Hiromu Takahashi Set To Leave NJPW

A popular wrestler is set to leave New Japan Pro-Wrestling, with the promotion announcing that Hiromu Takahashi will finish up with NJPW following his final match at the New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.

NJPW wrote, in part: "New Japan Pro-Wrestling wishes Hiromu Takahashi the very best in his future activities and invites fans to show their support on his remaining appearances with NJPW."

Hiromu Takahashi is just the latest high-profile exit from New Japan in 2026, with EVIL departing the company upon the expiry of his contract at the end of January. SANADA is also on an indefinite leave of absence from NJPW.

Dave Meltzer has reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Pro Wrestling NOAH had been mentioned as a potential next destination for Hiromu, alongside WWE.

"Hiromu, we don't know where he's going. I've heard the Hiromu leaving stuff for two months at least, maybe longer. The rumour was always NOAH. I've heard people talk about maybe WWE. I could see him in AEW if he was available to AEW," Meltzer said.

Takahashi made several appearances for Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2025, which included a 115-day reign as GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion and a Jr. Grand Prix win.

Hiromu Takahashi has been a part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling since joining the promotion as a young lion in 2010. Takahashi returned from excursion in 2016 and he has cemented himself as one of the greatest junior heavyweights in NJPW history. Hiromu is a five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, four-time Best of the Super Juniors winner, including winning the tournament three years in a row between 2020 and 2022, a one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion with Tetsuya Naito, and a one-time NEVER Open Six-Man Tag Team Champion with Yota Tsuji and BUSHI.

Takahashi has spent much of his career as part of Los Ingobernables de Japon but the group dissolved in 2025 upon Tetsuya Naito's NJPW exit. Takahashi then joined Unaffiliated, which merged with Bullet Club at the beginning of 2026 into Unbound Co.