Kidd to defend against Tanahashi

Dominion in Osaka Jo Hall on June 15 saw four new champions crowned, with perhaps the biggest shift being the IWGP Global heavyweight Championship. Gabe Kidd gutted out a hard hitting fight with Yota Tsuji to lift the white and gold, after using Jon Moxley's Deathrider to set up for a Drill A Hole Piledriver and claim the victory.

It didn't take long for Kidd to nominate his first challenger, as the Mad Man quickly called Hiroshi Tanahashi to the ring. Kidd demanded that the Global gold be put on the line as part of the Ace's Final Road, and that title match is now set for July 4 in the Tokyo Budokan as part of the New Japan Soul tour.

Kidd's close connection to Tanahashi goes back to his days as a Young Lion, and Kidd has been public about how support from the Ace helped him through extreme mental difficulty in years past. With emotional ties deep, Tanahashi's tears at seeing Kidd's performance and pride in the Lion Mark on January 5 at Wrestle Dynasty has remained one of the most enduring images of the year so far. This Adachi showdown, only the second singles match for the two and the first on Japanese soil is sure to be just as emotional.
​

One new face and one familiar to many appear

New names are on the cards for the New Japan Soul series that gets underway on June 18, as Young Lions make their Japanese debuts.
The first is already familiar to many NJPW fans as the NJPW Academy graduate Zane Jay hits the cerulean in Japan for the first time. A true graduate of the Academy system, Zane started in the beginners class before moving up to advanced, learning under KUSHIDA and Fred Rosser.

Last summer, the 183cm, 95kg Zane headed to Japan for the first time to train in the Noge Dojo. Using the experience he gained there, Zane would defeat Matt Vandagriff in Long Beach on December 15 to win the STRONG Survivor status, earning a spot in the kickoff matches on US events until Windy City Riot in April, where the Washington native announced that he was refocusing his efforts on making a Japanese debut.

That Japanese debut will come opposite Yokohama's Tatsuya Matsumoto. 24 year old Matsumoto stands at 180cm and weighs in at 85kg and wrestled and grappled in high school before working as a personal trainer for five years. Matsumoto competed in top flight bodybuilding competitions before passing the Dojo tryout in 2023, and officially entering the Dojo in April of 2024.

Matsumoto and Jay will debut in Aomori on June 18 and will do battle in ten minute singles matches through the first seven nights of the New Japan Soul series.
​

Soul series gets underway
On June 18, the Aomori Martial Arts Hall will host the kickoff of New Japan Soul 2025!
The tour begins in the aftermath of Dominion, and will showcase the fallout from Osaka-Jo Hall, while also introducing new faces and emerging alliances.

Watch it LIVE on NJPW World! (English to follow on demand)

Main Event: El Phantasmo, Shota Umino & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Hirooki Goto has proven to be a fighting champion ever since claiming the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, defending the title multiple times against tough challengers—including Zack Sabre Jr., the man he originally dethroned. At Resurgence 2025, the two clashed again in a heated rematch that ended in a controversial double pinfall draw. Now, both men look to settle the score once and for all in their third encounter on June 29 at Tanahashi Jam. El Phantasmo and Shota Umino, both competing in the G1 this year in B Block, will get an early preview of their tournament opponent, ZSJ. Sabre won’t come alone as TMDK’s powerhouse duo, Hartley Jackson and Ryohei Oiwa, have his back.

6th Match: Tiger Mask, Tomohiro Ishii & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Gedo, Drilla Moloney & Gabe Kidd)

Gabe Kidd reached a career milestone at Dominion, finally defeating Yota Tsuji to win the Global Heavyweight Championship, positioning himself as a potential new leader for NJPW’s future. One man who can truly lend that seal of approval is the legendary Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi. Kidd wasted no time challenging Tanahashi after his title win, and this event marks their first confrontation since that challenge. With Drilla Moloney and Gedo in his corner, Kidd faces off against a stacked Hontai trio—Tiger Mask, and newly crowned IWGP Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, who won the belts alongside Taichi at Dominion.

