IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto Faces New Challengers Following His Victory At NJPW Wrestling DONTAKU 2025

By: Lewis Carlan

On May 4th, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto successfully defended his title against United Empire’s Callum Newman in a thrilling bout at NJPW Wrestling DONTAKU 2025.

The victory was Goto’s fifth successive title defense, which is the most since the inception of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in March 2021.

Now, Goto is looking at his sixth and potentially seventh defense of the top prize in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Following his victory over Newman, Goto took the mic and asked who his next challenger will be. This prompted Zack Sabre Jr., who Goto defeated for the title, to appear and vow to regain the prestigious belt. Goto accepted the challenge of Sabre Jr.

As Goto and Sabre Jr. were faced off, Shingo Takagi appeared and made his entrance to the ring. Takagi declared that he will be the first challenger of the winner between Goto & Sabre Jr.

Goto is set to defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr. on May 9th at NJPW Resurgence in Los Angeles, California. Takagi will be watching this match very closely as he is next in line for a title opportunity.

It took Goto 22 years and 9 attempts to become the top titleholder in NJPW. He is proving that he is a fighting champion and ready to take on all challengers. Sabre Jr. and Takagi could very well be his 6th and 7th successful defenses of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

It took Goto a very long time to achieve his dream and he isn’t about to give up what he fought so long and hard for. Sabre Jr. and quite possibly Takagi should start preparing for war.

(Feature Photo Credit: NJPW)