 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(January 2020) |
 Goto in 2024 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1979-06-25)June 25, 1979 (age 46)[3][5] Kuwana, Mie, Japan[3] |
| Children | 2[6][7] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | C.T.U Ranger Red[1] Goto[2] Hirooki Goto |
| Billed height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[3] |
| Billed weight | 103 kg (227 lb)[3] |
| Trained by | Hiroyoshi Tenzan[4] |
| Debut | July 6, 2003[3] |
Hirooki Goto (後藤洋央紀,Gotō Hirōki; born June 25, 1979)[3][5] is a Japaneseprofessional wrestler and actor. He is signed toNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a formerIWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He is also one-half of the tag team Bishamon alongsideYoshi-Hashi.
Goto holds the record of being one-third of the longest reigningNEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions with his Chaos stablemates,Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi. He is also atwo-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, afive-timeIWGP Tag Team Champion, aone-timeIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, afive-timeNEVER Openweight Champion, a one-time winner of theG1 Climax (2008), a five-time winner of theWorld Tag League (2012,2014,2021,2022, and2023), and a record three-time winner of theNew Japan Cup (2009,2010, and2012).
Goto attended Kuwana Kogyo High School inKuwana, Mie, where he was classmates withKatsuyori Shibata.[8] Goto later attendedKokushikan University, where he took part infreestyle wrestling andGreco-Roman wrestling.
Goto's first introduction to professional wrestling was theFire Pro Wrestling videogame series. Then, he started watching JPW, NJPW, AJPW, and Michinoku Pro.[9] Upon graduating, Goto qualified to joinNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), but left the promotion after incurring a shoulder injury. He returned to NJPW in November 2002 after healing and began training in the NJPW dojo. He debuted on July 6, 2003, inGifu, Gifu, wrestlingRyusuke Taguchi. The two men competed in thejunior heavyweight division, and teamed together the same year to try to take the vacantIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in a tournament, but were defeated in the final by veteransGedo andJado.
In early 2005, he won the NJPWYoung Lion Cup, defeating Hiroyuki Itō in the tournament final. Afterturningheel and joiningJyushin Thunder Liger's "Control Terrorism Unit" ("C.T.U.")stable, Goto adopted thering name "C.T.U Ranger Red". He won his firstchampionship on May 15, 2005, teaming withMinoru to defeatKoji Kanemoto andWataru Inoue in theTokyo Dome for theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[5] The duo held the titles for nine months, losing toEl Samurai and Ryusuke Taguchi on February 19, 2006, in Tokyo.
In 2006, Goto joined the AmericanTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)promotion as a member ofTeam Japan (consisting of CTU members Goto, Jyushin Thunder Liger,Black Tiger and Minoru), one of the four teams competing in theTNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament. He debuted in TNA on April 23, 2006, atLockdown, where he teamed with Black Tiger and Minoru againstTeam USA membersSonjay Dutt,Jay Lethal andAlex Shelley. Team Japan defeated USA when Black Tiger pinned Lethal.[10] On the April 27, 2006, episode ofTNA Impact!, Goto and Minoru lost to Dutt and Shelley, giving a first round victory and two points to Team USA.[11] On May 14, 2006, atSacrifice, Goto and the other members of Team Japan accompanied Liger to ringside, assisting him in his victory over Team Canada captainPetey Williams. Later that night, all four members of Team Japan took part in agauntlet match that was won by Team Canada captain Petey Williams.[12] The 2006 World X Cup was won by Team USA (with five points), with Team Japan coming last with three points.
On August 1, 2006, Goto left for a lengthy learning excursion to Mexico after losing in a farewell match at the CTU 2nd Anniversary Show.[5] While in Mexico he wrestled primarily forConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and forÚltimo Dragón'sToryumon Mexico. During his time in Mexico, he formed a rudo unit withHajime Ohara andShigeo Okumura in CMLL.
