NJPW New Beginning Tour - January 22 - February 11, 2025

[Chris]

Eight matches made for New Beginning in Osaka​

Goto goes for gold in EDION Arena card already stacked for February 11

The first matches have been announced for New Beginning in Osaka on February 11. Four title matches are already official, as are four special singles matchups that keep the fire burning from an incredible Tokyo Dome weekend.

Hirooki Goto will challenge Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in Osaka. Nine years to the day removed from his last challenge, to then IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada in the very same building, Goto will be looking to erase that emotional and painful defeat.

He will also be looking to claim the richest prize in professional wrestling for the very first time in his career. Starting at Destruction in 2007, Goto has challenged for the title nine times, never having gotten gold; an ignominious record. Despite surviving a hard fought New Japan Ranbo at Wrestle Kingdom 19 to earn this position, there is little doubt that he will be the underdog in this matchup.

Still, he isn’t somebody that Zack Sabre Jr. can take lightly. ZSJ has been victorious in his last five encounters with the Fierce Warrior, but Goto has beaten Sabre in the past and has more than a puncher’s chance with the best wrestler int he world today.

Yota Tsuji puts the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship on the line against Gabe Kidd. Two men driven by desire to make NJPW recognised as the world’s absolute best, their combined love and pride for New Japan was on full display at Wrestle Kingdom and Wrestle Dynasty. For Tsuji that passion brought him to a pair of wins and the white and gold he possesses now, while for Kidd, a superstar was born albeit in defeat.

New Year Dash saw both men battle in a heated tag team contest, one that ended with Tsuji holding up the belt for Kidd. As both have different ideals and means in mind for a common goal, whoever holds the gold holds the power- who will that be?

The IWGP Tag Team Championships are on the line when Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi face the Young Bucks, Nicholas and Matthew Jackson. AEW EVPs the Bucks were victorious in a tumultuous three way tag team match at Wrestle Dynasty to become the 106th champions, and to win the title for a second time.

Still ‘working from home’ since their last appearance on AEW television, the Jacksons stated that they would be happy to put their belts on the line back in Japan, and that they always enjoyed wrestling in Osaka. After a win over Funky Sauce in Ota at new Year Dash, Hiromu and Naito, not pinned in the Tokyo Dome, asked to be the Bucks’ opposition. What happens when the World Tag League 2024 winners get their two on two shot?

New IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champions the Ichiban Sweet Boys will make their first defence agasinst Roppongi ReVice. YOH and Rocky Romero were absent from Tokyo Dome cards but made their presence felt backstage, and a contract for this title match was quickly sealed with kisses all around. There’ll be no love lost when the bell sounds; will Rocky and YOH win two sets of tag titles in a one month span?

Taichi takes on SANADA one on one. Last time NJPW was in EDION Arena Osaka, Taichi was a hair away from capturing the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship from David Finlay. Then SANADA would ensure the three count wasn’t rendered before revealing himself as the newest member of the BULLET CLUB War Dogs.

For two months, tensions simmered as both men were separated, but when they found themselves in the same ring during the New Japan Ranbo at WK19, everything was let loose. Still, as SANADA found himself on the back foot, a phony ‘low blow’ got Taichi disqualified. That meant tempers flaring even more at new Year Dash!!, and now these issues must be settled. Will Taichi’s hot head be able to overcome SANADA’s cold blood?

Shota Umino will go head to head with Great-O-Khan. Umino suffered defeat at the hands of Zack Sabre Jr. on January 4, but still continued from a demanding epic to defeat Claudio Castagnoli. Umino continues to be driven to get his hands on Jon Moxley, but also to show his young fans, who created hand made belts for Shota to carry, the Roughneck with the real deal.

Yet at New Year Dash, Great-O-Khan got his hands on Umino’s mini replicas and tore them to shreds. Now O-Khan has their sights on stopping Umino’s post Tokyo Dome resurgence.

