[ROH & NJPW] Discussão Geral

[Carson Wentz]

 

[Carson Wentz]

O supostamente card fechado do WK20 não estava tão fechado assim. O ELP fez uma open challenge pelo TV title e o Chris Brookes da DDT respondeu, vamos ter o combate no WK20. Atualizo o post quando a NJPW lançar os gráficos.

Entretanto um dos X's nos United Empire é o Andrade, of all people!

[Kev]

La Sombraaaa ❤️

[Carson Wentz]

Três combates foram alterados: A adição do El Phantasmo vs. Chris Brookes pelo TV title no Kickoff show; a adição de todos os trios que vão fazer parte da Ranboo pelo NEVER Openweight 6-Man e a adição do Andrade à equipa dos UE para o 10-Man Tag. Aqui estão os gráficos, vou editar também o post da página anterior:

[Kev]

Hype para amanhã ❤️

Vamoooos, que combate o Takeshita vs Tsuji!

BOMAYEEE

Fantástico o main event, vamos sentir muita falta de combates destes dois. 

Editado Janeiro 4 por Kev

[Carson Wentz]

Fucking Shibata of all people making me cry! 😢

[Jamarcus]

Go, Ace! ❤️ 

Citação de Kev, Em 03/01/2026 at 12:50:

Fantástico o main event, vamos sentir muita falta de combates destes dois. 

Lmao

[El Shafto]

É um must see, que coisa bonita, chorei fácil

[Carson Wentz]

New Year Dash!! (5 de janeiro de 2026, 9:30 da manhã)

@Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo

With the majesty and spectacle of Wrestle Kingdom 20 behind us, and as Hiroshi Tanahashi has now bid an emotional farewell to active competition, we turn our sights to the start of a new era on January 5. In a break from tradition, the full card is set for New Year Dash ahead of time as follows!

 

Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura & Katsuya Murashima vs Team 150 (Tomohiro Ishii, Taichi & Satoshi Kojima)

We get started with a generational clash as past present and future of Hontai do battle in six man action. ‘Team 150’ of Kojima, Taichi and Ishii ride once again after last night’s Tornado Ranbo, and in place of the explosive Kaisei Takechi, Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura have another great young prospect with them in Katsuya Murashima. It’ll be an impactful start to New Year Dash for these six.

El Phantasmo & Shoma Kato vs Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero)

After losing the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 20, what’s next for Konosuke Takeshita? Tonight he’ll team with a man who’s been in his corner all through his NJPW career in Rocky Romero, and the two will looks to build back against a man with whom Takeshita tangled in Japan and America in 2025, the World TV Champion El Phantasmo. 

 

Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Boltin Oleg vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (SANADA, Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

In the aftermath of Tokyo Dome’s chaotic NEVER 6 Man Tornado Ranbo, Hirirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Boltin Oleg remain in the mind as one of the match’s most impressive teams  despite a hard fought loss to TMDK. Tonight, Hontai’s work against the HOUSE OF TORTURE is NEVER done, and six man action takes over the third match on the card. 

 

Gabe Kidd, Hiromu Takahashi & Clark Connors vs United Empire (Andrade El Idolo, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young)

More War Dogs and Unaffiliated versus United Empire action sees another new member of the UE cause in Andrade El Idolo and Jakob Austin Young being joined by the returning Francesco Akira. They meet Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors and a man who has specific business to settle with El Idolo in Hiromu Takahashi. With his Los Ingobernables De Japon routes close to him, Hiromu was angered by what he deemed as a betrayal in the former La Sombra joining the Unuited Empire. What new steps will the faction make tonight?

 

Aaron Wolf, Toru Yano, YOH & Master Wato vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Ren Narita, EVIL, Don Fale & Dick Togo)

Aaron Wolf’s debut in the Tokyo Dome saw him make a believer of the wrestling fandom and a NEVER Openweight Champion of himself, but he is not done with HOUSE OF TORTURE yet. The HOUSE is taking aim at the freshly minted Wolf, as well as former NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Champions Toru Yano, YOH and Master Wato tonight in an eight man collision.