In August 2007, Goto returned to New Japan after his almost one-year stay in Mexico.[5] Upon his return, the now much more muscular Goto graduated from a Jr. heavyweight to a Heavyweight.[5] Goto showed a great deal of promise and skill since last seen in July 2006. He showcased a whole new moveset and he quickly tried to establish himself as one of the top Heavyweights in New Japan. Not that far into his return Goto join the Stable "R.I.S.E" withShinsuke Nakamura,Travis Tomko,Giant Bernard, and fellow former CTU teammates Minoru,Milano Collection AT, andPrince Devitt. On November 11, he challengedHiroshi Tanahashi for theIWGP Heavyweight Championship, but after a long and hard-fought match, Tanahashi would win with the Texas Cloverleaf.[5] Shortly after that Goto entered the2007 G1 Tag League with Milano Collection AT, but the pair would finish in third place.[5]
In 2008 Goto wrestled one of his childhood idols,The Great Muta at New Japan's annualJanuary 4 Tokyo Dome Show. Although having a good showing, Goto would fall to Muta.[5]
Goto's progress was good through 2008 but a surprise victory in New Japan's prestigious G1 Climax in August surpassed everyone's expectations. Goto earned 8 points in Block B, tied for first with Nakamura, but he advanced to the final due to a direct win over the former IWGP champion and RISE leader. MeetingTogi Makabe in the final, Goto overcame outside interference and blood loss to defeat the leader of theGreat Bash Heel (G.B.H.) faction, pinning him with the Shouten.
In March 2009 Goto defeatedKarl Anderson, Shinsuke Nakamura,Yuji Nagata and Giant Bernard to win the2009 New Japan Cup and earn a shot at Hiroshi Tanahashi's IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[13] On May 3, 2009, atWrestling Dontaku 2009, Tanahashi defeated Goto to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[14]
On January 4, 2010, atWrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome,Takashi Sugiura successfully defended hisGHC Heavyweight Championship against Goto.[15] In March, Goto defeatedYujiro Takahashi,Masato Tanaka and Togi Makabe to win the2010 New Japan Cup for the second year in a row.[16] Goto went on to challenge the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on April 4, but would once again fail in his attempt to win the title.[17] On June 28, 2010, Goto, teaming up with Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi entered the J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament.[18] Two days later the trio defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi,Tajiri andKushida in the finals to win the tournament.[19][20] During August'sG1 Climax Goto debuted a new finishing maneuver, across-leggedcradle, which he initially titled as Goto Special but was later renamed Goto-Shiki Hold (Goto Style Hold), has earned him pinfall victories over former IWGP Heavyweight Champions Yuji Nagata and Shinsuke Nakamura, but a loss to eventual G1 winnerSatoshi Kojima on the final day of the tournament dropped him fourth in his block, narrowly missing the finals.[21][22][23] On October 11 Goto defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to earn the right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[24] However, the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima vetoed the result of the match and named Nakamura his first challenger for the belt.[25] On December 11, while Kojima successfully defended his title against Nakamura, Goto was derailed from his quest to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship with a loss against Hiroshi Tanahashi.[26] The following day Kojima defeated Goto in a non–title match, ending Goto's dream of main eventingWrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome.[27] Instead, Goto teamed with the returningKazuchika Okada in a tag team match, where they were defeated byPro Wrestling Noah representativesYoshihiro Takayama andTakashi Sugiura.[28][29] On March 6 Goto began his quest to win his thirdNew Japan Cup in a row, but was defeated in the first round by Shinsuke Nakamura.[30] On March 20, the final day of the tournament, Goto turned heel by abandoning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi during a tag team match against Satoshi Kojima andMVP.[31] This marked Goto's final appearance for New Japan, before leaving for his second excursion to Mexico.[32]
Goto made his return to CMLL on March 25 and would, for the next month, work for the promotion as a heel, culminating in a match on April 29 atArena México's 55th anniversary show, where he unsuccessfully challengedÚltimo Guerrero for theCMLL World Heavyweight Championship in aTwo Out of Three Falls match.[2][33] Goto returned to New Japan on May 3, when he teamed with Tama Tonga to defeat Takashi Sugiura andMakoto Hashi in a tag team match. Later in the event, Goto attacked and declared a war on Hiroshi Tanahashi after he had successfully defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura.[34][35] Goto would once again fail in his IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge on June 18, 2011.