Zack Sabre Jr. regains IWGP World title at NJPW Tanahashi Jam

  • Ian Carey
  • By 

Zack Sabre Jr. has ended the Hirooki Goto revolution and is once again the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

On Sunday, NJPW presented Tanahashi Jam, a live event from Nagoya broadcast on Japanese television. The show did not stream on New Japan World and was not available outside of Japan. It was presented as a special event produced by Hiroshi Tanahashi, who also wrestled twice on the card.

ZSJ defeated Goto in the semi-main event via referee stoppage in a match that went just under 30 minutes.

NJPW1972.com described the finish of the match:

“As both came to their feet, Goto tried again and again to bring Sabre down with left sided lariats, but ZSJ’s right did so with authority. A Sabre Driver, followed by the You’ve Been Tangoed Edition saw Goto incredibly kick out only to be trapped in another armbar, and this time Goto had no hope of making the rope. Unno called for the bell and Sabre claimed the world title for a second time.”

Goto’s title reign went 138 days and seven successful defenses. After defeating ZSJ for the belt at New Beginning in Osaka, he retained it over Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, David Finlay, Callum Newman, Shota Umino, and Shingo Takagi. He also went to a double pinfall draw with ZSJ at NJPW Resurgence on May 9.

ZSJ is now a two-time champion, with his first run lasting 120 days from King of Pro Wrestling on October 14, 2024, to New Beginning in Osaka on February 11. He defended it successfully against Ricochet, Umino, Takagi, and SANADA during his reign.

NJPW Tanahashi Jam results

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Naomichi Marufuji defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa
  • Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hirooki Goto to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
  • El Phantasmo defeated Taiji Ishimori to retain the NJPW World TV Championship
  • Master Wato, YOH, El Desperado & Dragon Kid defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA, DOUKI & SHO
  • Boltin Oleg defeated Yuji Nagata to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship
  • Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita, and EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii, and Yuya Uemura
  • Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated LEONA, Hiromu Takahashi, & Tatsumi Fujinami
  • Katsuya Murashima vs. Daiki Odashima ended in a time limit draw