Tsuji Retains IWGP Title Over Goto, Eyes Legends Next

Yota Tsuji notched the first successful defense of his second IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign on Sunday, September 27, defeating Hirooki Goto at NJPW Destruction in Kobe. With that box checked, attention now turns to who steps up next — and Tsuji has made no secret that he wants his championship legitimized by beating the men who once held it before him.

Since the start of both of his reigns, Tsuji has repeatedly framed his title run as a mission to prove himself against former IWGP Heavyweight Champions. That gives New Japan a deep and compelling list of potential next opponents, several of whom carry real storyline weight beyond just being former titleholders.

Zack Sabre Jr. stands out as an obvious candidate. The Englishman made history in 2024 as the first British wrestler to win the G1 Climax, parlaying that into an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship victory over Tetsuya Naito. Sabre Jr. lost and later regained the title before dropping it to Konosuke Takeshita around this time last year. Notably, Tsuji was the man ZSJ beat en route to that G1 crown, giving a rematch built-in history and a chance for Sabre Jr. to chase a third reign.

Shingo Takagi offers a different kind of challenge — one rooted in loyalty rather than rivalry. Takagi has been by Tsuji’s side through the dissolution of Los Ingobernables de Japon and Unaffiliated, and remains a core member of Tsuji’s current faction, Unbound Co., as well as a frequent tag partner. Tsuji has previously spoken about wanting to eventually defend the title against Takagi, and doing so would test whether the champion can beat down one of his closest allies to prove his worth.

Then there’s Tetsuya Naito, whose 2025 departure from New Japan after 21 years still resonates. Naito has thrived since jumping to Pro Wrestling NOAH, capturing GHC tag gold with BUSHI before recently dethroning Shane Haste for the GHC Heavyweight Championship. A cross-promotional showdown between Naito and his former Los Ingobernables de Japon protégé would carry obvious emotional stakes, even if Naito’s NOAH commitments make his availability uncertain.

The biggest potential get, though, is Kazuchika Okada. Tsuji has been openly critical of Okada’s exit from New Japan, and tensions boiled over when Okada returned for one night only at Wrestle Kingdom 20 to beat Hiroshi Tanahashi in his retirement match — a spot that overshadowed Tsuji’s own title win over Takeshita on the same card. Add in Tsuji’s public shots at Okada’s current home in All Elite Wrestling, and a Tsuji–Okada match reads like one of the greater angles New Japan could build toward.

None of these matchups have been confirmed, but the framing New Japan has given Tsuji’s championship reign makes it clear the promotion wants his legitimacy tested against its most decorated names. Whether that road runs through Sabre Jr., Takagi, a NOAH crossover with Naito, or a full-circle clash with Okada, Tsuji’s second reign looks built for exactly this kind of gauntlet. How soon any of it materializes will depend on scheduling and cross-promotional logistics, but the intent behind Tsuji’s championship run is unmistakable.