AEW

A top champion wants to defend his title in AEW against Darby Allin.

Hiromu Takahashi has reigned as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion since winning the gold in a four-way at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4.

Since then, Takahashi has beaten every challenger put up against him, including Lio Rush, Robbie Eagles, YOH and Master Wato.

Despite his status holding one of NJPW’s top prizes, Hiromu wasn’t on the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door main card and instead teamed up with his Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemates Shingo Takagi and BUSHI in a win over United Empire on the Zero Hour pre-show.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated’s FanNation section, Hiromu Takahashi expressed his desire to have a match on prime time television, particularly on AEW Dynamite. Naming Darby Allin as a potential opponent, he stated:

“A dream of mine is to have a match on live prime time TV. I’d be stoked to wrestle in AEW any time and defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title there.”

“Last year, I was supposed to team up with Darby Allin and Sting. So I want to team up with Sting rather than wrestle him. Wrestling someone? That would be Darby.”

“The Ticking Time Bomb” was scheduled to team with Sting, Darby Allin and Shingo Takagi in an eight-man tag team bout at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2022, but he was forced to miss the event due to a fever.

Takahashi will be appearing on this weekend’s NJPW All Star Junior Festival USA and IMPACT Wrestling x NJPW Multiverse United 2: For Whom The Bell Tolls events.

The lineup for the NJPW All Star Junior Festival USA show is listed below:

East West Express (Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne) vs. El Desperado & MAO

Triple Threat Tag Team Ladder Match — Pat’s King of Steaks Philly Cheesesteak Cup: Hiromu Takahashi & Rocky Romero vs. Blake Christian & Master Wato vs. DOUKI & Low Rider

All Star Jr. USA Tournament First Round Match: Kevin Knight vs. Clark Connors

All Star Jr. USA Tournament First Round Match: ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey vs. Francesco Akira

All Star Jr. USA Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD

Matt Sydal & YOH vs. Shun Skywalker & BUSHI

Ryusuke Taguchi, Rich Swann & The D.K.C. vs. Real1, Starboy Charlie & Jack Cartwheel

Lucky Dip Tag Team Match: Kosei Fujita, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Alex Shelley, Chris Bey, TJP, Ace Austin and Cheeseburger (Teams to be decided on show day)

Five-Way Match: Fugaz vs. Lio Rush vs. Dragon Kid vs. Soberano Jr. vs. K.C. Navarro

Kickoff Match: Goldy vs. Vinny Pacifico

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• Hiromu Takahashi
• NJPW
• Darby Allin
• AEW

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