After nearly 16 years with New Japan Pro Wrestling, Hiromu Takahashi is leaving the company. It was announced on February 3 that the record-breaking four-time Super Juniors Best Championship Champion would end up with NJPW following the February 11 event at New Beginnings in Osaka, leading many to speculate where he might go next. On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer commented on where Takahashi could go next, and in his opinion, there are three possible options.
“Hiromu, we don’t know where he’s going. I heard Hiromu left something behind, I think at least two months, maybe longer,” Meltzer said. “The rumors are always NOAH. I had people talking about maybe WWE, I mean, if he could go to AEW, I could see him in AEW. I could see him going to WWE because of the money, but as far as WWE’s record with Japanese junior heavyweights, I mean I know Everyone thinks they’re going to be different because they’re really good and he’s obviously good.” Takahashi did tell Tokyo Sports after the announcement that he did have a main goal he wanted to achieve, but didn’t specify where he needed to go to achieve it.
Takahashi already has a relationship with AEW due to the company’s partnership with NJPW, appearing on three behind-closed-doors pay-per-view shows between 2023 and 2025, including challenging Kyle Fletcher for the AEW TNT Championship at the 2025 event. Later in 2025, Takahashi won the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship in Pro Wrestling NOAH, a title he eventually surrendered to AMAKUSA at the company’s New Year’s event on January 1, but considering his former Los Ingobrenables de Japon teammates Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI were also headed to NOAH, that could be his next landing spot. As for WWE, Takahashi doesn’t have any history with the company, but he could be following in the footsteps of another former LIJ member, EVIL, who is expected to join the company in the coming weeks.
When using quotes in this article, please credit “Wrestling Observer Radio” and credit Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