Shingo Takagi will face Drilla Moloney. While Drilla and his partner Clark Connors are no longer with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Championships, Moloney has been eager to set his sights on new opposition, and a tag team clash with LIJ in Ota saw opportunity knock in the form of Shingo Takagi. Shingo is eager to regain the NEVER Openweight gold he lost in the Dome, and will start with this openweight singles clash. Yet regardless of weight class, Moloney is one of the most dangerous players int he game, and after a pinfall victory over Tetsuya Naito was the biggest feather in his 2024 cap, will he slay the Dragon to mark his 2025?

Also official is Hiroshi Tanahashi, continuing his Final Road to retirement January 4 2026, facing Togi Makabe. Backstage at New Year dash, Makabe said that there was one thing not yet announced in Tanahashi’s retirement plans, and the Ace agreed. It’s a rematch of Hiroshi Tanahashi’s debut bout in Osaka!​

 

[Chris]

Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Final Road on Road to New Beginning​

“Connection” and “Kinship” central themes

After announcing his retirement for January 4 2026, Hiroshi Tanahashi had to put his career on the line one year early at Wrestle Kingdom 19. With that match behind him, and after a surprise encounter with Katsuyori Shibata at Wrestle Dynasty, Tanahashi now embarks on the Road to New Beginning.

From the coming year, Tanahashi’s Final Road matches will be marked by one of two themes- “Kinship” and “Connection”. Final Road Kinship matches will see Tanahashi face off against those he has shared bonds with in the squared circle in singles bouts, with the first being on February 11 against Togi Makabe.

On January 19 at Blue Justice XV in Chiba, he teams with NEVER 6 Man Championship partners Boltin Oleg and Toru Yano as well as long time partner and rival Yuji Nagata. With the Blue Justice hero of Chiba Nagata at their side, the four will face Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita and SHO of HOUSE OF TORTURE in a preview of Sendai’s title clash on January 30.

On January 22, Tanahashi wrestles the first of his “Connection” matches. These singles bouts with younger members of the roster will see the future tested, and the legacy of Tanahashi carried forward. The first of these will be against Shoma Kato, while on January 23, he will face Katsuya Murashima, both in Korakuen Hall.

Away from the Tanahashi road, January 23 will see YOSHI-HASHI face Ryohei Oiwa! In fallout from New Year dash, what will happen when the brash young TMDK member faces a CHAOS senior?

More “Connection” action will happen for Tanahashi on February 3 in Korakuen. Speaking of ‘brash’, Tanahashi takes on Daiki Nagai. Nagai has the biggest attitude of all the current Young Lion class, but does he have enough to best the boss?

That will be followed on February 4 with tag team action. A preview of Tanahashi’s “Kinship” match with Togi Makabe in Osaka the following week, the Ace will team with Katsuya Murashima to face Shoma Kato and Togi Makabe. There’s plenty more to be announced for the Road to New Beginning, stay tuned!

 

[Chris]

NEVER 6 Man titles on the line in Sendai!​

January 30 card sees Hontai face H.O.T

Watch live in English on NJPW World!

A championship match has been set for January 30 in Sendai as the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Championships will be on the line. Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi held the belts for the majority of 2024, but the bulk of their defences have come against HOUSE OF TORTURE. This time, it’s another H.O.T trio challenging in the form of SHO, Yujiro Takahashi and Ren Narita.

Tanahashi couldn’t help but take a backstage poke at EVIL after New Year Dash, commenting that the King of Darkness was conspicuous by his absenceever since being defeated at Wrestle Kingdom. Now, the house is eager to show that they are far from a rudderless ship, and have set a course once more on the NEVER gold, with Tanahashi no doubt their central target.​

 

[Chris]

NEVER Openweight Championship bout added to Osaka!​

Takeshita to face Boltin on February 11 card

Watch New Beginning in Osaka Live in English February 11 on NJPW World!
An already stacked lineup for February 11 in Osaka that will see four big singles matchups and four major title bouts previously announced, now has a fifth title on the line!

