AEW star Will Ospreay gave an update on his injury status while making a surprise appearance at NJPW New Year Dash 2026.
The 32-year-old Ospreay has been sidelined since August 2025 due to a neck injury. He’s undergone surgery and is working toward a return. Though it will be a while before that can happen, Ospreay is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and is looking forward to returning to both AEW and NJPW when he can.
“I can’t come back right now. I still need to recover. It’s going to take me a long time, but I’m getting closer and closer. I’m getting better and better — and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said at New Year Dash. “When I’m good to go, I’m going to handle some business in AEW. I’m going to come back to New Japan Pro Wrestling.”
Ospreay was part of an angle with his former United Empire stablemates at the New Year Dash event. He offered to help support Callum Newman and help get United Empire on the right track. Newman didn’t seem to have much interest in Ospreay’s offer. He initially hugged Ospreay but then went to hit him with a chair before the rest of United Empire intervened.
Speaking backstage after the angle, Ospreay called AEW his home base but said he would like to occasionally wrestle for NJPW as well.
“That’s my main stage, where I fight every week,” Ospreay said about AEW. “But I want to come back. Whether it’s two shows a year, three, or five. I’m determined to make it happen.”
Along with this New Year Dash appearance, Ospreay was in Japan for Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement ceremony at Wrestle Kingdom 20.
Double champion Yota Tsuji has introduced a new faction into the NJPW ranks.
At New Year Dash 2026 on Monday, Tsuji announced the formation of a new faction named “Unbound Company.” It will see former Los Ingobernables de Japon members Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi officially align with the Bullet Club War Dogs after the two sides had already been working together.
“There’s something I need to say here today. Until now, Bullet Club War Dogs and the Independents have been working together. But that ends today,” Tsuji announced. “From now on, we will fight as one unit. Our name is Unbound Co. An organization that is not bound by anyone.”
Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita at Wrestle Kingdom 20 to retain the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship and win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He is now locked into a feud against United Empire, with Tsuji, Takagi, David Finlay & Drilla Moloney losing to Jake Lee, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & HENARE in an eight-man tag match at New Year Dash.
Jake Lee was added to United Empire at Wrestle Kingdom 20 and attacked Tsuji, likely putting himself in IWGP World Heavyweight Championship contention. It was revealed at New Year Dash that Gabe Kidd and Andrade El Idolo will soon face off to determine a challenger for Tsuji’s Global Heavyweight title.
At New Year Dash, Tsuji brought back the fan-favorite classic design of the IWGP Championship that had been retired in 2021.
A title change took place on Monday to help kick off a new era for NJPW.
Following the retirement of Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 20, NJPW was immediately back in action with New Year Dash 2026 being held at Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo. The card saw new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions crowned with the Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) prevailing in a four-way match.
Eagles & Fujita defeated DOUKI & SHO, Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X, and El Desperado & Kuukai to win the belts. House of Torture tried to interfere to help DOUKI & SHO keep their titles, but Eagles & Fujita were able to dispatch of Yoshibonu Kanemaru and pin Robbie X to become champions.
This marks the second time that Eagles & Fujita have been IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions together. Their first reign lasted for nearly four months from January-April 2025.
Eagles & Fujita are members of the NJPW faction TMDK. Their stablemates Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa had the chance to bring more gold to TMDK at New Year Dash but fell short in their attempt to win the IWGP Tag Team titles. In the main event of NJPW’s first show of the post-Tanahashi era, the Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defeated Sabre & Oiwa to remain the champions of the heavyweight tag team division.
*Polls on Worlds End plus Continental Classic MVP and best match polls.
*The story of the WWE/UFC merger and Vince McMahon’s resignation, how real was it, the big unanswered question about the WWE Board of Directors, lots of Discovery information in the shareholders lawsuit against WWE, McMahon, TKO, Nick Khan and others, things behind the scenes about the merger, and the change in plans prior to the 2023 WrestleMania in more detail than ever before.
*Full coverage of AEW Worlds End and business notes on the show
*The retirement of Hiroshi Tanahashi and the Tokyo Dome show
*The record setting 2025 at Arena Mexico and biggest attendance week in the 92 years of CMLL, a look at the last week as well as how many Americans are at the shows.
*The few times in history that a company sold out a major arena three times in the same week.
*A look at the Stardom Dream Queendom show
*Pro Wrestling NOAH hosts the first major show of 2026
*Weekly ods
*2026 Observer award ballot
*Most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week.
