Andrade El Idolo Wins IWGP Global Title at NJPW Dontaku 2026 – Open Challenge Issued!

Andrade El Idolo made history at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2026 Night One on Sunday, May 3, by defeating Yota Tsuji to win the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. The match, held at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan, was a rematch of their February 27 encounter at NJPW The New Beginning USA, where Andrade also emerged victorious but did not win the title.

The main event was a high-energy, back-and-forth battle that saw both wrestlers push each other to their limits. Andrade, representing All Elite Wrestling (AEW), dominated key moments with his signature moves, including a powerful Tornillo and a decisive Running Double Knee Smash. The match culminated in Andrade driving Tsuji into the ring post and sealing the win with a final spike, securing the championship for the first time in his NJPW career.

After the match, Hiroshi Tanahashi presented Andrade with the title belt. Andrade then addressed the crowd, thanking both Yota Tsuji and the fans before extending an open challenge to the newly crowned champion. His words brought Drilla Moloney and Shota Umino to the ring, where Andrade announced his intention to defend the title in a future triple threat match against the two.

Andrade’s victory marks a significant milestone for the AEW star, who now holds his second NJPW championship, thirteen years after winning the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in 2013. Yota Tsuji’s reign as IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion lasted 202 days, during which he successfully defended the title three times, including victories over Hiroshi Tanahashi and Konosuke Takeshita.

Dontaku 2026 Night One also featured a variety of other matches, including a six-man tag team victory for United Empire and a hard-fought bout between Ren Narita and Oleg Boltin, where Narita retained his NEVER Openweight Championship by submission.

Andrade’s win not only solidifies his status as a top contender in NJPW but also sets the stage for future storylines, particularly with the open challenge issued to Moloney and Umino. The match’s intensity and the high stakes of the championship bout have already sparked discussions about Andrade’s potential for a dominant run in NJPW.

The event was a showcase of NJPW’s ability to deliver high-caliber wrestling, blending technical skill with explosive action. As Andrade steps into his new role as IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, the wrestling world will be watching closely to see how he defends his title and continues to shape the future of the promotion.