NJPW Destruction in Kobe and NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2025.

[The Natural]

C&P f4wonline.com:

Destruction in Kobe – September 28, 2025

• Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan
• IWGP Tag Team Champion Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii defend against The Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice)
• Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi
• Yota Tsuji vs. David Finlay
• IWGP Global Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Shingo Takagi

Edited August 25 by The Natural

[The Natural]

C&P f4wonline.com:

The next two IWGP World Heavyweight Championship matches, as well as the next NEVER Openweight title match, have been confirmed

After Zack Sabre Jr. successfully defended the IWGP World title against Nigel McGuinness at Forbidden Door, NJPW announced that he will next face House of Torture’s Ren Narita, who defeated ZSJ in G1 Climax round-robin action. That match will take place at Destruction in Kobe on September 28.

NJPW has also announced that NEVER Openweight Champion Boltin Oleg will defend his title against House of Torture’s Don Fale at Destruction in Kobe. Oleg defeated Fale in the first round of the New Japan Cup back in March.

The winner of ZSJ vs. Narita will then defend against G1 Climax 35 winner Konosuke Takeshita. For the second straight year, the G1 winner will cash in before Wrestle Kingdom, as NJPW has announced Takeshita will challenge for the title at King of Pro Wrestling on October 13.

[Doragon]

It's lot better and more safer this way to use Konosuke this way. Still makes me think even if he does beat Zack, he loses to Shota at WK. Hee hee.

[The Natural]

2 hours ago, Doragon said:

It's lot better and more safer this way to use Konosuke this way. Still makes me think even if he does beat Zack, he loses to Shota at WK. Hee hee.

Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling and faces Yota Tsuji or Yuya Uemura at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20. Probably Tsuji.

[Doragon]

3 minutes ago, The Natural said:

Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling and faces Yota Tsuji or Yuya Uemura at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20. Probably Tsuji.

I would prefer Yuya over Tsuji. I would prefer him as ace over Shota too. But I'm afraid that companies tend to shove down what they want eventually, even if they change or slow down the plans. Oiwa would had been OK as Ace, but his NOAH retraining background would be weird to push him as ACE. NOAH is more of their on and off adversary than DDT or AJPW. 

 

[The Natural]

15 minutes ago, Doragon said:

I would prefer Yuya over Tsuji. I would prefer him as ace over Shota too. But I'm afraid that companies tend to shove down what they want eventually, even if they change or slow down the plans. Oiwa would had been OK as Ace, but his NOAH retraining background would be weird to push him as ACE. NOAH is more of their on and off adversary than DDT or AJPW. 

 

I'm cool with Yuya Uemura or Yota Tsuji as Ace. I'm starting to go from Tsuji to Uemura. I don't want it to be Shota Umino, he doesn't have it. I'd take Ren Narita over Shota Umino. I feel sorry for Shota. Yeah, that background works against Ryohei Oiwa. I'd take him over Narita and Shota as well.

[Doragon]

31 minutes ago, The Natural said:

I'm cool with Yuya Uemura or Yota Tsuji as Ace. I'm starting to go from Tsuji to Uemura. I don't want it to be Shota Umino, he doesn't have it. I'd take Ren Narita over Shota Umino. I feel sorry for Shota. Yeah, that background works against Ryohei Oiwa. I'd take him over Narita and Shota as well.

Yota might be fine as The Strongest, or the rival (can be split in two different roles). Can be secondary role. Sometimes it's the Ace and Strongest is one person like Shinya.

 

[dorfus malorfus]

Yeah count me in the Yuya camp, both because I find him a much more interesting wrestler than Tsuji but also because Tsuji has already been so telegraphed with his NJ Cup win and G1 finals against Zach that the clown in me who likes swerves just wants to see them pivot to a less obvious choice. Plus isn't Yuya the only of the three Reiwa guys who hasn't had an IWGP title shot yet? I like the idea of him coming from behind to win the belt before the other three can and then feud with them all for a few years as they each try to stake their claim to his spot as new ace. This storyline would work even better if they just went all-in and New Hero'd Oiwa. 

Edited August 25 by dorfus malorfus

[Ace]

Tsuji is following the path of the Nakamura/Naito in his generational cohort. A top guy, but not necessarily the top guy. I'd have Takeshita beat ZSJ, but then have Uemura beat Takeshita.

 

[Evil Otto]

For a show that has clearly slipped under the radar for many, Destruction in Kobe turned out to be one of the best cards of the year.  

Mild spoiler:

Spoiler

The Knock Out Brothers, Yuto-Ice and Oskar, recently returned from excursion and won the tag titles, defeating Taichi and Ishii.  This match was fabulous.  Perfect opponents, and I clearly sense a rematch in the future.  Most important, this is something New Japan needs to do!  The new team is as good as advertised, and they win the belts the first time out.  So refreshing.  Instantly makes the tag league more intriguing as well.  

