NJPW: Ryohei Oiwa on His G1 Climax 2026 Finals Match with Yuya Uemua, New Young Lion Yushin Hatazawa In-Ring Debut Set for 9/9 Road To Destruction 2026 Event, Oiwa vs. Yota Tsuji for IWGP Heavyweight Title Set for King of Pro Wrestling 2026, Full Card for “Pro Wrestling Take Off” Event

Indie / Misc
Aug 17, 2026

Ryohei Oiwa Comments on His G1 Climax 2026 Finals Match with Yuya Uemua

As noted before, Sunday’s NJPW G1 Climax 2026 Finals event in Tokyo, Japan featured Ryohei Oiwa defeating Yuya Uemura in the Finals to become the winner of this year’s G1 Climax tournament.

New Japan Pro Wrestling held a press conference earlier today in Japan featuring Oiwa as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Oiwa’s thoughts about his match against Uemura and how the style of the match that they wrestled is something not everyone can do what they did.

“(Yuya) Uemura and I wrestled a match like only we can. I was confident we could fire up Ryōgoku, and it really proved to myself that I was right in my choice of style and my way of wrestling. We went over 30 minutes with headlocks, takedowns and armdrags. That is professional wrestling in my view; that’s the essence for me. Not everyone can do what Uemura and I did. Pro-wrestling is at its best when everybody is different. I hate Yuto-Ice, but he has his strikes and his way of fighting. (Oleg) Boltin is a monster. Uemura and I do what we do. I’m proud of my way, but I think everyone should fight in their own way.”

New Young Lion Yushin Hatazawa In-Ring Debut Set for Sept. 9th NJPW Road To Destruction 2026 Event

NJPW announced that a new Young Lion developmental talent named Yushi Hatazawa will be making his official in-ring debut for the company at their Road To Destruction 2026 event on September 9 in Tokyo, Japan.

It was announced that Hatazawa will be facing off against Young Lion talent Tatsuya Matsumoto in a singles match at the event.

NJPW’s official website:

New Young Lion to debut September 9!

Road to Destruction to see Yushin Hatazawa step in the ring

Fans watching early on the Road to Destruction in Korakuen Hall on September 9 will be treated to their first look at Yushin Hatazawa, a brand new Young Lion making his debut on the kickoff.

20 year old Hatazawa fights out of the northern climes of Hakodate in Hokkaido. With a view to getting into pro-wrestling, Hatazawa started sumo in high school, managing to compete at the national level. After graduating from high school, Hatazawa found employment while preparing himself to join New Japan. He passed tryouts in 2024, and officially joined the Noge Dojo in April of 2025.

Standing at 184 cm and weighing 95kg, Hatazawa’s sumo training is an indication of his trending heavyweight heading into his debut match. He’ll be wrestling Tatsuya Matsumoto for this special debut bout before joining cards on the Road to Destruction, including to his Hokkaido home prefecture. Whether in Korakuen Hall or live in English on NJPW World, show your support for this potential future star!  

Ryohei Oiwa vs. Yota Tsuji for IWGP Heavyweight Title Confirmed for NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2026

As noted before, Sunday’s NJPW G1 Climax 2026 Finals event in Tokyo, Japan featured Ryohei Oiwa defeating Yuya Uemura in the Finals to become the winner of this year’s G1 Climax tournament. During his post-match victory speech, Oiwa announced that he will be challengeing Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at this October’s King of Pro Wrestling 2026 event.

NJPW announced earlier today that Oiwa’s challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight title has been made official for their King of Pro Wrestling 2026 event on October 12 at the Ryogoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo.

Current card for NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2026:

  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship – Ryohei Oiwa vs. winner of Hirooki Goto/Yota Tsuji (c)

Full Card for NJPW Pro Wrestling Take Off Event

As noted before, NJPW will be holding a new event on September 18 at the New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan as part of the airport’s 100th anniversary celebrations this year.

NJPW provided an update earlier today announcing the full card for their upcoming event that is named Pro Wrestling Take Off.

Current card for NJPW Pro Wrestling Take Off:

  • Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, & Masatora Yasuda vs. Unbound Co. (Yuto-Ice, OSKAR, & Daiki Nagai)
  • Aaron Wolf, Yuya Uemura, & Taichi vs. TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson, & Kosei Fujita)
  • Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto, YOH, Hirooki Goto, & Tatsuya Matsumoto) vs. Unbound Co. (Yota Tsuji, Taiji Ishimori, Shingo Takagi, & Robbie X)
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