Shane Haste Says NOAH’s SPRING MAYHEM RYOGOKU 2026 Main Event Debate Stems From OZAWA’s Ego

By: Ian McCord

The burning question in Pro Wrestling NOAH right now is who will be in the main event of SPRING MAYHEM RYOGOKU 2026 on May 2nd. Will it be OZAWA and Tetsuya Naito’s highly anticipated singles match, or the GHC Heavyweight Championship match between Yoshiki Inamura and Shane Haste closing out the show?

Shane Haste, who is challenging for the GHC Heavyweight Title for the second time in his career on May 2nd, recently shared his thoughts on the main event debacle in an interview with Pro Wrestling NOAH. Haste would blame the whole situation on OZAWA’s ego, claiming his match with Inamura will outshine Naito vs. OZAWA.

From Shane Haste:

“OZAWA must know that the GHC Heavyweight title match should be the main event. But he’s just saying ‘I want to be in the main event’ out of pure ego, isn’t he? He’s just using Naito’s fame and track record. Our match will absolutely outshine his, because we’ll be fighting in the GHC style. I’ve only had a brief encounter with Inamura, but I know exactly what level he’s at. I can’t beat him unless I give it my all—which means I’m confident it’ll be an incredible match. It’ll be even more exhausting than my fight with KENTA (GHC Heavyweight Title Match in 2013). I want you to come to the venue and see for yourselves which match is better. And if you already know the answer, after watching Naito’s ‘spectacular entrance,’ please go straight to the restroom (during the Naito vs. OZAWA match) and get ready for our main event.”

Haste took to X after the interview was posted to NOAH’s social media, clearing the air about telling the fans to take a trip to the restroom during OZAWA and Naito’s match.

From Shane Haste:

“I actually said you could go to the toilet during the entrances, comeback and they would still be going. But hey all good, if you want take your time and go get some merchandise or a drink too.”

Earlier in the interview, Haste was asked what the GHC Heavyweight Championship means to him, declaring that winning the title would be a dream come true.

From Shane Haste:

“It’s a dream. I’ve loved pro wrestling since I was a kid and used to watch WWE all the time, but one day I saw Kenta Kobashi’s GHC title match—on video. It blew me away. I thought, This is the best pro wrestling I’ve ever seen! I felt that this is how I should be, and I believed I could become that. That’s why it’s a dream. I’m going to make that dream come true.”

(All English Translation via DeepL)

Shane Haste will have the opportunity to turn his dream into a reality on May 2nd when he challenges Yoshiki Inamura for the GHC Heavyweight Championship at NOAH’s SPRING MAYHEM RYOGOKU 2026.