[36] After the match, Goto and Tanahashi seemingly made peace with each other, with Tanahashi suggesting that they go for theIWGP Tag Team Championship together.[37] On June 23, Goto, Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi won their second J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament in a row by defeating the team of Giant Bernard, Jyushin Thunder Liger and Karl Anderson in the finals of the three-day-long tournament.[38] On July 3 Goto and Tanahashi failed in their attempt to capture the IWGP Tag Team Championship from Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson.[39] On August 1, Goto entered the2011 G1 Climax, where he went on to win six out of his nine matches, but a loss toStrong Man on the final day of the tournament dropped him to second place in his block, causing him to narrowly miss the finals of the tournament.[40] In the2011 G1 Tag League, Goto teamed with Hiroshi Tanahashi as "The Billion Powers".[41] After picking up two wins and two losses in their first four matches in the group stage of the tournament, Goto and Tanahashi defeated the Beast Combination (Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe) on November 4 to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.[42] On November 6, Goto and Tanahashi were eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals byBad Intentions.[43] On November 12 atPower Struggle, Goto unsuccessfully challenged Masato Tanaka for theIWGP Intercontinental Championship.[44] On January 4, 2012, atWrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, Goto reignited his rivalry with Pro Wrestling Noah's Takashi Sugiura, defeating him in a singles match.[45]
On February 12 atThe New Beginning, Goto defeated Masato Tanaka to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship for the first time.[46] Goto made his first title defense on March 11, defeating Yujiro Takahashi.[47] On April 1, Goto entered the2012 New Japan Cup. After victories over Yujiro Takahashi,La Sombra and Togi Makabe, Goto defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi on April 8 in the finals to win the tournament for the third time and earn another shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[48][49][50] On May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2012, Goto unsuccessfully challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[51] On May 20, Goto made his second successful defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship againstTomohiro Ishii.[52] On July 22, Goto lost the title to Shinsuke Nakamura in his third defense.[53] On October 8 atKing of Pro-Wrestling, Goto received a rematch for the title, but was again defeated by Nakamura.[54] On November 11 atPower Struggle, Goto unsuccessfully challenged Kazuchika Okada for theright to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the Tokyo Dome.[55][56] From November 20 to December 1, Goto took part in the round-robin portion of the2012 World Tag League, alongside Karl Anderson under the team name "Sword & Guns".[57] The team finished with a record of four wins and two losses, finishing second in their block and advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.[58][59] On December 2, Goto and Anderson defeatedTencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) to advance to the finals of the tournament, where, later that same day, they defeated the reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions,K.E.S. (Davey Boy Smith Jr. andLance Archer), to win the tournament.[60] Sword & Guns received their shot at the IWGP Tag Team Championship on January 4, 2013, atWrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, but were defeated in a rematch by K.E.S.[61][62]
In February 2013, Goto made a challenge towards former high school classmate Katsuyori Shibata,[63] which led to a tag team match on February 10, where he and Wataru Inoue were defeated by Shibata andKazushi Sakuraba. Afterwards, Goto and Shibata had a heated confrontation, building to a future singles match between the two.[64] In March, Goto once again made it to the finals of theNew Japan Cup, before losing to Kazuchika Okada.[65] Goto and Shibata finally faced off in a singles match on May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2013, which ended in a draw.[66] A rematch between the two took place on June 22 atDominion 6.22, where Shibata was victorious.[8][67] A third match between the two on July 20 ended in another draw.[68] During early August, Goto participated in the2013 G1 Climax. On August 8, however, it was revealed that Goto had suffered a fractured jaw and was pulled from the tournament.[69] He was leading the A block with four wins (which included a big win over IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada) and two losses and had three matches left when he was pulled from the G1.[70][71]
