By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
New Japan Pro Wrestling “King of Pro Wrestling”
October 12, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan, at Sumo Hall
Streamed live on New Japan World
This venue is a small arena, and the NJPW website lists attendance at 6,422. Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton provided commentary.
1. “The Unbound Co.” Shingo Takagi and Daiki Nagai vs. Hirooki Goto and Tatsuya Matsumoto. The Unbound Co. attacked, and we got the bell a second later. The Young Lions fought early on. Matsumoto hit a dropkick on Goto. Shingo entered at 2:00 and hit a scoop bodyslam on Goto, and a back-body drop on Matsumoto, then a DDT on Goto for a nearfall. Matsumoto hit a flying back elbow on Shingo, then another dropkick at 4:00 and his “Water Wheel Suplex.” (Orange Cassidy’s Beach Break.)
Daiki hit a spinebuster on Matsumoto, and Shingo hit a sliding clothesline for a nearfall, but Goto made the save. Shingo hit a brainbuster for a nearfall. Nagai dove onto Goto on the floor. Shingo nailed a Pumping Bomber clothesline for a nearfall, but he pulled up Matsumoto at the two-count! He hit a Death Rider double-arm DDT for the pin, sending a clear message to Jon Moxley!
“The Unbound Co.” Shingo Takagi and Daiki Nagai defeated Hirooki Goto and Tatsuya Matsumoto at 6:23.
2. “House of Torture” Sanada, Yujiro Takahashi, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Yoya Uemura, Taichi, and Del Desperado. Sanada and Uemura opened and traded standing switches, to the point of comedy. Desperado and Kanemaru, former tag champs, locked up at 3:00. Yujiro jumped in and they ‘wish-boned’ Desperado’s legs at 4:30, and he beat down Despe. Taichi got in and brawled with Yujiro. Taichi peeled off his pants at 7:30 and got a huge crowd pop. Yujiro swung his cane and missed; Taichi hit a superkick, then the Black Mephisto (Air Raid Crash) to pin Yujiro. Rather dull, actually.
Yoya Uemura, Taichi, and Del Desperado defeated “House of Torture” Sanada, Yujiro Takahashi, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru at 8:20.
3. Boltin Oleg and Hechicero vs. “The Mighty Don’t Kneel” Zack Sabre Jr. and Hartley Jackson. Hechicero and Sabre opened; as I noted a few days ago, these two have literally fought in Japan, Mexico , and England. They immediately tied up on the mat, and Zack went for a Figure Four, then an ankle lock, and we had a standoff at 2:00. The big bulls, Oleg and Hartley, entered and traded some shoulder blocks, then some loud chops. Hartley dropped him with a shoulder tackle, and he hit a splash in the corner.
Oleg flipped Hartley around in his arms and hit the gutwrench suplex! (Is that the biggest man he’s done that to?) Hechicero and Oleg hit a team delayed vertical suplex on Hartley! Hartley suplexed Oleg. Sabre jumped in and hit a running penalty kick and his neck-snap between his ankles. Hartley hit a massive senton at 5:00. Hechicero tied up Sabre and rolled him around on the mat. Boltin and Hartley traded clotheslines. Oleg hit a dropkick. He put Hartley across his shoulders and hit Kamikaze (forward Finlay Roll) for the pin. That was a pretty awesome undercard match!
Boltin Oleg and Hechicero defeated “The Mighty Don’t Kneel” Zack Sabre Jr. and Hartley Jackson at 7:02.
4. Toru Yano and Konosuke Takeshita vs. “House of Torture” Shun Skywalker and Ren Narita (w/Dick Togo). Yano and Takeshita emerged first, but they were attacked from behind on the entrance ramp. They got in the ring, and we got a bell at 00:29 to officially begin. Togo choked Yano with his wire. Takeshita hit some forearm strikes on both opponents. He hit his flying clothesline on Narita and a suplex on Shun.