 

Yota Tsuji, David Finlay, Shingo Takagi & Drilla Moloney vs United Empire (Jake Lee, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & HENARE) 

On a night where Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement marked the end of a massive chapter in wrestling history, Yota Tsuji started a new one, defeating Konosuke Takeshita to stand as double IWGP Global and Heavyweight Champion. Yet his moment in the sunlight was short lived, blasted from behind by United Empire's newest addition, Jake Lee. Now, Tsuji has a massive target on his back that a rejuvenated United Empire are taking aim on. 

Jake Lee was added to the United Empire mix as the shocking X in ten man tag action on January 4, the ‘smart bastard’ defecting from War Dogs and becoming the key man in victory for the group. Now Lee, HENARE, Great-O-Khan and Callum Newman will all want a piece of the new double champion, while business is far from over with the rest of the Unaffiliated and War Dogs members.

 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships- HOUSE OF TORTURE (DOUKI & SHO) vs El Desperado & KUUKAI vs TMDK (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) vs War Dogs (Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X)

Wrestle Kingdom 20 saw DOUKI’s ‘DOUKI game’ played to the effect of protecting the double IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion from having to defend his gold in the high pressure stakes of the Tokyo Dome. Now though, it seems his time might be out as he and SHO have to defend their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships in Ota. 

SHO and DOUKI have been undefeated as a team since their formation in Osaka back in June, racking up 12 wins as a duo. Yet with every single victory coming through underhanded weapon strikes and handfuls of tights, the two have grown a laundry list of enemies that include their three most recent challengers facing them in a four way tonight. In the rare position of having the numbers game against them, how will the HOUSE OF TORTURE team be able to survive with the gold?

 

IWGP Tag Team Championships- TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.) vs Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice)

Tag Record: 1-0 K.O.B.

From the start of the modern World Tag league in 2012 up to 2023, the winners of the World Tag League have gone on to challenge for the IWGP Tag titles on January 4 at Wrestle Kingdom. Last year, Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi forewent their traditional right, instead opting to face one another, before joining an eventual three way for the titles the next night at Wrestle Dynasty. 

For 2026,Oiwa and Sabre have decided to make a statement with their World Tag League trophies. Both men explained in the press conference after their victory that after the most significant Wrestle Kingdom of all time on January 4, it's 'vital' for them to win the IWGP Tag team Championships and close out the first event in the post Tanahashi era, in the headline spot of New Year Dash. Current champions the Knockout Brothers have already proven themselves to be big match tag team players though and will have their own statements to make January 5 in Ota. Ice and OSKAR have made it very clear that they weren’t happy with what they perceived as a ‘small time player move’ from the TMDK side and are looking to show their anger through a dominant defence tonight. Who leaves with the tag gold at the birth of a new chapter in New Japan?

Editado Janeiro 4 por Carson Wentz

[bronson]

despedida incrível, mas ouvir a música do Naito de novo :')

[Ed]

[Kev]

It’s back!

[Poeira]

A despedida do Tanahashi é só para os fortes. Muito bonito.

[Jamarcus]

Citação de Ed, há 4 horas:

Roubaram-nos de ver o Goto, o ZSJ, o Moxley, o Takehsita com este título...

[mestes]

Na minha opinião a NJPW merece que ele lhes feche a porta. Foi completamente desaproveitado por eles e era tão tão fácil fazer dele uma mega estrela.

[Carson Wentz]

The New Beginning in Osaka (quarta-feira, 11 de fevereiro de 2026, 6 da manhã)

@EDION Arena, Osaka

The next tentpole event on the NJPW calendar comes to EDION Arena in Osaka on February 11. New Beginning in Osaka has provided unmissable matches and unforgettable moments in recent years; what will happen as New Japan returns to the iconic EDION Arena for the first time in a year?

 

Kickoff Match: Togi Makabe & Toru Yano vs Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima

The Road to the New Beginning saw the return of the Young Lion Cup in six man, single elimination action. The field worked their way down to the last two on February 1, with Katsuya Murashima just edging out Shoma Kato to win the first trophy of his career in a gripping final matchup.

Backstage, Murashima declared that his next step would be an overseas excursion, pledging to get stronger outside of Japan and return in championship form. With that excursion set and more details to follow, Murashima will temporarily bow out of NJPW competition on February 11 at New Beginning in Osaka. 

