NJPW has officially clarified the status of its top title and explained how the lineage of the championship will be handled.
At Wrestle Kingdom 20, Yota Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita to become a double champion — winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and retaining the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Tsuji then followed through on his promise to bring back the old fourth-generation design of the IWGP Championship that had been retired in 2021 when the belt was unified with the Intercontinental title.
The fan-favorite classic belt design will be sticking around with NJPW officially bringing back the IWGP Championship to replace the newer World Heavyweight title belt. The IWGP Championship and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship lineages have been merged with Tsuji recognized as the 87th champion.
“Now that the (world and heavyweight) lineages are connected, I expect you to lead NJPW into a new world with the title,” NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi said to Tsuji at a press conference.
The Intercontinental title remains retired with double champion Tsuji holding the IWGP Championship and IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Tsuji announced that his two titles will be defended separately and will have different purposes. The IWGP Championship will be defended in Japan against the best that NJPW has to offer. As for the Global title, it will be defended internationally or in Japan against “invaders” from other promotions.
Jake Lee has stepped up as the first challenger for Tsuji’s IWGP Championship, though Tsuji said at the press conference that he is not accepting Lee’s challenge just yet.
“He needs to convince me and the people of why he joined United Empire and why he deserves the chance,” Tsuji said.
Gabe Kidd and Andrade El Idolo have put themselves in Global title contention with the two likely set for a number one contender’s match at the New Beginning.
Following his victory at Wrestle Kingdom, Tsuji announced the formation of a new faction at New Year Dash. The faction is named “Unbound Company” and includes Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, and the members of Bullet Club War Dogs.
Yuji Nagata gets one more shot at glory in the main event of today’s New Japan Cup event.
56-year-old Hall of Famer Yuji Nagata, a two-time former IWGP Heavyweight Champion who most recently held the top NJPW title in 2007, challenges Hirooki Goto for the World Heavyweight title in the main event today.
All four quarterfinal bouts in the 2025 New Japan Cup tournament are also set for today’s show.
On one half of the bracket, Yuya Uemura faces David Finlay, plus Zack Sabre Jr. takes on Taichi. The winners of those bouts will meet in the semifinals on Sunday.
On the other side of the bracket, Shota Umino faces Jeff Cobb, and Shingo Takagi takes on Drilla Moloney. The winner of those matches will square off on Monday’s show in the semifinals.
Four tag team matches fill out today’s undercard from Dolphin’s Arena in Nagoya. The show stream on NJPW World beginning at 4 a.m. Eastern time.
TMDK remained in large part dominant. Eventually, YOSHI-HASHI and Ishii earned a reprieve when Ishii did a sliding lariat. He then followed up with a vertical suplex. Jackson suffered a mighty Brainbuster, providing Ishii with a successful 3-count.
Ishii and Jackson face-offs will forever be entertaining. If you’re looking for a brief collision of meatheads, this opener will satiate that craving.
United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, Jakob Austin Young & TJP) defeated El Phantasmo, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano
Tanahashi tagged in a fiery Yano to contend with Khan, but the United Empire flattened the eager competitor and incapacitated his team briefly. Ragdolling Newman, Boltin’s strength found him countered by a dropkick. Phantasmo seemed ready to take out TJP, but his team and United Empire interrupted, with everyone trading finishers. Amid the chaos, TJP secured the pinfall with a Hurricanrana + Rollup combination.
These matches typically boast glimpses of what everyone brings to the table, and this was no exception. Since TJP and Phantasmo had the most impactful action, their chemistry will pay off soon.
House Of Torture (Ren Narita, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) vs. BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Chase Owens, Gabe Kidd & SANADA) ended in a Draw
The House of Torture and the War Dogs battled before the bell even rang. Kidd managed to bully Narita while Owens had been taken out of action. SANADA put in as little effort as possible. Kidd was left to his own devices until the match ended in a draw. SANADA was last seen walking to the back as the House of Torture continued picking Kidd apart.
This would’ve been a complete nothingburger, if not for plot advancement for SANADA’s desertion and the House of Torture’s ruthlessness in their unforgiving numbers game.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji) defeated House Of Torture (Dick Togo, EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi)
With his teammates incapacitated, Naito kept Takahashi at bay before BUSHI suffered a combined effort from Togo and EVIL. Tsuji became the equalizer, until the numbers overwhelmed and he met the fate of the team’s Dick-to-Dick Contact. EVIL distracted the referee while Togo choked Tsuji out, leaving Naito and BUSHI to clear the field. Togo poked Tsuji in the eyes, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from a Gene Blaster. This gave Tsuji the 3-count victory for LIJ, but EVIL got his last licks in after the bell.
While not advancing current storylines, this six-man tag justified itself with an admittedly entertaining affair. The House of Torture’s strength the past few years has been in matches that lead to the babyfaces in singles and team action getting the better of them despite the numbers game while remaining satisfying enough to have meat on the bone of the match structure.
