night before at All Star Junior Festival USA. 

NJPW has yet to announce who Takahashi will defend his IWGP Junior title against next. 

Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 results:

  • Joe Hendry, Yuya Uemura, & Heath defeated Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato (Pre-Show)
  • Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Just 5 Guys) to retain (Pre-Show)
  • Chris Sabin defeated MAO, Kevin Knight, Rich Swann, YOH (CHAOS), BUSHI (LIJ), Frankie Kazarian and El Desperado (Strong Style) in a scramble match
  • Moose & Eddie Edwards Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste (TMDK)
  • NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia (Donna del Mondo) defeated Momo Kohgo (Stars), Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw to retain
  • Sami Callihan defeated Douki (Just 5 Guys) in a South Philly Street Fight
  • Catch 22 (TJP & Francesco Akira) (United Empire) defeated Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita (TMDK)
  • Bullet Club (Ace Austin, Chris Bey, KENTA, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin & David Finlay) defeated The World (The DKC, PCO, Josh Alexander, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & El Phantasmo)
  • Trey Miguel & Lio Rush defeated Mike Bailey & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain

Mike Bailey wins NJPW All Star Junior Festival tournament, calls out Hiromu Takahashi

Posted on by Ian Carey

“Speedball” Mike Bailey has been granted a shot at Hiromu Takahashi’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. 

Bailey won a four-wrestler single elimination tournament Saturday at the NJPW All Star Junior Festival USA show at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena by defeating Francesco Akira in the first round and Kevin Knight in the finals. 

Following his victory, Bailey called out Takahashi, who he will team with on Sunday at Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 against Trey Miguel & Lio Rush. Bailey said he’s excited to team with Takahashi, but would also like a future shot at at the IWGP Junior title. Takahashi accepted his challenge. 

A date and venue for the match has yet to be announced. 

All Star Junior Festival USA 2023 results:

  • Goldy defeated Vinny Pacifico
  • YOH & Matt Sydal defeated BUSHI & Shun Skywalker
  • ASJF tournament first round match: Kevin Knight defeated Clark Connors
  • ASJF tournament first round match: Mike Bailey defeated Francesco Akira
  • Rich Swann, The DKC, & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Real1, Starboy Charlie, & Jack Cartwheel
  • Alex Shelley, Chris Bey, Kosei Fujita, & Robbie Eagles defeated Ace Austin, Cheeseburger, TJP, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Soberano Jr. defeated KC Navarro, Fugaz, Lio Rush, and Dragon Kid in a five way match
  • Mao & El Desperado defeated Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne
  • DOUKI & Low Rider defeated Hiromu Takahashi & Rocky Romero, and Master Wato & Blake Christian in a three-way tag match for Pat’s King of Steaks Philly Cheesesteak Cup
  • ASJF tournament finals: Mike Bailey defeated Kevin Knight

Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 lineup for August 20:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Giulia defends against Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw and Momo Kohgo in a four-way
  • Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey
  • DOUKI vs. Sami Callihan
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste vs. Moose & Eddie Edwards
  • Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Rich Swann vs. Kevin Knight vs. BUSHI vs. Mao vs. El Desperado in a seven-way scramble
  • Bullet Club (David Finlay, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin, KENTA, Chris Bey & Ace Austin) vs. The World (Josh Alexander, PCO, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, El Phantasmo & The DKC)
  • TJP & Francesco Akira vs. Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita
  • Pre-show: Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King defends against Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Pre-show: Joe Hendry, Yuya Uemura & Heath vs. Rocky Romero, Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi

Hiromu Takahashi wants to defend IWGP Junior title in AEW

Posted on by Ian Carey

Hiromu Takahashi wants to defend his IWPG Junior Heavyweight Championship in AEW. 

The 33-year-old spoke to Sports Illustrated ahead of this weekend’s All Star Junior Festival and Multiverse United 2. He mentioned wanting to wrestle in AEW, potentially teaming with Sting or wrestling against Darby Allin. 

