Shun Skywalker’s New Japan Pro-Wrestling run may be headed toward an abrupt and extraordinary turning point.
Skywalker, who joined NJPW in August after departing Dragon Gate, won the NJPW World TV Championship from Konosuke Takeshita in September. Yet despite reaching that major milestone almost immediately, Skywalker has now indicated that he is considering surrendering the championship and leaving New Japan altogether.
In comments to Tokyo Sports, Skywalker said he believes he has already accomplished the purpose he set for himself upon arriving in the company. He characterized the NJPW World TV Title as something he did not truly need and questioned whether remaining in New Japan would be beneficial for either himself or the wider wrestling landscape.
“As a result, I have already achieved the goal I set when I returned from the heavens. I am considering immediately relinquishing this belt, which was like an extra that I never really needed in the first place, and I think I no longer have any use for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.”
For more background on this topic, read Yota Tsuji Retains IWGP Heavyweight Title, Will Defend Against G1 Winner Ryohei Oiwa at King of Pro-Wrestling.
The remarks put Skywalker’s championship status in immediate focus. The NJPW World TV Championship is currently in his possession following his victory over Takeshita, but Skywalker’s comments make clear that he is at least contemplating an immediate end to his reign. No confirmation was provided that the title has been vacated, and Skywalker remains the champion based on the information presently available.
A Rapid Rise Could Lead to a Rapid Exit
The timeline makes Skywalker’s position especially notable. He entered NJPW in August, meaning his arrival is still recent. By September, he had defeated Takeshita to become NJPW World TV Champion. Capturing a championship so soon after joining a promotion normally establishes a wrestler as a central figure with a major runway ahead of them.
Skywalker, however, has presented his title win in much different terms. Rather than framing the championship as the beginning of a long reign or a foundation for his future in New Japan, he has suggested that the achievement completed the mission he had in mind. His description of the belt as an “extra” signals that he does not view simply holding championship gold as the final measure of what he wants from this stage of his career.
That attitude also adds uncertainty to every possible next step. Skywalker did not identify a date for a decision, announce a farewell match, or name a specific destination. The only certainty in his comments is that relinquishing the title and moving on from NJPW are active possibilities he is weighing.
For New Japan, that leaves a potentially unusual situation around one of its championships. If Skywalker decides to vacate the title, the promotion would have to determine how a new champion is crowned. But there has been no announcement of a vacancy, tournament, match, or other plan. Until an official change is made, discussion around a replacement remains speculation.
Skywalker Questions New Japan’s Current Level
Skywalker went beyond discussing his own goals and offered a pointed assessment of New Japan’s present competitive environment. He said he is concerned about whether staying and continuing to wrestle in the company would be good for professional wrestling.
“Considering the current level of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, I’m more worried than anyone right now about whether it’s good for the wrestling world for Shun Skywalker to stay and continue fighting.”
It is a deliberately provocative statement from a wrestler who has only recently entered the NJPW system and quickly defeated Takeshita for a title. Skywalker is not merely suggesting that he needs a fresh opponent or a different challenge. He is questioning whether New Japan is the right setting for him to continue pursuing the level of competition he seeks.
His comments should not be read as a confirmed statement of departure. Skywalker said he is “considering” relinquishing the championship and that it is “entirely possible” he could go elsewhere. Those words leave room for him to remain, defend the title, or alter his plans. Still, they unmistakably establish that he sees his future as unresolved despite the speed of his rise in NJPW.
That uncertainty is central to the story. A champion contemplating departure is not the same as a champion who has officially departed, but it immediately creates questions about his commitment to the title and the company. Skywalker’s next appearance, public comments, and any response from NJPW will carry added significance because of the position he has now outlined.
Searching the World for the Right Opponent
Skywalker also made clear that his thinking is centered on finding an opponent he regards as worthy of facing him. He said that, somewhere around the world, there must be a professional wrestler who meets that standard. If that person is not in New Japan, Skywalker suggested he may be willing to travel to the promotion where that wrestler competes.
“If you look around the world, there must be a pro wrestler who is worthy of fighting Shun Skywalker. It’s entirely possible that I’ll go to the ring where that person is. I’ll have to travel by air.”
The final line carries Skywalker’s unmistakable confidence while also broadening the scope of his stated ambitions. He did not mention a promotion, country, wrestler, or event. As a result, there is no basis to identify where he may go next or who he hopes to face. What his words do establish is an openness to leaving his current environment in pursuit of a matchup he considers meaningful.
That international outlook fits the way Skywalker has framed the issue. He is not talking about a narrow dispute over a single title defense or one rival. Instead, he is describing a search that extends beyond New Japan and potentially beyond Japan itself. In his view, the answer may be found wherever the opponent he is looking for happens to wrestle.
There is an important distinction between that stated possibility and a confirmed booking. Skywalker has not announced travel plans, an appearance for another company, or an opponent. His comments invite attention across the wrestling world, but they do not provide a destination. Any claim that a move is finalized would go beyond what he has said.
The Dragon Gate Departure Adds to the Stakes
Skywalker’s comments also come shortly after a significant career change. He left Dragon Gate to join NJPW, making his current uncertainty all the more striking. His move to New Japan was followed quickly by a championship victory, and that sequence could have suggested a new long-term chapter. Instead, only weeks later, Skywalker is openly questioning whether that chapter should continue.
The speed of the development makes it difficult to place Skywalker’s NJPW tenure into a conventional pattern. He has not slowly worked his way into title contention over a lengthy period; he arrived, won a major championship, and is now entertaining the idea that the title and the promotion may no longer serve his objectives. That is a rare set of circumstances for any champion, particularly one so early into a new run.
His departure from Dragon Gate remains an important part of the context, but Skywalker’s latest remarks are focused on the present rather than on revisiting that exit. He is talking about his current status in New Japan, the standard of competition he wants, and the possibility that he may need to go elsewhere to find it.
What Happens Next for the NJPW World TV Championship?
For now, the NJPW World TV Championship remains at the center of the situation. Skywalker defeated Konosuke Takeshita to win the belt, and he has indicated that he may relinquish it immediately. Whether that happens will determine the next direction for both the champion and the title.
If Skywalker stays, his comments create a clear challenge for New Japan’s roster: give him a reason to believe the competition is worthy of him. If he leaves and vacates the championship, NJPW would need to move quickly to establish a new titleholder. Those are logical outcomes of the position he has described, but neither has been officially confirmed.
Skywalker has placed himself in a volatile but compelling position. He has the championship, he has already made an impact after entering NJPW, and he has now made it known that he may walk away from both. The next move belongs to Skywalker, and it could shape the immediate future of the NJPW World TV Title.
At present, the key facts are straightforward: Skywalker joined NJPW in August, beat Takeshita for the NJPW World TV Championship in September, and is now considering relinquishing the belt and leaving the company. Beyond that, the destination, timing, and identity of any future opponent remain unknown.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.