Tag: Hirooki Goto

NJPW confirms next IWGP Tag Team title match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

IWGP Tag Team Champions OSKAR & Yuto-Ice now know the identity of their next challengers.

The belts will be on the line when Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI challenge OSKAR & Yuto-Ice at NJPW Wrestling Redzone 2026 this Saturday. To earn their spot in the match, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated HENARE & Great-O-Khan in a number one contender’s bout today.

After sending HENARE out of the ring, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI hit a Shoto on O-Khan for the victory. A face-off between Goto & YOSHI-HASHI and OSKAR & Yuto-Ice then closed today’s show, with NJPW positioning this as a matchup between the most dominant team of the first half of the 2020s and the current champions who have now taken over the division.

Goto & YOSHI-HASHI are aiming for their fifth IWGP Tag Team title reign after most recently holding the belts in 2024.

Wrestling Redzone, airing live on NJPW World, is one of the promotion’s last stops before Wrestling Dontaku 2026. The Redzone card includes two tag team championship matches.

NJPW Wrestling Redzone (Saturday, April 25) —

  • IWGP Tag Team Champions OSKAR & Yuto-Ice defend against Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X defend against Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles
  • Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Gedo & Daiki Nagai vs. Callum Newman, Jake Lee, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay
  • Yuya Uemura & Tomoaki Honma vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson
  • Tiger Mask, Oleg Boltin, Aaron Wolf & Togi Makabe vs. DOUKI, Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo

Title change takes place at NJPW Road to New Beginning

Posted on by Joseph Currier

TMDK’s reign with the NEVER Openweight Tag Team titles has already come to an end.

At Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Monday, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Oleg Boltin defeated Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson to claim the NEVER Six-Man belts. It was Goto who got the victory for his team 18 minutes into the match, pinning Oiwa after hitting a GTR. Sabre attempted to break up the pin but was held back by YOSHI-HASHI, while Boltin neutralized Jackson and kept him from getting involved.

Sabre, Oiwa & Jackson were making their first title defense here after having won the belts in a rando at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4. The last team they eliminated to win that match was Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Boltin.

It looks like a rematch could be happening at some point. After the title change today, the two teams went face-to-face and the commentary team speculated that the issues between them are not over. There are also a couple of potential singles bouts that have been set up. In his backstage comments, Oiwa mentioned wanting to face Goto. YOSHI-HASHI also said that he would like to face Sabre, aiming to get payback after Sabre defeated him in last year’s edition of the G1 Climax.

Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Boltin all have history with the NEVER Six-Man belts, but this is their first time holding them as a trio. Goto & YOSHI-HASHI had previous reigns with Tomohiro Ishii and YOH as partners. Boltin has twice held the titles with Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano.

NJPW return date announced for former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion

Posted on by Ian Carey

Hirooki Goto is returning to New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Goto hasn’t wrestled since dropping the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Zack Sabre Jr. on a NJPW television special on June 29. The following week, NJPW announced that Goto wasn’t medically cleared due to an elbow injury and had been pulled from the G1 Climax tournament.

At today’s NJPW press conference, Goto revealed that he will return to the promotion on Monday, October 13 at King of Pro Wrestling. His match on the show has not been announced.

“‘The Revolution is not over!” Goto said at today’s press conference.

NJPW Upcoming Schedule

Up next for NJPW is tomorrow’s Destruction in Kobe event.

NJPW Destruction in Kobe (Sunday, September 28) —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Ren Narita
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Shingo Takagi
  • Yota Tsuji vs. David Finlay
  • GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defends against Taiji Ishimori
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi defend against OSKAR & Yuto-Ice
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Oleg Boltin defends against Don Fale
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan
  • El Desperado, YOH, Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura & YOSHI-HASHI vs. DOUKI, SHO, EVIL, SANADA & Dick Togo

Konosuke Takeshita, winner of the 2025 G1 Climax, will challenge the winner of Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at King of Pro Wrestling.

