Hirooki Goto's First IWGP World Heavyweight Title Defence Revealed

Hirooki Goto will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's 53rd Anniversary show against Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Goto stated in a press conference after he defeated Zack Sabre Jr. for NJPW's top prize at New Beginning in Osaka that he wanted to defend the belt against Tanahashi and the match has since been made official for March 6. Tanahashi - who is also the President of NJPW - is currently on his retirement tour and he is set to retire on January 4, 2026.

Should he successfully defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at NJPW 53rd Anniversary, Goto will put the belt on the line at a future event against Yuji Nagata, with a potential match being agreed in the post-New Beginning in Osaka press conference. The IWGP World Heavyweight Title will also be on the line at Sakura Genesis on April 5 against the winner of the New Japan Cup.

The English-language commentary team will also be back to full strength at NJPW 53rd Anniversary as Chris Charlton is set to return at the show following a two-month suspension for his anti-AEW comments at Wrestle Dynasty.

The card for NJPW 53rd Anniversary is as follows:

• El Phantasmo (c) vs. TBD - NJPW World TV Championship Open Challenge
• TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson) vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale)
• Just 4 Guys (Taichi, Yuya Uemura & TAKA Michinoku) vs. War Dogs (SANADA, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo)
• War Dogs (Gabe Kidd & Drilla Moloney) vs. House of Torture (Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
• Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takahashi) vs. House of Torture (EVIL, SHO, Dick Togo, & Yujiro Takahashi)
• El Desperado (c) vs. Francesco Akira - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
• Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Cultaholic is now on WhatsApp! Follow us here. Sign up to the Cultaholic Wrestling Newsletter now.