Goto returned on December 8, challenging Katsuyori Shibata to a match atWrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome.[72] On January 4, 2014, Goto defeated Shibata in his return match.[73] The match ended the rivalry between Goto and Shibata and led to the two forming a tag team.[74][75] The following day, Goto scored the pinfall in an eight-man tag team main event againstChaos, after which he challenged Kazuchika Okada to a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[76] On February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka, Goto received his seventh shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship,[77] but was yet again unsuccessful in capturing the title.[78][79] Afterwards, Goto and Shibata entered the IWGP Tag Team Championship picture, defeating the reigning champions,Bullet Club (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson), in a non-title match at New Japan's 42nd anniversary event on March 6.[80] They received their title shot on April 6 atInvasion Attack 2014, but were defeated by Gallows and Anderson.[81][82] From July 21 to August 8, Goto took part in the2014 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of four wins and six losses.[83] During the tournament final event on August 10, Goto and Shibata faced off in another singles match, where Shibata was victorious.[84][85] Goto then entered a storyline, where he started leading a counterattack against the Bullet Club and Chaos stables, with the goal of revitalizing the New Japan Seikigun ("regular army"), which he represented alongside the likes of Shibata and Hiroshi Tanahashi.[86] On November 8 atPower Struggle, Goto received his first shot at theNEVER Openweight Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Tomohiro Ishii.[87] Later in the month, Goto and Shibata entered the2014 World Tag League, where they opened with a three match losing streak,[88] only to come back and win their four remaining matches, winning their block and advancing to the finals.[89] On December 7, Goto and Shibata defeated Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson in the finals to win the 2014 World Tag League.[90] This led to a rematch between the two teams on January 4, 2015, atWrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome, where Goto and Shibata defeated Anderson and Gallows to become the new IWGP Tag Team Champions.[91][92] Goto and Shibata's reign ended in their first defense on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka, where they were defeated by Anderson and Gallows.[93][94]
On March 8, Goto and Shibata once again faced off in the second round of the2015 New Japan Cup in a match, where Goto was victorious.[95] Goto eventually made it to the finals of the tournament on March 15, where he was defeated byKota Ibushi.[96] On May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2015, Goto defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship for the second time.[97] Goto made his first title defense on July 5 atDominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall, defeating Nakamura in a rematch.[98][99] From July 23 to August 15, Goto took part in the2015 G1 Climax.[100] After six victories, one of which came over reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada,[101] Goto entered the final day with a chance to advance from his block, but was eliminated after suffering his third loss of the tournament against Yuji Nagata.[102] Through NJPW's working relationship with theRing of Honor (ROH) promotion, Goto returned to the United States on August 21, teaming withJay Briscoe andMark Briscoe in a six-man tag team match, where they defeated Okada,Beretta andRocky Romero.[103] Goto's Intercontinental Championship reign ended on September 27 atDestruction in Kobe, when he was defeated by Shinsuke Nakamura in another title rematch.[104][105]
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After defeatingTetsuya Naito on January 4, 2016, atWrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome, Goto received his eighth shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship,[106] but yet again failed to win the title, being defeated by the defending champion, Kazuchika Okada, on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka. Goto went into the match with new attire, painting his body white and covering himself with script. Following the match, Okada offered Goto a spot in the Chaos stable.[107] Over the next several events, Okada tried to shake hands with Goto and get him to join Chaos on multiple occasions, but was turned down each time.[108] In March, Goto made it to the finals of the2016 New Japan Cup, but was defeated there by Tetsuya Naito. After the final match, Goto finally agreed to shake hands with Okada, after he saved him from a post-match assault by Naito and hisLos Ingobernables de Japón stable, and joined Chaos.[109][110] From July 18 to August 12, Goto took part in the round-robin portion of the2016 G1 Climax, where he won his block, besting both Hiroshi Tanahashi and reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, with a record of six wins and three losses, advancing to the finals.[111] On August 14, Goto was defeated in the finals byKenny Omega.[112] At the end of the year, Goto took part in the2016 World Tag League, teaming with Chaos stablemate Tomohiro Ishii.[113] The two finished the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals due to losing to block winners Togi Makabe andTomoaki Honma in their final round-robin match.[114]