‘Street Fighter’ movie with Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes gets release date

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Legendary Entertainment’s live-action “Street Fighter” movie — which features Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Hirooki Goto — is scheduled to be released just over a year from now.

It was revealed today that the film will debut in theaters on October 16, 2026. The announcement was made in conjunction with the news that Legendary Entertainment and Paramount Pictures have reached a new multi-year film distribution deal.

The movie is based off the iconic “Street Fighter” video game franchise. Reigns is playing the character Akuma, while Rhodes is playing Guile and NJPW star Goto is playing E.Honda.

Here is the official description for the movie:

Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s GAME OVER!

Comedians Andrew Schulz (as Dan Hibiki) and Eric Andre (Don Sauvage), rapper 50 Cent (Balrog), UFC fighter Alexander Volkanovski (Joe), and actor Jason Momoa (Blanka) are among the other cast members.

At WWE Clash in Paris last weekend, there was an angle writing off Reigns for his “Street Fighter” role. Rhodes, who just welcomed a new baby into the world with his wife Brandi, has been off TV for a bit. Rhodes is the current WWE Champion.

Goto most recently competed when he dropped the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Zack Sabre Jr. this June. NJPW announced that Goto would be missing the G1 Climax tournament over the summer due to an elbow injury.

NJPW wrestler Hirooki Goto reportedly cast in Street Fighter film

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW wrestler and former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto has been cast in the upcoming Street Fighter movie, according to a report.

Fightful reports that Goto has been cast as E. Honda in the new Street Fighter film set to be released in 2026. Goto would join a cast that already reportedly includes WWE talent Cody Rhodes in the role of Guile, and Roman Reigns as Akuma.

50 Cent and Jason Momoa are among the more recognizable names also attached to the project. The movie was originally slated for a March 2026 release, but currently has no official release date on the calendar.

Street Fighter is based on the classic Capcom video game of the same name, originally released in 1987.

NJPW announced last week that Goto would miss this summer’s G1 Climax tournament due to an elbow injury coming on the heels of dropping the IWGP World title to Zack Sabre Jr. late last month.

Hirooki Goto out of NJPW G1 Climax 35 due to injury

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Hirooki Goto is out of the G1.

NJPW announced Friday night that the elbow injury caused at Tanahashi Jam will force Goto to withdraw from the upcoming tournament. 

“After medical evaluation through the week, it has been determined that Hirooki Goto, who missed July 4’s New Japan Soul card as a result of an elbow injury sustained at Tanahashi Jam on June 29, will be unable to compete in the G1 Climax 35 tournament, and currently has no set date for a return,” NJPW’s statement says on their website.” We apologise to fans looking forward to seeing Goto wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.”

As a result of Goto’s withdrawal, a Last Chance Play-In Gauntlet match will be held during NJPW’s show at Korakuen Hall on July 6. Tomohiro Ishii, Taichi, Satoshi Kojima, and Chase Owens will compete in the match, with the winner officially entering the tournament in the A block.

Goto lost the IWGP World Championship to Zack Sabre Jr. at Tanahashi Jam in what was their third meeting together this year. The show aired live exclusively on television in Japan.

This year’s G1 Climax 35 tournament begins July 19 and will run through August 17.

Big Audio Nightmare: IWGP World title change, Aaron Wolf signing, Stardom news

Posted on by Adam Summers

The Big Audio Nightmare is back for a solo express edition as Adam Summers talks about everything happening in the very busy world of Japanese wrestling.

This week’s topics include:

  • ZSJ’s shocking IWGP World Championship victory over the weekend
  • A look at Hirooki Goto’s IWGP World Title reign and if it still had more runway
  • Thoughts on the interpromotional tag team main event of Tanahashi Jam
  • Initial thoughts on the New Japan signing of Aaron Wolf
  • A look at last week’s eventful Stardom PPV

All that and more, only for subscribers!

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Hirooki Goto to miss upcoming NJPW event due to injury

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Hirooki Goto is out of action.

