Hiromu Takahashi is getting an IWGP Junior Heavyweight title shot at Wrestle Kingdom 15.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori will defend his title against Takahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 15 night two. That became official when Takahashi booked his spot in the match by defeating El Phantasmo at Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one.
Takahashi vs. Phantasmo was a matchup of the 2020 Best of the Super Juniors winner and Super J-Cup winner. Takahashi defeated El Desperado in the Best of the Super Juniors finals in December.
The Super J-Cup was a one-night tournament that was held in the United States and aired in December following the conclusion of the Best of the Super Juniors. Phantasmo defeated ACH in the finals. Phantasmo also won the 2019 Super J-Cup
After Takahashi vs. Phantasmo at Wrestle Kingdom night one, it was pushed that Takahashi is going into the title match against Ishimori with a broken hand.
Takahashi lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to Ishimori at Summer Struggle in Jingu in August. This will be Ishimori’s first title defense.
Ishimori vs. Takahashi will be the semi-main event of Wrestle Kingdom 15 night two. The show will begin at 3 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, January 5.
Here’s the updated card for Wrestle Kingdom 15 night two:
Winner of Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi from Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one defends the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Jay White
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori defends against Hiromu Takahashi
SANADA vs. EVIL
NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi defends against Jeff Cobb
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defend against Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato
KOPW 2021 four-way match: Chase Owens vs. Bad Luck Fale vs. BUSHI vs. Toru Yano
Stardom dark match: Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano vs. Giulia & Syuri
Stardom dark match: Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & AZM vs. Maika, Himeka & Natsupoi