New Japan Cup Quarter Finals
Shingo Takagi defeated Drilla Moloney
Moloney fired off, matching Takagi’s tenacious intensity. Running at each other like a freight train, stopped only by a Spinebuster. Takagi snuck in a brief babyface comeback after surviving a Drilla Killa, but suffered a Gore. On the outside, Takagi afflicted Moloney with a Death Valley Drop, leaving the War Dog to clutch his ribs. Back in the ring, the opponents traded barbs until Takagi landed a Pumping Bomber and escaping another Drilla Killa for a Sliding Bomber. A Burning Dragon saw Takagi stand victorious.
An exceptional follow-up to Moloney’s singles win over Takagi at New Beginning in Osaka. The War Dog sold like his life depended on it and made his inevitable defeat all the more believable while leaving room for more.
Shota Umino defeated Jeff Cob
Umino began hte match spry yet wary. Cobb, however, used the same technique plus his power to overcome. He rode Umino’s back as a surfboard to further mock him. Struggling to lift Cobb, Umino instead had to rely on quick instincts. A Spin Cycle momentarily dazed Umino, but he landed a Tornado DDT to spare him a moment to breathe. Cobb nearly won the match with an F-5000. Cobb hit a nasty lariat and Umino later repaid with him one of his own. A Second Chapter eventually gave Umino the win.
The crowd was into this match, so much so that I had a hard time hearing Walker Stewart announce the finisher. There’s a connection with Umino and the live crowd. However, this match moved at a slower pace than Cobb’s exciting match with Tetsuya Naito on March 14. That said, whatever Cobb’s next moves are contractually, he’s making a great case for himself. And credit where credit is deserved, Umino worked hard for that closing stretch to be as resonant as it was.
David Finlay defeated Yuya Uemura
Uemura started off hot, matching Finlay’s moves with his own dynamic prowess, but lay stunned after a Russian Leg Sweep. Uemura swung the match back in his favor with an extended armbar. On the outside, Finlay drove Uemura’s body into the barricade. Folllowing an inside cradle, Uemura fought back with a bridge suplex but was met with a Backbreaker. Frantically searching for their finishers, trading them to a high favor of the crowd, Finlay ended the match with an Overkill, securing the pinfall.
— Post-match: SANADA briskly walked past Finlay, ignoring him, and attacked Uemura before leaving. Puzzled, Gedo and Finlay watched and made their way to the back.
Finlay and Uemura had the first highlight of the night. Dominating Uemura in the early half, he left enough hope that Uemura may eke out a victory. The closing stretch featured “edge-of-your-seat” action that made each pinfall attempt so heart-pounding.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Taichi
Sabre Jr. urged a heavily reluctant Taichi to battle. Hesitant due to his personal relationship with Sabre and his tainted victory over Gabe Kidd the night before, Taichi steeled himself for a mad frenzy of spots with Sabre Jr. Driving the TMDK frontman into the steel barricades, Taichi was tempted by chairs and further weaponry. It was clear his mind was not in the right headspace. Fighting out of his personal foibles, Taichi kicked Sabre Jr. to the mat and ripped off his long pants. Sabre Jr. wrenched in his own comeback with kicks of his own. Now on the same page, the former tag team partners exchanged kicks, with Taichi cracking Sabre Jr.’s chest. Choking the life out of Sabre Jr., Taichi unrelented, save only for a rope break.
Sabre Jr. used a burst of energy to drop Taichi with a Sabre Driver, providing little yet enough time to catch his breath. Taichi’s Black Mephisto nearly ended the match, as did a Dangerous Backdrop. Taichi sat unfazed before collapsing after Sabre Jr. dropped him with a Gotch-style Piledriver. Sabre Jr. worked Taichi’s legs with excruciating holds. Taichi crushed Sabre Jr. with a Black Mephisto but the leg work incurred by his opponent prevented capitalization. Once more trading kicks, Taichi gained the upper-hand as he threw everything he could into each one. Just when Taichi’s kicks were giving him an advantage, Sabre Jr. quickly trounced him with a Gedo Clutch + Bridging Pin for the victory.
— Post-match: Sabre Jr. and Taichi embraced before a somber, bittersweet Taichi bowed humbly to the crowd.
While being an emotional reunion, Taichi came off as a main character here. Moreover, I’m left with hope again that the Dangerous Tekkers may reunite as tag team members once more. Win or lose, this meant so much to Taichi’s character, with Sabre Jr. pulling him into more confident territory.
Main Event
Hirooki Goto (c) defeated Yuji Nagatafor the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Nagata had control in the early goings, but Goto remained strong. He worked Blue Justice’s leg after recuperating on the outside. A Wrist-Clutch Exploder of Justice returned favor of the match in Nagata’s direction. A backdrop by Nagata left Goto weak, but unwilling to take the pin. The champion rose, meeting the challenger with a deadly lariat. Goto employed a GTR, but couldn’t keep Nagata down. The pair traded forearms until Goto used a series of headbutts to bring Nagata to the mat repeatedly. Briefly battling to flip the other over, Goto succeeded with a Shouten Kai. Nagata staggered after a lariat and ultimately fell to Goto’s GTR to finish the match.
