Backstage News On Hirooki Goto Losing The IWGP World Heavyweight Title

Hirooki Goto's reign with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship came to a shocking end at Tanahashi Jam on Sunday, June 29 as Goto lost to Zack Sabre Jr. The show to commemorate the closing of Dolphin's Arena in Nagoya aired as an exclusive on CS Asahi and is not yet available to watch internationally.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling have since announced that Hirooki Goto is dealing with a right elbow injury following Tanahashi Jam and he has been pulled from the New Japan Soul show on July 4.

The decision to have Goto drop the belt to Zack Sabre Jr. at Tanahashi Jam was unrelated to Goto's injury, however. Dave Meltzer has reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that the plan for the past several months had been for Goto to have a short reign and drop the belt back to ZSJ at Tanahashi Jam.

"People were wondering if like the title change was because he went in there hurt and all that, but the title change was planned for this show specifically several months ago, I know that. That was just the deal, Goto was going to have a short run and Zack was going to get it back and that's how the story played out," Meltzer said.

Hirooki Goto defeated Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at the New Beginning in Osaka. Goto successfully defended the belt on seven occasions - including in a draw with ZSJ - before his loss at Tanahashi Jam.

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