Honestly, the Tokyo Dome felt different this month. Walking into Wrestle Kingdom 20, everyone knew they were seeing the end of an era with Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement, but nobody quite expected the seismic shift in the company’s literal hardware. If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest New Japan Pro Wrestling news, the landscape of the promotion just got hit with a reset button so hard it’s rattling the teeth of the "King of Sports."
Hiroshi Tanahashi is officially done. The "Ace" hung up the boots on January 4, 2026, after a 33-minute war with Kazuchika Okada. It was poetic, sure. But the real story that’s going to dictate the next five years of the business isn't a retirement—it's a resurrection.
The V4 is back and Yota Tsuji is the Kingpin
For years, fans have been vocal—sometimes aggressively so—about the "divisive" IWGP World Heavyweight Championship belt design. You know, the one that looked a bit like a butterfly or a Power Rangers accessory? Well, Yota Tsuji just killed it.
After defeating Konosuke Takeshita in a brutal "Winner Takes All" match at the Tokyo Dome, Tsuji didn't just take the gold. He took it to the back and, 24 hours later at New Year Dash!!, he brought out the classic V4 IWGP Heavyweight Championship. This isn't just a cosmetic change. It’s a full-blown restoration of the lineage that Antonio Inoki started and Tanahashi perfected.
Tsuji’s vision for the title is strictly isolationist. In a press conference following the reveal, he made it clear: the IWGP Heavyweight Championship stays in Japan. It’s for the "best of the best" within the NJPW roster. If you want to see that belt, you buy a ticket to the Budokan or the Sumo Hall.
✨ Don't miss: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
The Global Heavyweight Championship, which Tsuji also holds, is now the "traveling" title. That’s the one we’re going to see on AEW Dynamite or at CMLL shows. It’s a smart move by NJPW President Tanahashi—who, by the way, looks totally different now that he's chopped off his iconic long hair for his new corporate role. It creates two distinct tiers of prestige that actually make sense for a global brand.
The Olympic factor: Is Aaron Wolf the real deal?
While the hardcores are obsessing over belt lineages, the casual Japanese public is looking at one man: Aaron Wolf. The Olympic gold medalist judoka made his pro wrestling debut at Wrestle Kingdom 20 and immediately snared the NEVER Openweight Championship from EVIL.
Look, debut matches are usually clunky. This one had the House of Torture doing their usual "lights out, chair shots, chaos" routine, but Wolf’s raw power is terrifying. He won via technical submission. Think about that for a second. In a company built on "Strong Style," having a guy who can actually toss 300-pound men like they’re laundry is a massive asset.
However, there’s a lot of chatter in the locker room about his "it" factor. John Pollock over at Post Wrestling noted that while the mainstream curiosity is there, Wolf still feels like he’s "over his skis" when it comes to the nuances of pro wrestling psychology. He’s got the NEVER belt now, but the real test is the upcoming New Beginning tour. If he can’t hold his own in a 15-minute singles match without the bells and whistles, the "Olympic experiment" might stall before it even gets to the G1.
🔗 Read more: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
Forbidden Door 2026 and the AEW friction
We can't talk about New Japan Pro Wrestling news without addressing the elephant in the room: the relationship with All Elite Wrestling. Yota Tsuji hasn't been shy about his feelings. He basically thinks NJPW has been treated like a "feeder system" for Tony Khan’s roster.
The current plan for Forbidden Door 2026 seems to be built around this tension. With Tsuji refusing to defend the "Heavyweight" title against outsiders, the Global Championship is becoming the focal point of the crossover.
There are strong rumors—and some heavy speculation on the NJPW subreddits—about a potential clash between Tsuji and someone like Samoa Joe or Josh Alexander. The fans want to see the "legit" guys square off. But there's a delicate balance here. NJPW needs the AEW eyes, but they can't afford to look like the "little brother" anymore, especially now that they've lost Okada to the West (even if he did come back for Tana's farewell).
The new generation is finally "The" generation
For three years, we’ve heard about the "Reiwa Three Musketeers"—Tsuji, Shota Umino, and Ren Narita—plus Yuya Uemura and Ryohei Oiwa. It felt like they were stuck in the "potential" phase forever.
💡 You might also like: What Really Happened With Nick Chubb: The Injury, The Recovery, and The Houston Twist
That ended this month.
- Yota Tsuji is the undisputed top dog.
- Zack Sabre Jr. and Ryohei Oiwa are tearing up the tag division, though they just fell short against the Knockout Brothers (OSKAR and Yuto-Ice) at New Year Dash!!.
- El Desperado has solidified himself as the gatekeeper of the Juniors, winning a four-way to become the top contender for the Jr. Heavyweight title.
The most interesting "dark horse" right now? Jake Lee. His jump to United Empire as the "X" factor at the Dome has completely shifted the faction's power dynamic. United Empire feels dangerous again, and with Great-O-Khan and HENARE backing him up, Lee is likely the first person to challenge Tsuji for that restored V4 belt.
What to watch next
If you're looking to keep your finger on the pulse of NJPW this season, here is how you should spend your viewing time:
- Watch the New Year Dash!! main event: The match between the Knockout Brothers and TMDK is a masterclass in modern tag team wrestling. It proves that the future of the heavyweight tag division is in good hands.
- Track the "New Beginning" tour dates: Specifically, keep an eye on the February 27 show in Trenton, New Jersey. This is where we’ll see how the Global Championship is marketed to the U.S. audience.
- Follow NJPW World for the "President's Reports": Tanahashi is expected to give regular updates on the company's financial health and global strategy. His transition from the "Ace" to a "Salaryman" is going to be the most fascinating character arc of 2026.
The "Post-Tanahashi" era isn't a period of mourning. It’s a period of aggressive expansion and a return to the roots that made the company a global powerhouse in the first place. Whether Aaron Wolf can carry the NEVER division or Tsuji can keep the AEW "invaders" at bay remains to be seen, but for the first time in a long time, New Japan feels like it has a definitive, homegrown identity again.