A surprisingly short, yet thrilling conclusion to the evening. Nagata’s performance, albeit slower than his younger days, carried an energy that only a sprint like this could do. Goto sold everything to make Nagata a threat, adding an emotional layer—could Blue Justice do it? In the twilight of his career, matches like these make all the difference to conclude such a legacy.
A solid evening, but the must-see matches were definitely Finlay vs Uemura, Taichi vs Sabre Jr, and the World Heavyweight Championship Match. The final two bouts were laced with emotion and passion, the kind that leaves NJPW as the destination for art in wrestling.
Two-time former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yuji Nagata will get at least one more shot at NJPW’s top title on March 15.
Hirooki Goto will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Nagata on the Saturday, March 15 New Japan Cup event at Dolphin’s Arena in Nagoya. NJPW officially announced the match late Thursday after Nagata challenged Goto at the conclusion of Thursday’s 53rd Anniversary event.
Official!
Yuji Nagata will challenge Hirooki Goto for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship March 15 in Nagoya!
It has been nearly nine years since the 56-year-old Nagata has held gold in NJPW, a short run with the NEVER Openweight title in 2016. Nagata held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the precursor to today’s IWGP World Heavyweight title, on two occasions, most recently in 2007.
Nagata was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2018.
The March 15 New Japan Cup show will also feature four quarterfinals matches in the 2025 New Japan Cup single elimination tournament. That tournament kicks off on Friday, March 7.
EVIL requested the stipulation in an interview posted to NJPW’s website on Thursday, and the promotion confirmed the added wrinkle late Friday.
Osaka-jo Hall will host Dominion on Sunday, June 9. The show will stream on NJPW World beginning at 3 a.m. Eastern time. The current card for the event:
Best of the Super Juniors 31 finals: A Block winner vs. B Block winner
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley defends against EVIL in a lumberjack death match
NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi defends against HENARE
NJPW World TV Champion Jeff Cobb defends against Tomohiro Ishii
Provisional KOPW 2024 Champion Yuya Uemura defends against Great-O-Khan
IWGP Tag Team & NJPW Strong Tag Team title elimination match: KENTA & Chase Owens vs. El Phantasmo & Hikuleo vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste
Another IWGP World Heavyweight Championship title eliminator match has been announced for AEW Dynamite.
After successfully defeating Konosuke Takeshita in a title eliminator match at Double or Nothing, Tony Khan announced on Wednesday morning that Moxley will now battle Rocky Romero.
“Officially on the Path to AEW/NJPW #ForbiddenDoor, days after scoring a win at #AEWDoN, MOX will fight @azucarroc TOMORROW NIGHT!,” he wrote.
It was also announced that Mercedes Mone will have a TBS Championship celebration. She defeated Willow Nightingale at Double or Nothing to win the title for the first time.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Swerve Strickland will face Killswitch in a match sponsored by HBO’s House of the Dragon season two.
Here is the updated lineup for Dynamite:
Swerve Strickland vs. Killswitch
IWGP World Heavyweight title eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Rocky Romero
The debut of TV Time with Chris Jericho
Casino Gauntlet match to determine who challenges for the AEW World title at Forbidden Door
We will get answers from Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway
An IWGP World title eliminator match has been added to the AEW Double or Nothing lineup.
AEW’s Tony Khan announced Thursday in a social media post that IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley will be in action at Double or Nothing in a World title eliminator bout against Konosuke Takeshita. Should Takeshita win, he will receive a future IWGP World title shot.
5 years after he arrived at AEW's first ever event, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley will fight vs Konosuke Takeshita 1-on-1 at #AEWDoN with a title shot at stake! pic.twitter.com/6NbxWTjnaF
Moxley’s next IWGP World title defense is currently set for NJPW Dominion on Sunday, June 9 against EVIL. Since winning the title from Tetsuya Naito at Windy City Riot last month, Moxley has made successful defenses against Powerhouse Hobbs on Dynamite, Ren Narita at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku, and Shota Umino at NJPW Resurgence.
The updated lineup for Double or Nothing:
AEW Double or Nothing, Sunday, May 26, 7 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view —
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defends against Christian Cage
AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Serena Deeb
TBS Champion Willow Nightingale defends against Mercedes Mone
TNT Champion Adam Copeland defends against Malakai Black in a barbed wire steel cage
AEW International Champion Roderick Strong defends against Will Ospreay
Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson & Darby Allin)
IWGP World title eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita
Six title matches will take place at Osaka-jo Hall.
NJPW has confirmed that Jon Moxley will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight title in Japan on June 9 against EVIL. The end of NJPW’s Resurgence event saw EVIL attack Moxley, defacing the IWGP title in the process. In a post-match promo, Moxley promised to rid NJPW of The House of Torture, who are sure to play a part in the match.
Shingo Takagi meanwhile, will defend the NEVER Openweight title against Henare, who returned in a video that aired at Resurgence and challenged the winner between Takagi and Yuya Uemura. Takagi retained the title, setting up the match for Dominion. Uemura, meanwhile, will defend the KOPW 2024 title against Great-O-Khan. The rules for the match have yet to be announced.
