SHOTA UMINO

Son of legendary NJPW referee Red Shoes Unno, "Roughneck" Shota Umino spent years as one of NJPW's most promising near-misses — winning the 2024 New Japan Cup and earning a Wrestle Kingdom 19 main event shot against Zack Sabre Jr., only to fall after a grueling 43-minute technical war. He racked up 19 previous title shots before his finish-work around the Death Rider DDT and STF finally paid off. Returning from a three-year UK excursion in November 2022 repackaged as "Roughneck," he formed the Reiwa Three Musketeers alongside Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji and steadily built toward a title reign that fans had long anticipated.

Umino earned his first-ever IWGP title at Dominion 6.14, prevailing in a three-way match by pinning AEW star Andrade El Idolo and overcoming Drilla Moloney to capture the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. It marks the first championship reign of his career. The celebration was brief — Gabe Kidd made his return from injury at the same event, immediately setting his sights on the new champion, making the freshly crowned Umino's next challenge crystal clear heading into the summer.