Sanada and Kanemaru jumped in the ring, but Kanemaru accidentally sprayed alcohol in Sanada’s face! Takeshita hit a plancha onto both of them. Takeshita and Shun traded pump kicks to the chest. Takeshita hit a hard forearm strike on Ren. Togo hit his knife-edge chop to Yano’s groin. Yano hit double low blows, and he rolled up Shun for the flash pin! Walker noted that it’s the first time Shun has been pinned in NJPW!
Toru Yano and Konosuke Takeshita defeated “House of Torture” Shun Skywalker and Ren Narita at 4:36/official time 4:07.
5. “United Empire” Will Ospreay, Henare, and Great-O-Khan vs. Jeff Cobb and “The Knockout Brothers” Oskar and Yuto-Ice for the NEVER Six-Man Tag Titles. We saw UE members Jake Lee, Zane Jay, and Jakob Austin Young, all wearing suits and looking like Secret Service protection, during the entrances. They all started brawling, and we had the bell a second later. Ospreay hit a headscissors takedown on Yuto-Ice, then a plancha! Walker said UE have held these belts for 161 days. (I truly forgot they had them!) O-Khan flipped Oskar to the floor at 1:30.
In the ring, the UE worked over Oskar’s damaged left knee (the leg has been routinely attacked on shows in the past two weeks!) Henare entered and hit some punches to Oskar’s ribs, then a senton for a nearfall at 4:00. O-Khan tied up the damaged leg in the ropes. Cobb finally got a hot tag at 6:00, and he ran O-Khan back-first into a corner. Cobb hit a double Saito Suplex! Cobb hit a uranage on O-Khan, then a standing moonsault for a nearfall at 7:30.
O-Khan crotched Cobb in the ropes. Ospreay tagged in and hit some chops on Cobb. Ospreay hit a springboard flying forearm strike on Jeff. Ospreay hit an enzuigiri. He went for an Os Cutter, but Jeff caught him and hit a Spin Cycle (spinning back suplex) at 9:30. Yuto-Ice got a hot tag, and he hit a series of forearm strikes on Ospreay in a corner, then his running knee to Will’s face for a nearfall. They got up and traded forearm strikes. Ospreay hit some Kawada Kicks.
Ospreay hit a leaping sit-out powerbomb for a nearfall at 11:30. Yuto-Ice hit a spin kick to the ear for a nearfall. O-Khan shoved Yuto-Ice into the ref! Callum Newman and Francesco Akira were arguing at ringside! Ospreay dropped Yuto-Ice; the groggy ref made a two count at 13:00. Ospreay hit a headscissors takedown on Oskar, then an Os cutter on Cobb. He charged at Yuto-Ice, but Yuto-Ice struck Ospreay with a jumping knee! Henare hit a leaping Samoan Drop on Yuto-Ice for a nearfall. He hit the Rampage football tackle for a nearfall, but Oskar made the save. Henare hit a vertical suplex on Oskar at 15:30.
Ospreay hit a twisting sky press to the floor on Cobb! Henare and Yuto-Ice traded forearm strikes. Henare accidentally struck O-Khan with a flying headbutt! Oskar jumped in the ring and applied a standing sleeper on Henare! The Knockout Brothers hit their spin kick-and-Tombstone Piledriver combo and pinned Henare! New champions!
Jeff Cobb and “The Knockout Brothers” Oskar and Yuto-Ice defeated “United Empire” Will Ospreay, Henare, and Great-O-Khan to win the NEVER Six-Man Tag Titles at 17:29.
* The cameras focused on Callum Newman, who immediately turned and headed to the back. However, Callum jumped back in and struck Oskar’s damaged knee with a pipe! Ospreay and Callum nearly came to blows, but Newman dropped the pipe and left. “Congratulations. Well done,” Ospreay said on the mic to the new champs. He requested Yuto-Ice give him a tag title shot on November 3. Yuto-Ice asked Ospreay who his partner would be. Yuto-Ice told Ospreay he would select his tag partner … Callum Newman!