Other title matches will see Jeff Cobb defend the New Japan World Television title against Tomohiro Ishii and a four-way tornado elimination match for both the IWGP and New Japan Strong Tag Team titles pitting ELP & Hikuelo and KENTA & Chase Owens putting up their titles against TMDK and Bishamon.
Here is the updated lineup for Dominion:
IWGP World Heavyweight title: Jon Moxley defends against EVIL
NEVER Openweight title: Shingo Takagi defends against Henare
KOPW 2024: Yuya Uemura defends against Great-O-Khan
NJPW World Television title: Jeff Cobb defends against Tomohiro Ishii
Four-way tornado elimination match for IWGP & NJPW Strong Tag Team titles: ELP & Hikuelo (NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions) vs. KENTA & Chase Owens (IWGP Tag Team Champions) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
Jon Moxley defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in the man event of night two of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.
Moxley will put the title on the line against Ren Narita in the main event of today’s show. Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito for the belt at last month’s Windy City Riot event. The winner of this match will defend against Shota Umino on next Saturday’s Resurgence pay-per-view in California.
Three more title bouts are also set for today’s show.
Nic Nemeth will make his second IWGP Global title defense in as many days as he faces David Finlay. Nemeth defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in yesterday’s main event.
Shingo Takagi will defend the NEVER Openweight title against Gabe Kidd.
Bishamon’s Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend the IWGP Tag Team titles against KENTA & Chase Owens.
A series of tag team matches fill out today’s undercard, including two tag bouts on the pre-show beginning at 1:20 a.m. Eastern time.
TMDK spent a lot of time in this match picking apart their opponents. Kato tried challenging the veteran pair but couldn’t keep up for most of the runtime. Towards the end, Kato did gain a bit of footing, but it wasn’t enough. TMDK hit Kato with the power bottom to win the match.
This match opened with an athletic exchange between DOUKI and Akira. Once Uemura tagged in, the pace slowed slightly, leading into a striking segment as O-Khan joined the action.
Akira and DOUKI tagged back in after a long time on the apron. Another athletic exchange followed, ending with a quick pin from Akira.
Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr. (TMDK) defeated Callum Newman & Jeff Cobb (United Empire)
This was solid. I loved the rib-work here and Fujita also added quite a bit. Good stuff.
The match kicked off with UE gaining a lead over Fujita. Once ZSJ tagged in, the match began to turn around for TMDK. To keep ahead, UE turned their attention to ZSJ’s ribs, which were worked over in yesterday’s TV title match.
With ZSJ on the defensive, Fujita was forced to tag back in. This time, Fujita held his own against UE, gaining enough of an upper hand for ZSJ to recover.
When ZSJ tagged back in, he took the fight to Newman. Newman tried targeting the ribs but wasn’t able to keep ZSJ down. ZSJ hit the Zack Driver and pinned Newman for a TMDK victory.
Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo), El Desperado & Shota Umino defeated House Of Torture (EVIL, SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi)
Ugh.
HoT kicked off this match with a beatdown in their typical faction. This led into extended periods of babyface isolation.
GoD were able to work together to overcome HoT’s isolation, at least for a while. This ended once HoT cleared the ring of GoD and turned their attention to Shota.
Eventually, the babyfaces managed to clear the ring of HoT. This left Shota free to focus on Yujiro. After a short offensive sequence, Shota hit Yujiro with Death Rider and won the match.
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Oleg Boltin defeated Just 5 Guys (Taichi & TAKA Michinoku)
This was fine. Oleg looked good as always.
Oleg started the match by establishing a strong lead over TAKA. Taichi stepped into the ring to challenge Oleg but also struggled to challenge Oleg. Only after being tossed around, Taichi landed a kick, opening the door for a J5G comeback.
J5G established a strong lead over Oleg that eventually set up the hot tag to Tanahashi. Tanahashi tried for all of his signature offenses but was overwhelmed by the J5G double team. TAKA secured a facelock that forced Oleg to make the save. Once Oleg hit the ring, Tanahashi was able to hit Taka with a sling blade and High Fly Flow to win the match.
After the match, Taichi and Oleg came to blows outside the ring.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji) defeated BULLET CLUB (Clark Connors, Taiji Ishimori, Drilla Moloney & Gedo)
This was one of the most lifeless War Dog matches I’ve seen.
The match opened with a short stint of LIJ control that ended once the War Dogs pulled Tsuji to the floor. From there, they wrestled a HoT-style match using weapons and underhanded tactics to take the lead.
Tsuji eventually secured the tag to the Hiromu, who tried turning the match around. Naito entered the match next and, with help from the rest of LIJ, gained a significant lead. Naito then hit Moloney with Destino, winning the match.
IWGP Tag Team Championship: BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens & KENTA) defeated Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (c)
This was bad.
The BC pair started the match by rushing Goto, establishing a lead that led to an extended isolation period. Once YH tagged in, he reversed momentum momentarily, but a lariat forced a match reset around the five-minute mark.
After the reset, Owens and Goto began trading moves. A short distraction allowed Owens to hit Goto with one of the tag belts, leaving Owens back in the driver’s seat. Owens landed a ton of heavy offense but failed to put Goto away.
