Top NJPW tag team addresses contract rumors
The Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) are still the IWGP Tag Team Champions — and they have no plans on leaving NJPW.
In the main event of New Year Dash 2026, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice retained their IWGP Tag Team titles over Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa. There had been rumors going into the show that WWE is interested in signing the Knock Out Brothers. Without directly mentioning WWE by name, the champs addressed those rumors after their victory.
“Whatever rumors you might hear, we are never going anywhere,” Yuto-Ice said in his backstage comments.
The Knock Out Brothers — who have held the IWGP Tag Team belts since September — were one of pro wrestling’s standout duos of 2025, winning Best Tag Team in the Tokyo Sports awards. They retained by pinning Oiwa at New Year Dash.
Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura and Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi each made their way out to challenge the Knockout Brothers at the end of New Year Dash. The champions suggested that Umino & Uemura face off with Ishii & Taichi to decide which team gets the next shot at their titles. OSKAR & Yuto-Ice already own victories over both of those teams, including defeating Ishii & Taichi to begin their title reign.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.