5th Match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuya Uemura & Taichi vs United Empire (Jakob Austin Young, Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman)

United Empire has been rocked by internal instability, plagued by departures and injuries. Just when things started looking up—Newman and O-Khan capturing tag gold—they lost it just as quickly at Dominion, setting the stage for a rebound. This time, they face Taichi, who helped take those very belts away, alongside Yuya Uemura, who is eager to bounce back from his loss to mentor Tanahashi. Jakob Austin Young and Ryusuke Taguchi round out each trio.

4th Match: Katsuya Murashima, Tomoaki Honma, Togi Makabe, YOSHI-HASHI & Boltin Oleg vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA, Don Fale, Chase Owens & EVIL)

Few could have predicted the seismic shift at Dominion, where EVIL didn’t just unveil one new member of HOUSE OF TORTURE, but three. Former BULLET CLUB members the Lonestar Outlaw Chase Owens and Don Fale joined the chaos, dramatically bolstering H.O.T. This 10-man tag pits them against a Hontai unit led by rising star Boltin Oleg, fresh off his monumental win over Konosuke Takeshita to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion.

3rd Match: Shoma Kato, Master Wato, YOH & Toru Yano vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (DOUKI, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita)

The wrestling world was stunned at Dominion when DOUKI appeared alongside SHO and the HOUSE OF TORTURE, and even more shocked when the duo walked away with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championships that same night. Now aligned with Yujiro Takahashi and Ren Narita and the rest of H.O.T, they’ll face a fired-up opposition in Master Wato and YOH, who seek revenge after the titles slipped through their fingers. Toru Yano and Shoma Kato provide backup; with Yano especially known for playing dirty when needed, can the Hontai crew fight fire with fire?

2nd Match: Masatora Yasuda vs Daiki Nagai
Singles record: 0-0-23

These two Young Lions are no strangers to each other, having battled 23 times, with each match going to a time limit draw. Now though, on the same night as new Young Lion competition enters the fray, Yasuda and Nagai see their time limit boosted from ten to fifteen minutes. With five more minutes on the clock, a victory seems more certain for one man, but who will it be?

1st Match: Tatsuya Matsumoto vs Zane Jay

The night kicks off with two debuting Young Lions—Tatsuya Matsumoto and Zane Jay. While Jay is new to Japan, NJPW STRONG fans will recognize his impressive athletic ability and undeniable work ethic. This match marks his official in-ring debut on Japanese soil, promising a fresh start for both competitors.
​

Soul series gets underway
On June 18, the Aomori Martial Arts Hall will host the kickoff of New Japan Soul 2025!
The tour begins in the aftermath of Dominion, and will showcase the fallout from Osaka-Jo Hall, while also introducing new faces and emerging alliances.

Watch it LIVE on NJPW World! (English to follow on demand)

Main Event: El Phantasmo, Shota Umino & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Hirooki Goto has proven to be a fighting champion ever since claiming the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, defending the title multiple times against tough challengers—including Zack Sabre Jr., the man he originally dethroned. At Resurgence 2025, the two clashed again in a heated rematch that ended in a controversial double pinfall draw. Now, both men look to settle the score once and for all in their third encounter on June 29 at Tanahashi Jam. El Phantasmo and Shota Umino, both competing in the G1 this year in B Block, will get an early preview of their tournament opponent, ZSJ. Sabre won’t come alone as TMDK’s powerhouse duo, Hartley Jackson and Ryohei Oiwa, have his back.

6th Match: Tiger Mask, Tomohiro Ishii & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Gedo, Drilla Moloney & Gabe Kidd)

Gabe Kidd reached a career milestone at Dominion, finally defeating Yota Tsuji to win the Global Heavyweight Championship, positioning himself as a potential new leader for NJPW’s future. One man who can truly lend that seal of approval is the legendary Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi. Kidd wasted no time challenging Tanahashi after his title win, and this event marks their first confrontation since that challenge. With Drilla Moloney and Gedo in his corner, Kidd faces off against a stacked Hontai trio—Tiger Mask, and newly crowned IWGP Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, who won the belts alongside Taichi at Dominion.

