YOH Defends IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Against Taiji Ishimori at NJPW Battle Line Hokkaido

By: Noah Leatherland

NJPW is set to tour Japan’s northern major island in the build up to Destruction in Kobe. The biggest highlight of the tour is set to be YOH making his second defence of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title against Taiji Ishimori.

The two junior heavyweights clashed at the final night of the G1 Climax in tag team action. There, Ishimori managed to secure his team the victory by making YOH submit to the Bone Lock. Getting a win over the champion, Ishimori quickly made his intentions to challenge for the title known in his post-match comments:

During this G1 Climax, I wasn’t just watching the Unbound members in action, nor was I merely going through the motions in my matches. Hey, YOH! I’ve been waiting for you to show up right in front of me. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship—next up, it’s me!

YOH was more than happy to make the match:

That’s perfect, Ishimori. Bring it on!

(Quotes translated via DeepL)

The title match is now set for September 23rd in Sapporo. YOH and Ishimori have met a handful of times in singles competition, always in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Head-to-head, YOH leads the series 3-2.

At the moment, the Sapporo event also has a non-title bout set between the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, El Desperado and Mistico, and the House of Torture’s DOUKI and SHO. The latter pair have been angling for a title shot. So, that match may also end up being a title bout.