“A dream of mine is to have a match on live prime time TV,” said Takahashi through a translator. “I’d be stoked to wrestle in AEW any time and defend the IWGP junior heavyweight title there. Last year, I was supposed to team up with Darby Allin and Sting. So I want to team up with Sting rather than wrestle him. Wrestling someone? That would be Darby.”

Takahashi had been scheduled to team with Sting, Allin, and Shingo Takagi against The Young Bucks, Hikuleo, and El Phantasmo at Forbidden Door 2022. However, he was pulled from the show that day after coming down with a fever. 

Up next for Takahashi will be Saturday’s All Star Junior Festival show from Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena. The show is set to feature junior heavyweight wrestlers from promotions worldwide. AEW, CMLL, DDT, Dragon Gate, GCW, Impact, NJPW, and ROH are sending wrestlers to the show. 

“All Star Junior Festival is the show to let fans know how great all of junior heavyweight wrestling is,” said Takahashi. 

Takahashi will team with Rocky Romero in what is being billed as a triple threat tag team ladder match for the Pat’s King of Steaks Philly Cheesesteak Cup. Their opponents will be the teams of Blake Christian & Master Wato and DOUKI & Low Rider. 

“So what I can do as the junior heavyweight champion is to enjoy the show more than anyone else. I’ll be fighting over Philly cheesesteak in a ladder match–nothing could be more iconic in Philly,” Takahashi continued. “I couldn’t be more hyped.”

Takahashi will team with Mike Bailey the following night at Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2, which will also take place in the 2300 Arena. Bailey and Takahashi will face Lio Rush & Trey Miguel on the show. 

All Star Junior Festival August 19, 2023 lineup:

  • Goldy vs. Vinny Pacifico
  • Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne vs. El Desperado & Mao
  • Rocky Romero & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Blake Christian & Master Wato vs. Low Rider in a triple threat ladder match for the Pat’s King of Steaks Philly Cheesesteak Cup
  • Kevin Knight vs. Clark Connors in a first round match in the All Star Junior Festival 2023 USA tournament
  • Mike Bailey vs. Francesco Akira in a first round match in the All Star Junior Festival 2023 USA tournament
  • Matt Sydal & YOH vs. Shun Skywalker & Bushi
  • Rich Swann, Ryusuke Taguchi, & The DKC vs. Real1, Jack Cartwheel, & Starboy Charlie
  • Finals of the All Star Junior Festival USA tournament
  • Dragon Kid vs Fugaz vs. KC Navarro vs. Lio Rush vs. Soberano Jr. 

Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 August 20, 2023 lineup:

  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey
  • DOUKI vs. Sami Callihan
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste vs. Moose & Eddie Edwards
  • Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Rich Swann vs. Kevin Knight vs. BUSHI vs. Mao vs. El Desperado in a seven-way scramble
  • Bullet Club (David Finlay, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin, KENTA, Chris Bey & Ace Austin) vs. The World (Josh Alexander, PCO, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, El Phantasmo & The DKC)
  • Pre-show: Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King defends against Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Pre-show: Joe Hendry, Yuya Uemura & Heath vs. Rocky Romero, Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi
  • SANADA appearance

X-Division to be featured in Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 tag team match

Posted on by Josh Nason

The X-Division will be on display in the first officially announced match for Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2.

New X-Division titleholder Lio Rush will team with former champion Trey Miguel to take on IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi & former X-Division champion “Speedball” Mike Bailey in a tag team match.

The pay-per-view is set for Sunday, August 20th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rush defeated Chris Sabin at Saturday’s Slammiversary to win his first X-Division title while Sabin had just defeated Miguel for the belt in June.

Takahashi is in his fifth reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight titleholder and has shared the ring with Rush 15 times through the years. While he has faced Bailey twice in singles action, this is his first time teaming with him. He has never shared a ring with Miguel.

The only other announced wrestler for the show is NJPW legend Hiromu Tanahashi.

Here’s the current card:

  • Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey
  • Hiromu Tanahashi in action

Ring of Honor TV spoilers from Toronto: NJPW wrestlers in action

Posted on by F4W Staff

The following are spoilers from Saturday’s Ring of Honor on HonorClub TV tapings from Toronto, Canada, as part of AEW Collision.

