IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji has made clear that he wants New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s working relationship with AEW to be placed on more equal footing.
Speaking at the press conference for NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2026, Tsuji discussed both his upcoming title defense against Hirooki Goto and the larger direction he wants to pursue as champion. The event takes place September 27, and it arrives at a significant moment for Tsuji, whose public comments about AEW have been among the most outspoken from any leading NJPW wrestler.
Rather than repeating his previous call for NJPW to sever its AEW ties, Tsuji presented a more measured objective. He said he intends to continue carrying the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, expand the reach of New Japan and professional wrestling across Asia, and work toward a balanced partnership between the companies.
“Mr. Goto, the match in Kobe is getting more and more exciting. Of course, winning the IWGP in Kobe is the most important thing. I went to Vietnam the other day. Did you watch ‘Blast of ASIA’ (on the NJPW YouTube channel)? I’m going to keep holding the IWGP Title, and I’m going to spread New Japan Pro-Wrestling—no, pro-wrestling itself—even further across Asia, and one more thing: I need to work on establishing an equal relationship with AEW.”
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Tsuji’s comments, made during NJPW’s Destruction in Kobe press conference, represent an important shift in tone from the reigning champion. He has not hidden his frustration with what he has viewed as an uneven arrangement between NJPW and AEW. Yet his latest remarks suggest that the goal is no longer simply rejection of the relationship, but a restructuring of it in a manner he believes better serves New Japan.
Tsuji’s History of Criticism Toward AEW
The “Gene Blast” has repeatedly addressed AEW and its place in NJPW’s international strategy. Tsuji has stated that he respects AEW President Tony Khan, even going so far as to invite Khan to play golf. At the same time, he has been direct in expressing his dissatisfaction with the existing dynamic between the promotions.
Earlier in 2026, Tsuji argued that NJPW should cut ties with AEW because he felt the partnership had become too one-sided. He also wanted to lead a boycott of the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view. Those statements positioned Tsuji as a major NJPW figure willing to challenge the assumptions surrounding one of the promotion’s highest-profile international alliances.
That backdrop makes his new language notable. Tsuji did not say that every concern had been resolved, nor did he abandon the view that NJPW must be treated as an equal partner. In fact, the emphasis on establishing equality confirms that he still sees a problem requiring attention. The difference is that he is now framing the issue as work to be done rather than a relationship that cannot be repaired.
For Tsuji, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship is central to that mission. His remarks linked the title directly to NJPW’s ability to expand outward. He spoke of promoting not just New Japan, but professional wrestling as a whole throughout Asia. That wider ambition places his concerns about AEW within a broader vision: one in which NJPW’s champion helps define the company’s position in the global wrestling landscape rather than simply reacting to it.
Destruction in Kobe Will Put the Champion’s Focus to the Test
Before any larger questions about NJPW and AEW can develop further, Tsuji has a major immediate task in Kobe. He will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Hirooki Goto, one of the company’s most established and respected competitors.
Tsuji specifically acknowledged that the anticipation surrounding the match is increasing. However, he also stressed that retaining the championship in Kobe is the priority. That is fitting for a title match with major implications for both wrestlers. Tsuji is looking to continue his reign and move forward with his stated plans for the championship, while Goto enters the bout with the opportunity to claim the top prize in NJPW.
The contrast between the two competitors adds to the importance of the contest. Goto has long been a prominent presence in New Japan, while Tsuji has emerged as a defining voice of the current generation. Tsuji’s championship reign has made him more than a main-event performer; it has made his public vision for the company part of the conversation surrounding its future.
His comments ahead of Destruction in Kobe show that he sees the title as a platform. Tsuji is not limiting his focus to the next defense or even to NJPW’s domestic schedule. His reference to his recent trip to Vietnam and the “Blast of ASIA” feature reflects an interest in wrestling’s reach across the region. Retaining the IWGP Heavyweight Championship would allow him to continue presenting himself as an active representative of that expansion.
AEW Talent Will Be Featured in Kobe
The AEW relationship will not merely be a topic of discussion around Destruction in Kobe. It will also be visible on the card itself, with AEW wrestlers involved in two featured matches.
In a special singles match, Claudio Castagnoli will face Shingo Takagi. Takagi sought the bout after Castagnoli pinned him during an episode of AEW Collision in July. The match gives Takagi a chance to answer that loss in an NJPW ring, while Castagnoli arrives as another AEW representative facing one of New Japan’s most decorated and powerful wrestlers.
The semi-main event will see Drilla Moloney challenge Gabe Kidd for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Kidd, an AEW star and the reigning Global Heavyweight Champion, will defend against a wrestler with whom he shares extensive history through the Bullet Club War Dogs.
Moloney and Kidd’s past association ensures that the championship match carries a personal dimension in addition to the title stakes. Their time together in the War Dogs provides an established foundation for the rivalry, and their meeting in Kobe will place that history under the spotlight in one of the event’s most prominent positions.
Those matches also illustrate why Tsuji’s remarks are timely. AEW participation remains part of NJPW’s major-event presentation, and AEW talent is scheduled to compete in meaningful matches rather than simply making peripheral appearances. Castagnoli’s contest with Takagi is rooted in a result that took place on AEW programming, while Kidd’s position as IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion places an AEW-affiliated wrestler in possession of one of NJPW’s titles.
Tsuji’s desire for equality does not change the card, but it adds another layer to how the AEW involvement will be viewed. The champion has articulated a vision in which interaction between the companies should exist on an even basis. Destruction in Kobe offers a live setting where the relationship between the rosters, the championships, and the respective promotions will once again be highly visible.
A More Constructive Position From the IWGP Champion
There remains a clear distinction between Tsuji saying he wants an equal relationship and declaring that one already exists. His statement was a call for action. It was also an indication that, despite the forceful nature of his previous criticism, he sees a possible path toward improving the situation.
That approach may be especially significant because it comes from the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Tsuji has the most prestigious championship in NJPW and is using his position to speak about the promotion’s future in Asia and its relationship with a major international partner. His comments are therefore tied to the responsibilities he associates with being champion, not simply to a personal grievance.
For now, Tsuji’s primary responsibility is clear: defeat Hirooki Goto at Destruction in Kobe and remain IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Should he do that, he will continue carrying both the title and a stated agenda to broaden NJPW’s reach across Asia while pursuing a more balanced connection with AEW.
Destruction in Kobe will feature AEW wrestlers, an AEW-affiliated champion defending an NJPW title, and an IWGP Heavyweight Champion who has placed the question of equality directly into the discussion. Tsuji’s stance has evolved from a call to end the relationship to a demand that it become fairer. The next step, in his view, begins with keeping the IWGP Heavyweight Championship around his waist.
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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.