YH hit the ring to help Goto, but another distracted referee allowed KENTA to land a chair shot. Goto was able to recover in this time, landing a double lariat to regain the lead. A GTW to Ownes scored a nearfall.
With Owens on the back foot, KENTA distracted the referee again. This allowed Owens to hit Goto with a low blow. KENTA followed up with a running knee. Owens then pinned Goto to win the match and the belts.
Owens and KENTA are once again tag champions.
After KENTA and Owens collected their belts, GoD and TMDK came to the ring to challenge the new champions.
NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) defeated Gabe Kidd
This match was wild—an absolute brawl for the ages.
Kidd kicked off the match with an intense staredown in the middle of the ring. Once the bell rang, both men ran at each other in an intense opening sequence. Both men traded heavy strikes until Kidd landed a suplex, gaining the first advantage of the match.
On the outside, Kidd connected with chops, whips, and headbutts to further his lead. Kidd whipped Shingo into the barricade so hard that the feed went out. To follow up, Kidd dropped Shingo with a chair shot and a suplex on the floor, nearly ending the match with a countout.
Back in the ring, a brainbuster hit Shingo, causing him to collapse. With a downed Shingo, Kidd turned his attention to Desperado. After spitting on Desperado, Kidd ran around the ring, giving Shingo time to recover. Shingo was able answer Kidd’s control with a barrage of strikes.
Shingo’s lead was cut short after Kidd landed a big suplex for a match reset at the ten-minute mark. Shingo was able to land a suplex of his own to take the lead back.
Shingo placed Kidd on the top rope. On the top, Kidd locked in a choke that forced the referee to break it up. Kidd then hit a brainbuster for a two-count. Kidd followed up with a superplex, but Shingo powered up and hit Made in Japan.
Another strike battle took place after Kidd reversed Shingo’s attempt to finish. After trading lariats, slaps, and headbutts, Shingo took Kidd’s head off with a pumping bomber. The follow-up Made in Japan was reversed into a piledriver. Before Kidd could follow up, Shingo landed a sliding lariat, grounding both men.
Another major strike-off ended with Shingo flooring Kidd. Shingo then tried for Last of the Dragon again, but again, Kidd hit another piledriver. The follow-up headbutt knocked Kidd loopy, making him unable to pin Shingo.
When Kidd tried for another piledriver, Shingo reversed. A quick sequence ended with a pumping bomber and driver of his own for a convincing nearfall. Finally, Shingo landed Last of the Dragon to win the match and retain his belt.
IWGP Global Championship: David Finlay defeated Nic Nemeth (c)
Finlay met Nemeth on the entrance ramp, kicking this match off with a brawl. Both men traded momentum on the outside before working their way to the ring.
In the ring, Finlay utilized basic strikes to take control. He then threw Nemeth back to the floor, where he drove him into the barricade. Once Finlay returned to the ring, he maintained this lead with more simplistic offense. Nemeth eventually fired back with some strikes and typical moves of his own.
After a reset, both men rolled to the floor. Finlay followed up by darting Nemeth into the turnbuckle post. Finlay then ran a lap around the ring for a running strike of sorts, but Nemeth sidestepped him, sending him crashing into the barricades.
Back in the ring, Finlay hit Oblivion for a nearfall. Finlay was able to maintain his momentum until Nemeth landed a Famouser from out of nowhere. Finlay held on, answering with a pair of powerbombs and an overkill. Finlay then pinned Nemeth, winning the match and the Global title.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley (c) defeated Ren Narita
House of Torture jumped Moxley on his way to the ring. Narita then attacked Moxley with a chair to further his opening lead. To keep Moxley behind, HoT handcuffed Shota Umino and left him on the ramp after dropping him with a chair.
In the ring, HoT beat down Moxley, but Moxley rallied, clearing the ring without help. Moxley then hit Narita with a chair and whipped him in and out of the ring.
Narita answered Moxley with a knee before beating him down with a barricade. Narita continued the assault in the ring, landing whips, knees, and suplexes to establish a lead.
Moxley cut off Narita’s lead with a curb stomp and a tope, completely reversing momentum. Moxley then set up a pair of tables. HoT tried distracting Moxley, but he responded by throwing Narita through the hardware.
Moxley continued to drop, strike, and slam Narita with ease for quite a while. Moxley locked in the sleeper, but a ref bump allowed HoT to rush the ring. El Desperado left the cometary booth to help Moxley.
Narita tried for the double cross, but Moxley avoided the finish; this led to a strike exchange where Narita held his own. Narita hit a suplex before climbing to the top rope, where Moxley met him for a superplex.
After Moxley hammered Narita with elbows and locked in a choke, the lights turned off. Once the lights returned, EVIL and Dick Togo were in the ring beating down Moxley. They hit the Magic Killer, choked him with a wire, and dropped him with the frame of a chair.
Somehow, Umino freed himself from the handcuffs and was able to make the save. After clearing the ring of HoT, Umino threw Narita to Moxley. Moxley landed a pair of Death Ridders and pinned Narita to retain the IWGP title.
