10 New Matches Coming Out Of NJPW G1 Climax 36

NJPW

The NJPW G1 Climax 36 has finally come to an end after a highly acclaimed month-long tournament.

Now that New Japan’s premier tournament is in the rearview mirror, there are several different matches that have been set up for the upcoming tours and the rest of the year.

From title matches to scores looking to be settled, there is a lot of major bouts that will take place for the remainder of 2026.

Here are ten new potential matches coming out of the NJPW G1 Climax 36.

10. Shingo Takagi challenges Claudio Castagnoli

Ahead of the NJPW G1 Climax 36 tournament, Shingo Takagi made his return to All Elite Wrestling to compete.

Teaming with his fellow Unbound Co. stablemate, Takagi and Drilla Moloney lost to Claudio Castagnoli and PAC of The Death Riders on the July 2 edition of AEW Collision.

After failing to make the playoffs in the G1, Takagi called out Castagnoli as being the reason for his failure this summer.

Challenging The Death Riders member to meet him in Kobe, it looks like New Japan is preparing for a co-promotional dream match between Shingo and Claudio at NJPW Destruction on September 27.

9. Knockout Brothers vs. Most Violent Players in an IWGP Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Match

At NJPW Dominion 2026, United Empire’s HENARE and Great O Khan defeated The Knockout Brothers to win the IWGP Tag Team Championships.

Not wasting any time after the end of the G1, KOB went right at the champs and staked their claim for a rematch, but they were not alone.

After getting into a brawl with Yuto-Ice and OSKAR following a multi-man match on Day 18 of the G1 Climax 36, Toru Yano and Togi Makabe, known as Most Violent Players, attacked and brawled with the former IWGP Tag Team Champions.

This has set the stage for a number one contender’s match between KOB and Most Violent Players for the Battle Line Hokkaido event on September 27.

8. Taiji Ishimori earns a shot at YOH’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

The junior heavyweight division has been off during the G1 Climax 36 tournament for the most part.

Outside of a few exceptions for preview tags, fans saw the return of the juniors when Taiji Ishimori pinned IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion YOH during a tag team match involving Yota Tsuji and Hirooki Goto.

Following his pinfall win over the champ, Ishimori made it clear that he wants the gold again.

This now leads to NJPW Battle Line Hokkaido event on September 23 from Sapporo where YOH will defend the IWGP Jr. Title against Taiji Ishimori.

7. House of Torture’s SHO & DOUKI stake their claim to El Desperado & Mistico’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships

Speaking of the junior division, House of Torture showed their new direction for the scene.

In the opener on the G1 Climax 36 Final show, House of Torture scored a win in eight-man tag team action over Hontai.

The finish saw DOUKI place a Mistico mask on young lion Masatora Yasuda before submitting him with the DOUKI Chokey.

Now, Mistico will return to NJPW to team with Despe to defend the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Titles against HoT at the Battle Line Hokkaido show on September 23.

6. Kosei Fujita looks to challenge Aaron Wolf for the NEVER Openweight Championship

It seems like the juniors are looking for championship gold even outside of the division now.

Kosei Fujita returned to New Japan and immediately placed his sights on Aaron Wolf‘s NEVER Openweight Championship.

Wanting to prove himself outside of the juniors, Fujita has shown no fear of competing against the heavyweights.

After making it clear that he wants the gold, it should only be a matter of time before Fujita challenges Wolf for the NEVER Title.

5. Shun Skywalker debuts to challenge Konosuke Takeshita for the NJPW World TV Championship

In the first shocking moment of the weekend, former Dragon Gate star Shun Skywalker made his official New Japan debut at the G1 Climax 36 Final event.

Skywalker has established himself as one of the most decorated stars to step foot in Dragon Gate.

Now arriving in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Skywalker immediately aligned himself with the House of Torture in an attack on Konosuke Takeshita on the G1 Climax 36 Day 18 event.

Looking to bring gold to HoT, Skywalker will challenge Takeshita for the NJPW World TV Title at NJPW Destruction in Kobe on September 27.

4. Gabe Kidd vs. Drilla Moloney for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title

In his first loss in the G1 Climax 36 tournament, Gabe Kidd dropped a fall to his former Bullet Club War Dogs stablemate Drilla Moloney.

This bout has totally changed the dynamic between the two former friends.

Turning up the intensity, Drilla and Gabe got into during and after a tag team match on the G1 Climax 36 Final event.

This has laid the groundwork for Kidd to defend the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against Moloney on September 27 at NJPW Destruction in Kobe.

3. Jeff Cobb returns to set up match with former protégé Callum Newman

After spending several years with the promotion, Jeff Cobb made the decision to leave New Japan Pro Wrestling and sign with WWE in 2025.

However, Cobb’s WWE run only lasted less than a year before he was released.

At NJPW G1 Climax 36 Final, Cobb made his return to the promoti0n thanks to Gedo bringing him in to confront his former United Empire stablemate Callum Newman and align himself with the Unbound Co. stable.

This will lead to Cobb’s official in-ring singles return when he faces Newman at NJPW Destruction in Kobe on Sunday, September 27.

2. Yota Tsuji vs. Hirooki Goto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship

On the second night of the NJPW G1 Climax 36 tournament, Hirooki Goto defeated Yota Tsuji in the A Block.

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion has proven himself to be a tough test for any champion in NJPW.

Following his win in the tournament, Goto staked his claim for a title opportunity on the G1 Climax 36 Final show.

Now, everything seems to be in place for Tsuji to defend the IWGP Heavyweight Title against Goto at NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2026.

1. Ryohei Oiwa challenges for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship

Speaking of the IWGP Heavyweight Title, the conversation about the championship will now start and stop with Ryohei Oiwa.

At NJPW G1 Climax 36 Final, Oiwa defeated Yuya Uemura in an instant classic to win the tournament.

Following in the footsteps of his mentor and TMDK leader Zack Sabre Jr., Oiwa decided to take his IWGP Heavyweight Title shot at the NJPW King of Pro Wrestling event coming up this October in Ryogoku Sumo Hall.

Whether it be Tsuji or Goto, Oiwa has all the momentum to be the next IWGP Heavyweight Champion come KOPW in October.

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• NJPW
• NJPW G1 Climax 36

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