Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI are gone.
In perhaps the most shocking exit of 2025 (so far), former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito is officially done with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It was reported by Tokyo Sports earlier this month that the 42-year-old was currently working in the promotion without a contract. There seemed to be hope that Naito would stay in New Japan as the two sides were working out a deal, but New Japan has confirmed themselves that Naito has opted to leave the company next month:
Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
In recent weeks, conversations have been ongoing between New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Tetsuya Naito regarding Naito's future wrestling activities. As a result of those conversations, both parties have mutually agreed not to renew Naito's contract with NJPW.
Both parties have arrived at this decision after careful consideration and lengthy conversation. Naito's contract ends on the best possible terms with NJPW, which joins fans in wishing Naito's further success in any and all future endeavours.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling deeply apologises to NJPW and Naito fans for any concern this announcement may cause. Naito will make all of his scheduled appearances through the Dontaku series concluding May 4 in Fukuoka, and looks forward to your ongoing support.
Naito has been with New Japan Pro-Wrestling for 20 years. He started training in the company’s dojo in 2005 and made his official debut in May 2006. Though Naito has wrestled in places such as CMLL, ROH, and AEW (only during the Forbidden Door shows), New Japan Pro-Wrestling has been his main home.
But Naito isn’t the only one leaving.
BUSHI also confirmed his exit from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Apparently, BUSHI originally signed a deal with the company, but once he learned of Naito’s departure then he opted to leave New Japan as well.
BUSHI told Tokyo Sports, “If Naito wasn’t signing, I’d already decided I’d leave too. I couldn’t envision myself in NJPW’s ring without Naito."
He continued, "I didn’t expect the contract to actually be terminated, but nothing’s decided yet. As of today, I’ve got offers from Gamma, Gurukun Mask, and Asuka Pro Wrestling, so I’ll think them over."
BUSHI had been with New Japan for over 13 years. There’s no telling why BUSHI decided to leave when Naito wasn’t signing, but the New Japan star was an important part of the promotion as well.
This is a big blow for New Japan, though not as big as when the company lost Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay. Naito is mainly in the tag team division these days as he’s slowed down quite a bit as a performer. Still, Naito and BUSHI were a draw, but it’s nothing that New Japan can’t recover from. There’s no word on what will happen with Naito next. He’ll still be working with the promotion until May, so fans who want to watch him and Los Ingobernables de Japón for the final time get a good chance to do so in the remaining weeks.