*Weedings and engagements in pro wrestling this past week
*All Japan has its best match of 2025
*William Regal and others talk about neck injuries in pro wrestling and our thoughts on it as well as the reaction of some
*Who had the most great matches in 2025
*How Eric Bischoff’s new promotion is similar to Sam Muchnick starting out as a promoter
*Company does a Vince McMahon/Janel Grant angle on its TV show
–Bryan and I will be back tonight taking Wrestle Kingdom, SmackDown, and other weekend news. Our week in review show with Garrett Gonzales is also on the site with a lot of thoughts on last week’s biggest news stories, notably a lot on the discovery in the shareholders vs. WWE lawsuit which gave a lot of info and we talk about a lot of aspects of Vince McMahon’s leaving, that he clearly first thought he was always coming back, if he’s coming back this time and the Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns finish at their first Mania match and how it went down.
–Wrestle Kingdom, or at least the last two hours plus of the show felt historic. Evil did as good a job as possible with Aaron Wolf, which was very similar to the debut of Hiroshi Wajima in the 80s against Tiger Jeet Singh, where you do a lot of wild stuff to make the newcomer look good. The crowd was behind Wolf. Yota Tsuji vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi were almost perfect matches. The latter was among the best storytelling matches in history. The ceremony lasted forever but it was also the best job any company has ever done with that kind of a ceremony. And the work of announcers Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton can’t be praised enough. They made Tanahashi come across as the greatest wrestler of all-time, which he’s not either, although he is one of the best I’ve ever seen and among the most important of the generation.
A comment by Konosuke Takeshita regarding a Shinsuke Nakamura-like armband ended up causing a lot of controversy. He said Nakamura asked him to wear it as a tribute to Tanahashi since he wasn’t allowed to be there. That would give the implication that Nakamura was not allowed to go. Nakamura said he did everything he could to be there but it didn’t happen. That’s pro wrestling politics and in any other generation, he would not have been allowed either, but for a number of reasons, there would be more of a chance now, but it still didn’t happen.
Those appearing in the ring with Tanahashi in the closing ceremony were Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi (who was not moving well at all, limping badly but he made it from the back to the ring and back, but it was clearly very difficult for him to do so). Will Ospreay, Jay White, Keiji Muto, Tatsumi Fujinami, Katsuyori Shibata, Tetsuya Naito and Bushi. Naito’s situation was very interesting indicating it’s probably his last time in a New Japan ring. Tanahashi was out there forever and nobody left. He admitted he was tired.
At this writing cage match lists the main event as the No. 11 greatest match of all-time, but it was as high as No. 1 earlier today. As a story telling match, it’s among the best ever.
— Jake Lee returned and attacked Tsuji after his win over Takeshita. It looks like that will main event the 2/11 New Beginning show in Osaka. Lee has been added to the United Empire unit and was the mystery partner in the ten-man tag, and pinned Hiromu Takahashi to win it. Lee does nothing for me past make it clear Kento Miyahara is the most underrated wrestler of our generation, since Miyahara actually made people think Lee was a viable world champion. Francesco Akira returned as well.
— New Year’s Dash is at 4:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning from the Ota Ward Gym in Tokyo:
Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura & Katsuya Murashima vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi & Satoshi Kojima
El Phanttasmo & Shoma Kato vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Oleg Boltin vs Sanada & Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a non-title match
Gabe Kidd & Hiromu Takahashi & Clark Connors vs. Andrade & Francesco Aira & Jakob Austin Young
Aaron Wolf & Toru Yano & Yoh & Master Wato vs. Evil & Ren Narita & Don Fale & Dick Togo
Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi & David Finlay & Drilla Moloney vs. Jake Lee & Great O’Khan & Henare & Callum Newman
Sho & Douki defend the IWGP jr. tag titles against Desperado & Kuukai, Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita and Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X
Oskar & Yuto-Ice defend the IWGP tag titles against Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa
— Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre in a cage match headlined the house show last night in Worcester, MA, with Rhodes winning of course. That’s likely the same card as tonight in Bridgeport, CT.
— Tomorrow’s first anniversary of Raw on Netflix has 9,461 tickets out. They are definitely pushing for a big walk-up because Adam Pearce talked about breaking down the walls, on purpose, which fuels the idea Chris Jericho is returning. We don’t have it confirmed but many believe that is the case, if not tomorrow, by the end of the month. The show will have a Stranger Things tie-in and fans are being encouraged to dress in costumes from the show. CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker for the World title and Kabuki Warriors vs. Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley for the tag titles plus Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch for the IC tille headline the show.