6. Aaron Wolf vs. Kosei Fujita for the NEVER Openweight Title. They traded forearm strikes, and Wolf dropped him with a shoulder tackle. Fujita hit a shotgun dropkick, sending Aaron into the corner. They fought to the floor, and Fujita whipped Wolf into the guardrails at 2:30. In the ring, Fujita hit a springboard dropkick for a nearfall. Charlton said the only time a junior-heavyweight has held this belt was Ospreay, in 2019. Wolf hit some Judo Throws. Fujita tried an Octopus Stretch, but Wolf shrugged him off and tossed Kosei to the mat at 5:00.
Wolf hit a running elbow drop for a nearfall. Kosei hit a stunner and some Yes Kicks. Wolf hit a powerslam for a nearfall at 7:00, and he tied up Kosei on the mat in an Anaconda Vice! Fujita finally got a foot on the ropes at 8:30. They traded forearm strikes on the ropes in the corner. Fujita hit a German Suplex with a high bridge for a nearfall at 10:00! They got on their knees and traded forearm strikes. They got to their feet and traded open-handed slaps to the face at 12:00! Fujita hit a wheelbarrow German Suplex, but Wolf popped to his feet and hit a clothesline!
They hit thudding headbutts, and Wolf collapsed, but Fujita was fired up. Fujita hit a brainbuster for a nearfall at 13:30. They held each other’s left wrists while trading forearm strikes. Wolf nailed an Angle Slam for a nearfall. He hit a Northern Lights Bomb (essentially a Jackhammer) for the pin. That was pretty awesome. Yes, that might be the best match of Wolf’s young career.
Aaron Wolf defeated Kosei Fujita to retain the NEVER Openweight Title at 14:47.
7. Gabe Kidd and Shota Umino for the IWGP Global Title. Shota came out first; he dropkicked Kidd as he entered the ring. No bell yet. Shota hit a somersault off the apron to the floor on Kidd, and they brawled at ringside. Kidd still had his black hoodie on. Shota whipped him into the guardrail. Kidd finally got the hoodie off, but Shota again whipped him into the guardrail. They got into the ring at 1:30, but the ref hasn’t called for a bell yet. They traded forearm strikes and ignored the ref. (This is why I always start the stopwatch at first contact!) Shota hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. (Again, the ref made a count but we never officially started.)
Kidd struck Umino with the belt, but then he threw the belt hard to the ground at 3:00, and he was loudly booed. They fought on the floor, and Kidd threw Shota into the ring post and the guardrail. Kidd hit a second-rope moonsault to the floor on Shota at 4:30! Back in the ring, Kidd stomped on Shota in the corner. (We didn’t have a time-check at the five-minute mark because we never got a bell to officially begin.) Kidd hit a suplex for a nearfall. (Again, the ref is counting even though we didn’t have a bell.)
Kidd hit a second-rope superplex for a nearfall at 7:00. Kidd did some push-ups and was booed. (The ring announcer just said something at 7:30; was that a five-minute call?) They traded forearm strikes on the ring apron, and Kidd hit a brainbuster at 9:00, with Umino collapsing to the floor. Kidd leaned into the camera and had a few choice profanities for viewers. Kidd set up a table on the floor. However, Umino powerbombed him through the table at 10:30! Umino grabbed the title belt off a table. He held it up and shouted at Kidd. The ref took it away.
Umino threw Kidd into the ring post, and Kidd was bleeding from his forehead. In the ring, Shota hit a running knee to the back of the head at 12:30! Ouch! He hit a second-rope superplex for a nearfall. (The ring announcer just said something; that was probably a 10-minute call.) Umino hit a German Suplex and some hard clotheslines, and Kidd collapsed. They got on all fours and traded headbutts. They got to their feet, and Kidd hit a hard slap. He put his hands behind his back and let Shota hit a hard forearm strike at 15:30. Umino did the same, letting Kidd hit a forearm strike!