5th Match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuya Uemura & Taichi vs United Empire (Jakob Austin Young, Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman)

United Empire has been rocked by internal instability, plagued by departures and injuries. Just when things started looking up—Newman and O-Khan capturing tag gold—they lost it just as quickly at Dominion, setting the stage for a rebound. This time, they face Taichi, who helped take those very belts away, alongside Yuya Uemura, who is eager to bounce back from his loss to mentor Tanahashi. Jakob Austin Young and Ryusuke Taguchi round out each trio.

4th Match: Katsuya Murashima, Tomoaki Honma, Togi Makabe, YOSHI-HASHI & Boltin Oleg vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA, Don Fale, Chase Owens & EVIL)

Few could have predicted the seismic shift at Dominion, where EVIL didn’t just unveil one new member of HOUSE OF TORTURE, but three. Former BULLET CLUB members the Lonestar Outlaw Chase Owens and Don Fale joined the chaos, dramatically bolstering H.O.T. This 10-man tag pits them against a Hontai unit led by rising star Boltin Oleg, fresh off his monumental win over Konosuke Takeshita to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion.

3rd Match: Shoma Kato, Master Wato, YOH & Toru Yano vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (DOUKI, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita)

The wrestling world was stunned at Dominion when DOUKI appeared alongside SHO and the HOUSE OF TORTURE, and even more shocked when the duo walked away with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championships that same night. Now aligned with Yujiro Takahashi and Ren Narita and the rest of H.O.T, they’ll face a fired-up opposition in Master Wato and YOH, who seek revenge after the titles slipped through their fingers. Toru Yano and Shoma Kato provide backup; with Yano especially known for playing dirty when needed, can the Hontai crew fight fire with fire?

2nd Match: Masatora Yasuda vs Daiki Nagai
Singles record: 0-0-23

These two Young Lions are no strangers to each other, having battled 23 times, with each match going to a time limit draw. Now though, on the same night as new Young Lion competition enters the fray, Yasuda and Nagai see their time limit boosted from ten to fifteen minutes. With five more minutes on the clock, a victory seems more certain for one man, but who will it be?

1st Match: Tatsuya Matsumoto vs Zane Jay

The night kicks off with two debuting Young Lions—Tatsuya Matsumoto and Zane Jay. While Jay is new to Japan, NJPW STRONG fans will recognize his impressive athletic ability and undeniable work ethic. This match marks his official in-ring debut on Japanese soil, promising a fresh start for both competitors.​

Change made in Hachinohe

Hachinohe saw night two of the New Japan Soul series on June 19, and a change made to the card that saw Tomoaki Honma replace an injured El Phantasmo in the main event. Honma teamed with Hirooki Goto on the night as well as Yuya Uemura to face TMDK's Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa and Zack Sabre Jr.
Watch the replay!


Goto started opposite Sabre in a preview for their impending June 29 Tanahashi Jam TV special title bout. Goto had the early advantage, but while Uemura tagged in in the plus position, Sabre quickly rolled out to bring in Oiwa. The two went hold for hold and armdrag for armdrag, before a hammerlock from Uemura put Oiwa on the back foot and in the wronmg corner where Honma was waiting. The veteran put the boots to Oiwa, but a missed Kokeshi turned the tide, and Jackson came in to show his power.


As ZSJ too did his work, Honma was in trouble until he was able to roar at Sabre with a lariat and make a long needed tag to Goto. The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion cleared house, and though a Northern Lights suplex from the number one contender had Goto stunned, an Ushigoroshi followed up, bringing Oiwa and Uemura legal once again. The two resumed their game of orthodox one upmanship, with expert technique seeing Oiwa to two from a British head scissors and suplex for two, before a rougher lariat sent Uemura down and Jackson back in.


