IWGP World title match set for NJPW Windy City Riot

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at NJPW Windy City Riot is set.

Hirooki Goto will defend his title against Shota Umino at the April 11 pay-per-view in Chicago. Goto retained the championship against New Japan Cup winner David Finlay at NJPW Sakura Genesis on Saturday, then called out Umino for his next defense.

Goto promised that at Windy City Riot, “‘Two Japanese wrestlers will go and show America that it is true, Japanese Strong Style, not some imitation, that is the best pro-wrestling in the world.”

NJPW confirmed the match shortly after:

Umino is coming off a win over Hiroshi Tanahashi on today’s show. He previously lost in the finals of the New Japan Cup to Finlay after defeating Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, and Shingo Takagi.

Goto has now successfully defended his title three times since beating Zack Sabre Jr. for it at The New Beginning in Osaka. He’s retained against Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, and now Finlay.

Results from NJPW Sakura Genesis are available here.

NJPW Windy City Riot lineup for April 11, 2025:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto defends against Shota Umino
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi’s last match in the United States: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • 30-minute Iron Man match: NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Tomohiro Ishii
  • David Finlay vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson defend against KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
  • Tetsuya Naito & Titan vs. Rocky Romero & El Phantasmo
  • Number one contenders match for Strong Women’s title: AZM vs. Mina Shirakawa