Written by Brandon Hoffman
New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestling Dontaku tour has come to an end in the Fukuoka Convention Center in Fukuoka, Japan. A bunch of marquee matches were set for the final two days of the tour, some being better than others. Let’s review and highlight the important matches.
Your commentators for the two nights are Walker Stewart, Chris Charlton, and a returning Gino Cambino.
Night One, May 3, 2026
Don Fale v. Aaron Wolf
This match marked a continuation of Aaron Wolf’s endless series against the House of Torture. Whenever Fale got in control, you could hear a freakin’ pin drop in the arena. Wolf fought back from the constant weight being thrown around with the help of pure strength. Wolf Olympic Slammed Fale and fought off Chase Owens at ringside for the decisive win.
The only positive thing given to this match is that the right man finally won. Wolf got his win back from the first round of the New Japan Cup and it was very underwhelming. Gino on commentary brought all the excitement, as he was the only happy person in this building throughout the match. Yikes.
Ren Narita (c) v. Boltin Oleg, NEVER Openweight Championship Match
Back to back House of Torture matches didn’t make Night 1 of Wrestling Dontaku exciting. Instead of Chase Owens, this time we got HoT’s Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Dick Togo to constantly run interference. Multiple minutes of Narita in control destroyed Oleg’s arm. Oleg tried to fight back with The Verdict and a double slam onto some House members. However, a cross armbar from Narita caused Oleg to tap out for the title retention.
Another boring match for a House of Torture member, the status quo has been met. These two’s New Japan Cup match was a better showing for both. After the match, Aaron Wolf rushed to the ring to fend off a post-match House attack onto Oleg. It appears we’re getting a Narita v. Wolf rematch for the NEVER Title. Unfortunately for the booking, the feeling if Wolf were to win the title back wouldn’t be as stimulating as him winning that same title at Wrestling Kingdom 20.
Yota Tsuji (c) v. Andrade El Ídolo, IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Match
A direct rematch from their New Jersey showdown carried over into continued chemistry between these two. Andrade being the “Real Latino Man” to rival Tsuji’s lucha-style influence made for a measuring contest of maneuvers back and forth throughout the match. The action included many overhand chops, featuring Tsuji’s chest bleeding and Andrade’s chest turning purple. Many of Andrade’s beautiful moves connected hard, but Tsuji survived everything Andrade threw at him for the time being. The desperation to win grew larger and Tsuji locked on the Boston Crab to attempt a repeat result from their New Beginning In USA match.
Andrade found the ropes though, enduring the Boston Crab and causing Tsuji to dig down deeper in his arsenal. However, Andrade cracked Tsuji in the skull with a DDT on the top of the ring post to lead to the finish. Andrade’s DM also known as ‘The Message’ struck Tsuji down for the win. We have a NEW Global Champion; Tsuji’s reign has ended after seven months.
This match basically served as an evolved continuation of the sequences in their New Beginning In USA meeting. Tsuji’s head into the ring post spot towards the end of this match looked really nasty, and it was a great exclamation point for Andrade to overcome Tsuji. It’s hard to say which of their singles matches are better, but each time they fought it has been gangbusters.
After the match, Andrade opened the challenge for anyone in the future to challenge for the Global Title. Shota Umino and Drilla Moloney both then came down to the ring, establishing themselves as the next challengers. We have a three-way for the title coming up soon. Can’t wait.
Night Two, May 4, 2026
Konosuke Takeshita (c) v. Chase Owens, NJPW World TV Championship Match
Takeshita sold for Chase Owens for multiple minutes and it made me sad. Nobody looked too terrible here, but giving the crowd “Chase Owens” hoops in 2026 is despicable. This viral clip of Owens hitting the world’s slowest C-Trigger also came from this match too. Everyone in Hontai and HoT ran out to the ring to brawl at this match’s climax, giving everyone an excuse to bask in the spotlight during this title match.
Takeshita beat Chase with the Raging Fire for the win, predictably. This match was filled with nothing worthwhile aside from another victory from Takeshita over the House. After the match though, the masked man from Sakura Genesis appeared and hit Takeshita in the head with the belt. The man revealed himself to be a returning SANADA! There was speculation he would leave New Japan, but those rumors can now be put to rest.