Immediately after retaining NEVER Openweight and AEW International Championship gold in the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Dynasty, Konosuke Takeshita was confronted by Boltin Oleg. The Big Man From Kazakhstan had not forgotten his win over the Alpha during G1 Climax 34 and had come to collect, with Takeshita promising that he would put the NEVER title on the line when he was back in Japan.

After a defence of the Openweight title against KUSHIDA at Battle in the Valley, Takeshita's return is now set for New Beginning. The Alpha will not only want to continue affirming himself as champion with a second defence of his NEVER title, but to present a show of force in his hometown, with his first Osaka appearance since becoming a contracted NJPW wrestler. Yet having already outpowered the young sensation once during the summer, could Boltin shock the champion and potentially end his tour with two NEVER titles?​

 

[Chris]

Korakuen hall main events set on Road to new Beginning!​

Title matches join unprecedented tag combinations

2025 is now in full swing, but the New year doesn't truly feel like it's underway until the first Korakuen Hall event of the calendar. The Road to New Beginning sees four cards in the hallowed Hall, with two big title matches as well as some first time combinations to look forward to!

January 22: El Desperado and Hirooki Goto team up!

The main event on January 22 will see an unprecedented tag team affair, as a double championship preview will see Hirooki Goto and El Desperado face Kosei Fujita and Zack Sabre Jr. Though El Desperado's representation of Hontai in recent years has allowed him to be on the same side as Goto, this will be the first time for them to form a two on two tag team since way back in May of 2014.

The occasion is a double preview of Kosei Fujita's challenge to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Desperado on February 4, and Hirooki Goto's challenge to the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. one week later in Osaka. Fujita is already the youngest ever champion in IWGP history after his junior tag title win alongside Robbie Eagles in the Tokyo Dome, but wants to be singles champion as well. He'll be looking to assert himself as a challenger, while supporting the Frontman ZSJ, who is looking for his fifth defence of the IWGP gold.

January 23: Oiwa vs YOSHI-HASHI!

After the two came to blows during New Year dash on January 6, Ryohei Oiwa and YOSHI-HASHI will go head to head in Korakuen hall on January 23. This match will also mark Oiwa's first singles main event in NJPW, one month to the day after tearing the house down alongside Zack Sabre Jr. and opposite Shota Umino and Tomohiro Ishii to end 2024. New Beginning sees a theme of the *New* New Japan getting underway, and Oiwa proudly represents what he calls the 'super new generation' in NJPW. But will he be able to defeat the Headhunter in this high pressure spot?

February 3: NJPW World TV Championship!

February 3's card will be headlined by a match for the NJPW World TV Championship as El Phantasmo seeks his second defence over Jeff Cobb. On the face of things, it's second verse, same as the first for ELP and Cobb after both collided over the TV gold in San Jose on January 11. Yet neither man was happy with how the song ended at Battle in the Valley. A retention for ELP came only as a result of the champion's advantage amid a double countout on the night, thanks in no small part to Cobb launching a human missile at Phantasmo that stopped him breaking the referee's count. Now both champion and challenger have requested no countouts for this rematch, and while both await confirmation of the requested stipulation, the fight is sure to escalate in intensity either way.

February 4: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

After defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ihsimori at Battle in the Valley, El Desperado seeks his second defence against a much younger challenger in Kosei Fujita. Fujita was on the cusp of victory in Wrestle Dynasty's lucha gauntlet match when Ishimori sent the referee crashing into the Japanese Young Punk. Fujita feels like he deserved a shot of his own at the champion and has been granted one, in the same Korakuen Hall sight of an emotional defeat to the current champion during Best of the Super Jr. 31. Will Fujita earn redemption and become the youngest double champion in IWGP history?​

 

[Chris]

Road to The New Beginning night 1 (January 22) Preview​

First Korakuen Hall of 2025

The year never truly feels like it begins until the first Korakuen Hall event of the calendar! This year that coincides with the official kickoff to the Road to New Beginning, set to culminate in a massive event February 11 in Osaka. Ground will be laid for that card and more tonight!
LIVE on NJPW World! (English to follow on demand)

Main event: El Desperado & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita)

The main event on January 22 will see an unprecedented tag team affair, as a double championship preview will see Hirooki Goto and El Desperado face Kosei Fujita and Zack Sabre Jr. Though El Desperado's representation of Hontai in recent years has allowed him to be on the same side as Goto, this will be the first time for them to form a two on two tag team since way back in May of 2014.