One day after losing the IWGP World Championship, NJPW announced that Goto would be unable to compete on their upcoming July 4 card, citing an elbow injury.

“Hirooki Goto, who competed with Zack Sabre Jr. over the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in Nagoya June 29, sustained an injury to his right elbow during the match, and as a result will be absent from competition on July 4 in the Tokyo Budokan. We apologise to fans looking forward to seeing Goto wrestle, and appreciate your understanding,” their website read.

In a surprise, Goto lost the IWGP World title back to Zack Sabre Jr. on Sunday during the Tanahashi Jam event that aired exclusively on Japanese television. NJPW’s website described the finish:

“As both came to their feet, Goto tried again and again to bring Sabre down with left sided lariats, but ZSJ’s right did so with authority. A Sabre Driver, followed by the You’ve Been Tangoed Edition saw Goto incredibly kick out only to be trapped in another armbar, and this time Goto had no hope of making the rope. Unno called for the bell and Sabre claimed the world title for a second time.”

Goto had held the title for 138 days, defeating Sabre on February 11. The two met in a rematch at NJPW Resurgence back in May that ended in a double pinfall, leaving Goto as champion and Sabre unhappy.

Zack Sabre Jr. regains IWGP World title at NJPW Tanahashi Jam

Posted on by Ian Carey

Zack Sabre Jr. has ended the Hirooki Goto revolution and is once again the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

On Sunday, NJPW presented Tanahashi Jam, a live event from Nagoya broadcast on Japanese television. The show did not stream on New Japan World and was not available outside of Japan. It was presented as a special event produced by Hiroshi Tanahashi, who also wrestled twice on the card.

ZSJ defeated Goto in the semi-main event via referee stoppage in a match that went just under 30 minutes.

NJPW1972.com described the finish of the match:

“As both came to their feet, Goto tried again and again to bring Sabre down with left sided lariats, but ZSJ’s right did so with authority. A Sabre Driver, followed by the You’ve Been Tangoed Edition saw Goto incredibly kick out only to be trapped in another armbar, and this time Goto had no hope of making the rope. Unno called for the bell and Sabre claimed the world title for a second time.”

Goto’s title reign went 138 days and seven successful defenses. After defeating ZSJ for the belt at New Beginning in Osaka, he retained it over Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, David Finlay, Callum Newman, Shota Umino, and Shingo Takagi. He also went to a double pinfall draw with ZSJ at NJPW Resurgence on May 9.

ZSJ is now a two-time champion, with his first run lasting 120 days from King of Pro Wrestling on October 14, 2024, to New Beginning in Osaka on February 11. He defended it successfully against Ricochet, Umino, Takagi, and SANADA during his reign.

NJPW Tanahashi Jam results

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Naomichi Marufuji defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa
  • Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hirooki Goto to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
  • El Phantasmo defeated Taiji Ishimori to retain the NJPW World TV Championship
  • Master Wato, YOH, El Desperado & Dragon Kid defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA, DOUKI & SHO
  • Boltin Oleg defeated Yuji Nagata to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship
  • Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita, and EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii, and Yuya Uemura
  • Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated LEONA, Hiromu Takahashi, & Tatsumi Fujinami
  • Katsuya Murashima vs. Daiki Odashima ended in a time limit draw