— People have been raving about the Arena Coliseo main event last night with Mistico & Templario vs Soberano Jr. & Cavernario Barbaro, yesterday’s Mayu Iwatani GHC women’s title defense against Takumi Iroha from yesterday’s Marigold show at the Ota Gym and today’s Miu Watanabe vs. Suzume main event at the Tokyo Joshi Pro show at Korakuen Hall which was held before the Wrestle Kingdom show.
— Konosuke Takeshita did two matches yesterday at Korakuen Hall, although the first was only 56 seconds where Takaeshita & Akito beat Danshoku Dino & Super Sasadango Machine, and then Takeshita beat the other three in a handicap match using raging fire on Dino.
— Alex Windsor was in Japan yesterday wrestling for Stardom. She did an afternoon and evening show at Shinjuku Face, first teaming with Mei Seira & Starlight Kid over Natsupoi & Saori Anou & Anne Kanaya when she beat Kanaya, and then teaming with Kikyo Furusawa over Konami & Fukigen Death when she beat Fukigen Death.
— New Japan announced 4/16 in Las Vegas for a show called Death Pain Invitational and 7/11 in Hoffman Estates, IL at the NOW Arena for opening night of the G-1 Climax tournament.
— Brinley Reece (Breanna Ruggerio) announced tat she was leaving pro wrestling. She had been in WWE developmental and appeared on many episodes of NXT, but has been out of action after shoulder surgery, and said she was choosing her health, her body and her future first. She praised WWE for her learning lessons.
— We’re looking for your thoughts on Wrestle Kingdom, you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
— We’re also looking for reports from last night’s AEW tapings in Arlington, TX with the matches not on the live show, WWE last night in Worcester, MA and tonight in Bridgeport, CT with results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]
— Former UFC champion Holly Holm faced Stephanie Han in a match for the World Boxing Association lightweight championship last night in San Juan. Holm, 44, was being outboxed when there was an accidental head-butt and Han was bleeding badly. They stopped the fight during the seventh round and went to the cards and Han was ahead 69-65, 69-64 and 68-65to retain the championship. Han said she would give Holm a rematch in El Paso or Albuquerque. It was only Holm’s second pro loss as a boxer.
— On the Google searches for this weekend, Holly Holm was No. 99 with 20,000, Matt Cardona was No. 175 with 10,000, WWE SmackDown was No. 301, Wrestle Kingdom was No 342, Trick Williams was No. 477 and Randy Orton was No. 480
— The Garcia twins (Nikki & Brie) are among 30 celebrities competing for $1 million for charity in Beast Games 2, which airs on Wednesday on Prime Video.
— Add Progress and New Japan to the list of promotions that will be running in Las Vegas the week of WrestleMania. Progress announced it would be running on Thursday, 4/17 as part of The Collective produced by Game Changer Wrestling.
— Mickey Rourke, the star of “The Wrestler,” was evicted from his home for being $60,000 behind in rent. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Rouke was given approval for a GoFundMe campaign to raise money.
— Jim Powers (James Manley) turns 68 today. Today would have been the 60th birthday of Jesus Escoboza, the second La Parka. Paula Kaye would have turned 77 today. Vilano I died 25 years ago today at the age of 50. Famed mini star Harold “Cowboy” Lang was 56 when he died 19 years ago today (thanks to Tony Richards)
— Brianna Coda, the former Cora Jade, is in Machine Gun Kelly’s music video for the song “Times Of My Life.” Coda plays the love interest of Kelly.
NJPW New Year Dash is the first big “new era” show after Wrestle Kingdom, and it is a must watch if you want to see new factions, surprise pairings, and the direction New Japan is heading in 2026. The good news is that watching live is straightforward as long as you have NJPW World ready to go before bell time.
Where to watch NJPW New Year Dash 2026 live
NJPW New Year Dash 2026 streams live on NJPW World, New Japan Pro Wrestling’s official streaming service. NJPW is promoting the event as available live in English on NJPW World, alongside Japanese commentary.
If you are looking for the simplest option, this is it: one subscription gets you the live broadcast plus on demand replays and the wider NJPW library.
NJPW New Year Dash 2026 start time (US and global)
The event takes place in Tokyo at Ota City General Gymnasium with a scheduled bell time of Monday, January 5, 2026 at 6:30pm JST.
Here are the key start times for live viewers:
Time Zone
Main card start time
ET
4:30am (Mon, Jan 5)
CT
3:30am (Mon, Jan 5)
MT
2:30am (Mon, Jan 5)
PT
1:30am (Mon, Jan 5)
GMT
9:30am (Mon, Jan 5)
How to watch on NJPW World (web, mobile, and TV)
Use this quick setup so you are not scrambling at 4:30am ET:
Device
What to do
Web browser (laptop or desktop)
Sign in to NJPW World and open the live event tile when it appears on the home screen.
