GHC Heavyweight Champion Shane Haste To Defend Against Tetsuya Naito At Pro Wrestling NOAH’s LEGACY RISE 2026

By: Lewis Carlan

The fourth defense of the GHC Heavyweight Championship by Shane Haste is now official and it will be against a five time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Pro Wrestling NOAH announced today that Shane Haste will defend his GHC Heavyweight Title against Tetsuya Naito on Aug. 9th at LEGACY RISE 2026 inside the famed Korakuen Hall.

Naito earned this opportunity as he defeated Kaito Kiyomiya in a number #1  contenders bout on July 18th at SUMMER EPIC 2026. At the same event, Haste defeated OZAWA to retain the GHC Heavyweight Title which set up this huge showdown.

Back on July 26th 2023, Haste defeated Naito in a NJPW G1 Climax 2023 Block D match-up in their only singles bout to date. Naito will be looking to avenge that loss at NOAH’s LEGACY RISE 2026.

Haste won the GHC Heavyweight Title back on May 2nd when he defeated Yoshiki Inamura at NOAH Spring Mayhem Ryogoku 2026 in front of 4,539 fans.

Naito has seemingly found a home with Pro Wrestling NOAH as he has been a regular for the promotion since Jan. 1st 2026. He has stated he is enjoying his time with NOAH and hopes to win the GHC Heavyweight Title for the first time in his career on Aug. 9th.