These come courtesy of PWInsider:

  • The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) defeated Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver)
  • Diamante pinned Leila Gray
  • Big Bill & Lee Moriarty defeated TARIK & Karou
  • El Desperado defeated Willie Mack
  • ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy (Brian Cage & Gates of Agony) defeated Shingo, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
  • El Phantasmo defeated Shane Taylor
  • Roppongi Vice (Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero) defeated House of Torture (SHO & Yujiro Takahashi)
  • ROH Women’s Champion Athena defeated KC Spinelli
  • ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli defeated Chuck Taylor

Notes:

  • Afterward, AEW and ROH head Tony Khan came out with Orange Cassidy to thank the crowd and hype them up for Sunday’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view. The Best Friends crew all hugged Khan.
  • Several of the wrestlers who appeared will also compete at Forbidden Door on the Zero Hour pre-show.

New champions crowned at NJPW Dominion

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New champions were crowned at NJPW Dominion on Sunday.

Francesco Akira and TJP regained the IWGP Junior Tag Team titles from KUSHIDA and Kevin Knight. Akira scored the win for his team, pinning Knight after both he and TJP connected with running knees. This is their second reign with the titles.

Later in the show, Bishimon (YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto) won the IWGP Tag Team and New Japan Strong Tag Team titles, defeating Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL and Aaron Henare & The Great-O-Khan after hitting their powerbomb/GTR combo on Takahashi. Bishimon won the vacant titles after Aussie Open were forced to vacate the titles last month due to Mark Davis suffering an injury.

After the match, Alex Coughlin and Gabriel Kidd came out wearing Bullet Club t-shirts, revealing they had joined the group. They attacked Bishimon, making it clear they were next in line for a title match.

Elsewhere on the card, SANADA retained the IWGP World Heavyweight title against Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi retained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title against Master Wato, Zack Sabre Jr. retained the New Japan World Television title over Jeff Cobb, David Finlay retained the NEVER title over El Phantasmo, and the team of Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii retained the NEVER Six-Man Tag Team titles against Shota Umino, Jon Moxley, and Claudio Castagnoli.

Hiromu vs. Lio Rush title match set for NJPW New Japan Cup finals event

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Hiromu Takahashi will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Lio Rush at the NJPW New Japan Cup finals event on March 21.

NJPW announced the title bout on Monday after Rush issued a challenge to Hiromu via video promo during Saturday’s The New Beginning in Osaka show. 

Prior to their title match on the 21st, Hiromu and Rush will be on opposite sides of a tag team bout at NJPW’s 51st anniversary show on March 6, where it will be Hiromu and BUSHI teaming against Rush and YOH. A pair of first round New Japan Cup matches are also set for that show, with Tomohiro Ishii taking on David Finlay, as well as Shota Umino facing Yujiro Takahashi. 

NJPW has revealed the bracket for the New Japan Cup 2023, with first round bouts set for March 5, March 6, and March 10. The second round will be held on March 11, March 12, March 13, and March 15. 

The New Japan Cup quarterfinals are set for March 17 and March 18, with the semifinals taking place on March 19. 

The New Japan Cup winner will receive a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on April 8.

Lio Rush challenges NJPW’s Hiromu Takahashi to IWGP Junior title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Lio Rush is next in line to challenge for NJPW’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Rush issued a challenge to IWGP Jr. title holder Hiromu Takahashi in a video message played during today’s The New Beginning in Osaka show. The date for the title bout has yet to be announced. 

After Hiromu and his Los Ingobernables de Japon teammates won their eight-man tag match in Osaka, the lights in the arena dimmed. Rush’s video message then played on the video wall. Rush promised to do what his tag partner YOH could not do last week, as YOH unsuccessfully challenged Hiromu on February 5 at The New Beginning in Sapporo. 

Hiromu began his fifth reign with the IWGP Junior title at Wrestle Kingdom on January 4, winning a four-way bout to claim the Championship. 

Rush last appeared in NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom, teaming with YOH in an unsuccessful IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title challenge against TJP and Francesco Akira.