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Global title bout set for Tokyo Budokan July 4!
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.
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.
Young Lions to debut in New Japan Soul!
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.
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.
New Japan Soul 2025 Night 1 (June 18) preview
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.
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.
New Japan Soul 2025 Night 1 (June 18) preview
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.
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.