There he will team up with the man he beat in the Young Lion Cup final Shoma Kato, with the two facing the intimidating task of Toru Yano and Togi Makabe. The Most Violent Players are set to deal a physical lesson to the two Young Lions in Murashima's final match before graduation!

 

Unbound Co. (Hiromu Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori) vs United Empire (Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young)

Action on Osaka's main card gets underway with junior heavyweight feuds coming to the fore, and a farewell to NJPW from Hiromu Takahashi.

At Wrestle Kingdom, Francesco Akira returned to the ring after a wrist injury, claiming that he had been 'reborn in darkness' and hungrier than ever to find a path to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship that has proven elusive through his career to date. To Akira, success has to come at the expense of veteran figures who have dominated the junior conversation, in Akira's mind for far too long. Jakob Austin Young certainly shares the same mentality, having been left out of the lineup for Best of the Super Jr. in 2025 scoring a sizable chip on the shoulder. 

Hiromu Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori, long fierce rivals are now an intriguing tag team with a lot of potential under the Unbound Co. banner. Along with El Desperado, two of the junior heavyweight 'big three' that dominated the division for close to a decade, they represent tough opposition indeed for their younger opposite numbers but also a massive potential leapfrog to the top of singles and tag junior divisions for Akira and Young. With Hiromu stepping away from NJPW rings for the first time in a decade, United Empire will be looking to send him out of the cerulean blue with a loss.

 

War Dragons  (Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi) vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan & HENARE)

The official combination of War Dogs and Unaffiliated into Unbound Co. can only be a good thing to fans of one of the most promising heavyweight tag teams to come out of 2025 in Shingo Takagi and Drilla Moloney. Last year's New Beginning in Osaka saw Moloney and Takagi as opponents, and a stunning win for the Drilla in a match that marked his official transition to heavyweight competition in NJPW. With mutual respect being formed in successive matches, the two became a team to watch for 2026, but tonight face a tag team that is reuniting with big plans. 

In 2024, HENARE and Great-O-Khan headed into World Tag League with the IWGP Tag team Championships, but had to relinquish those titles when HENARE was put on the injured list for a full year. Now all four men in this contest want to set themselves apart, and both teams have eyes ont he champions after our semi main event tonight in what's sure to be a highly heated tag team matchup.

 

NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Championships
Bishamontin (Boltin Oleg, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson & Zack Sabre Jr.)

More championship action comes int he form of the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag team Championships at stake in Osaka, with new champions Boltin Oleg, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI taking on the former title holders Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson and Zack Sabre Jr. 

For Oiwa and Jackson in particular, victory in the Tokyo Dome Tornado Ranbo match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 was deeply significant, marking the first NJPW championship gold for both men. The title honeymoon quickly came to an and though, and a hard hitting gripping title match in Korakuen Hall saw 'Bishamontin' leaving with the titles. Now, TMDK want to regain the trios belts, while the Hontai hard hitters are eager to secure a first defence.

 

Gabe Kidd vs. Andrade El Idolo

As United Empire have bounced back with a lot of momentum in 2026, the smooth talk and knockout power of Jake Lee and the spiteful aggression of Callum Newman present a vision that is only aided by financial muscle, brought to the table tonight by Andrade El Idolo. Ever the entrepreneur, Andrade revealed himself as the business muscle behind the United Empire in Japan mere days before continuing his relationship with the Don Callis Family in AEW in America. making him the focus of speculation, controversy and competition. That is a status that Gabe Kidd is well familiar with, and it was Kidd who issued a challenge for this special singles matchup. 

At New Year Dash, Kidd reminded the world of Andrade's past in NJPW just over a decade ago. Under a mask as La Sombra, Andrade is a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion, while Kidd has more recent history with a modern white belt in the form of the IWGP Global title. Kidd suggested he and Andrade go head to head with the winner getting a shot at Tsuji's IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, and with all parties concerned agreeing, we now have a heated singles battle with some stakes for Tsuji down the line.

 

David Finlay vs Callum Newman

Singles Record: 1-1

A heated singles battle in Osaka will see Callum Newman taking on David Finlay. While Newman's aggressions toward Finlay, and United Empire's battles with Unbound Co. firmly kicked into high gear during World Tag League, the roots of Newman's hatred for Finlay are in Osaka, from back in 2024. 

