These are the results to what the NJPW community think's about New Japan's 2025 year, what they liked and didn't like. I will be going through every category and it's nominees. There were 44 total responses.
Whenever you see (number) after a nominee, that is the total number of votes given to the nominee. Example: Hiroshi Tanahashi (100)
(If you do not like a result, please do not crash out about it. This was purely for our entertainment and intrigue.)
Best Overall Wrestler of the year: Hirooki Goto (15)
Hirooki Goto has had such a wild and good 2025. Starting off with a ranbo win on the Wrestle Kingdom 19 Pre-Show, he would go on to defeat Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event of New Beginning to win his first IWGP World Heavyweight title. He would face off against the likes of Tanahashi, Nagata, Finlay, Umino, Newman and Shingo before a draw at Resurgence and loss at Tanahashi Jam to ZSJ, his reign would come to an end, along with a broken elbow that took him out of the G1 Climax. That didn't deter Goto, as he would return and unsuccessfully challenge Konosuke Takeshita at Tanahashi Final Homecoming for the World title he held just a few months prior. He nearly won 5 World Tag League's, but ZSJ would once again prove to have Goto's number, knocking Bishamon out of contention. Nonetheless, the fans loved Goto this year, and he deserves to be New Japan's wrestler of the year.
Other canidites:
(8) Zack Sabre Jr.
(6) Yuya Uemura
(4) El Desperado & Hiroshi Tanahashi
(2)Yota Tsuji & Konosuke Takeshita
(1) David Finlay, Gabe Kidd & Other (Kosei Fujita)
(0) Shota Umino
Most Underrated Wrestler of the year: Ryohei Oiwa (11)
Oiwa's 2025 was a good return year, having high ups and some low downs, Oiwa would prove to be a great mid card wrestler this year. He would lose in the TV title 4-way at Wrestle Kingdom, but would bounce back with a win over Yoshi-Hashi on the road to New Beginning, and the NJC with a win over Chase Owens, however a loss to his mentor in Zack Sabre Jr would eliminate him. Oiwa would unsuccessfully challenge then-Never Openweight champ Konosuke Takeshita, and wouldn't do much until the G1, where he would achieve 8 points with wins over Taichi, Tanahashi, Finlay and Newman. He didn't do much until December, where he would win the World Tag League with ZSJ, overcoming both Bishamon and the makeshift team of Yota Tsuji and Gabe Kidd. He is the first New gen wrestler to win a World Tag League, making him New Japan's underrated star of the year.
Other Candidates:
(10) Taichi
(5) Drilla Moloney
(3) ELP, O-Khan & Yuto-Ice
(2) Boltin Oleg & Other (Ren Narita)
(1) Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, Callum Newman, Yoshi-Hashi & Oskar
Junior Heavyweight of the year: El Desperado (21)
This was a close call between Fujita and Desperado, with Despe just making it by the time the poll closed. Desperado started off 2025 with a ref stoppage after Douki injured his elbow, however this would lead to one of the best Jr title runs in recent memory, with Desperado defending throughout the year against Kosei Fujita twice, Taiji Ishimori, Fransesco Akira, Clark Connors, Jun Kasai and YOH before losing the title to Douki's cheating tactics, leaving fans unsatisfied. Having only 4 points in SJTL didn't help him either, however a 2nd place/6-3 record in BOSJ was a huge boost, and the fans decided that he was the best Jr Heavyweight in 2025.
Other Candidates:
(17) Kosei Fujita
(3) Hiromu Takahashi
(2)Douki
(1) YOH
(0) Master Wato & Taiji ishimori
Most Improved of the year: Callum Newman (20)
After a rocky 2024, Newman found himself in a better spot in 2025. He would return from a leg injury during the New Japan Cup, but it was a loss to Tetsuya Naito. However, Cobb defeating Naito in the 2nd round would lead to a shocking upset at Sakura Genesis, where Newman would pin Naito to win the IWGP tag titles, but after Cobb's abrupt departure from New Japan, Newman was thrown to the sharks, and to the surprise of many, had a banger in the main event against Goto, solidifying his status as a top star. Although he had lost the Tag titles twice (once to vacancy), he would start to be more of a prick, taking on a more heelish and brutal side unlike the anxious newcomer we all knew before. After getting to 8 points in the G1 and wins over Tanahashi, Finlay, SANADA and Taichi, he and O-Khan would nearly advance in WTL, but is eliminated by the makeshift team of Hiromu and Finlay. Irate, United Empire would carry on the feud with both guys, leading to a huge ten man tag at Wrestle Kingdom in January, and a possible United Empire revival. This has earned Newman to be NJPW's most improved star of 2025.