They traded open-hand slaps and chops. Shota hit a hard clothesline at 17:00. (Charlton just confirmed we had a 15-minute call.) Shota hit another clothesline. Kidd hit a German Suplex and a clothesline for a nearfall. He hit another stiff clothesline for a nearfall, and he tied up Shota on the mat. Shota applied an STF, but Kidd reached the ropes at 19:30. Shota hit a hard clothesline for a nearfall. They hit stereo clotheslines, and Kidd hit a headbutt. Kidd pushed the ref into the middle, then he hit a cheap shot on Umino.
Shota hit another hard clothesline for a nearfall at 21:00. Kidd hit a knee lift to the gut, then another one for a nearfall. He held Umino’s wrists and hit some more headbutts. They traded rollups. Shota hit a shotgun dropkick, but Gabe popped up and hit a clothesline. Umino hit a hard clothesline. Kidd hit a piledriver for a believable nearfall at 24:00. Kidd hit a Second Chapter brainbuster (Shota’s finisher!) for the pin! That was pretty awesome.
Gabe Kidd defeated Shota Umino to retain the IWGP Global Title at 24:31/official time 22:25, per the NJPW website.
* Kidd got on the mic. He listed off guys he’s beaten recently. He wondered who has the guts (not his word choice!) to take him on next. More profanities. He slammed down the mic and left.
8. Yoh vs. Robbie Eagles for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title. Charlton said Yoh has won nine straight matches. Charlton said this is Eagles’ first junior title opportunity in three years. Robbie dove through the ropes onto Yoh. In the ring, Eagles got a nearfall. He tied up Yoh’s arms on the mat at 1:30. He tied him in the Ron Miller Special (Trailer Hitch) leg lock, but Yoh quickly got the ropes. Eagles hit a running Penalty Kick to the chest for a nearfall at 4:00, and he targeted Yoh’s left leg. Yoh dropped Eagles over his knee, and he applied an Anaconda Vice on the mat, but Eagles got a foot on the ropes at 6:00.
Eagles again applied the Ron Miller Special. Charlton said these two have had five prior singles matches, with Yoh having a 3-2 advantage. Eagles hit a springboard dropkick on the knee at 8:30. Yoh hit a clothesline, and they were both down. Yoh hit another backbreaker over his knee. Yoh hit a German Suplex for a nearfall at 11:00. Eagles hit a Turbo Backpack, slamming Yoh to the mat. Eagles hit some stiff kicks to the back of the leg. However, Yoh rolled him up, leaned backwards for added leverage, and scored the flash pin!
Yoh defeated Robbie Eagles to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title at 13:02.
* Hiroshi Tanahashi presented the IWGP title belt before the main event.
9. Yota Tsuji vs. Ryohei Oiwa for the IWGP World Title. Standing switches to open. They got into a knuckle lock and a test of strength. Oiwa applied a leg lock around Yota’s head. Yota hit some chops. Oiwa hit some armdrags at 4:30; they are setting a pace to go 30+ minutes. Oiwa dropped him with a shoulder tackle. They went to the floor, and Oiwa slowed him down with a headlock. Yota shoved him into the guardrail at 7:30, but Oiwa kept the headlock in place. Tsuji hit a backbreaker over his knee. He leapt off the second rope and hit a double stomp to Oiwa’s gut on the floor at 9:30.
Yota finally got back in the ring, but Oiwa was down on the floor and selling pain in his arms (which presumably caught the bulk of that double stomp). Oiwa got back into the ring, but Yota stomped on him. They got up and traded forearm strikes. Oiwa hit another backbreaker over his knee for a nearfall at 11:30. He hit a gutbuster over his knees for a nearfall. Oiwa hit a bodyslam, but he missed a senton at 13:00. Yota immediately hit another double stomp to the ribs! Oiwa hit a senton at 15:30 and got a nearfall. Oiwa applied an abdominal stretch. He went for a frog splash at 17:00, but Yota got his knees up to block it.
