Tag: knock out brothers

IWGP Tag Team title match official for NJPW New Beginning in Osaka

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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

A number one contender’s match took place on Monday with Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura prevailing over Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi. With their victory, it’s now confirmed that Umino & Uemura will challenge The Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) for the IWGP Tag Team titles at the New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.

Umino & Uemura’s match against Ishii & Taichi headlined NJPW’s Road to New Beginning event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo today. A lariat and Second Chapter finisher from Umino put Ishii away as Uemura stopped Taichi from breaking up the pin.

Following the match, Umino & Uemura got on the microphone and praised Ishii & Taichi before then turning their attention to the champions. Umino & Uemura said they’re frustrated about losing to The Knock Out Brothers in the past — and the only way they can get over that pain is to claim the titles this time.

The Knock Out Brothers were one of pro wrestling’s top tag teams of 2025. WWE was interested in signing them at the start of the year and there were rumors the two could be on their way out of NJPW, but OSKAR & Yuto-Ice have declared that they are not going anywhere.

Edion Arena in Osaka is hosting the February 11 event, which will air live on NJPW World. Only two matches are official at the moment, but the full card is set to be announced imminently.

NJPW New Beginning in Osaka 2026 (Wednesday, February 11) —

  • IWGP Tag Team Champions The Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defend against Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Aaron Wolf defends against Ren Narita

Two title matches official for NJPW New Beginning in Osaka

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Coming out of Wrestle Kingdom 20, the first two matches are now official for NJPW’s next major event.

The New Beginning in Osaka is set to be held at Edion Arena on February 11. We now have our first two match announcements for the show, with NJPW confirming that the IWGP Tag Team titles and NEVER Openweight Championship will be on the line.

NJPW New Beginning in Osaka 2026 (Wednesday, February 11) —

  • IWGP Tag Team Champions The Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defend against either Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura or Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Aaron Wolf defends against Ren Narita

The challengers for OSKAR & Yuto-Ice will be finalized when Umino & Uemura face off against Ishii & Taichi in a number one contender’s match at a Road to New Beginning event on January 19. Both of those teams confronted OSKAR & Yuto-Ice at New Year Dash looking to get a shot at the titles.

WWE is rumored to have been interested in signing OSKAR & Yuto-Ice when their NJPW contracts are up — but the two declared that they aren’t going anywhere after retaining against Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa at New Year Dash.

Wolf, an Olympic gold medalist in judo, won the NEVER Openweight Championship in his pro wrestling debut by defeating EVIL at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Narita is now looking to bring the title back to House of Torture,

Before the Osaka event, there will be a few title bouts happening on the Road to New Beginning tour as well:

Monday, January 19:

  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson defend against Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Oleg Boltin

Tuesday, January 20:

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI defends against El Desperado
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita defend against SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Top NJPW tag team addresses contract rumors

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) are still the IWGP Tag Team Champions — and they have no plans on leaving NJPW.

In the main event of New Year Dash 2026, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice retained their IWGP Tag Team titles over Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa. There had been rumors going into the show that WWE is interested in signing the Knock Out Brothers. Without directly mentioning WWE by name, the champs addressed those rumors after their victory.

“Whatever rumors you might hear, we are never going anywhere,” Yuto-Ice said in his backstage comments.

The Knock Out Brothers — who have held the IWGP Tag Team belts since September — were one of pro wrestling’s standout duos of 2025, winning Best Tag Team in the Tokyo Sports awards. They retained by pinning Oiwa at New Year Dash.

Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura and Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi each made their way out to challenge the Knockout Brothers at the end of New Year Dash. The champions suggested that Umino & Uemura face off with Ishii & Taichi to decide which team gets the next shot at their titles. OSKAR & Yuto-Ice already own victories over both of those teams, including defeating Ishii & Taichi to begin their title reign.