Tetsuya Naito Wins GHC Heavyweight Championship At NOAH Legacy Rise

Tetsuya Naito is the new GHC Heavyweight Champion, winning the title at Pro Wrestling NOAH Legacy Rise on Sunday morning. The NJPW alunus captured the championship at the show, defeating champion Shane Haste in the main event. He hit two Destinos in a row to get the pinfall and secure the win and championship. You can see a clip from the finish below.

Tetsuya Naito exited NJPW in May of last year after almost 20 years with the company. He has been working on the independent scene since. This marks Naito’s first reign with the GHC Heavyweight Championship and ends Haste’s reign at 99 days. Haste won the title at NOAH Spring Mayhem Ryogoku 2026 by defeating Yoshiki Inamura.

Naito cut a promo after the match, saying (per Fightful):

“First of all, I’d like to sincerely thank all the many fans who gathered here today at the Korakuen Hall event. Some of you might be wondering how long I’m going to stay in the Pro Wrestling Noah ring, but I’m staying in this ring. Because I’m the GHC Heavyweight Champion, after all. The date for my next match hasn’t been decided yet, but isn’t this the perfect time for those words? Exactly… Tranquilo, don’t sweat it! It’s been about seven and a half months, right? Pro wrestling in Pro Wrestling Noah has been insanely fun. I’m going to keep climbing into this ring for a long time to come. So, shall we end with that? For the first time at a Pro Wrestling Noah Korakuen Hall event, a grand chorus. Everyone, are you ready?”

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📣聖地・後楽園ホールが熱狂！
👑内藤哲也がシェイン・ヘイストを破り第51代GHCヘビー級新王者に‼
＼#noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/lALw9LFbH5

— プロレスリング・ノア ｜PRO WRESTLING NOAH (@noah_ghc) August 9, 2026