Tsuji hit a splash in the corner, but he missed the Marlowe Crash double stomp. He stomped on the back of Oiwa’s head. Oiwa hit a back suplex at 19:00, and they were both down. Oiwa snapped the left arm and applied a top hammerlock on the mat and slowed down the match. Tsuji hit a dive through the ropes at 22:00. In the ring, he hit a top-rope double stomp to Oiwa’s gut for a nearfall. Yota hit a headscissors takedown, but Oiwa hit a German Suplex, then a Chaos Theory (rolling German Suplex) for a nearfall at 24:00. Tsuji hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Oiwa caught Tsuji charging at him and hit a Doctor Bomb, and they were both down. Yota hit a headbutt, and they were both down at 26:00.
They traded superkicks. Yota nailed a Gene Blaster (spear) for a nearfall at 28:30. This crowd was HOT! Tsuji applied a Boston Crab. Oiwa applied a headlock on the mat and squeezed tight! Yota got to his feet and tried a variety of moves, but Oiwa kept the headlock in place for several minutes! Yota finally escaped the hold, but Oiwa hit a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall at 32:30. Yota hit a Fire Blaster (twisting slam), and they were both down. He set up for a Gene Blaster, but Oiwa caught him with a hard clothesline at 34:00! He hit another hard clothesline for a nearfall. Yota hit another Fire Blaster for a nearfall. He hit one more Fire Blaster for the pin! A really fun match that built nicely, and it had a HOT crowd.
Yota Tsuji defeated Ryohei Oiwa to retain the IWGP World Title at 35:08.
* Yota got on the mic and boasted about his win and being the top of NJPW. The confetti cannon went off, and it appeared the show was over! However, the lights went out! On the screen was KENNY OMEGA, and the crowd went nuts. Omega spoke entirely in Japanese. He taunted Yota for not coming to the United States for Forbidden Door. He switched to English and said Yota can’t call himself a world champion without seeing the world. He challenged Tsuji to a match, saying, “I’ll bring the challenge to you.” (He did not offer a date for the match. Possibly January 4?)
The video ended, and Yota spoke again. He said that “if you want this belt, you need to come to Japan.” It again appeared the show was over, but Boltin Oleg marched to the ring, peeled off his shirt, and hopped in the ring. However, Kenny Omega jumped in the ring and hit Dragon Suplexes on both Boltin and Tsuji! Walker was shocked that Omega was here! Kenny hit a V Trigger on Yota, then a One-Winged Angel! The crowd offered a mix of cheers and boos!
Omega picked up the mic and again spoke in Japanese, standing over the prone Tsuji. He said Yota has “no manners and no class.” More boos! He called himself a “NJPW legend.” He did his usual closing phrase, but he picked up the title belt and shined it up with the sleeve of his jacket. He placed it on the prone Tsuji and left!
Final Thoughts: Yes, the main event started slow, but the last 10+ minutes were really strong, and the crowd stayed with it throughout. I never thought I’d see a crowd go so NUTS over a headlock, as Yota tried just about everything to escape the hold. It was a bit too early to put the belt on Oiwa, but it sure feels like that first title reign is coming, sooner than later.
I avoided all spoilers — I stayed off Twitter/X and Bluesky all morning, so I was completely surprised by first the video sent in by Omega, then Kenny’s actual appearance and attack! I fully assume that the Omega-Tsuji match doesn’t take place until Wrestle Kingdom — that sure feels like a main event of a major show.
I loved Kidd-Shota. While I will insist I never saw the ref call for the bell, or heard the bell, that really doesn’t matter — it was a great, hard-hitting match and good for second place. Unfortunately, it meant the Robbie Eagles-Yoh match felt like a filler match to bring the crowd back down before the main event. In something I thought I’d never write, I’ll go with Wolf-Fujita for third, ahead of the Ospreay six-man tag. That all-out Ospreay-Newman fight is coming, sooner rather than later.
