PWI Weekly for January 12, 2026
Wrestle Kingdom Wrap-Up: All The Happenings From The Biggest Show In Japan
EVERY JANUARY 4TH, THE wrestling world turns its eyes to the Tokyo Dome for an event that has become the Japanese equivalent of WrestleMania. This year, New Japan Pro-Wrestling staged its 20th event under the Wrestle Kingdom banner, and it was one of the most eagerly anticipated in recent memory.
Between the retirement of a legend, the debut of a top prospect, and some “Winner Take All” matches, Wrestle Kingdom had much to offer. In this edition of the PWI Weekly, we’re bringing you the best from a loaded show.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
We could have easily given this nod to Kazuchika Okada for his victory in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 20. For at least one night, “The Rainmaker” reclaimed his mantle as a New Japan superstar. This week, however, belongs to Hiroshi Tanahashi. Although “The Ace” fell in his final match, the memories that he left fans with will last a lifetime.
Despite his body bearing the scars and sprains of a 26-year career, Tanahashi summoned every bit of energy he could to deliver a main event performance worthy of his considerable CV. Indeed, the eight-time IWGP heavyweight champion turned the clock back, determined to retire with no regrets. In the end, archrival Okada may have won their final in-ring war, but it was Tanahashi who won the battle to forever be the soul of NJPW.
A QUICK WORD ABOUT …
Not to be overshadowed, Yota Tsuji could also have easily been our Wrestler of the Week. Relegated to the semi-main event slot on the Wrestle Kingdom card, Tsuji took the opportunity to make a bold claim to being the future of New Japan. In a scintillating “Winner Take All” match—for the IWGP World heavyweight and Global titles—the “Gene Blast” went back and forth with incumbent champion Konosuke Takeshita for just shy of a half-hour. When it appeared that he might come up on the losing end, Tsuji sank in a Boston crab to secure the submission victory.
The following day, Tsuji made good on his promise to “restore the lineage” of the original IWGP heavyweight title. With the blessing of company president Hiroshi Tanahashi, the “World” title name has been officially retired in favor of the resurrected IWGP heavyweight championship (which, as before, is recognized as a legitimate world title by PWI). In merging the histories of the two championships, Tsuji now stands as the undisputed face of New Japan’s new era—and the latest in a long line of great champions.
SPOTLIGHT ON …
In one of the most well-received debuts in Tokyo Dome history, Olympic judo gold medalist Aaron Wolf transitioned from the tatami to the ring with seamless authority. Shunning a grand entrance, Wolf shocked the crowd by appearing in traditional “Young Lion” trunks with a freshly shaved head—a sign of willingness to pay his dues and a commitment to the New Japan way of doing things.
Despite relentless interference from the House of Torture, Wolf’s combat pedigree shone through. When the referee called for the bell near the 13-minute mark, Wolf didn’t just earn his first win, but also his first title—the prestigious NEVER openweight championship. Not a bad debut for a Young Lion!
AND ANOTHER THING …
It remains somewhat of a novelty to see women competing on New Japan’s biggest stage, but we are delighted when it happens. This year, fans witnessed two top performers, Saya Kamitani and Syuri, battling it out on behalf of NJPW’s sister promotion, World Wonder Ring Stardom. The joshi sensations had a quality back-and-forth tussle, with Syuri taking the win (and Kamitani’s NJPW STRONG Women’s belt) in what some observers considered to be an upset. For her part, Syuri was the first representative of Stardom to top PWI’s annual Women’s ranking (2022), while Kamitani has reigned as World of Stardom champion since December 2024.
TERRITORIAL DISSINGS
United Empire made plenty of big statements at Wrestle Kingdom, including adding Andrade El Idolo to its illustrious ranks. In this pre-show promo, the lucha star—and longtime Los Ingobernables de Japon member—explains why he chose to pledge his allegiance to the empire.