4 hours ago
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Hirooki Goto has finally won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
It has been nearly two decades since the Japanese star first challenged for the title. He earned multiple shots at the champion through his G1 Climax win in 2008 and three New Japan Cup victories, but always fell short when it came to taking home the gold.
Now 45, the title seemed like it had passed Goto by. Luckily, he won the New Japan Rambo in the Tokyo Dome, earning one last shot at Zack Sabre Jr‘s title at NJPW New Beginnings 2025.
It was the EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan that played host to Hirooki Goto finally becoming the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He pinned Zack Sabre Jr in the main event of the show to win the match and the title for the first time.
HIROOKI GOTO HAS FINALLY DONE IT, HE'S WON THE BIG ONE.
Hirooki Goto has defeated Zack Sabre Jr. with back to back GTRs to become the 10th IWGP World Heavyweight Champion!
THE G IN IWGP STANDS FOR GOTO!!!! pic.twitter.com/WIwYrQtFkx
The match started out with Goto on the back foot, with the champion dominating. Zack Sabre tried to get his opponent to tap out to multiple holds. However, the spirit of Hirooki Goto would not let.
His dedication to finally achieving his dream kept him in the match, long enough for Zack Sabre Jr to lose his composure, making a mistake and letting Hirooki Goto in for the victory. After 20 minutes of battling, Hirooki Goto hit back-to-back GTR’s on his English opponent before Red Shoes counted to three and awarded him the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
This marks Hirooki Goto’s first world title reign and cements him as one of the most decorated wrestlers in NJPW history. He ended Zack Sabre Jr’s run at 120 days, making him the longest-reigning title holder since SANADA.
After the match, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yuji Nagata laid out a challenge for Hirooki Goto. It looks like they will be his next two opponents.