The IWGP World Championship will be defended on Wednesday.
For the first time on Dynamite, the IWGP World Championship will be on the line as Jon Moxley will defend against Powerhouse Hobbs. Don Callis revealed on Collision that made phone calls to Japan and as a result, turned their singles match on Dynamite into a title match.
The start of Rampage saw Moxley applaud Callis for making the move. He said he didn’t mind that the match was now for his title, as he never planned on losing. He always knew Hobbs had something special, but if Hobbs didn’t find it on Wednesday, he’s going to learn a bitter lesson.
Moxley won the title last Friday, pinning Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Windy City Riot in Chicago. He attempted to call out Shota Umino after his title win, but Ren Narita came out to attack him. Moxley will now defend the title against Narita at Wrestling Dontaku on May 4. The winner of that match will defend against Umino on May 11.
Here is the updated card for Wednesday’s Dynamite:
IWGP World Heavyweight title: Jon Moxley defends against Powerhouse Hobbs
Jon Moxley is the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito in the main event of Friday’s NJPW Windy City Riot pay-per-view to win the title, becoming the first wrestler to hold the WWE, AEW, and IWGP World titles.
In the aftermath of his title win, Moxley nominated Shota Umino as his first challenger, but was interrupted by Ren Narita who attacked Moxley with a steel bar. Umino made the save for Moxley.
Moxley then noted that Narita was a dead man, setting up two potential challengers for the new champion.
It was noted on commentary that Moxley is not an NJPW full-timer, and that an outsider winning the title could mean major NJPW shows without the title being defended.
The next major dates for the company are Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni on Monday, April 29 in Kagoshima, Wrestling Dontaku on Friday May 3 & Saturday May 4 in Fukuoka, Resurgence on Saturday, May 11 in California, and Dominion on Sunday, June 9 in Osaka, all dates that Moxley could make and still maintain a presence on AEW’s flagship Dynamite.
A new NJPW World TV Champion, and new NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions were also crowned on Friday’s show, with Zack Sabre Jr. regaining the TV title, and TMDK winning the Strong Tag titles.
Jon Moxley has called out the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
After defeating Shingo Takagi in a no DQ match at Saturday’s NJPW Battle in the Valley event, Moxley took the microphone and challenged the current IWGP World Champion Tetsuya Naito to a match at Windy City Riot in Chicago on April 12. Moxley said that he has only one thing on his mind for wrestling in 2024, and that is Naito.
NJPW confirmed the match for Chicago in a later social media post and on the pay-per-view broadcast.
Naito defeated SANADA to win the IWGP title at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in Tokyo Dome on January 4. Naito is scheduled for his first title defense against SANADA at The New Beginning in Sapporo on Saturday, February 24. Assuming Naito retains, the Moxley vs. Naito bout would be for the IWGP World title.
Earlier in the evening at Battle in the Valley, Mustafa Ali challenged Hiromu Takahashi for Chicago, and NJPW confirmed that match as well.
The current lineup for the Windy City Riot pay-per-view on Friday, April 12:
Kazuchika Okada defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi has been added to NJPW Battle in the Valley.
After defeating Shingo Takagi at Saturday’s The New Beginning in Osaka event to retain the World title, Okada issued a challenge to Tanahashi, who was at ringside on commentary. Tanahashi entered the ring for a promo and agreed to the match.
Earlier in the evening, Tanahashi defeated KENTA in a singles bout, setting the stage for the post-main event challenge.
Five title bouts are now official for the Saturday, February 18 pay-per-view in San Jose, California.
Here is the updated card:
NJPW Battle in the Valley, Saturday, February 18, 10 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV PPV —
IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI (c) vs. Mercedes Mone
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Fred Rosser (c) vs. KENTA
NJPW Strong Tag Team Championship: Motor City Machine Guns (c) vs. World Class Wrecking Crew
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Clark Connors
Eddie Kingston vs. Jay White
Filthy Rules: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Homicide
Mascara Dorada, Josh Alexander, Adrian Quest, and Rocky Romero vs. KUSHIDA, Kevin Knight, Volador Jr., and The DKC
NJPW Battle in the Valley pre-show, Saturday, February 18, 9:20 p.m. Eastern time, free on YouTube and FITE TV —
David Finlay vs. Bobby Fish
JR Kratos vs. Alex Coughlin
NEXT WEEK!
A LOADED card, and a huge event in the San Jose Civic!
Battle in the Valley February 18, LIVE in English on @fiteTV!
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is on the line on the final night of the NJPW New Beginning tour in Osaka.
In the main event, Kazuchika Okada defends the IWGP World title against Shingo Takagi. It will be the fifth career singles meeting between the two, who have split their previous four meetings 2-2.
In the semi-main, Tama Tonga defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against El Phantasmo.
Jay White faces Hikuleo in a “loser leaves Japan” match on the show.
The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles are also on the line, with EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, and SHO defending against Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, and Ren Narita.
In a special singles match, Hiroshi Tanahashi faces KENTA.
In another singles contest, Master Wato takes on Taiji Ishimori.
Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi will take on Shota Umino, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask, and Ryusuke Taguchi in an eight-man tag.
In the opener, Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare face Toru Yano and Oskar Leube.
Leube and Henare opened the match with a test of Leube’s will. Yano and O-Khan tagged in and had a slightly less intense sequence. UE quickly isolated Yano, eventually leading to a Leube hot tag.
UE rushed Leube, but Yano was close behind, helping Leube maintain his control. After clearing the ring of O-Khan, Leube locked Henare in the Boston crab. Henare escaped, dropped Leube with the rampage, and won the match.
After some playful back and forth with the veterans, LIJ lost the lead to Umino, who ran through his opposition. Eventually, Naito, with an assist from BUSHI, reversed Umino’s momentum, forcing a tag to Taguchi.
LIJ overwhelmed Taguchi, landing a quadruple dropkick for a nearfall. After a short stint of chaos, Hiromu hit Taguchi with Timebomb 2, winning the match for LIJ.
After the match ended, the lights dimmed, and a video package from Lio Rush played. Rush challenged Hiromu for the junior title, and Hiromu was quick to accept the match.
Taiji Ishimori defeated Master Wato
Wato gained the upper hand early, but Ishimori used an exposed corner to steal control. After an extended struggle, Wato hit a dive to the floor to challenge Ishimori’s advance.
Ishimori and Wato continued to go back and forth for some time before Ishimori cemented control with a sliding German, slam into the exposed corner, and a shoulder-breaker. Ishimori secured the bone lock, but Wato survived. Ishimori tried for bloody cross, but Wato escaped, leading into a slick sequence ending with a Wato German.
Ishimori hit a quick knee and lariat to turn things back in his favor. Ishimori hit bloody cross and pinned Wato to win the first singles match of the night.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated KENTA
This was a great outing from this pair.
As the match opened, both men fought for admiration from the crowd. KENTA rushed Tanahashi while he had his back turned, taking momentum early. KENTA worked Tanahashi on the mat, establishing a long period of control.
As Tanahashi reversed the flow of the match, he won over the previously split crowd, but a referee bump allowed KENTA to steal the lead back. Without an official, KENTA grabbed a chair and went to town on Tanahashi. Tanahashi avoided any significant damage from the chair, leading to a strike exchange. KENTA dropped Tanahashi with a rope-assisted DDT before landing the double foot stomp for a near fall.
KENTA tried for the GTS, but Tanahashi reversed into twist and shout. KENTA responded with two running knees, but Tanahashi held on. KENTA tried for GTS again, but Tanahashi reversed into a sling blade. After a second sling blade, Tanahashi climbed to the top and hit high fly flow, winning the match.
NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championship: Ren Narita, El Desperado, & Minoru Suzuki defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, & SHO (House of Torture) (c)
Before the match could begin, HoT attacked Narita on the ramp. As Suzuki and Desperado came to his aid, HoT continued the attack, using their belts to beat down the challengers.
After the opening bell, the lawless attack continued. For quite some time, HoT broke every rule in the book, beating down Suzuki and Desperado.
Suzuki began a rally late in the match, landing a forearm before tagging in Narita for the first time. Narita led a firey comeback, but a low kick let HoT maintain their advantage. HoT tried rushing the ring, but Suzuki and Desperado made the save and helped Narita retake their newfound lead.
Just as Narita had the win in sight, a referee distraction allowed HoT to rush the ring again. Again, Suzuki and Desperado made the save. Desperado, Suzuki, and Narita secured submissions, forcing HoT to tap out. Narita, Suzuki, and Desperado are 6-man champions.
After the match, Suzuki cut a promo, naming the trio “Strong Style.”
Loser Leaves Japan: Hikuleo defeated Jay White
White played chicken with Hikuleo early. White’s early bait attempts failed as Hikuleo hit a big boot which he followed with strikes in the corner to establish control. On the floor, Hikuleo continued making advances, throwing White into barricades and ringside tables.
A distraction from Gedo bought White a moment to breathe. White whipped Hikuleo into the barricade violently, buying more time and nearly stealing a count-out win.
Back in the ring, White mocked Hikuleo with demeaning chops; Hikuleo responded with a violent whip of his own into the corner. Hikuleo furthered this lead with a scoop slam.
Hikuleo forced White into the corner, but a swift shot to the knee allowed White to slide back into the lead. White targeted the knee relentlessly before hitting a blade buster. White’s legwork grounded Hikuleo long enough for some chair shots after a Gedo distraction.
White ripped off Hikuleo’s top and returned to the mocking strikes. Hikuleo responded with chops that sent White to the floor before hitting a powerslam. White blocked the chokeslam by bumping the referee and hitting a low blow. Hikuleo responded with a lariat.
Hikuleo tried for another powerslam, but White reversed into a Bladerunner. White tried for a second, but Hikuleo reversed into a giant powerbomb; White kicked out. Hikuleo then grabbed White by the neck. Before finishing the job, Hikuleo too sweeted White. After the gesture, Hikuleo hoisted White up, hit him with a chokeslam, and won the match. Jay White must leave Japan.
