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- Image credit: NJPW.
- Credit: EWrestlingnews.com
- 1-SANADA: Former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA has announced that he is leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling following NJPW New Year Dash on January 5, 2026.After teaming with House of Torture partners Yujiro Takahashi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a losing effort against Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Oleg Boltin, SANADA told the crowd that he would “leave this ring” and “go on a journey.” SANADA joined NJPW in 2016 and went on to win the IWGP Tag Team Championships three times and the 2023 New Japan Cup. He held the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for 271 days before dropping it to Tetsuya Naito at Wrestle Kingdom 18.
- 2-EVIL: With EVIL recently losing the NEVER Openweight Championship to Aaron Wolf at Wrestle Kingdom 20 and reportedly also considering his future, the House of Torture faction appears set for major changes in 2026. It was later reveal that the reason EVIL left is that he felt ashamed to loose to an Olympian in his 1st match. He is rumored to be going to WWE.
- 3-Hiroshi Tanahashi officially closed the curtain on his career at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20, bringing an end to a remarkable 26-year run.
- 4-Shane Haste: Shane Haste has confirmed that he is now a free agent after finishing up with New Japan Pro Wrestling. He revealed the news in a video and later clarified his status with a follow-up message on social media. Haste had been under NJPW contract since 2024 and enjoyed a run as NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions alongside TMDK partner Mikey Nicholls.
- 5-David Finlay: The son of Fit Finlay is set to become a free agent on February 11th, 2026. He is rumored to be heading to the USA.
- 6-Gabe Kidd: His contract is set to expire soon and heading to the USA.
- 7-Clark Connors: his contract is set to expire and is rumored to be heading to AEW.
- 8-Hiromu Takahashi: Hiromu Takahashi officially said farewell to NJPW at The New Beginning in Osaka, ending a 16-year run with the company.
