Konosuke Takeshita's First NEVER Openweight Title Match Has Been Made Official

Konosuke Takeshita has his first challenger for the NEVER Openweight Championship.

The International Champion is coming off of a weekend high as Takeshita beat Shingo Takagi to win the prestigious belt at Wrestle Dynasty.

Konosuke Takeshita and Shingo Takagi beat the hell out of each other and I loved every second of it. Takeshita is the new NEVER Openweight Champion#NJWK19 pic.twitter.com/j9ZywREDWl

— Fernando Quiles Jr. (@FQJMMA) January 4, 2025

The 29-year-old revealed that he signed a long term deal with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, with the President himself confirming that he signed Takeshita to a year long contract. Now Takeshita’s run in New Japan kicks off with his first title defense at Battle in the Valley. His first opponent? Former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion KUSHIDA.

Two big matches just made official for Battle in the Valley during New Year Dash!!

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
El Desperado vs Taiji Ishimori!

NEVER Openweight Championship
Konosuke Takeshita vs KUSHIDA!#njbitv TICKETShttps://t.co/y4PeEAA04Z#njdash pic.twitter.com/kJrVyXYT2T

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 6, 2025

Though the New Japan veteran has never won the NEVER Openweight title, KUSHIDA is clearly no stranger to holding gold in the Japanese promotion. KUSHIDA has held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title six times in his career, with the 41-year-old’s longest reign standing at 257 days. 

KUSHIDA is also a four time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. The New Japan star knows what it takes to be a champion, but Konosuke Takeshita is currently in the midst of the best run of his career so far. In addition to being the NEVER Openweight Champion, he’s also the AEW International Champion and successfully defended that belt six times. Takeshita hasn’t lost a singles match since August 15. 

With the role that Takeshita is on, will his momentum continue on January 11? Or will the New Japan veteran level up and capture the NEVER Openweight title for the first time in his career? We’ll find out this Sunday at Battle in the Valley!

Check out the updated line-up below:

• NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Gabe Kidd (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
• Sumie Sakai, EVIL, & SHO vs. Hiromu Takahashi, Mayu Iwatani, & Yuka Sakazaki
• NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) vs. Rocky Romero & YOH
• Zack Sabre Jr vs. Hechicero
• TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito) vs. Fred Rosser & Matt Vandagriff
• NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. KUSHIDA
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori
• NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo (c) vs. Jeff Cobb
• Strong Survivor: Zane Jay vs. Viento