DOUKI Wins IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title At New Japan Soul

For the first time in his career, DOUKI is the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. 

New Japan Pro-Wrestling held the final show of their New Japan Soul tour on Friday, July 5 and the main event pitted former Suzuki-gun stablemates against each other as El Desperado defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title against DOUKI. Both competitors enjoyed time on top in the contest but it was DOUKI who ended the night with his hand raised after he hit the Suplex de La Luna. 

The ring then filled with confetti as DOUKI was announced as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion for the first time. DOUKI's win on July 5 also ended El Desperado's fourth reign as champion at 19 days, having just won the title from SHO in a Steel Cage Match to begin the New Japan Soul tour on June 16.

Despe earned the title shot by winning the Best of the Super Juniors at Dominion. He defeated DOUKI in the semi-finals of the tournament which led to Despe offering to defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against DOUKI on the July 5 show. 

Also at the final day of the New Japan Soul tour, Boltin Oleg qualified for the final spot in the G1 Climax 34 B block by defeating Taichi, while Callum Newman earned the final spot in the A Block with a win over YOSHI-HASHI. For the first time in many years, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii will not be a part of the round-robin tournament.