Other Candidates:
(11) Boltin Oleg
(5) Shota Umino
(4) Other (Drilla Moloney, SHO, David Finlay & Kosei Fujita (4)
(2) Daiki Nagai
(1) Jakob Austin Young
Young Lion of the year: Daiki Nagai (37)
Young Nagai was taken by the ex-LIJ stablemates to start his year off, and was also a part of SJTL, teaming with Clark Connors. Despite his good efforts, he couldn't win a single one of his matches. However, his efforts didn't go unnoticed, as his charisma, in ring skill and talent would lead the fans to name him Young Lion of the year.
Other Candidates:
(2) Katsuya Murashima, Masatoru Yasuda & Zane Jay
(0) Shoma Kato & Tatsuya Matsumoto
Tag Team of the year: Knockout Brothers (33)
In just the short amount of time KOB has been in New Japan, they took the tag division by storm and made it interesting again. After returning from excursion during the G1 finals, they attacked Taichi and Satoshi Kojima, gunning for the tag gold. They would end up beating Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles, and successfully defended them once more against Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura before making it to the semifinals of WTL, only losing out to Yota Tsuji and Gabe Kidd. The successful four months that Oskar and Yuto-Ice have had, has earned them to be New Japan's tag team of the year.
Other Candidates:
(4) ISB (Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles)
(3) Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii
(2) House Of Torture (Douki & SHO)
(1) BCWD (Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X)
(0) WatYoh, United Empire, TMDK (ZSJ & Oiwa), YuSho & Bishamon
Faction of the year: TMDK (18)
TMDK yet again are New Japan's most popular faction. Barely beating out the War Dogs in votes, TMDK has found success that is overlooked by the fans. Kosei Fujita winning BOSJ, ISB winning the Jr tag titles at Wrestle Kingdom, ZSJ regaining the World title and Oiwa teamed with his mentor ZSJ to win World Tag League. Once again, TMDK is faction of the year.
Other Candidates:
(16) BCWD
(5) House Of Torture
(3) Unaffiliated
(2) Hontai
(0) United Empire
Worst Wrestler of the year: Don Fale (17)
Barely beating out Chase Owens, Don Fale takes the cake for worst wrestler of 2025, and rightfully so.
Other Candidates:
(15) Chase Owens
(4) EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
(3) Other (SHO [2], Douki [1])
(1) Toru Yano
Best Match of the year: Hirooki Goto vs Zack Sabre Jr. (NB) (10)
In what was a highly emotional, technical and instant classic New Beginning main event, Hirooki Goto would finally win his very first IWGP World Heavyweight title, sending the crowd home happy and in tears of joy, earning the title of Match of the year.
Other Candidates:
(7) Omega vs Kidd (Dynasty)
(5) Takeshita vs ZSJ (King of Pro Wrestling)
(4) Desperado vs Kasai (Death Pain Invitational) & Oiwa vs Uemura (G1 Climax 35)
(2) Other (Fujita vs Kushida [BOSJ 32]; SHO vs MAO [BOSJ 32}; Taichi vs Finlay [G1 Climax 35]), Tsuji vs Kidd (NB), BCWD vs H.O.T (steel cage) & Fujita vs YOH (BOSJ 32 finals)
(1) Takeshita vs Goto (Tana's Final HC), Tsuji vs Uemura (G1 Climax 35), Finlay vs Umino (New Japan Cup Finals) & Desperado vs Fujita (Road to NB)
(0) TMDK vs Tsuji/Gabe (WTL Finals), BCWD vs ISB (SJTL), Takeshita vs Takagi (G1 Climax 35), Takeshita vs Tana (Windy City Riot), ZSJ vs Taichi (NJC Quarterfinals) & ZSJ vs Shota Umino (WK19)
Worst Match of the year: EVIL vs David Finlay (Dominion) (8)
This was a mostly one sided shit show that had all of House Of Torture beat down David Finlay. Even though Fale, Yujiro and Chase had horrible matches this year, nothing can top when all of the members of House Of Torture are involved in one match, which earns the title of Worst match of the year.