Jackson powered down Uemura and had designs on a big lariat; Uemura caught the arms and thought briefly of the Deadbolt suplex, but to little avail. A train of attacks ensued on Uemura with Jackson last, getting two off a senton, but Honma would make a brave save with a Rocket Kokeshi. That turned the tide of the match with Jackson getting crushed with a combination Kokeshi and then a hugely impressive Deadbolt suplex from Uemura for three.​

Yamagata sees Honma on Tanahashi's Final Road

After starting in Aomori, the New Japan Soul series moves on to Yamagata on June 21. Tensions continue to escalate ahead of G1 Play-Ins in Korakuen, as well as big title matches in the days to come.
Watch live on NJPW World! (English to follow on demand)

Main event: Boltin Oleg, Shota Umino & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson)

Six man action in the main event will see TMDK put up a trio of Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa and Hartley Jackson to face Shota Umino, World TV Champion El Phantasmo and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto. Goto and Sabre are set to face off on a live Japanese TV special June 29 at Tanahashi Jam, where ELP will also be putting his TV gold on the line in an open challenge match. Phantasmo is out tonight as eh rehabs his knee, but another champion in NEVER champ Boltin is in place. There's also G1 implications to be had, with Umino looking to rebuild in this year's tournament, and Oiwa hoping to fight his way into his debut run; who will be looking to make the biggest mark?

6th Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Road ~Kinship~ Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Tomoaki Honma
Singles record: 2-0 Tanahashi

For the first time in nearly eleven years, Tomoaki Honma and Hirohi Tanahashi will go one on one in Honma's home prefecture of Yamagata. The Final Road for the Ace will continue against the Kokeshi, who is looking to claw back a two match losing deficit to Tanahashi.

The first time the two collided was in July of 2004, when Honma was in his then home promotion of All Japan pro-Wrestling. After Tanahashi headed to AJPW for a winning effort against the Kokeshi, Honma's career would see him eventually land in Togi Makabe's Great Bash Heel stable, becoming a despised figure that fans would come to respect for his loyalty to Makabe in the wake of GBH's 2009 collapse.

As GBH began to team with Hontai, respect turned to adoration for Honma as an underdog figure who finally earned his way to the G1 Climax in 2014, where his first matchup would come against Tanahashi, ten years to the day from their initial encounter. The Ace would be victorious again that night, but with another 11 years removed, could Honma upset the boss with his home crowd cheering him on?

5th Match: Taichi, Yuya Uemura & Ryusuke Taguchi vs United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young)

With their G1 Play-In match coming up Monday night in Korakuen Hall, Callum Newman takes on Taichi in preview action tonight. Two men who have their ticket for the tournament of tournaments already punched are Yuya Uemura and Great-O-Khan; with the two in different blocks in the G1, could this be a preview of an eventual playoff match- or even the grand final?

4th Match: Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe & Tiger Mask vs BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney & Gedo)

Our other G1 Play-In Monday will see Drilla Moloney and Tomohiro Ishii face off for the third time this year. Tied at a win apiece, this rubber match will determine the shape of the summer to come. IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Gabe Kidd meanwhile continues to make an impact, and wants to send a definitive message ahead of an emotional first defence against Hiroshi Tanahashi July 4.

3rd Match: YOSHI-HASHI, Jado, Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Chase Owens, Don Fale, SANADA)

Ten man action sees Hontai and HOUSE OF TORTURE tying up once more. Before they meet in a G1 Play-In July 4 in Adachi, YOSHI-HASHI will look to bring the fight to Lonestar Outlaw Chase Owens, but as Boltin moves up to tonight&s main event, H.O.T will enjoy the one man advantage from Dick Togo on the floor. The deck may be stacked against Hontai this evening, just the way H.O.T like it.

2nd Match: Toru Yano, YOH, Master Wato & Daiki Nagai vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

The ill effects of DOUKI's defection to HOUSE OF TORTURE, and H.O.T's subsequent capture of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships continue to be felt in this eight man tag contest. Daiki Nagai joins the Hontai side from the Young Lion ranks, and with rebellious attitude in tow, might be seen as H.O.T recruiting material- or he might make a defiant stand against the least desirable elements in wrestling.

1st Match: Tatsuya Matsumoto vs Zane Jay
Singles record: 0-0-2

It'll be go around number three for Zane Jay And Tatsuya Matsumoto in the opening match of the night. The ten minute time limit for their debut series makes for a tough environment to pick up wins, but both will be fighting to gain every bit of ground they can in our opener.​