IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita successfully defended his title against former champion Hirooki Goto on Sunday at Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Homecoming in Gifu.

Following the match, Takeshita addressed the crowd, questioning who his opponent would be at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4 at the Tokyo Dome. His answer came quickly when IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji, fresh off a victory over Hiroshi Tanahashi in the semi-main event, stepped out to issue a challenge.

Takeshita responded by demanding that Tsuji put his own championship on the line, to which Tsuji agreed, setting up a Champion vs. Champion “Double Title Match” for Wrestle Kingdom.

NJPW confirmed the confrontation on X, posting (translated):

“After the match, GLOBAL Heavyweight Champion Tsuji declares his challenge! TAKESHITA demands a ‘double title match’ at the 1.4 Tokyo Dome, but gets the response, ‘Of course! You ready for it?!’”

The bout adds to a growing Wrestle Kingdom 20 card that will also feature Aaron Wolf’s debut match, Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match, and a bout involving World of Stardom and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Saya Kamitani.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 – Advertised Lineup:

• Champion vs. Champion, Double Title Match | Konosuke Takeshita (IWGP World Heavyweight Champion) vs. Yota Tsuji (IWGP Global Champion)
• Aaron Wolf vs. EVIL
• Saya Kamitani vs. TBA
• Hiroshi Tanahashi Retirement Match

Wrestle Kingdom 20 takes place January 4, 2026, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

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Photo courtesy of njpw1972.com