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Yota Tsuji Captures IWGP World Heavyweight Title At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
Image Credit: NJPW
Yota Tsuji is the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, as he defeated Konosuke Takeshita in a double title match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20. Tsuji put his IWGP GLobal Global Championship on the line against Takeshita, in the semi-main event of Sunday morning’s show. The two champions fought back and forth for almost 30 minutes before Tsuji was able to put the AEW star down by making him tap to the Boston Crab.
After the bell rang, Tsuji celebrated with the title but was attacked by Jake Lee, who had returned earlier in the night. Lee laid out Tsuji and posed with the title before dropping it and exiting the ring. You can see highlights from the match below.
The win marks Tsuji’s first run with the top championship in NJPW. He ended Takeshita’s reign at 83 days. Takeshita defeated Zack Sabre Jr. at King of Pro-Wrestling in October for the title.
Lee’s return came earlier in the night as part of a 10-man tag team match. He had been out of action since September 2024.
🏟️WRESTLE KINGDOM 20 in 東京ドーム 棚橋弘至引退🏟️
IWGP世界ヘビー級＆IWGP GLOBALヘビー級ダブル選手権試合‼️
ダブルタイトルを手にするのは…⁉️🆚 KONOSUKE TAKESHITA× @njpw_yotatsuji
登録&視聴 ⏩ https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/AcKhS4pjji— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
.@njpw_yotatsuji "Canadian Destroyer"
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/iRt0290Q0Y
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
KONOSUKE TAKESHITA "Raging Fire"
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/BpIm50IC0D
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
KONOSUKE TAKESHITA "Avalanche Blue thunder bomb"
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/ym1cmJzloA
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
.@njpw_yotatsuji "NEW JAPAN SOUL"
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/nzmt9bhN0r
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