On January 4, 2017, atWrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome, Goto defeatedKatsuyori Shibata to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the first time.[115] Goto made his first successful title defense on February 5 atThe New Beginning in Sapporo againstJuice Robinson.[116] His second defense took place at the NJPW and ROH co-producedHonor Rising: Japan 2017 event, where he defeated ROH wrestlerPunisher Martinez.[117] On April 9 atSakura Genesis 2017, Goto made his third successful defense againstZack Sabre Jr., despite outside interference from Sabre'sSuzuki-gun stablematesMinoru Suzuki andEl Desperado. Afterwards, Goto brawled with Suzuki, setting up his next title defense.[118] On April 27, Goto lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Suzuki.[119] On June 11 atDominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall, he failed to reclaim the title in a rematch against Suzuki in a Lumberjack Deathmatch.[120] The following month, Goto entered the2017 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of five wins and four losses, failing to advance from his block.[121] At the end of the year, Goto teamed withYoshi-Hashi in the2017 World Tag League. Finishing with a record of four wins and three losses, the team failed to qualify for the finals, after losing toEvil andSanada in their final round-robin match.[122] On January 4, 2018, Goto defeated Minoru Suzuki in aHair vs. Hair match to win the NEVER Openweight Championship, forcing Suzuki to have his head shaved bald.[123]On January 5, 2018, at New Year's Dash, he was challenged to a title match byEvil, which he accepted. The match took place on February 10, 2018, atThe New Beginning in Osaka, where Goto was victorious.[124] On February 23, 2018, Goto made his second successful defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship against The Beer City Bruiser at the NJPW and ROH co-producedHonor Rising: Japan 2018 event.[125] On April 27, 2018, at Road to Wrestling Dontaku, Goto made his third successful defense of the NEVER Openweight championship in a rematch with Juice Robinson.[126] On June 9, 2018, atDominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo hall, Goto lost the NEVER Openweight Championship toMichael Elgin in a 3-way match which also involvedTaichi, ending his second reign at 156 days.[127] On June 17, 2018, at Kizuna Road, Goto defeated Elgin in a rematch for the NEVER Openweight Championship to win back the title[128] Goto made his first successful title defense againstJeff Cobb atG1 Special in San Francisco.[129] From July 14 to August 12 Goto took part in theG1 Climax 2018 and he ended up with 3 wins and 6 losses, failing to advance to the finals. On the final day of the G1 Climax, a returningTaichi later challenged him for the NEVER Openweight Championship, which Goto accepted.[130] On September 17, atDestruction in Beppu, Goto lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Taichi in his second defense.[131] On October 27, Goto requested for a rematch for the NEVER Openweight Championship, replacing his Chaos stablemateWill Ospreay, who was scheduled to challenge Taichi atPower Struggle for the title but was unable to do so due to Ospreay suffering an injury.[132] Taichi, however, waved off Goto's challenge and declined immediately.[133] Despite this, the title match was eventually still set at Power struggle which took place on November 3. At the event, Goto defeated Taichi to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the fourth time. Goto would lose the belt to Kota Ibushi on December 9, without having any defenses.[134]
2019 would see Goto change effectively. After some massive losses, including one toJay White on April 29, Goto would travel to the United States to train under Shibata's LA Dojo system to improve as he also briefly wrestled for Ring of Honor during theirWar Of The Worlds series. From July 6 until August 11, 2019, Goto returned and took part in the 2019 G1 Climax, where he finished the tournament with a record of five wins (one against Jay White) and four losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament, due to losing toShingo Takagi in their head-to-head match. Goto would avenge his loss to Shingo at September'sDestruction in Kobe however. In the same event, he would challenge White for his newly won Intercontinental Championship, although White repeatedly refused, the match was set up anyway forPower Struggle, where Goto would lose. From November 16 until December 8, Goto andKarl Fredericks took part in the 2019 World Tag League, failing to win the tournament with a record of three wins and twelve losses. Afterward, Goto began feuding withKENTA. Throughout the 2019 World Tag League, KENTA began mocking Goto after his matches, leading Goto to attack him on November 29. Despite being attacked by Goto, KENTA continued to mock Goto leading him to attack KENTA again on December 8. At a press conference the following day, Goto drew the ire of KENTA, after calling into question his in-ring abilities, leading KENTA to return the favor and attack him.
