Tag: Bushi

Tetsuya Naito And BUSHI Win GHC Tag Team Championships In Pro Wrestling NOAH – First Match In Japan Since Leaving NJPW

Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI wasted absolutely no time reminding the Japanese wrestling scene that they’re still major players.

On New Year’s Day, the former Los Ingobernables de Japon members made their first in-ring appearance in Japan since leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and they walked out of the Nippon Budokan with gold. Competing at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s The New Year event, Naito and BUSHI defeated Naomichi Marufuji and Kenoh to capture the GHC Tag Team Championships, marking an immediate statement run in a new promotion.

The victory is especially notable given the circumstances. Naito and BUSHI officially departed NJPW in 2025 and had largely been quiet on the Japanese scene since, aside from a few appearances with RevPro. Their NOAH debut under the name Los Tranquilos de Japon came with plenty of intrigue, but few expected them to end the night as champions—especially against a team as established as Marufuji and Kenoh.

Interestingly, Naito leaned into his laid-back persona after the match, admitting that the duo doesn’t have a clearly defined plan for their future in NOAH. That uncertainty only adds to the intrigue, as both men are seasoned enough to thrive without a rigid roadmap.

For NOAH, the title change was sudden. Marufuji and Kenoh had only held the GHC Tag Team Titles for 19 days, having won them in December from Team 2000X’s Masa Kitamiya and Takashi Sugiura. For Naito and BUSHI, however, the win represents their first-ever championships in NOAH, giving their post-NJPW chapter immediate credibility.

Their arrival also highlights how fractured the former LIJ lineup has become. After the group’s dissolution, Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi aligned themselves with the War Dogs, while Yota Tsuji is focused on his looming IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match against Konosuke Takeshita at Wrestle Kingdom 20.

Speaking of Wrestle Kingdom, this year’s event will feel very different without Naito. Wrestle Kingdom 20 will be the first Tokyo Dome show since 2013 to not feature him, with Wrestle Kingdom 8 being the last card he missed. BUSHI’s absence is less jarring, as he hasn’t appeared at the event since 2023.

Still, if their NOAH debut is any indication, Naito and BUSHI aren’t slowing down—they’re just taking a different road. And for now, that road has led them straight to championship gold.

Tetsuya Naito Leaving NJPW After Nearly Two Decades – Bushi Also Leaving

In a move that few wrestling fans saw coming, Tetsuya Naito is officially parting ways with New Japan Pro-Wrestling after nearly 20 years with the company. NJPW confirmed the news via a press release, revealing that both sides have mutually agreed not to renew his contract. Naito isn’t leaving alone either—fellow Los Ingobernables de Japon member Bushi is also set to exit the promotion.

Naito will fulfill his remaining obligations with NJPW through May 4. After that, he’s free to explore new opportunities across the wrestling world. While there’s been no announcement yet about his next destination, NJPW made it clear that the split was amicable.

Behind the scenes, it turns out Naito had been operating without a contract for some time. According to Fightful Select, the veteran star and NJPW had been in discussions for a new deal, but ultimately couldn’t come to terms. The report also indicates that several other NJPW talents are in similar contract limbo, working without signed agreements.

Alongside Naito and Bushi, Jeff Cobb is another name expected to depart, with heavy speculation linking him to a WWE debut. This follows a growing trend over the past few years that’s seen some of NJPW’s top stars—like Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay—head to AEW or WWE in search of new challenges.

Naito’s departure hits differently, though. Apart from brief stints in CMLL, ROH, and various indies, NJPW has been his wrestling home since the very beginning. A founding member of Los Ingobernables de Japon and one of the promotion’s most beloved and decorated stars, Naito’s exit marks the end of an era. Bushi, while not a day-one NJPW talent, has been a consistent presence for more than a decade and was instrumental in the faction’s identity and growth.

What’s next for the Los Ingobernables de Japon leader? Time will tell. But one thing’s for sure—wherever Naito shows up next, the wrestling world will be watching.

Stay tuned to WrestlingNewsBlog.com for updates on this developing story and the latest on NJPW’s shifting landscape.