Hirooki Goto Challenges Yota Tsuji and More Announced for NJPW Destruction in Kobe

By: Noah Leatherland

With the G1 Climax complete, NJPW is looking ahead to their next big event, Destruction in Kobe on September 27th. The show is set to be headlined by Hirooki Goto challenging Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, with more titles and grudge matches also confirmed.

Goto earned his shot at the top prize in NJPW by defeating Tsuji in the G1 Climax. Goto put Tsuji away on the second day of the tournament, handing the champion his first defeat of the competition. Tsuji would ultimately heave a better G1 campaign than Goto, reaching the semi-finals, where he lost to Yuya Uemura. Then, during the G1 Climax finals, Tsuji and Goto clashed in tag action in the semi-main event, staring each other down afterwards.

The winner of Tsuji and Goto is then set to go on and defend the belt against G1 Climax winner, Ryohei Oiwa, at King of Pro Wrestling on October 12th.

Other heated interactions at the tail end of the G1 Climax tour have led to more matches being made for Destruction in Kobe. Following a fiery exchange of words backstage, Gabe Kidd will defend the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against Drilla Moloney. Moloney defeated Kidd in both men’s first match of the G1 Climax, earning his right to challenge for the while belt.

Shun Skywalker made his shocking jump to NJPW by joining the House of Torture and attacking Konosuke Takeshita. Takeshita was quick to comment on Skywalker’s attack, inviting him to face him in the ring. The match is now set for Destruction in Kobe, with Takeshita’s NJPW World Television Championship on the line.

Jeff Cobb also made a surprise return to NJPW at the G1 Climax finals, where he attacked Callum Newman, making the jump from United Empire to Unbound Co. Now, the two will face off in singles action at Destruction in Kobe.

Another match announced for the event will see the G1 Climax winner, Ryohei Oiwa, team with Hartley Jackson and Kosei Fujita to take on a Hontai group of Yuya Uemura, Taichi and Aaron Wolf. With Fujita making his intention of Wolf’s NEVER Openweight Championship known, this bout is sure to have some fireworks between the two.

NJPW Destruction in Kobe is set for September 27th in the Kobe World Memorial Hall.