On January 5, 2020, on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome, Goto defeated KENTA to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the fifth time. He lost the title to Shingo Takagi on February 1, at The New Beginning in Sapporo. In June, Goto took part in the 2020 New Japan Cup, being eliminated from the tournament by EVIL in the second round. On August 9, Goto, Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi defeated fellow CHAOS stablemates Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano &Sho in a tournament final to win NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. From September 19 until October 17, Goto took part in the 2020 G1 Climax, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins and five losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. During the tournament, Goto and Toru Yano broke the record of the shortest match in the tournament's history with the match lasting 18 seconds, surpassing the record held byKenzo Suzuki againstTadao Yasuda in the 2002 tournament, which their match lasted 37 seconds. From November 15 until December 6, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi took part in the 2020 World Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of five wins and four losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. In March 2021, Goto took part in the 2021 New Japan Cup, losing in the second round to eventual finalist Shingo Takagi on March 13. From September 19 to October 20, Goto took part in the 2021 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of three wins and six losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. Goto, Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi's reign would break the record for the longest reign as champions at 454 days and the most successful title defenses with 9 defenses, before losing the titles to House of Torture (EVIL, Sho & Yujiro Takahashi) on November 6 at Power Struggle. From November 14 to December 12, Goto took part in the round-robin portion of the 2021 World Tag League, alongside Yoshi-Hashi. The team finished with a record of nine wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On December 15, Goto & Yoshi-Hashi defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi in the finals to win the 2021 World Tag League. On January 4, 2022, on the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 16, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi defeated Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[135] On Night 2, Goto, Yoshi-Hashi andYoh, failed to capture the NEVER Openweight 6-man Tag Team championships from House of Torture.[136]
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In March 2022, Goto competed in theNew Japan Cup, defeating Yuji Nagata andDick Togo, before being defeated byCima in the third round.[137] AtHyper Battle, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi, now going by the tag- team nameBishamon, lost the IWGP Tag Team Championships toUnited Empire's Jeff Cobb andGreat-O-Khan.[138] AtDominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall, Goto competed in anAEW Interim World Championship eliminator match for a chance to faceJon Moxley for the title atForbidden Door, a co-produced show between NJPW and American wrestling companyAll Elite Wrestling. At the event, Goto was defeated by Hiroshi Tanahashi.[139] Instead at the show, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi competed in the opening match on the Buy-In, defeatingQ. T. Marshall andAaron Solo.[140] This win lead to the pair getting anAEW World Tag Team Championship eliminator match onAEW Rampage, making theirAEW debuts against current championsThe Young Bucks, which they lost.[141] In June, Goto was announced to be competing in theG1 Climax 32 tournament in July, as a part of the C Block.[142] Prior to the beginning of the tournament, Goto teamed with Yoshi-Hashi and Yoh to win the Never Openweight 6-man tag-team championships in a Wrestle Kingdom rematch. Goto finished his G1 campaign with a total of 6 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals.[142]
In September 2022 atBurning Spirit, Goto, Yoshi-Hashi and Yoh, lost the 6-man tag-team championships back to House of Torture.[143] The month after this, Goto competed in a tournament to crown the inauguralNJPW World Television Champion, but was defeated by Kenta in the first round.[144] In November, Bishamon competed in theWorld Tag League, finishing joint-top of the block and thus advancing to the finals.[145] In the finals, Bishamon defeatedAussie Open (Kyle Fletcher andMark Davis) to win the tournament for a second year in a row.[146] On January 4 2023, atWrestle Kingdom 17, the duo defeatedFTR to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the second time as a tag-team.[147]
