REVEALED: Why Hiromu Takahashi Decided To Leave NJPW

It was announced on Tuesday that Hiromu Takahashi will leave New Japan Pro-Wrestling after his final match with the promotion at the New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.

Takahashi's NJPW exit comes at a time when several of his former Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemates have exited NJPW. Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI left NJPW in 2025, while EVIL finished up with New Japan at the end of January, and SANADA is currently on an indefinite leave of absence.

Despite the exodus of former LIJ members, Hiromu noted to Tokyo Sports that his NJPW exit has not been influenced by wrestlers he is close to. Instead, Takahashi described his exit as "super positive" and he was motivated by the past NJPW departures of Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura.

"I want to deny the idea that I'm leaving because I'm dissatisfied (with New Japan). I think it's natural for any working adult to have dissatisfaction with their company. That's precisely why I don't want people to think I left for such a simple reason. I'm leaving with ambition. It's a super positive departure," Takahashi said.

"The age of 36, when Okada-san and Nakamura-san left, was something that really stuck with me. I wondered if 36 was a kind of line (for taking on new challenges)," he added.

Hiromu Takahashi's next destination is currently unknown, but Pro Wrestling NOAH and WWE have been rumoured.

Takahashi joined NJPW in 2010 as a young lion and he has cemented himself as one of the greatest junior heavyweights in New Japan history since returning from excursion in 2016. Hiromu is a five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, four-time Best of the Super Juniors winner, one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion with Tetsuya Naito, and a one-time NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champion with Yota Tsuji and BUSHI.

H/T F4WOnline