Andrade El Idolo Captures IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship At NJPW Wrestling Dontaku
A new Global Champion.
Night one of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2026 was headlined by Andrade El Idolo challenging Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
The title match was originally supposed to be Tsuji defending against Gabe Kidd, but Kidd suffered a shoulder injury at AEW Dynasty and was pulled from the title match against Tsuji.
Back in February, Tsuji and Andrade main-evented NJPW The New Beginning USA, and Tsuji got the win to retain the Global Title.
Wrestling Dontaku was Tsuji’s first defense since that win over Andrade in February. The backend of the bout saw Andrade and Tsuji on the ring ropes. Andrade DDT’d the champion head-first onto the ring post, and the momentum sent Andrade off the ropes and onto the floor.
Andrade made his way back into the ring and hit Tsuji with his finisher to capture the championship.
Post-match, he stated that AEW and NJPW are in his blood. He then asked who wanted to step up to him, and out came Drilla Moloney, and Moloney was followed by Shota Umino. Andrade suggested a Triple Threat for the title and said to tell him when, where, and what time, and he’ll be there.
While Umino and Moloney were going face-to-face at ringside, Andrade went back to the ring to get his name announced as champion and the streamers pyro.