Then, Finlay led the BULLET CLUB War Dogs into the first ever Dog Pound Steel Cage Match against United Empire, emerging victorious and banishing Will Ospreay from NJPW in the process. The months that followed saw United Empire fractured and directionless, leaving Newman in particular to question his next steps. Indeed talk was, as the Prince paired with Great-O-Khan during World Tag League, that if they were unable to find success int he tag team tournament then United Empire would disband entirely.

Newman and O-Khan indeed did not find success in World Tag League, eliminated from contention by Hiromu Takahashi and, as fate would have it, Finlay. That sparked a furious rage from Newman, who now had a motivation born out of deep spite. In his words, Newman was now driven to do what his mentor in pro-wrestling Will Ospreay never could, and to destroy Finlay and the BULLET CLUB War Dogs. 

With the additions of Andrade El Idolo and Jake Lee, the returns of Francesco Akira and HENARE and the new recruitment of former Young Lion Zane Jay, United Empire have accumulated power as Newman's quest continued, and as the once Unaffiliated members joined forces with the War Dogs in the form of Unbound Co., Newman likely now takes some credit for the BULLET CLUB name no longer on cards for the first time in 13 years. Will the Prince complete his quest to destroy Finlay next, or will the Savage King put the precocious 'Prince' in his place?

 

NEVER Openweight Championship
Aaron Wolf vs Ren Narita

With the world watching, the much anticipated pro-wrestling debut for Olympic gold medalist Aaron Wolf at Wrestle Kingdom 20 could not have gone any better. Wolf beat the odds in the sold out Tokyo Dome and most crucially beat EVIL bring the gold painted ENVER Openweight Championship to his waist. HOUSE OF TORTURE is not a group to take defeat lightly though, and as EVIL stepped back, it would be Ren Narita who stepped forth, blasting the new champion with his ever ready metal pushup bar and challenging for the title the very next night at New Year Dash. 

It's not been an easy tour for HOUSE OF TORTURE, with a string of televised defeats, many at the hands of Wolf himself, only broken with an interference packed retention of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title by DOUKI on January 20 in Korakuen. With H.O.T often at its most dangerous when backed into a corner, Narita is now front and center player for the House in Osaka. Pressure is high, but assistance is sure to be close at hand for the Souled Out Narita.

 

IWGP Tag Team Championships
Knockout Brothers (Yuto-Ice & OSKAR) vs Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura

Tag Record: 2-0 K.O.B.

OSKAR and Yuto-Ice will put their IWGP Tag team Championships on the line in Osaka when they face the challenge of Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura. In under six months since returning from excursion, the Knockout Brothers have had a stranglehold over the IWGP tag titles, and in so doing have raised the status and level of competition for the belts.

Capturing the championships in their first challenge back at Destruction in September, KOB made it a key point of business to ensure that they were the first team in a calendar year to successfully defend championships that had become a hot potato contested between makeshift sides. It was Umino and Uemura that stepped up in that first defence, and that were sent packing by the champions in impressive form, but defeat only strengthened the challengers' bonds and resolve. Falling again to KOB during World Tag League, and seeing OSKAR and Ice secure their second defence at New Year Dash over Ryohei Oiwa and Zack Sabre Jr., Uemura and Umino regrouped and stepped into the title mix once more when they defeated veterans Tomohiro Ishii and Taichi to earn another shot. 

With bad blood only continuing to brew between the two sides, it's safe to say that Uemura, and Umino especially have not yet earned the respect of Ice and OSKAR, but with redoubled determination and an impressive Korakuen win under their belt, they may just earn the tag titles in Osaka. Can the two Hontai stars capture their first IWGP gold, or will it be V3 for KOB? 

 

Main event: IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Yota Tsuji vs Jake Lee

Our main event sees the IWGP Heavyweight Championship defended, and the V4 version of the belt on the line for the first time in close to five years, Yota Tsuji facing the challenge of Jake Lee. 

