Pro Wrestling NOAH The New Year 2026 Predictions
Pro Wrestling NOAH opens the year with NOAH “THE NEW YEAR” 2026 on January 1, 2026 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, with the main card starting at 3:00 PM JST. The full lineup features multiple title matches, a major “invasion” tag, and an international championship defense, with English commentary on Wrestle Universe and a live Japanese commentary broadcast on ABEMA.
Below are match by match predictions for NOAH The New Year 2026, based on the current card and the stories heading into Budokan.
GHC Heavyweight Championship: Yoshiki Inamura (c) vs OZAWA
This main event has “first big statement of 2026” written all over it. OZAWA’s challenge has been framed as a major return story after injury, which usually means drama, near falls, and interference teases.
Prediction: Yoshiki Inamura retains. Inamura winning keeps NOAH’s top belt stable coming out of Budokan, and it sets up fresh challengers for the first quarter of 2026 while OZAWA can still claim he was not at full strength.
GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs AMAKUSA
Hiromu bringing the GHC junior belt into a Budokan spotlight is huge, and AMAKUSA is the perfect foil for a fast, high precision title match. Their matchup was locked in after Hiromu’s big NOAH junior run, so this reads like a showcase defense.
Prediction: Hiromu Takahashi retains – A clean win keeps the belt on a crossover star a little longer, and it leaves AMAKUSA strong in defeat for a quick rematch or a new contender program.
GHC Tag Team Championship: Naomichi Marufuji and Kenoh (c) vs BUSHI and XXXX
The mystery partner is the headline here. NOAH does not usually leave a slot like “XXXX” unless a reveal is part of the selling point.
Prediction: Marufuji and Kenoh retain – Even if the surprise name is major, champions retaining in the first defense protects NOAH’s top tag story, while the challengers can claim they were one moment away from taking the titles.
GHC National Championship: Dragon Bane (c) vs Alpha Wolf
This is a classic “work rate title match” spot, and the National belt often benefits from strong, decisive defenses that build a champion’s momentum.
Prediction: Dragon Bane retains – Expect a crisp win that sets up a bigger domestic challenger next.
Special Tag Team Match, Invasion: Kaito Kiyomiya and Jack Morris vs Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows
With the “invasion” branding, this feels designed to heat up future appearances rather than settle the issue in one night.
Prediction: Anderson and Gallows win – A veteran heel win gives the angle legs and gives Kiyomiya a clear singles direction coming out of Budokan.
PROGRESS Atlas Championship: Will Kroos (c) vs Saxon Huxley
PROGRESS has heavily promoted this as a big international spotlight for the Atlas title.
Prediction: Will Kroos retains – Kroos keeping the title is the safer call for a cross promotional defense, especially with more overseas matchups available in 2026.
Undercard eight man and junior tag title three way
Break the Silence 8 man: KENTA, Ulka Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo, HAYATA over TEAM NOAH
Black New Year 8 man: TEAM 2000X wins to keep their faction strong across the card.
GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles three way: Daga and Daiki Odashima retain with a dusty finish to protect the other teams.
Quick picks recap
Inamura, Hiromu, Marufuji and Kenoh, Dragon Bane, Anderson and Gallows, Will Kroos, TEAM 2000X, KENTA’s team, and Daga with Odashima.
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