To make things even better, Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura step up as the next challengers.  I actually feel truly excited...not old guard against the young folk anymore, this is all new territory.  More of this, please. Shota and Yuya as a team is also great; I know many want Yuya in the main event, but this is better, as there's a long-term storyline in play here, and Yuya getting there this way will be far better, as they don't need to rush it.  The eventual breakup of this team will be glorious.  Seriously, it's a touchdown and it's up to New Japan to not fumble it.  

So yeah, from the tag title match onward (matches 4-8), one solid encounter after another.  The only one out of the pack that you could skip would be Hiromu vs. Ishimori, as you've likely seen it all before from these two (mind you, still an enjoyable match).  Some interesting outsiders show up during the show.  You can tell Zack loves Ren Narita, and really worked hard to get him over.  Another long-term story with a big payoff that they just have to avoid fumbling, which is Ren Narita becoming an actual formidable wrestler again.  Gabe Kidd missed the G1, and gave the fans a G1-level match with Shingo.  Tsuji and Finlay had yet another hard-hitting match, as they always do, but it also feels like time to move on.  Great match, though.  

The tag title match, highly recommended.  The final three matches, all very satisfying.  

Edited September 30 by Evil Otto

[Horangi]

I've only watched the tag title match. Really good, Yuto in particular is interesting. They dont have anyone like him, he kind of gives me Makabe vibes so it'll be interesting to see if he can develop into something similar/better or if he just becomes another Yujiro.

Spoiler

The Korakuen shows on the Road to KOPW tour have special singles matches with Umino vs Oskar and Uemura vs Yuto - Really keen to see how these go. 

 

Edited September 30 by Horangi

[Evil Otto]

2 hours ago, Horangi said:

They dont have anyone like him, he kind of gives me Makabe vibes so it'll be interesting to see if he can develop into something similar/better or if he just becomes another Yujiro.

Ouch!  Let's not veer too far into the void here.  I mean, come on, there's no one quite like Yujiro.  He is the one and only.  His suckiness is danm near untouchable.  

[Horangi]

Hey come on, Yujiro didnt always suck! When he was the Young Lion doing Karelin lifts he was a blast! 

I actually enjoyed his IWGP title match with Tanahashi back in 2012...thought there was hope for him back then. Don't know if him or Yoshitatsu are my biggest 'boy was i wrong' guy. 

[Ramo2653]

Kenzo Suzuki was the guy I thought was going to be big time. I even had hopes for his WWE run!

[username]

On 10/2/2025 at 5:20 AM, Horangi said:

I actually enjoyed his IWGP title match with Tanahashi back in 2012...thought there was hope for him back then. Don't know if him or Yoshitatsu are my biggest 'boy was i wrong' guy. 

 

I have this memory of pre-Yoshi Tatsu Yamamoto having a neat t-shirt that I thought looked pretty great (might have been a takeoff of the NJPW logo) and I have not been able to find any evidence that it actually existed and that I didn't just imagine it or something.

...That feels oddly appropriate for Yoshi Tatsu.

[Ace]

Is it this?

 

Edited October 5 by Ace

[Eivion]

On 10/4/2025 at 1:26 PM, Ramo2653 said:

Kenzo Suzuki was the guy I thought was going to be big time. I even had hopes for his WWE run!

To be fair he had a good charisma. It was just that he never managed to get it ring wise. He would have gone far otherwise, probably even in WWE.

I'm more confused at the Yoshitatsu hopes. I liked him, but he never seemed like much beyond look. He was a late bloomer for his gen if i recall correctly. 

[Doragon]

Both men were better in their AJPW runs. 

[username]

20 hours ago, Ace said:

Is it this?

 

I honestly don't recall, but it is pretty neat!

[Evil Otto]

Yuto-Ice vs. Yuya Uemura from Korakuen Hall tonight was tremendous.    Not only was the match itself nasty and rather out of control, but there's subtle yet significant character development as well.  More of this going forward, please.  

[Curt McGirt]

[Horangi]

8 hours ago, Evil Otto said:

Yuto-Ice vs. Yuya Uemura from Korakuen Hall tonight was tremendous.    Not only was the match itself nasty and rather out of control, but there's subtle yet significant character development as well.  More of this going forward, please.  

This was great! Early stages of post excursion Yuto are very positive. This was his first test and he absolutely delivered! I didn't mind Shota vs OSKAR as well, it was fun but not must see. Hyped for the KOPW tag title match now.

[The Natural]

On 8/25/2025 at 6:50 PM, The Natural said:

Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling and faces Yota Tsuji or Yuya Uemura at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20. Probably Tsuji.

NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2025 has just finished:

Spoiler

Konosuke Takeshita just defeated Zack Sabre Jr to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2025. G1 Climax 2025 winner Takeshita wanted his title shot here rather than the traditional Wrestle Kingdom in the Tokyo Dome. Congratulations, Konosuke Takeshita. Hirooki Goto comes down after the match to challenge for the title. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 main event?

 

[Doragon]

Wonder if he faces Shota at WK20? Lol.

 

[Craig H]

My first thought was that he faces Okada at WK.

In fact, there's a large sum of money I want to bet that's exactly what Gedo tries to do.