Lee returned to NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 20, and instantly got on Tsuji's radar when he rocked the champion with an FBS mere moments after Tsuji captured the title from Konosuke Takeshita. Tsuji was reluctant to put the title on the line against Lee, demanding the prospective, and usually highly talkative 'Smart Bastard' convince him and the world of his reasons for challenging, and for joining United Empire. 

Lee refused to give Tsuji what he wanted time after time, instead making his actions felt more keenly than his words. Heavy knees put Shingo Takagi on the shelf with a rib injury, his FBS rang off Tsuji's skull again, and in Korakuen Hall, just as he seemed about to break his silence, Lee instead choked out Tsuji with a punishing front chancerie. The next night though, Lee made his loudest statement yet, with the rest of United Empire seeing to it that all Tsuji could do was watch as Lee plowed through the members of Tsuji's Unbound Co. 

Then and only then did Lee let the world know he was perfectly able to speak, askling of Tsuji needed any more coaxing to put the title on the line. Tsuji has now agreed, but warned that Lee doesn't know the lengths that he has gone to to win the Heavyweight title, nor what he is willing to do to keep it. For Lee's part though, his FBS knockout boot, brutal Giant Killing knee and the blood choke Tsuji felt in Korakuen are all deadly weapons, and the threat Lee poses as a potential Grand Slam AJPW Triple Crown, NOAH GHC Champion and IWGP Heavyweight Champion is imposing indeed

[Carson Wentz]

Belo show ontem, apesar do main event ter sido medíocre. Gostei bastante das booking choices, em particular com o Ren Narita a atropelar o Aaron Wolf. O Wolf ganhou o título no debut, mas babyface dominante é menos interessante do que ir atrás do título, e ajuda também o Narita a estabelecer-se como líder da H.O.T., agora que não há EVIL.

Por falar em saídas, Hiromu 😞 E pelo que deu para ver, mais a bracket da New Japan Cup, o Finlay e o Gabe Kidd parece-me que também já estão de saída. É incrível a quantidade de talento que a NJPW perdeu nos últimos dois anos, pqp: Ospreay, Okada, Naito, BUSHI, Tanahashi, SANADA, EVIL, Clark Connors, Hiromu e agora, quase certamente, Finlay e Gabe Kidd (e provavelmente estou a esquecer-me de alguém). Rough times ahead, para vender bilhetes, pelo menos.

Já agora, aqui fica a bracket para a Cup:

Oiwa vs. Yuto-Ice na primeira ronda com o vencedor a defrontar o ZSJ tem tudo para ser hype. Muito curioso também para o Shingo vs. Aaron Wolf na segunda ronda.

[Ed]

O Finlay já se sabia que ia sair, não estava à espera do Gabe Kidd.

A entrada da AEW lixou, em muito, a NJPW, que se tornou quase numa feader promotion para estes. E até um certo para a WWE também.

[Carson Wentz]

The New Beginning USA (sábado, 28 de fevereiro de 2026, 1 da manhã)

@CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton, NJ

With the New Beginning in Osaka now behind us, NJPW's new start in the new year turns toward the USA, and Trenton New Jersey. On February 28, New Beginning USA sees New Japan debut in the CURE Arena in Trenton new Jersey for a seven match card full of standout action.

 

Fred Rosser vs David Finlay

Another first time singles matchup sees Fred Rosser going one on one with David Finlay. After a long feud with United Empire, Finlay had stated that he wanted new competition in New Jersey. That competition comes in the form of NJPW Academy coach and NJPW US stalwart Fred Rosser. Rosser and Finlay have never competed against one another before, and after emotional scenes after defeat to Callum Newman in Osaka February 11, speculation is rife that this bout may be a first time, last time affair. Who will emerge victorious?

 

STRONG Openweight Championship- Tomohiro Ishii vs Boltin Oleg

January 19 in Korakuen Hall, Boltin joined with Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to capture the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Championships in a gripping heavyweight encounter. Now, the Big man From Kazakhstan is hungry for more gold, and the former NEVER Openweight Champion wants his second singles title in his US debut. 

