First up is injury news, Yujiro Takahashi suffered a neck injury and will be off of the September tour. All event cards will be changed to reflect his absence.

NJPW Event Cards for September & October 2015


New Japan held a press signing for the upcoming IC title match between champion Hirooki Goto and challenger Shinsuke Nakamura as well as the upcoming NEVER defense between champion Togi Makabe and challenger Kota Ibushi.

First up the IWGP Intercontinental signing ceremony. Goto is currently over the challenger Nakamura twice this year alone when it comes to the IWGP IC belt as holds wins on both the 5/3 show in Hakata and 7/5 in Osaka. Nakamura though claimed a revenge win over the champion during the G1 on 8/4 in Sendai. This match will mark the fourth time that these two have faced alone this year.
Goto stated that his loss in the G1 to Nakamura brought shame to himself as it kept him from moving forward as a potential leader as also being a reigning champion. Goto stated that he aims to build towards the “next stage” of his career. These plans are to achieve the IWGP Heavyweight belt, which has long-alluded him. Goto stated that he defeated Kazuchika Okada in the G1 and will seek a match against him in the near future, but first his loss to Nakamura must be atoned for. It is his long-cherished wish to hold the IWGP Heavyweight belt and he thinks he can do it now in a strong and convincing form.
Nakamura was instantly asked about the state of his elbow, in which he replied that he is only focused on the upcoming match. Nakamura also stated that he holds a win over the IWGP Heavyweight Champion as well following the G1. This lead to Nakamura stating that he aims to become the first ever IWGP 2 Crown Champion, holding the Heavy and IC belts at the same time.
Both men have similar aspirations in regards to Kazuchika Okada and the IWGP Heavyweight belt. Of course at this point both of these men will not get a challenge until after this coming WRESTLE KINGDOM in January. So the questions remains will Nakamura claim a his fifth reign as the IC Champion or will Aramusha continue his reign leading into Wrestle Kingdom?

New Japan Pro Wrestling “DESTRUCTION in KOBE”, 9/27/2015 [Sun] 16:00 @ Kobe World Memorial Hall in Hyogo

(1) Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka vs. David Finlay & Jay White
(2) Yuji Nagata, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask IV vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Captain New Japan & Juice Robinson
(3) Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi & Mascara Dorada vs. Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, Rocky Romero & Barreta
(4) Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Matt Sydal vs. Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows & Kenny Omega
(5) Special Single Match: Katsuyori Shibata [FREE] vs. Tetsuya Naito
(6) Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba [FREE] vs. AJ Styles, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga

(7) IWGP Jr. Tag Championship Match: [43rd Champions] Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. [Challengers] KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley

(8) Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Challenge Rights Match: [G1 25 Winner] Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale

(9) IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match: [11th Champion] Hirooki Goto vs. [Challenger] Shinsuke Nakamura
~ 2nd title defense.


Then the press signing took place for the upcoming NEVER Openweight title match. The challenger Kota Ibushi made the challenge for the belt after he beat Togi Makabe during the G1 CLIMAX on 8/14. Ibushi stated that he wants the NEVER belt.
Ibushi acknowledged that this is his second challenge for the belt this year, first being in a loss against Tomohiro Ishii on 5/25 in Yokohama. Ibushi stated that his win over Makabe in the G1 certainly positioned him with something, though his less than strong showing, in regards to wins, in the G1. He aims though for his further evolution of his career, since pursing the heavyweight class of wrestler, to become a champion once more in New Japan.
The champion Makabe though stated that he has no bad words or feelings for Ibushi. But his loss(es) in the G1 need to be rectified for if he aims to carry the belt with pride. Makabe declared that anyone who wants to challenge that they better be prepared as he pursues nothing but revenge.

New Japan Pro Wrestling “DESTRUCTION in OKAYAMA”, 9/23/2015 [Wed] 15:00 @ Momotaro Arena in Okayama

(1) Katsuyori Shibata, Yuji Nagata, Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka vs. Tetsuya Naito, Manabu Nakanishi, David Finlay & Jay White
(2) Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask IV vs. Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish

(3) NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Steve Anthony vs. [Challenger] Tiger Mask IV

(4) Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows
(5) Hiroshi Tanahashi, Matt Sydal & Juice Robinson vs. Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Cody Hall
(6) Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma, Captain New Japan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Alex Shelley vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, Rocky Romero & Barreta
(7) Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. AJ Styles & Yujiro Takahashi

(8) IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: [71st Champion] KUSHIDA vs. [Challenger] Kenny Omega
~ 2nd title defense

(9) NEVER Openweight Championship Match: [8th Champion] Togi Makabe vs. [Challenger] Kota Ibushi
~ 2nd title defense.