New Champions and Rivalries Emerge at NJPW Destruction in Kobe

New champions were crowned during the recent NJPW Destruction in Kobe event, held on September 28, 2025. The highlight of the evening was the emergence of The Knockout Brothers, consisting of Yuto-Ice and OSKAR, who defeated Tomohiro Ishii and Taichi to claim the IWGP Tag Team Championships for the first time. The duo secured their victory by pinning Ishii with their signature move, the KOB.

Following their win, Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura confronted the new champions, setting the stage for a potential title match in the near future. This encounter added an element of excitement to the event, hinting at the competitive landscape within the tag team division.

Title Defenses and New Challenges

The card featured several significant matches that not only determined champions but also established new rivalries. Boltin Oleg retained his NEVER Openweight title against Don Fale. However, his victory was marred by an attack from EVIL, who laid claim to the title by executing his finishing move, Everything is Evil, on Oleg.

In a notable development, DOUKI expressed his intent to challenge Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. The two had previously faced off earlier this year at Wrestle Kingdom, but the match ended prematurely due to an elbow injury sustained by DOUKI. This upcoming matchup promises to be an intriguing rematch.

In the co-main event, Gabe Kidd successfully defended the IWGP Global Championship against Shingo Takagi. Following this match, Yota Tsuji, who had just bested David Finlay, issued a challenge to Kidd for the title at the King of Pro Wrestling event scheduled for October 13, 2025.

Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Presence

The event also featured appearances by stars from Pro Wrestling NOAH, promoting their Wrestle Odyssey event set for October 11 at Sumo Hall. After Hiroshi Tanahashi secured a victory over Great-O-Khan, Kaito Kiyomiya emerged to propose a tag team partnership for the upcoming event, to which Tanahashi readily agreed.

Later in the evening, NOAH’s Eita made an impact by superkicking Hiromu Takahashi following Takahashi’s defense of the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori. This confrontation sets the stage for a championship clash between Eita and Takahashi at Sumo Hall.

The main event saw Zack Sabre Jr. defend his title successfully against Ren Narita from the House of Torture, overcoming interference from his opponents. Sabre secured the win with his finishing move, the Zack Driver, solidifying his upcoming title match against Konosuke Takeshita at King of Pro Wrestling.

The events of NJPW Destruction in Kobe not only crowned new champions but also ignited rivalries that will shape the future of the promotion, with upcoming events promising intense action and compelling storylines.