Tomohiro Ishii won the STRONG title back in Chicago last April, and after defending once against Drilla Moloney in California at Resurgence, is hungry for a singles challenge. On the same night as Boltin captured the NEVER gold, Ishii main evented in Korakuen, teaming with Taichi to put up a sensational performance in defeat to Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura. Yet Ishii's incredible will and determination perseveres, as does a desire to drive a message home to the younger generation of athletes within Hontai especially. Ishii's veteran grit is something he wants to see from Uemura, Umino, Boltin and beyond, and tonight he puts the Kazakh Beast to the test in a bid to see just that. 

 

AEW National Championship- Ricochet vs Taiji Ishimori

Along with the Gates of Agony's challenge to the IWGP Tag team Championships came another 'surprise' from the Demand during New Beginning in Osaka. AEW National Champion Ricochet offered up a challenge to none other than Taiji Ishimori for Trenton New Jersey, as he seeks to claim the eighth defence of his reign with the AEW gold. 

Although Ricochet's career path, at least in Japan bears similarities between NJPW and Dragongate competition to Ishimori, the two have never faced off one on one before. Their closest meeting was in the 2016 Super Jr. Tag Tournament; an unlikely matchup of Ricochet and David Finlay taking on Ishimori and ACH. A decade later, and the resume of both men has only exploded, but will a new line in that resume mark Ishimori as the new National Champion, or can Ricochet extend to V8?

 

El Desperado & KUSHIDA vs Jordan Oliver & Alec Price

A unique tag team matchup sees iconic staples in NJPW's junior heavyweight division in KUSHIDA and El Desperado face two men who may well prove to be the future of the style. Alec Price and Jordan Oliver are hotly tipped figures in the northeast scene, and the Bustah and the Brain are current holders of the GCW Tag Team Championships. Oliver has already tested himself in an NJPW ring against El Desperado himself back at All Star Junior Festival USA in 2023, and now he and Price are looking to make waves in New Jersey.

 

NJPW World TV Championship- El Phantasmo vs Konosuke Takeshita

Singles Record: 2-1-1 Takeshita

Phantasmo and Takeshita topped and tailed Wrestle Kingdom with ELP picking up a successful defence of his TV gold in the kickoff at the Tokyo Dome, while Takeshita fell in defeat in the semi main event, losing his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Yota Tsuji. 

The night after WK20 saw ELP and Takeshita locking horns at New Year Dash, where tensions flared anew between the two competitors. This will be the fifth singles meeting between the two, with Takeshita scoring a pair of wins over ELP, including in the US at last year's Resurgence card. Phantasmo, for his part, has recorded a defence of World TV gold over the Alpha, but only via time limit draw last May at Dontaku. it seemed as if victory over Takeshita would remain out of ELP's reach until G1 opening weekend in Sapporo last summer, where Phantasmo finally got the win over Takeshita in 15 minutes and two seconds of match time.

There are 15 minute time limits on every NJPW World TV title match, meaning if their G1 Climax 35 bout had been under TV title rules, it would have ended in another draw. ELP will not be playing for time in Trenton, but rather looking to retain his title with a clean win. For Takeshita meanwhile, capturing the TV title would add new dimension to his international television footprint; who will claim the gold at New Beginning USA?

 

IWGP Tag Team Championships- Knockout Brothers (Yuto-Ice & OSKAR) vs Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)

It was an intense and memorable battle at New Beginning in Osaka that saw OSKAR and Yuto-Ice move to V3 with a stunning defence, continuing a hot streak for incredible competition over the IWGP Tag Team Championships and cementing it as arguably the most gripping division in professional wrestling today. Teams from all over the world are taking aim at the IWGP tag titles, and in the moments after the Osaka semi main event, the latest contenders revealed themselves. 

Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona last wrestled in NJPW back during the 2024 World Tag League, but with a hot streak of their own in AEW as part of the Ricochet led faction The Demand, they're looking to make a bigger mark in Trenton. The 'We've become stronger, dangerous sharks', the Gates of Agony remarked in a powerful video message, 'and we smell blood in the water'. Their work will be cut out for them in the face of the awesome Knockout Brothers who GOA last saw while they were still Young Lions. On February 27, will it be NJPW or AEW's tag representatives who prove stronger?

 

IWGP Women's Championship- Syuri vs Athena

Another double champion defending one of her titles in Trenton is Syuri. The double , when a message from ROH Women's Champion Athena saw her announce that she was heading to New Beginning USA, and was challenging Syuri for the IWGP Women's Championship. That challenge has been accepted and now the two will face off at NJPW's first US card of 2026!

