Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori Is Official

After Taiji Ishimori’s return at NJPW Destruction in Ryogoku, the IWGP Junior Champion Hiromu Takahashi has been challenged.

By: R. Faliani

Taiji Ishimori’s return was surprising but not unexpected. Since his injury back on the Best of Super Juniors against Hiromu Takahashi, the Junior Heavyweight icon was patiently building back the machine. The “Bone Soldier” had to recover and prepare for his comeback, all while the Junior Heavyweight scene was bringing new names and known face like Lio Rush to spice things up. In this scenario, Takahashi was the reigning IWGP Junior Champion and he was looking for more challenges to come. Little did he know, the biggest challenge of his career was going to appear once again. Ishimori is one of the few men that can say have defeated Takahashi for the IWGP Junior belt, and he’s looking to do it once again in Osaka.

【新日本】高橋ヒロムが３ＷＡＹ戦制しＩＷＧＰジュニアＶ６　欠場中の石森太二が電撃登場で次期挑戦者に名乗り｜東スポWEB #njpwhttps://t.co/MUVvQDM7EV

— 東スポ　プロレス格闘技担当 (@tospo_battle) October 9, 2023

The three-times IWGP Junior Champion is someone to fear, and Takahashi knows him very well. Old rivals will meet again, and we will see if the IWGP Junior Champion can withstand Ishimori’s offense and drive. Takahashi has been all over the world this year and he has truly made an effort to showcase the best Junior Heavyweight wrestlers have, and with the appearance of Ishimori, a 20-year veteran, his fate is only on his hands. Will Takahashi defeat Ishimori, or will Ishimori bring back the “Bone Soldier” era?