Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling NOAH
By: Ian McCord
Since returning to Pro Wrestling NOAH Shane Haste has been at the top of his game, showing the world what he can do against some of the promotion’s top stars. He captured the GHC Heavyweight Championship from Yoshiki Inamura back in May, and has successfully defended the title against the likes of KENTA, Tetsuya Endo, and OZAWA since then.
On August 9th, Shane Haste will defend the GHC Heavyweight Championship in what may be the most high-profile match of his 20 plus year career when he takes on Tetsuya Naito at NOAH’s LEGACY RISE 2026.
Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling NOAH
Naito earned the right to challenge Haste for the title after defeating Kaito Kiyomiya in a No. 1 Contender’s Match at NOAH SUMMER EPIC 2026 back on July 18th. After Haste successfully defended the GHC Heavyweight Title against OZAWA at the same event, Haste vs. Naito for the championship was made official for the August 9th edition of NOAH’s LEGACY RISE 2026.
This will not be the first time Haste and Naito have faced off in a singles competition. The two battled back in 2023 during New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax 33 Tournament. Haste got the better of the former five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, planting Naito with his Bomb Valley Death finisher to score the victory.
Monthly Puroresu reached out to Shane Haste to gauge how he was feeling going into his title defense against Naito. Haste simply stated that he’s excited for the challenge.
From Shane Haste:
“I feel good. I’m excited for the challenge.”
When asked if his past singles win over Naito gives him confidence going into this title defense, Haste stated that he believes this match will be very different from their first encounter and that he believes the Uncontrollable Tetsuya Naito should never be underestimated.
From Shane Haste:
“I feel like this is going to be a different match to that. We’re both different people now. I think this will be a slower, drawn out tactical match. I don’t want to get over confident going into the match because Naito should never be underestimated.”
The Black Swan Shane Haste told Monthly Puroresu back in June that Kaito Kiyomiya was someone he was interested in wrestling in a singles match, having seen him debut in the NOAH Dojo. When asked if he was disappointed seeing Kiyomiya lose to Naito in the No. 1 Contender’s Match, Haste stated that he was and said if Kiyomiya wanted a shot at the championship, he would have to earn it.
From Shane Haste:
“I am disappointed in him. I don’t want him to just challenge, I want him to earn the title shot. Say what you want about Naito but he didn’t just challenge, he won a No. 1 contenders match.”
Shane Haste will face the No. 1 Contender Tetsuya Naito on August 9th at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s LEGACY RISE 2026 at the legendary Korakuen Hall. This event will air live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE streaming service.
Date:
August 3, 2026
Category:
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