Tommaso Ciampa has identified former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi as the New Japan Pro-Wrestling opponent he most wants to wrestle.
Ciampa, who is currently competing in AEW, spoke about the possibility of making appearances for NJPW and made clear that Takagi stands apart as a particularly compelling prospective opponent. While Ciampa was measured about what his schedule and physical condition could accommodate at this stage of his career, he did not rule out working selected events in Japan.
“Shingo always jumps out at me as someone I've always wanted to share a ring with,” Ciampa said. “I don't know that my body or personal life at this point bodes well for a full-on tour or G1 tournament, but doing a show here or there, or three shows, I'd be 100% open to that.”
The comments put a specific name behind Ciampa’s interest in NJPW competition. Rather than positioning himself for a lengthy run or the demanding schedule attached to the G1 Climax, Ciampa described a more limited arrangement: a handful of appearances built around a match with a major opponent. Takagi, a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and one of New Japan’s most physical and durable main-event-level competitors, clearly fits that description.
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Ciampa eyes a limited but meaningful NJPW opportunity
Ciampa’s framing is notable because it recognizes the scale of the commitment a full New Japan tour can require. The G1 in particular is one of the most grueling tournaments in professional wrestling, with competitors working a concentrated series of high-stakes singles matches over a demanding stretch of dates. Ciampa did not present himself as a candidate for that kind of extended campaign.
Instead, he left the door open for a carefully selected appearance or short set of shows. That distinction matters. A one-off singles match, or a brief program spread across several events, could allow Ciampa to pursue a long-held matchup without requiring the kind of sustained overseas schedule he suggested may not suit his body or personal life.
There is no announced Ciampa appearance for NJPW, and no match with Takagi has been confirmed. His remarks are an expression of interest rather than a formal challenge or an indication that discussions are underway. Still, the fact that Ciampa named Takagi directly gives the idea a clear creative direction if an opportunity between AEW and New Japan develops.
Ciampa and Takagi would bring sharply defined reputations into the ring. Ciampa has built much of his identity around intensity, toughness, and an ability to make major matches feel personal. Takagi’s New Japan career has been defined by a punishing, hard-hitting style that has carried him through championship bouts, tournament matches, and headline-level rivalries. A meeting between them would naturally carry the expectation of a physical, emphatic contest.
Takagi remains active against AEW opposition
Takagi has had no shortage of exposure to AEW talent in recent months, making Ciampa’s interest especially timely. Over the summer, Takagi competed in a tag match involving Pac and Claudio Castagnoli. He later blamed Pac and Castagnoli for his poor G1 performance, which helped fuel his issue with Castagnoli.
That rivalry led to a singles match at Destruction last month, where Takagi defeated Castagnoli. The victory gave Takagi a significant result over an established AEW name and reinforced his standing as a dangerous opponent for any wrestler arriving from outside the New Japan roster.
Takagi is also scheduled for another major encounter with AEW ties. He will face the returning Jon Moxley at Power Struggle on November 3. The match gives Takagi another opportunity to test himself against a prominent AEW competitor, while continuing a run of cross-promotional bouts that has placed him opposite several familiar international opponents.
Those matches show that Takagi is already a central figure in New Japan’s interactions with AEW wrestlers. His bout with Moxley is the immediate priority, but Ciampa’s comments add another potentially intriguing name to the list of AEW talent interested in stepping into Takagi’s orbit.
For Takagi, the appeal of such matchups is easy to understand. He has repeatedly excelled in confrontations where physicality, urgency, and pride are at the center of the story. Ciampa’s own approach would appear compatible with that environment. Neither man needs an elaborate premise for a confrontation to feel credible; the simple question of who can withstand the other’s offense could be enough to establish the stakes.
Ciampa is coming off a WrestleDream title challenge
Ciampa’s interest in New Japan arrives after a recent AEW championship opportunity. At AEW WrestleDream, he challenged Andrade El Idolo for the National Championship. Ciampa was unsuccessful in his attempt to win the title, but the match featured a memorable comedic exchange built around El Idolo’s “How you know?” catchphrase.
During the contest, Ciampa tore off his pants to reveal black trunks bearing the words “I just know.” He then attacked El Idolo’s pants and covered them for a pinfall attempt, with the pants kicking out at two. The sequence gave Ciampa and El Idolo a distinctive moment inside a title match and showed a more playful side of Ciampa’s presentation despite the championship stakes.
The loss to El Idolo means Ciampa did not leave WrestleDream with the National Championship, but it also does not diminish the potential appeal of a separate New Japan appearance. A match with Takagi would not need to be tied to Ciampa’s AEW title situation. It could stand on its own as a special attraction between two wrestlers with established identities and different paths through the modern wrestling landscape.
A matchup built on intensity
Takagi is a particularly interesting choice because Ciampa did not simply express broad interest in wrestling in Japan. He chose a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion whose style and stature make him one of the most formidable potential opponents available in NJPW.
Any eventual match would carry several obvious points of intrigue. Ciampa’s willingness to absorb punishment and fight from underneath could be tested by Takagi’s relentless offense. Conversely, Takagi would be dealing with an opponent capable of turning a match abruptly through aggression, strategic targeting, and a refusal to yield. The contrast in their backgrounds would be part of the attraction, but their shared intensity would likely be the foundation of the contest.
It would also be an opportunity for Ciampa to make an impact without committing to the full tour schedule he said may not be realistic. A major singles match on a select New Japan card could provide the kind of focused, high-profile appearance he described: meaningful enough to feel important, yet limited enough to fit around his current circumstances.
For now, the matchup remains hypothetical. Takagi’s attention is directed toward Moxley at Power Struggle on November 3, while Ciampa remains active in AEW following his National Championship challenge against El Idolo. But Ciampa has made his preference known. If he receives the chance to wrestle for NJPW, Shingo Takagi is the man at the top of his list.
Given Takagi’s recent record against AEW-associated opponents and Ciampa’s stated openness to selected dates, it is a possibility that would carry immediate interest if it ever moves from aspiration to announcement.
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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.