Daily Update: NXT notes, Hirooki Goto, Nick Wayne

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • WWE cuts this past week, why and more details, lots of reaction to R-Truth and the story behind it
  • Preview of the WWE Money in the Bank and Worlds Collide shows as well as updated ticket demand for the shows as well as odds
  • New Japan Dominion and Kosei Fujita win Best of the Super Juniors in one of the year’s best matches
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling TV shows this past week including competition, segments, demo and what things on the different shows boosted the audience
  • Notes on one of the biggest Arena Mexico shows this year
  • Major arena sells out seven weeks in a row
  • Newcomers behind the scenes as WWE takes over AAA
  • Stardom PPV notes
  • Major signings for Hogan & Bischoff’s RAF company
  • Who has won the most awards in specific categories in the 45 year history of the Observer awards
  • Ratings for the past season of Dark Side of the Ring
  • Notes on wrestlers recently cut by WWE
  • AEW departures and details
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE, AEW and TNA shows
  • Lots more notes on AEW going to Arena Mexico
  • Bryan Danielson says his career highlight
  • Significance of the Phil Davis lawsuit and how it affects TKO and perhaps even WWE
  • Promotion cutting prices to increase ticket buys
  • Notes on MMA reporter Jordan Breen
  • Update on WrestleMania in Las Vegas
  • Nick Khan and Vince McMahon selling TKO stock
  • How much are analysts expecting the WWE PLE right and UFC rights to end up at and what does this mean for the stock price
  • Paul Levesque and Dwayne Johnson
  • Notes on WWE counter programming AEW
  • Bill Goldberg updates
  • How much money has Dwayne Johnson made from WWE since his return 18 months ago
  • Top YouTube viewing numbers this past week

This Week’s Back Issue

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Wednesday Update

WWE

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Dustin Rhodes remembered his late father Dusty on the 10th anniversary of his passing: “The greatest man in the world. We miss you Pop!!!”
  • In an interview with TV station WFAA in Dallas, Ricochet was asked if it was always the plan for him to turn heel in AEW:
    • From the very first day, I have been very strategic about the development of the character. I’ve been very strategic about how we’ve proceeded and about, you know, where Ricochet wants to go. Obviously, the crowd and everything plays a big part of what you’re trying to do. But from the very beginning, this had always been kind of the plan for me. Obviously, how you get there and how long it takes to get there, that all varies. But I’ve always had the plan to come in here and be myself. Yeah, be myself eventually, that’s always been the plan.
  • Nick Wayne opened up to Undisputed about how much he enjoyed competing in NJPW Best of the Super Juniors:
    • The consistency of wrestling, wrestling almost every day, that felt so good, even when I was tired and exhausted. I ate at a yakiniku spot every day. That Hamburg steak, I miss it already. The wrestling, the city life, the food, all of it was an incredible experience. It was a dream come true.
    • I’d love to go back to Japan. Right now, my focus is on taking any opportunity that is in front of me and running with it.
  • Deonna Purrazzo will compete at Narcissistic Behavior, a wrestling show presented by Richard Holliday in Hamden, Connecticut on Sunday, August 3.
  • NJPW’s English-language website posted an interview with Hirooki Goto. During the conversation, Goto said – despite Tetsuya Naito’s NJPW departure – he believes they will wrestle each other again one day:
    • Right [Naito has always had a deep love for NJPW]. I’ve always felt myself that I wouldn’t want to wrestle anywhere else, and I’ll end my career here. I don’t know what made Naito arrive at the decision he did, and I’m sure it’s not just one thing. I’m sad to see him go, but I’m sure I’ll see him in the ring again. 
    • A lot of people go and come back in this business. Shibata was the same. There’s no ‘forevers’ in this business.
  • Shinjiro Otani, who has been paralyzed from the neck down since 2022, recently received a gift from Dean Malenko: the WCW Cruiserweight title belt that Malenko won from Otani in 1996.
  • Stardom wrestler Maika has undergone successful elbow surgery.
  • Shotzi Blackheart vs. Matt Cardona has been announced for GCW’s Boss of all Bosses show in Dallas on Friday, July 11.
  • While appearing on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, former WWE wrestler Gene Snitsky addressed whether he’s retired from the ring:
    • No, I still wrestle here and there. I just got stem cell shots in my knee though, on March 29. I’ve been dealing with a little bit of a meniscus issue. So I went down to the great people at Lifemed Institute in Maryland, and they gave me an injection with that and did some vitamin infusion with the wife. It’s freaking amazing, that stuff. I don’t know the science behind it but I’ve had the best freaking workouts the last few weeks since I went down there.
  • Going Ringside spoke with Matt Riddle.

