Hiromu Takahashi Competes in Final Main Event Before NJPW Depature at Road to The New Beginning Day 8

By Noah Leatherland

NJPW fans were shocked by the recent news of Hiromu Takahashi’s incoming departure. On the eighth day on the Road to The New Beginning, Takahashi competed alongside his Unbound Co. teammates in the final main event of his NJPW stint, and spoke on his decision to leave.

Takahashi teamed with Taiji Ishimori and Yota Tsuji in Fukushima, taking on a United Empire trio consisting of Jake Lee, Francesco Akira and Zane Jay. Unbound Co. emerged victorious once Tsuji nailed Jay with a Gene Blaster. Before leaving, Takahashi addressed the fans in attendance, saying:

Today’s the last time I can speak in the main event… I really hate it when people say things like, “Isn’t he leaving because he’s dissatisfied?” just because I mentioned some of the not-so-great aspects of New Japan Pro-Wrestling last year or so! Any top-tier company has one or two flaws. Hiromu Takahashi isn’t weak enough to quit over something like that.

 

About two or three years ago, I felt like I was lacking that spark. I started wondering if I should just carry on like this as a pro wrestler. That’s when I found another huge dream – I can’t say what it is yet – and I thought, “Maybe I should focus my drive on that instead.” That’s why I’m leaving. I’m a bundle of ambition, that’s Hiromu Takahashi.

 

I’ll keep pushing. It’ll be fine. So everyone, let’s part on happy terms. Let’s wave goodbye happily. Because we’ll meet again. Until that day comes, let’s strive for more, more, more, more, more! All together! Let’s live a life without regrets! Let’s enjoy it!

Speaking backstage after the event, Tsuji expressed his certainty that he will cross paths with Takahashi again one day:

I feel we’ll connect again somewhere. If we stay in this industry, we absolutely will. Even if he goes overseas, I’ll keep a place open for Hiromu to return to Japan. Even if he stays in Japan, I’ll prepare a place for Hiromu to come back, too.

Takahashi added to Tsuji’s comments, also certain that this will not be their last encounter:

If we keep wrestling, our paths will inevitably cross again. That’s our destiny. So I’m not sad at all. We’ll go all the way with this feeling, I’m sure. That’s what I believe.

(Quote translated via DeepL)

Hiromu Takahashi still has a few dates left in NJPW, with his farewell match set for The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11th.

Here are the full results for NJPW Road to The New Beginning Day 8, courtesy of purolove.com:

• Shoma Kato def. Masatora Yasuda (7:53)
• Katsuya Murashima & Tiger Mask def. Tatsuya Matsumoto & Tomoaki Honma (10:08)
• Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. def. Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Oleg Boltin & Ryusuke Taguchi (13:50)
• Aaron Wolf, Master Wato, Toru Yano & YOH def. Dick Togo, DOUKI, Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi (10:20)
• El Desperado, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura def. Daiki Nagai, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice (11:25)
• Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Jakob Austin Young def. David Finlay, Drilla Moloney, Gedo & Robbie X (10:54)
• Hiromu Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji def. Francesco Akira, Jake Lee & Zane Jay (16:55)