Tag: njpw the new beginning usa 2026

First match announced for NJPW The New Beginning USA

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

Konosuke Takeshita lost New Japan Pro Wrestling gold early in January. He’ll have a chance to get some back when he challenges El Phantasmo late in February. 

NJPW has announced that ELP will defend his NJPW World TV Championship against Takeshita at New Beginning USA at the CURE Arena in Trenton, New Jersey, on February 27. Tickets for the event are already on sale. 

The NJPW World TV title is contested under 15-minute time limits, which is notable given the history between ELP and Takeshita. The two have met in four prior singles encounters, with Takeshita winning twice. Takeshita also challenged ELP for the TV title last May at Dontoku, but the match went to a time limit draw. For his part, Phantasmo has one win over Takeshita, beating him in last year’s G1 Climax tournament in a match that went 15 minutes, 2 seconds. 

The two also clashed at New Year Dash on January 5, with Takeshita teaming with Rocky Romero defeating ELP and Shoma Kato in tag team action when Takeshita pinned Kato.

Yota Tsuji announced for NJPW The New Beginning USA

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

Last weekend, Yota Tsuji won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Now New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced the new champ’s next appearance in the United States.

Tsuji will be appearing on New Japan’s show at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey, entitled “The New Beginning USA” on Friday, February 27. Tickets for the event are already on sale. 

Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom on January 4. The next day, at New Year Dash, he revealed the fourth version of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt. He is being recognized as the 87th heavyweight champion, the first since Kota Ibushi had unified that belt with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to form the World Heavyweight Championship at New Japan’s 49th Anniversary Show in March of 2021. 

Tsuji is also still the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Gabe Kidd for that belt in Osaka last June. 

Tsuji’s last match in North America was a DQ win over Ultimo Guerrero at Fantastica Mania in Mexico City last June. His last match in the United States was at NJPW Strong Style Evolved in Long Beach, California, in December of 2024. Tsuji teamed with Shingo Takagi in a losing effort against Jack Perry and Takeshita on that show.