Peatzilla | MP
By: Lewis Carlan
“Gene Blast” Yota Tsuji has come a long way since his debut for New Japan Pro-Wrestling back in April 2018. Tsuji is the current IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion and has become one of the top superstars for NJPW.
On Nov 2nd, Tsuji fulfilled a goal by defeating his mentor Hiroshi Tanahashi in a thrilling bout for his IWGP Global Heavyweight Title.
Tsuji is heading into Wrestle Kingdom 20 to compete in arguably the biggest match of his career as he faces IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita. The bout will be a double title match as the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship will both be on the line.
Tsuji is currently competing in the NJPW World Tag League as he is teaming with rival Gabe Kidd in the tournament.
Despite being on a hectic schedule, Yota Tsuji took some time to graciously answer a few questions for Monthly Puroresu on a variety of topics.
Here is the Monthly Puroresu interview with IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji:
Monthly Puroresu:
Congratulations on finally getting a singles win over Hiroshi Tanahashi in Gifu. How important was that victory and what does Tanahashi mean to you?
Yota Tsuji:
Tanahashi was the one that suggested i get into the business, so for bringing me to this world he’s someone I’m hugely indebted to. That match was massively important to me, and I’m glad we were able to have it, but If I’m honest, I wanted it to be for the IWGP World Heavyweight title. I only have myself to blame for that not being the case, but I was glad to have the match.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
You will be facing Konosuke Takeshita at Wrestle Kingdom 20 in a double title match. You stated that you want to restore the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. How do you plan on doing that and do you want the Global Championship to be retired?
Yota Tsuji:
Should I win, I want to break up the World Heavyweight title and restore the IWGP Heavy. What happens after that to the Global title, wait until I win first.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
How dangerous of a champion and competitor do you feel Konosuke Takeshita is and what is your game plan for the bout?
Yota Tsuji:
If I had to sum up Konosuke Takeshita in a phrase I would say ‘forwards compatible’. Someone who’s advanced in what he does, but in sync with what is now. That’s what it feels like to me. It’s a different case to the G1 last year in that we ended up one win apiece, and it was all over the course of the tournament, but here it’s one match, winner takes all. I think it might go long, and I like to have matches that turn out that way so I’m really focusing on conditioning going into the Tokyo Dome.
Monthly Puroresu:
Kazuchika Okada has a very strong association to the IWGP Heavyweight title as well, how do you feel about him being Tanahashi’s final opponent?
Yota Tsuji:
Maybe some might argue, but I think that V4 version of the IWGP Heavyweight title is most closely linked to Tanahashi, not Okada. Okada is an AEW wrestler. We in NJPW have fought with and against Tanahashi working toward this retirement, but in the end it’s an AEW wrestler that gets the fruits of that effort.
Monthly Puroresu:
You will be competing in front of the largest crowd of your career at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Does this get you nervous at all or does it energize you?
Yota Tsuji:
I’m energized. Ultimately what I want people to leave with is that Tanahashi was the icon of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and that I am the icon of a new era.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
You are teaming with Gabe Kidd at the World Tag League 2025 tournament. With the history between the two of you, do you think you and Kidd can co-exist as a team? Do you completely trust Kidd?
Yota Tsuji:
With Gabe, I really don’t know what will happen, so that just makes the heart beat faster and makes everything more exciting.
Image Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu;
There is a collaboration between the Unaffiliated wrestlers and the War Dogs unit. Have you considered joining the War Dogs and what are your thoughts of them as a faction?
Yota Tsuji:
We’re Unaffiliated and one of the strengths of that is that we have that ability to do what we like and what we think would be the most interesting at any one time. Whether this continues or not, it wouldn’t change our affiliation, or the lack of it.
Monthly Puroresu:
What does the future hold for Yota Tsuji?
Yota Tsuji:
My goal as an individual is to win the G1 as the champion. Apart from that I want to make sure that nobody working for NJPW has to do overtime.
Monthly Puroresu would like to extend our sincere gratitude to New Japan Pro-Wrestling for facilitating this interview with Yota Tsuji and providing the English text translation.
Date:
November 24, 2025