NEVER Openweight Championship: Tama Tonga (c) defeated El Phantasmo
This was needlessly long and painfully dull.
This match opened with an extended feeling-out process. ELP took control of the match first from the floor. Tama turned things around eventually, however, much to the delight of the Osaka crowd.
ELP caught Tama with a tope after he tried to catch a breath on the floor. On the way back into the ring, Tama connected with three dragonscrew leg whips to ground ELP. Tama continued to work the legs from this point on.
The pair traded strikes in the middle of the ring. Tama dropped ELP and hit supreme flow. After a back and forth, ELP answered with a styles clash.
After failing to close, ELP grabbed the NEVER belt; understandably, the referee stopped ELP from using the belt, buying Tama enough time to attempt some rollups. ELP reversed the gun stun, but failed to close again. Tama tried for gun stun again, and hit it, but ELP kicked out. Finally, to close, Tama hit the Jay driller and pinned ELP to retain the belt.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Shingo Takagi
The match opened with a textbook feeling-out process. After the grappling and chops, Okada hit a dropkick that sent Shingo tumbling to the floor.
Back in the ring, the pair traded heavy blows. Shingo dropped Okada and advanced with powerful drops and a lariat that sent Okada to the floor. On the outside, Shingo whipped Okada into the barricades, threw him onto the apron, and dropped him on the concrete. Once inside the ropes, Shingo hit a superplex and a sliding lariat for a nearfall.
After being on the back foot for some time, Okada hit a piledriver on the floor. Okada then locked in the money clip after returning to the ring. Okada hit the dropkick, but Shingo reversed the rainmaker with a lariat of his own.
A strike exchange left Shingo in strong control. He hit made in Japan for a near fall. Okada tried to answer with a lariat, but Shingo ate it, reversing into a Takagi driver, followed by a massive elbow. Shingo tried for Last of the Dragon, but Okada escaped, hitting a sudden rainmaker.
Okada tried for another rainmaker, but Shingo ducked. Okada was quick to respond with a landslide. When Okada tried for rainmaker again, Shingo reversed, hitting Last of the Dragon; Okada kicked out.
Shingo hit a dragon suplex, but Okada responded with a sudden dropkick. Shingo didn’t stay down, though, answering with a lariat. Shingo tried for a pumping bomber, but Okada caught him with a lariat of his own. Okada then set up for and hit the rainmaker, winning the match and retaining his belt.
After the match, Okada cut a show-closing promo, thanking Shingo and the crowd. Okada asked Tanahashi, who was seated at the commentary desk, to challenge him in San Jose. Tanahashi threatened to return the favor of the rainmaker shock at Battle in the Valley.
An IWGP World Heavyweight Championship defense has been added to NJPW Battle in the Valley on Saturday, February 18.
NJPW announced Wednesday that the World title holder will make a defense in San Jose at the Battle in the Valley pay-per-view. Kazuchika Okada currently holds the title, but is set to defend it against Shingo Takagi at The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.
Already announced for Battle in the Valley is an IWGP Women’s Championship match, with KAIRI defending against Mercedes Mone.
A pair of matches have also been announced for the pre-show, with David Finlay vs. Bobby Fish, plus JR Kratos vs. Alex Coughlin set to take place on the free kickoff show.
Here is the updated lineup for the show:
NJPW Battle in the Valley, Saturday, February 18, 10 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV PPV —
IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI (c) vs. Mercedes Mone
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada or Shingo Takagi will defend the title
NJPW Battle in the Valley pre-show, Saturday, February 18, 9:20 p.m. Eastern time, free on YouTube and FITE TV —
An IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match has been announced for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.
In a match set up on this week’s Dynamite, Jay White will defend the IWGP World title in a four-way against Kazuchika Okada, Hangman Page, and Adam Cole.
Following a Hangman vs. Silas Young match with Adam Cole on commentary on Dynamite, Cole cut a promo. White interrupted, and said that he would not be defending the title against Cole or Page on Sunday. White and Cole attacked Page, Cole seemingly considered attacking White, then Okada ran in to make the surprise save for Page, setting up the four-way.
Including a bout announced for the Buy-In pre-show, 10 matches are now set for Forbidden Door. The lineup:
AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door, Sunday, June 26 —
Interim AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada vs. Hangman Page vs. Adam Cole
AEW All-Atlantic Championship: Malakai Black vs. PAC vs. Miro vs. Tomohiro Ishii
AEW Women’s World Championship: Thunder Rosa (c) vs. Toni Storm
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships / ROH World Tag Team Championships: United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan) (c) vs. FTR (Dax HArwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) vs. Roppongi Vice (Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero)
IWGP US Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Orange Cassidy
Chris Jericho, Minoru Suzuki & Sammy Guevara vs. Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta & Shota Umino
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. TBA
Bullet Club (Young Bucks, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo) vs. Dudes with Attitudes (Sting, Darby Allin, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi)
Buy-In: Max Caster & Gunn Club (Billy Gunn, Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) vs. LA Dojo (Yuya Uemura, Alex Coughlin, Kevin Knight & The DKC)