Athena has been unstoppable as ROH Women's Champion, the 'Forever Champ' capturing the title way back in December 2022 and dominating the Ring of Honor scene for well over three years since. Syuri however has proven she has means of beating the seemingly unbeatable; at Wrestle Kingdom 20 she stopped the dominance of 2025 pro-wrestling MVP Saya Kamitani to become double IWGP and STRONG Women's Champion. Will it be Athena who leaves Trenton as a double champion, or can Syuri pick up her second defence of the IWGP gold?

 

Main event: IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship- Yota Tsuji vs Andrade El Idolo

Following a gripping victory over Gabe Kidd at New Beginning in Osaka, Andrade El Idolo earned his right to challenge Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, opening the door for a first time main event here in Trenton. 

During Tsuji's post match comments in Osaka, Andrade approached Tsuji backstage and acknowledged the double Global and Heavyweight Champion's antagonistic attitude to Andrade's home promotion in AEW. While Andrade is coming for every title in professional wrestling, Tsuji was fired up by the prospect of dismantling the All Elite roster starting with El Idolo in New Jersey, setting a high stakes scene to come. 

While champion and challenger have never faced off before, they both share the same 'Unbound' spirit. Many years before becoming the financial backer for United Empire, Andrade wrestled as La Sombra in CMLL, where he was a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion. In 2015, it was La Sombra who invited one Tetsuya Naito into his faction Los Ingobernables, begetting Los Ingobernables De Japon and shaping the future of Yota Tsuji when he finally joined NJPW. Now, Tsuji leads the Unbound Co., and Andrade is a CFO for United Empire in his own right. As the Unbound and the Empire continue to collide, who will leave New Jersey with a key symbol of power for NJPW on the international stage? 

[Carson Wentz]

A produção dos shows da NJoA faz com que isto seja durinho de ver.

Combatezorro entre o ELP e o Takeshita though.

[Carson Wentz]

Oiwa vs. ZSJ foi o combate do torneio até agora. Absolute banger. Mas vão ter que começar a dar vitórias ao Oiwa mais cedo ou mais tarde. Não fica a dever em nada ao Tsuji e ao Yuya e já precisava de um rub.

Fica aí o quadro para os quartos de final:

Umino vs. ZSJ round 3000. Yawn. Aposto em Yuya contra o vencedor do Goto vs. Callum para a final (provavelmente o Callum).

[Carson Wentz]

E cá temos as meias-finais. Parece-me que a Nooj vai seguir a lógica e ter Yuya vs. Callum na final, resta saber se querem um tradicional face vs. heel para a próxima defesa do título, nesse caso ganhando o Callum, ou se vão para o "dream match" de Tsuji vs. Yuya.

[Ed]

Citação de Carson Wentz, há 1 hora:

"dream match" de Tsuji vs. Yuya.

Isso dá para esperar. Até podem surpreender e colocar o Oleg.

[Carson Wentz]

New Japan Cup (sábado, 21 de março de 2026, 6 da manhã)

@Ao-re Nagaoka, Niigata

With the New Beginning in Osaka now behind us, NJPW's new start in the new year turns toward the USA, and Trenton New Jersey. On February 28, New Beginning USA sees New Japan debut in the CURE Arena in Trenton new Jersey for a seven match card full of standout action.

 

Kickoff Match: Masatora Yasuda vs Taisei Nakahara

Singles Record: 1-0 Yasuda

With a special early start, kickoff action will see Masatora Yasuda take on freshly debuted Young Lion Taisei Nakahara. Nakahara's third career singles bout is a rematch of his second, which ended in Korakuen Hall early in the month after six minutes and 51 seconds of action. Can Nakahara last closer to the ten minute time limit on this second go-around?

 

NJPW World TV Championship Open Challenge- Konosuke Takeshita vs X

We get started on our main card for the afternoon with a title match right out of the gate. The NJPW World TV title will be on the line when Konosuke Takeshita makes his first defence. After winning the title in overtime at New Beginning USA in Trenton New Jersey, who will step up to the plate and face the Alpha?