NJPW Resurgence notes: New Strong Tag champions, Zack Sabre Jr., Bullet Club

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Notes on new champions, the return of the Good Brothers, and a draw in the co-main event of NJPW Resurgence.

The World Class Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaccs) lost the Strong Tag Team titles to TJP and Templario when TJP countered with an inside cradle on Nelson to score the win. WCWC had won the titles back in December, defeating Grizzled Young Veterans.

Immediately following that was the NJPW return of The Good Brothers, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows, as they teamed with The Young Bucks to defeat the Bullet Club War Dogs of Clark Connors, David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, and Gedo. After the match, the original members of the Bullet Club attempted to make peace with the current members by throwing out the wolfpac sign, but the War Dogs performed the gesture, but to themselves as they walked away.

The IWGP World title match in the co-main event between champion Hirooki Goto and challenger Zack Sabre Jr. ended in controversy as both men’s shoulders were pinned to the match, which ended with no winner. After the match, Sabre attacked the referee and got in Goto’s face, slapping him before making his exit.

Goto is now expected to defend the title against Shingo Takagi at Dominion, which takes place on June 15 in Osaka-jo Hall.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hirooki Goto IWGP World title match confirmed for NJPW Resurgence

Posted on by Ian Carey

New challengers have emerged for Hirooki Goto’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Goto successfully defended the title against Callum Newman on night two of Wrestling Dontaku in Fukuoka on Sunday. After the match, he was confronted by Zack Sabre Jr., followed by Shingo Takagi.

ZSJ, who Goto defeated for the belt at New Beginning in Osaka, was the first to appear, challenging the champion to a rematch at NJPW Resurgence this Friday May 9, in Ontario, California. NJPW has since officially confirmed the match. Before Goto could respond, Shingo Takagi made his entrance and said he would face the winner of Goto vs. ZSJ at NJPW Dominion on June 15 in Osaka.

“You have a title, a beautiful wife and kids and Hontai behind you. I have no title, no family and now no faction,” Takagi said to Goto, referring to the state of LIJ following Tetsuya Naito’s NJPW departure. “But that means I’m looking at the top.”

Goto wasn’t the only champion confronted on the show. After Yota Tsuji’s successful defense of the IWGP Global title, he was challenged by Bullet Club War Dogs member Gabe Kidd for a potential title match at Dominion.

NJPW Resurgence lineup for Friday, May 9, 2025:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto defends against Zack Sabre Jr.
  • NEVER Openweight title: Konosuke Takeshita defends against ELP
  • Strong Openweight title: Tomohiro Ishii defends against Drilla Moloney
  • Strong Women’s title: Mercedes Mone defends against AZM and Mina Shirakawa
  • Strong Openweight Tag Team titles: World Class Wrecking Crew defend against Templario and TJP
  • Eight-man tag match: Gabe Kidd, David Finlay, Clark Connors, and Gedo vs. The Young Bucks & TBA
  • Fred Rosser vs. Matt Vandagriff
  • Strong Survivor match: Allan Breeze vs. CJ Tino

NJPW crowns new IWGP Tag Team Champions at Wrestling Redzone

Posted on by Ian Carey

There are new IWGP Tag Team Champions.

Callum Newman and Great-O-Khan defeated Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI in the main event of NJPW Wrestling Redzone in Hiroshima on Saturday. With the win, they captured the titles that had been vacated by Newman and Jeff Cobb due to Cobb’s departure from the promotion.

Newman got the pin on YOSHI-HASHI after the Prince’s Curse to pick up the win for his team. Goto is set to defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Newman at Wrestling Dontaku on May 4.

After the match, the new champions were confronted by Tomohiro Ishii and Taichi, who issued a challenge for a future title bout. Great-O-Khan accepted on behalf of his team. Earlier in the night, Ishii and Taichi defeated Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito in the semi-main event.

