One of New Japan’s most controversial title reigns has ended and it is truly a “New Beginning” for the company, we can only hope. Many have criticized NJPW booking for putting the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on Zack Sabre Jr. to begin with and having him main-event Wrestle Kingdom. Thankfully, his reign concluded tonight when decorated 22-year veteran Hirooki Goto defeated him for the championship.

Goto hammered Sabre with a million head butts at the conclusion of their match. He nailed him with a clothesline that turned Zach inside out. He spiked Zach with two GTRs (Goto Revolution) to win the title. The crowd sheered Goto’s name loudly and strongly.

Goto celebrates his win with his kids. Courtesy: NJPW.

The Great-O-Khan and Shota Umino feud continued with Shota finally being able to get his hands on Khan who has been targeting him for months with sneak attacks. Umino didn’t even take off his rope to start the match. He drop kicked Goto and DDTed him on the apron. The crowd wasn’t behind Umino though as Khan rolled out of the ring to escape another DDT attempt. Khan whipped Umino into a ring barricade. Umino got right back up drop kicking Khan. Khan blocked an attempted suplex by Umino suplexing him into a barricade instead. Khan ripped apart a portion of the barricade smashing it over Umino’s back.

Khan unleashed a series of Mongolian Chops on the floor. He then picked up Umino slamming him on the ring apron. Umino reversed an Eliminator into another DDT as the crowd continued to boo him. Khan rocked Umino with a haymaker. He pinned Umino with reverse STO and an Eliminator. Khan attempted to give Umino a buzz cut after the match was over. Umino fought for the electric razor and proceeded to shave his own head?!?!? Ooooookay.

House of Torture had a message to send after Yota Tsuji and Gabe Kidd fought to a time limit draw. They entered the ring laying a beatdown on Tsuji first.

Evil came down and waves everyone off. It looked like he was going to have pity on Tsuhi as he helped him back to his feet. Evil hit him with Everything is Evil. Evil then helped Gabe Kidd up only for him to get brained with Narita’s push-up bar. Narita dropped Kidd with his Double Cross.

Evil shouted at Tsuji that if he thought he had come down to help him he was dead wrong. He then tells Kidd that The House of Torture is not part of Bullet Club any longer as they walked off.

THE NEW BEGINNING 2025 Results

 El Desperado and Katsuya Murashima versus United Empire (Francesco Akira and Jeff Cobb)

Akira accidentally super kicks Cobb in the face. Desperado batters both members of the United Empire. Desperado tries to hoist Cobb up. Akira flips over Cobb’s back, rolling up Desperado. Akira and Desperado push and shove after the match.

Winners: United Empire (Francesco Akira and Jeff Cobb)

Hiroshi Tanahashi versus Togi Makabe

The Ace screws up the first time rolling up Makabe off the ropes but gets it the second time.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi

Shingo Takagi versus Drilla Moloney

A battle of the bulls with each man taking what the other can dish out. Moloney kicks out of a sliding lariat but gets drilled to the mat by a Pumping Bomber. After balancing Takagi’s weight awkwardly Drilla hits the Drilla Killa.

Winner: Drilla Moloney

Shota Umino versus The Great-O-Khan

Winner: The Great-O-Khan

Taichi versus Sanada

Sanada started this grudge match off leaping onto Taichi on the floor before he could even get his robe off. Sanada rolls Taichi back into the ring and pulls out a guitar. Sanada takes a swing at Taichi.  Taichi kicks Sanada in the face and picks up the guitar. The official warns him not to use it. Taichi drops it to the mat. The crowd cheers. The official finally rings the bell as Taichi picks up a steel chair. Taichi shrugs off the official and hits Sanada over and over with the chair. Taka finally wrests the chair away from his friend not wanting him to be disqualified.

Sanada pulls the referee into Taichi. With the official’s back turned, Sanada fakes Taichi kicking him in the “lower abdomen”. Taka and Ishimori leap up onto the apron arguing their cases to the official. As Taka distracts the official Taichi actually does kick Sanada in the “lower abdomen”. Sanada barely kicks out of a Superman pin and a German suplex. Taka pulls Ishimori down off the ring apron as he complains. As Taichi lifts him into the air Sanada grabs and hurls the official. He kicks Taichi where he shouldn’t and pins him with Dead Fall. Sanada continues to pound on Taichi after the match. As Ishimori and Sanada are about to brain Taichi with the guitar Yuya Uemura makes the save. Uemura helps Taichi up. Taichi thanks him for his timely intervention.

Winner: Sanada

Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) (c) versus Chaos (Rocky Romero & YOH) – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match

Eagles kicks Romero in the head off the second rope as Fujita holds him up for a German Suplex. Romero kicks out. Fujita pins him with his suplex, stunner combination. Taiji Ishimori and Robbie X challenge Sweet Boys for their belts.

Winners: …and still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita).

Konosuke Takeshita (c) versus Boltin Oleg – NEVER Openweight Championship Match

Despite his feats of strength Oleg cannot beat Takeshita. Takeshita wins with Raging Fire although Oleg has the best match of his career. Ryohei Oiwa lays down a challenge for Takeshita.

Winner: …and still NEVER Openweight Champion, Konosuke Takeshita.

The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) (c) versus Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi) – IWGP Tag Team Championship Match

After catching and swinging each other, Naito and Hiromu hit a double clothesline, an assisted swinging DDT and a Destino for the win. Why did the Bucks win the titles a month ago only to drop them during their first defense? It makes no sense.

Winners: …and new IWGP Tag Team Champions, Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi).

Yota Tsuji (c) versus Gabe Kidd – IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Match

Kidd bowls over Tsuji with a shoulder tackle setting the tone for the match. It seems to be an uphill battle for Tsuji. Tsuji tries a flying head scissors. Kidd just lands on his feet and actually dances around. Kidd gave Tsuji an exploder suplex on the floor. They got into a very, very long chopping duel in the middle of the ring. Tsuji locked Kidd in a Boston Crab for quite awhile. Kidd eventually got to the ropes to break the hold. Both men fought on the top rope with Kidd slamming Tsuji awkwardly to the mat. Kidd pulled down his knee pad for his running knee strike. Tsuji speared him. The match ended in a draw.

Winner: Draw.

Zack Sabre Jr. (c) versus Hirooki Goto – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match

Winner: …and new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Hirooki Goto.