Mobile (iOS or Android)
Sign in via the app, then watch live or cast to your TV if supported.
TV devices
NJPW World supports Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Chromecast casting options.
If you are logging in on a TV device, NJPW World uses a code system: the app shows a passcode, and you enter it at the NJPW World TV login page on your phone or computer to link the device.
English commentary and audio settings
If the stream defaults to Japanese commentary, you can switch audio during playback by opening the player settings (gear icon) and selecting the English audio option. help.njpwworld.com
NJPW World price
For new accounts outside Japan, NJPW World lists a $9.99 USD base price (final pricing can vary by country, exchange rates, or app store billing).
NJPW New Year Dash 2026 is set for Monday, January 5, 2026, with the main card bell time at 6:30 PM Japan Standard Time (JST).
Because JST is well ahead of North America and Europe, most international viewers will be watching earlier the same day. Below are the global start times for the main card only, including EST, PST, GMT, and plenty more so you can set reminders without doing the math.
What time is NJPW New Year Dash 2026 starting?
NJPW New Year Dash 2026 Start Time in Japan (JST)
Main card start:6:30 PM JST (Monday, January 5)
NJPW New Year Dash 2026 Start Time in the US (EST, CST, MST, PST)
If you are watching from the United States, the New Year Dash main card lands in the very early morning hours:
PST:1:30 AM (Monday, January 5)
EST:4:30 AM (Monday, January 5)
NJPW New Year Dash 2026 Start Time in the UK (GMT) and Europe (CET)
For the UK and much of Europe, this one is a morning watch:
GMT (UK):9:30 AM (Monday, January 5)
CET (Central Europe):10:30 AM (Monday, January 5)
NJPW New Year Dash 2026 Start Times in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia
If you are in the Asia-Pacific region, the show is comfortably in the evening:
Australia (AEDT):8:30 PM (Monday, January 5)
Australia (AEST):7:30 PM (Monday, January 5)
New Zealand (NZDT):10:30 PM (Monday, January 5)
NJPW New Year Dash 2026 Global Start Times Table (Main Card)
Region
Time Zone
Main Card Start (Local)
Date
Japan
JST
6:30 PM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
United Kingdom
GMT
9:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
United States
PST
1:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
United States
MST
2:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
United States
CT
3:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
United States
EST
4:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
Central Europe
CET
10:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
Brazil
BRT
6:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
Argentina
ART
6:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
South Africa
SAST
11:30 AM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
UAE
GST
1:30 PM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
India
IST
3:00 PM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
Singapore
SGT
5:30 PM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
Philippines
PHT
5:30 PM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
Australia
AEDT
8:30 PM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
Australia
AEST
7:30 PM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
New Zealand
NZDT
10:30 PM
Mon, Jan 5, 2026
Note: Start times above are for the main card bell time (6:30 PM JST).
Gold will be on the line at NJPW New Year Dash 2026 when Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa get their shot at the IWGP Tag Team titles.
The main event of the January 5 show will see Sabre & Oiwa challenge OSKAR & Yuto-Ice for the belts. It’s a title shot that Sabre & Oiwa earned through winning NJPW’s World Tag League tournament. Though the winners traditionally get their title shot at Wrestle Kingdom, that won’t be the case this time.
NJPW explained Sabre & Oiwa waiting to get their title shot by highlighting how important of a position the New Year Dash main event is this time around. It’s a chance to help kickstart a new era for NJPW following the retirement of Hiroshi Tanahashi.
“Of course, I want to be in the Tokyo Dome match too,” Oiwa said in an interview. “But the main event of the next show after Mr. Tanahashi leaves is the one that will most impact New Japan’s future. I feel a sense of mission because I think it’s an absolutely crucial event we cannot fail.”
Tanahashi’s last match will headline the January 4 Wrestle Kingdom show at the Tokyo Dome. He’s facing off against longtime Kazuchika Okada at the event.
Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo will then host New Year Dash. The show — which is traditionally a mystery card with little announced in advance — will air live on NJPW World.
During World Tag League, Sabre & Oiwa lost to OSKAR & Yuto-Ice in block action. But both teams were able to make it to the semifinals out of B Block. Sabre & Oiwa went on to win the tournament, while OSKAR & Yuto-Ice fell to Yota Tsuji & Gabe Kidd.
