NJPW To Crown First TAMASHII Openweight Champion
An Openweight belt is coming into the fold for the brand.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling made the announcement that a new championship is being introduced for their TAMASHII brand. The TAMASHII events take place in New Zealand, Australia, and across the South Pacific.
The brand has TAMASHII Tag Team Champions, and now they are getting the NJPW TAMASHII Openweight Championship.
The following was issued by NJPW:
“For nearly four years, NJPW TAMASHII has established itself as the home of Strong Style in Oceania, developing a new generation of professional wrestlers while bringing New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s philosophy to New Zealand and beyond.
From the opening events in November 2022, NJPW TAMASHII has continued to evolve. The crowning of the inaugural NJPW TAMASHII Tag Team Champions in 2025 established the territory’s first championship lineage, with The Pretty Boys becoming the inaugural champions before the titles were captured by the current holders, The Ungrateful 1’s.
After establishing its tag team division and expanding its roster across New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific, NJPW TAMASHII now takes the next step with the introduction of its first singles championship with the crowning of the first-ever NJPW TAMASHII Openweight Champion.
Before history can be made, however, the road begins on Saturday, August 29, as NJPW TAMASHII presents Road to First Reign, where the path to championship gold officially gets underway. Across one night of competition in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, wrestlers will battle to earn the right to challenge for the vacant NJPW TAMASHII Openweight Championship at First Reign on October 4.
The NJPW TAMASHII Openweight Championship becomes the promotion’s premier singles prize, with every competitor now chasing the opportunity to become the face of NJPW TAMASHII.
Inspired by New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s tradition of Openweight competition with the NEVER and NJPW STRONG Openweight titles, the championship will be contested without weight restrictions, allowing heavyweights and junior heavyweights alike to compete for the top prize.
Every match at Road to First Reign carries high stakes. Victories will move wrestlers one step closer to the biggest opportunity in NJPW TAMASHII history, but only one wrestler will stand at the summit in October.
NJPW TAMASHII: Road to First Reign
Saturday, August 29, 2026
22-24 Luke Street, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland
Doors: 6:00pm Bell Time: 6:30pm
Tickets available now via Eventfinda.”
The current TAMASHII Tag Team Champions are T.J. Illes & Trent Hooper. They’ve held the belts since May.
