IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match Official For New Japan Cup Final

The New Japan Cup Final show is set to feature a title match.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling have announced that Hiromu Takahashi will put the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the line against Lio Rush at the New Japan Cup Final. The show will take place on March 21 in Niigata. 

The match was set up at The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11 after Lio Rush interrupted Hiromu's post-match promo with a pre-taped vignette. Rush mentioned that YOH had failed to defeat Takahashi at The New Beginning in Sapporo but he wouldn't suffer the same fate, challenging Takahashi to a title match. Hiromu accepted the challenge before he ran around the arena as he tried to ensure Rush was not in Osaka to jump him. 

Takahashi is currently in his fifth reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, having regained the belt at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Lio Rush's latest run in NJPW began in late 2022 and saw The Man of the Hour and YOH win Super Junior Tag League. They failed to defeat TJP and Francesco Akira for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles at Wrestle Kingdom 17.