Other Candidates:
(5) EVIL vs Boltin (KOPW) & Fale vs Boltin (Destruction)
(4) SANADA vs Taichi (NB), H.O.T vs H.O.T (WTL), Boltin vs Fale (New Japan Cup First Round) & EVIL vs Tanahashi (G1 Climax 35)
(2) EVIL vs Tsuji (G1 Climax 35 Semifinal) & WatYoh vs H.O.T (SJTL)
(1)Naito vs Newman (New Japan Cup First Round), H.O.T vs BCWD (Sakura Genesis), Tsuji vs SANADA (G1 Climax 35), Other (SHO vs YOH [BOSJ 32])
(0) SHO vs Ishimori (BOSJ 32), H.O.T vs WatYoh (Dominion)
Best Moment of the year: The Goto Revolution Comes Full Circle (34)
After a hard fought, technical and physical bout, Hirooki Goto won his very first IWGP World Title, dethroning Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event of New Beginning, which brought many fans tears of joy, seeing the fierce warrior finally winning the big one, making this heartwarming moment the Best Moment of the year.
Other Candidates:
(4) Zack Sabre Jr. wins back-to-back Tokyo Dome main events
(2) Yuto-Ice & Oskar returning at the G1 Finals; Okada and Tanahashi staring down in Anjo
(1) TMDK win World Tag League
(0) Naito, Bushi & Cobb's farewell; Other
Worst Moment of the year: Douki Returns and Joins House Of Torture (16)
At Dominion, there were some very good highlights, however, the worst of it was when we had not just one, but three debuts into House Of Torture. The first was Chase and Fale, but the worst was when the loveable underdog Douki returned from his injury, but joined House Of Torture instead of reuniting with his J4G teammates who were merged into Hontai. Everyone loved Douki last year, but now? They despise him. He's a shell of his former self and is plagued with the H.O.T ways, which makes this the Worst Moment of the year.
Other Candidates:
(13) Fale and Chase join H.O.T
(7) EVIL and Takeshita make the finals of the G1 Climax
(4) Douki & SHO win Super Jr. Tag League and take the Jr division on Hostage
(0) Other
Show of the year: New Beginning (21)
The New Beginning in Osaka had great matches on it, including Umino shaving his head bald, ISB making their first title defences against Chaos' Rocky Romero & YOH, Konosuke Takeshita successfully defending the Never title against Boltin Oleg, Yota Tsuji and Gabe Kidd going to a double KO, and Hirooki Goto finally winning the IWGP World title in the main event, a match that's considered match of the year & Moment of they year. A great show that has earned the title of show of the year.
Other Candidates:
(5) King Of Pro Wrestling
(4) Wrestle Kingdom 19, Dontaku & Tanahashi Final Homecoming
(1) Destruction In Kobe
(0) Sakura Genesis, New Japan Soul & Other
Championship of the year: IWGP World Heavyweight (27)
The IWGP World Heavyweight title was the mainstream title of New Japan, being defended a record of 12 times over the 365 day span. It started off in the hands of Zack Sabre Jr. after his successful defense over Shota Umino in a controversial WK main event, but Goto won it over a month later at New Beginning, and would have a record of 6 defenses out of the 12 World title matches, and competing in 8 of those matches in total.
Other Candidates:
(9) IWGP Jr Heavyweight
(6) IWGP Global Heavyweight
(1) IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag, IWGP Heavyweight Tag
(0) Never Openweight, NJPW TV & Never 6-man Tag
Tournament of the year: World Tag League (15)
Just narrowly beating out Best of the Super Juniors by 1 point, World Tag League has gone from the worst tournament of 2024 to the best tournament of 2025. New Japan Cup was good, but had too many lackluster matches, Super Jr. Tag League had a shitty finals along with shitty winners, the G1 had Yota Tsuji, the favorite to take it all, eliminated by EVIL of all people in the semifinals, leading to a EVIL vs Konosuke Takeshita finals. An outsider vs anOG dojo kid, however being the leader of the nightmare factory that is House Of Torture. Best Of The Super Juniors was an all around awesome tournament, easily one of the best since 2023 and 2019, and had an incredible finals, but World Tag League won the whole thing, and was the best Tag League since 2022/2023, making it tournament of the year.
Some Predictions for what 2026 will hold:
(Note: These are not my ideas. I copied the best ones into the post.)
"Shingo/Drilla create a heel faction once War Dogs and Unaffilliated split."
"Shit gets good again"
"EVIL as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion"
"Naito and Bushi return to team with UE against Unaffiliated/War Dogs"
"Knock Out Brothers hold belt for full calendar year"
"Takeshita retains the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom"
"Yota Tsuji as champ until The New Japan Cup winner defeats him"
"Shota wins either the NEVER or TV title"
"Jake Lee will lead a new villainous United Empire."
"Tsuji wins the belt drops it to Umino"
Closing Note: My buddy and I would like to thank everyone who participated.
by mrchefigan