Ichiban Sweet Boys (Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles) (c) v. Místico & El Desperado, IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship Match
New Japan dubbed over Místico’s singalong theme, booooo. This match had the privilege of using a different focus from the usual strong style because of Místico. Arm drags, tope con hilos, and hurricanranas all over the place dominated both teams as they took turns using their lucha influences on the offensive. The action became very stop-start at moments in order to set up the flying around, but said flying around still looked beautiful. Towards the end, Fujita’s headbutts thudded off of Desperado’s head and TMDK worked towards an intended win.
However, a double submission spot saw Despy lock in Numero Dos on Fujita and Místico lock in La Mistica on Robbie Eagles. The double tap out gave the masked duo the hard-fought victory, making Místico a champion in NJPW for the first time since he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title back in 2009. These titles have changed hands four times in five months by the way, which seems a bit excessive. Still a great match to mark the change though.
Bishamontin (Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, & Boltin Oleg) (c) v. United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, & HENARE) – NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship Match
I’m trying not to have an Ospreay bias, but hot damn, Billy GOAT is turning everything he touches into gold. EVERYONE looked good in this one, even YH and GOK. The action kept going with counters, double teaming, and triple teaming that dominated the pacing especially towards the end of it. HENARE and Oleg’s sequences got the crowd amped up, and Ospreay’s involvement with his OsCutters and Hidden Blades hooked the crowd even further. One signature move after another just made the match thrilling and highlighted everyone’s strengths above all else.
In the end, an unnamed Empire Trio Powerbomb combo would put away Bishamontin to crown new NEVER Trios Champions. After the match, the current IWGP Tag Team Champions OSKAR & Yuto-Ice got called out by HENARE and O-Khan, setting up a future Tag Title match sometime down the line. It’s amazing to see the tag and trios divisions in New Japan still running strong. Side note though, I need a Hirooki Goto v. Will Ospreay singles match. NEED.
Callum Newman (c) v. Shingo Takagi, IWGP Heavyweight Title Match
Newman stalled a lot early on to try and get in Shingo’s head. After being knocked down, there was lots of waiting around to get up on both ends. What was with all the procrastinating in this match? At least Ospreay continued his dissension within the Empire, shaking his head at Newman’s heel tactics throughout this match. The interference in this match became House-esque with names like Daiki Nagai, Yota Tsuji, Zane Jay, and Jake Lee running into the ring to cause chaos. While the actual moves like Shingo’s Lariats and Newman’s Excaliburs hit as hard as steel, there was more of a focus on Newman’s backhanded nature.
Multiple low blows and some crown-kissings led to the big finish. Newman hit Shingo with Make Way for the title retention win. As much as I want Newman as World Champion to work, this didn’t feel like a main event to a New Japan show. Thanks to all the fif-faffing around and lack of “fighting spirit,” it didn’t feel as important as it should have. Sorry to say that for a Shingo Takagi match too, since he’s one of the best NJPW has right now.
Nastupoi (Shingo Takagi’s wife, contracted to Stardom) sat in the crowd and even got taunted by Newman at some point in the match. There wasn’t really a payoff to it besides Shingo hitting him with some offense and moving swiftly on. Overall, this main event could have been a lot better, oh well.
After the match though, Yota Tsuji got attacked by Newman and the rest of United Empire except for Will Ospreay. Newman wanted Ospreay to beat down Tsuji and Takagi, but Ospreay refused until Newman uttered the buzz phrase. He called Ospreay a “Death Rider.” Oooh how scandalous! Ospreay hit Tsuji with the Hidden Blade unwillingly, all while disapproving Newman’s heelish authority.
And to top off all the insanity post-main event, Newman proposed a future match. Him and Jake Lee vs. Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji in the upcoming NJPW tour. If the Unbound Company loses, neither man would be allowed to challenge Newman for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship again. If Newman gets pinned in that tag match, whoever pins receives a World Title match at Dominion. What a big way to end Wrestling Dontaku!