 

Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tatsuya Matsumoto) vs Taichi, Satoshi Kojima & El Desperado

For the second night in a row, Satoshi Kojima and Taichi take on the Goto Revolutionary Army. This time, it's El Desperado completing the trio for 'Team 101', former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Desperado reuniting with Taichi, on the same side since their Suzuki-Gun days ended way back at the end of 2022.

 

YOH, Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (DOUKI, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

Just under two weeks away from DOUKI's next defence of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, he faces YOH once more tonight in Nagaoka. Friday night saw YOH standing tall thanks to an EVIL attack on Kanemaru preceding the Direct Drive; will he stay on top tonight?

 

Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan & HENARE)

Less than 24 hours after his main event defeat to Callum Newman, Shota Umino must reset this afternoon, and will look to do so opposite Newman's United Empire compatriots. Great-O-Khan has become a fateful foe for Umino, having faced and beaten the Roughneck after Shota's most painful loss to date in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 19 in 2025. Umino doesn't want to suffer the same fate in the spring of 2026; meanwhile after HENARE made interesting comments about Shota's future in a pre tournament future, might there be an invitation on the table from the Mauler?

 

Unbound Co. (Shingo Takagi, Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori) vs United Empire (Jake Lee, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young)

A pair of openweight trios from United Empire and Unbound Co. square off as the War Dragons combine with one half of the IWGP Junior Tag Champions in Taiji Ishimori to face Jake Lee and the junior tag number one contenders Francesco Akira and Jakob Austin Young.

While the scales in weight and power are tipped in Unbound favour tonight, Akira in particular has been snapping at the heels of larger foes all the way through the tour this month in the absence of Robbie X, who is recovering from a neck injury sustained at the Italian's hands. Takagi and Moloney will happily join Ishimori in silencing the arrogant Akira and his partner this afternoon.

 

Boltin Oleg, Aaron Wolf & Toru Yano vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo)

Boltin Oleg will look to get back on his feet after semifinal defeat last night against HOUSE OF TORTURE. One major result Boltin can point to in his Cup campaign is a pinfall victory over NEVER Openweight Champion Ren Narita; a former champion himselfm, Boltin will want to re-establish an already strong championship claim today, while Aaron Wolf has claims of his own to make after Narita stole away with the gold back at New Beginning in February.

 

Unbound Co. (Yota Tsuji, Yuto-Ice, OSKAR & Daiki Nagai) vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson & Kosei Fujita)

For the second consecutive day, Unbound Co. face TMDK in tag competition for the last match before our tournament final. Friday saw Fujita in spirited exchanges with Yota Tsuji, while Ryohei Oiwa and Zack Sabre Jr. made a post match case to IWGP Tag Team Champions the Knockout Bros. Today, they'll be looking to make their point more forcefully.

 

Main event: New Japan Cup Final- Yuya Uemura vs Callum Newman

Singles Record: 1-0 Uemura

It's a first time ever New Japan Cup final and a guaranteed first time New Japan Cup winner as Yuya Uemura and Callum Newman square off. With an average age of 27, the youngest New Japan Cup final in history sees Callum Newman seeking to become the youngest NJC winner.

'Youngest ever' has been an addendum to countless achievements for United Empire's Prince over the last two years, from joint youngest G1 entrant to youngest IWGP Tag Champion two times and youngest to ever challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight title. If he's to get another shot at that championship however, first he will have to defeat a man who beat him during last year's G1 in Yuya Uemura. Uemura's gripping victory over Boltin Oleg Friday further solidified the Heat Storm's brand of modern Strong Style, and the grit and determination needed to be a champion.

For Uemura, who spoke pre-tournament about resentment at being considered 'just another member of the roster', the New Japan Cup trophy represents a chance to break out into the top tier of NJPW wrestlers, and to get back in the ring with his career rival Yota Tsuji, this time for the IWGP Heavyweight title they dreamed of wrestling one another over. Two athletes with pride, conviction and, in their own ways, pronounced chips on their shoulders will throw all they have in the ring, and perhaps whatever resources they have to call on outside of it as well at one another in this Cup final. Who will walk away with the NJC trophy, and the label of strongest of the spring?

[Kev]

Excelente a final. 

O Callum está top.