The occasion is a double preview of Kosei Fujita's challenge to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Desperado on February 4, and Hirooki Goto's challenge to the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. one week later in Osaka. Fujita is already the youngest ever champion in IWGP history after his junior tag title win alongside Robbie Eagles in the Tokyo Dome, but wants to be singles champion as well. He'll be looking to assert himself as a challenger, while supporting the Frontman ZSJ, who is looking for his fifth defence of the IWGP gold.

6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahahsi, Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi) vs BULLET CLUB (Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo)

A double preview of New Beginning in Osaka, Gabe Kidd faces off with IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji, and Shingo Takagi and Drilla Moloney get set for their own special singles match on February 11. Meanwhile, as Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito gun for tag team gold in Osaka, they prepare to take on former BULLET CUB mainstays the Young Bucks by tangling with the current era.

5th Match: YOSHI-HASHI, YOH & Tomoaki Honma vs TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa, Robbie Eagles & Hartley Jackson)

Ahead of Ryohei Oiwa and YOSHI-HASHI's January 23 main event matchup, a preview will see CHAOS' Headhunter and TMDK's Grip square off in six man action. Plus, as Ichiban Sweet Boys and Roppongi ReVice will collide over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Championships on February 11, YOH and Robbie Eagles will look to set the pace tonight. The contract for New Beginning in Osaka had to be first to be sealed with a kiss between YOH and Kosei Fujita, but the interactions tonight will be rather less amicable no doubt.

4th Match: Shota Umino, Tomohiro Ishii & Master Wato vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young)

Shota Umino and Great-O-Khan will do battle in Korakuen Hall in six man action, as they get set to face off in a grudge match February 11 in Osaka. As Umino wants revenge on O-Khan after the Dominator ripped apart the championship belts children had gifted him, Francesco Akira and Master Wato have their minds on more solid hardware. Both men have spoken about fighting to elevate the junior heavyweight division in 2025 and not to fall behind the surging new generation of heavyweights. Tonight they'll be looking to show just that to the Korakuen faithful.

3rd Match: TAKATaichi (TAKA Michinoku & Taichi) vs BULLET CUB War Dogs (SANADA & Clark Connors)

Taichi gets ready for his impending grudge match with SANADA as he teams with TAKA Michinoku tonight. On SANADA's side is Clark Connors, who has some unfinished business of his own to settle with the Holy Emperor. Back at Historic X-Over, Taichi and Natsupoi put a halt to the 'violence and sex, Clark and Theks' train of he and Thekla. Who gets to deliver an impactful message tonight?

2nd Match: Daiki Nagai, Katsuya Murashima, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita)

Eight man action sees Hontai and HOUSE OF TORTURE colliding yet again. One week after these Korakuen Hall bouts, Sendai will see the NEVER Openwright 6 Man titles on the line, as either H.O.T will rise again in a different form, or might evaporate without the malignant guiding hand of EVIL. Meanwhile, Boltin has another big fish to fry in the form of Konosuke Takeshita coming up in Osaka, and will look to make a powerful show of force tonight.

1st Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Road ~Connection~- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shoma Kato

Hiroshi Tanahashi's Final Road gets officially underway along with the Korakuen Hall action for the evening. Tonight he takes on Shoma Kato in the first of his 'Connection' matches that aims to send a message to the future generation of young wrestlers. What will Kato make of this immense opportunity tonight?​

 

[Chris]

Meltzer reporting the Goto/Zack match on Feb 11 selling so well they removed the staging plans to open up more tickets

The G in Goto stands for green