This is Great-O-Khan’s fourth IWGP Tag Team title reign. He previously won the belts twice with Cobb, once with HENARE, and now with Newman. Great-O-Khan is currently a double champion in NJPW, also holding the promotion’s TV title.

NJPW Wrestling Redzone in Hiroshima results:

  • IWGP Tag Team Championships: Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI to win the vacated titles
  • Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito
  • EVIL, Ren Narita & SANADA defeated David Finlay, Drilla Moloney & Gabe Kidd
  • Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji defeated Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura
  • El Desperado, El Phantasmo & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Francesco Akira, Jakob Austin Young & Templario
  • SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Clark Connors & Taiji Ishimori
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Master Wato, Oleg Boltin & YOH defeated Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Katsuya Murashima defeated Daiki Nagai

Full card revealed for NJPW Windy City Riot

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The full nine-match card is now set for NJPW’s return to the United States this weekend.

Airing live as a pay-per-view on NJPW World, Windy City Riot 2025 takes place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago this Friday night. The show is being headlined by an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match with Hirooki Goto defending his belt against Shota Umino

The Goto vs. Umino match was made official after being set up over the weekend at Sakura Genesis. Following his title defense against David Finlay, Goto said he already had his next challenger in mind, calling out Umino and saying that he wants to show the United States what true Japanese strong style is all about.

NJPW has been teasing a heel turn for Umino, though he remained babyface after his victory over Hiroshi Tanahashi at Sakura Genesis.

After successful defenses over Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, and Finlay, this will be the fourth title defense of Goto’s IWGP World Championship reign.

The semi-main event at Windy City Riot is Tanahashi vs. Konosuke Takeshita — with the match being the final time that Tanahashi will ever wrestle in the United States. He’s set to retire as an in-ring competitor in January 2026.

A matchup between Tom Lawlor and TJP is among the new additions to the Windy City Riot card. Also added is a pre-show match between NJPW U.S. Academy graduates Zane Jay and CJ Tino.

The full lineup can be seen below:

NJPW Windy City Riot 2025 (Friday, April 11) —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto defends against Shota Umino
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi’s last match in the United States: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. David Finlay
  • Tetsuya Naito & Titan vs. Rocky Romero & El Phantasmo
  • 30-minute Iron Man match: NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Tomohiro Ishii
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson defend against KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
  • Strong Women’s title number one contender’s match: Mina Shirakawa vs. AZM (winner challenges Mercedes Mone at Resurgence on May 9)
  • Tom Lawlor vs. TJP
  • Kickoff match: Zane Jay vs. CJ Tino

IWGP World title match set for NJPW Windy City Riot

Posted on by Ian Carey

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at NJPW Windy City Riot is set.

Hirooki Goto will defend his title against Shota Umino at the April 11 pay-per-view in Chicago. Goto retained the championship against New Japan Cup winner David Finlay at NJPW Sakura Genesis on Saturday, then called out Umino for his next defense.

Goto promised that at Windy City Riot, “‘Two Japanese wrestlers will go and show America that it is true, Japanese Strong Style, not some imitation, that is the best pro-wrestling in the world.”

NJPW confirmed the match shortly after:

Umino is coming off a win over Hiroshi Tanahashi on today’s show. He previously lost in the finals of the New Japan Cup to Finlay after defeating Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, and Shingo Takagi.

Goto has now successfully defended his title three times since beating Zack Sabre Jr. for it at The New Beginning in Osaka. He’s retained against Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, and now Finlay.

Results from NJPW Sakura Genesis are available here.

NJPW Windy City Riot lineup for April 11, 2025:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto defends against Shota Umino
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi’s last match in the United States: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • 30-minute Iron Man match: NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Tomohiro Ishii
  • David Finlay vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson defend against KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
  • Tetsuya Naito & Titan vs. Rocky Romero & El Phantasmo
  • Number one contenders match for Strong Women’s title: AZM vs. Mina Shirakawa