History was made at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday as Yota Tsuji ascended to the pinnacle of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In the co-main event of Wrestle Kingdom 20, Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita to become the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and a two-time IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.
The match was a grueling contest befitting the high stakes, with both championships on the line. Takeshita, who had held the World Title for 83 days after defeating Zack Sabre Jr. at King of Pro Wrestling in October, entered the match looking to cement his legacy. However, Tsuji’s determination proved undeniable. The closing moments saw Tsuji hit his signature “Gene Blaster” spear before locking in a deep Boston Crab submission. In a display of pure desperation, Takeshita attempted to bite his own hand to distract himself from the agony, but the pain was too great. He eventually tapped out, crowning Tsuji as the new double champion.
For Tsuji, this victory marks his first-ever reign as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, a milestone that signals a changing of the guard in NJPW. However, his celebration was short-lived.
As Tsuji addressed the emotional Tokyo Dome crowd, thanking the fans for their support, he was blindsided by a returning Jake Lee. Lee, who had re-emerged earlier in the night as the newest member of the United Empire faction, delivered a devastating running boot to the corner, laying out the new champion. Lee then picked up the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship belt, posing over a fallen Tsuji and making his intentions crystal clear: he is next in line for the throne.
The attack by Jake Lee immediately sets the stage for the first major rivalry of Tsuji’s reign. Lee’s alignment with the United Empire adds a dangerous new dynamic to the faction, providing them with a legitimate main event threat capable of challenging for the company’s top prize. With New Year Dash taking place tomorrow, fans are eager to see how Tsuji will respond to this unprovoked assault and what the United Empire has planned for the new double champion.
Looking ahead, Yota Tsuji is advertised to appear at tomorrow’s New Year Dash event, where the fallout from Wrestle Kingdom 20 will continue. While no specific match has been announced for the new champion yet, it is highly likely he will seek immediate retribution against Jake Lee. Meanwhile, Konosuke Takeshita is also scheduled for the show, where he may begin his road to redemption after losing NJPW’s top prize.