Bishamon made their first title defense atThe New Beginning in Sapporo in February, defeatingTMDK (Mikey Nicholls andShane Haste).[148] A month later, the duo successfully defended the titles against Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Later in the month, Goto competed in the 2023New Japan Cup, receiving abye to the second round, where he defeated Kyle Fletcher.[149] In the following round, Goto was defeated byTama Tonga.[150] In April atSakura Genesis, Bishamon lost the IWGP Tag Team titles to Aussie Open, ending their third reign at 94 days.[151] Later in the month, Goto made his debut on Tamashii, NJPW's Australasian subsidiary.[152] In June atDominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, Bishamon won their third IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship and Goto's overall fourth, defeating House of Torture and United Empire to win both the vacant IWGP Tag Team titles and theStrong Openweight Tag Team Championships, thus becoming double champions. Five Days later, Bishamon reunited with Tomohiro Ishii atAll Together Again, a joint event between NJPW,Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH) andAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), to defeat NOAH'sMasa Kitamiya,Daiki Inaba andYoshiki Inamura.[153][154] On July 4 on night 1 ofNJPW Independence Day, Bishamon lost the Strong Openweight Championships, to Bullet Club Wardogs (Alex Coughlin andGabriel Kidd).[155] The following night in a rematch, the duo defeated Coughlin and Kidd to retain the IWGP Tag Team Championships.[156] The following week, Goto entered theG1 Cimax tournament, where he'd compete in the D Block.[157] Goto finished with 6 points, failing to advance to the tournament's quarterfinals.[158]
Bishamon returned to tag-team competition in November, competing in the annualWorld Tag League, participating in the B-Block.[159] The duo finished with 9 points, making them runner's up in the block, thus advancing them to the semi-finals.[160] In the semi-final round, Bishamon defeated Bullet Club Wardogs (Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd).[161] In the tournament finals, Bishamon defeated, Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions,Guerrillas of Destiny (Hikuleo andEl Phantasmo), to win their third consecutive NJPW World Tag League, whilst also making them the record winners.[162] Due to them already being IWGP Tag Team Champions, the duo decided to use their World Tag League win to have atitle vs title rematch againstGuerrillas of Destiny (G.O.D), atWrestle Kingdom 18. On January 4, 2024, at Wrestle Kingdom. Bishamon was defeated by G.O.D, ending the team's third IWGP Tag Team title reign at 214 days.[163]
In March 2024, Goto entered the annualNew Japan Cup, receiving abye to the second round.[164] Goto defeatedChase Owens to advance to the quarterfinals.[165] In the next round, Goto was scheduled to faceDavid Finlay, but advanced to the semi-finals, when Finlay pulled out of the tournament due to an illness.[166] Goto defeated the previous year's cup winner Sanada in the semi-finals, thus advancing to his first New Japan Cup final in 8 years.[167] In the Cup final, Goto was defeated byYota Tsuji.[168]
After winning the annual New Japan Ranbo atWrestle Kingdom 19, Goto challengedZack Sabre Jr. for theIWGP World Heavyweight Championship atThe New Beginning in Osaka. At the event, Goto defeated Sabre, to win his first world championship. He dedicated his win to his deceased father and celebrated with his son and daughter.[169] On March 6 at the NJPW 53rd Anniversary Show, Goto made his first successful title defense againstHiroshi Tanahashi.[170] During the2025 New Japan Cup in March 15, Goto successfully defended his title againstYuji Nagata.[171] On April 5 atSakura Genesis, Goto successfully defended his title against New Japan Cup winnerDavid Finlay.[172] A week later atWindy City Riot, Goto successfully defended his title againstShota Umino.[173] On May 4 atWrestling Dontaku, Goto successfully defended his title againstCallum Newman.[174][175] AtDominion 6.15 on June 15, Goto defeatedShingo Takagi in a successful defense; with the win, he broke the reign record and combined record for most successful title defenses with seven.[176] Goto's reign as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion ended when he lost to Sabre Jr. at Tanahashi Jam on June 29.[177] It was later revealed that Goto suffered an elbow injury and was forced to pull out of theG1 Climax tournament.[178] On October 13 atKing of Pro-Wrestling, Goto returned to confront the newly crowned IWGP World Heavyweight ChampionKonosuke Takeshita.[179]
Goto made his acting debut in 2016 with a cameo appearance as a gangster in the Indonesian action filmHeadshot.[180] In 2020, Goto appeared inKamen Rider Zero-One the Movie: Real×Time as Buga, a computer avatar and one of the users of the Kamen Rider Abaddon powers. He will be portrayingE. Honda in the upcoming live actionStreet Fighter film releasing in 2026.
| Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirooki Goto (hair) | Minoru Suzuki (hair andchampionship) | Tokyo, Japan | Wrestle Kingdom 12 | January 4, 2018 |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
