Hirooki Goto

Hirooki Goto(後藤洋央紀,Gotō Hiroōki, born June 25, 1979)is a Japaneseprofessional wrestler. He is signed toNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW), where he is the reigningIWGP World Heavyweight Championin his first reign. He is the current leader ofChaos, and is one-half of the tag team Bishamon alongsideYoshi-Hashi.
He is known for being the longest reigningNEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championwith his Chaos stablemates,Tomohiro Ishiiand Yoshi-Hashi, atwo-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion,five-timeIWGP Tag Team Champion,one-timeIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion,five-timeNEVER Openweight Champion, one-time winner of theG1 Climax(2008), five-time winner of theWorld Tag League(2012,2014,2021,2022, and2023), and a record three-time winner of theNew Japan Cup(2009,2010, and2012). Goto won his first world championship, the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, inFebruary 2025by defeating Zack Sabre Jr.
Goto attended Kuwana Kogyo High School inKuwana, Mie, where he was classmates withKatsuyori Shibata.Goto later attendedKokushikan University, where he took part infreestyle wrestlingandGreco-Roman wrestling.
Goto's first introduction to professional wrestling was theFire Pro Wrestlingvideogame series. Then, he started watching JPW, NJPW, AJPW, and Michinoku Pro.Upon graduating, Goto qualified to joinNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW), but left the promotion after incurring a shoulder injury. He returned to NJPW in November 2002 after healing and began training in the NJPW dojo. He debuted on July 6, 2003, inGifu, Gifu, wrestlingRyusuke Taguchi. The two men competed in thejunior heavyweight division, and teamed together the same year to try to take the vacantIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championshipin a tournament, but were defeated in the final by veteransGedoandJado.
In early 2005, he won the NJPWYoung Lion Cup, defeating Hiroyuki Itō in the tournament final. Afterturningheeland joiningJyushin Thunder Liger's "Control Terrorism Unit" ("C.T.U.")stable, Goto adopted thering name"C.T.U Ranger Red". He won his firstchampionshipon May 15, 2005, teaming withMinoruto defeatKoji KanemotoandWataru Inouein theTokyo Domefor theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.The duo held the titles for nine months, losing toEl Samuraiand Ryusuke Taguchi on February 19, 2006, in Tokyo.
In 2006, Goto joined the AmericanTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling(TNA)promotionas a member ofTeam Japan(consisting of CTU members Goto, Jyushin Thunder Liger,Black Tigerand Minoru), one of the four teams competing in theTNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament. He debuted in TNA on April 23, 2006, atLockdown, where he teamed with Black Tiger and Minoru againstTeam USAmembersSonjay Dutt,Jay LethalandAlex Shelley. Team Japan defeated USA when Black Tiger pinned Lethal.On the April 27, 2006, episode ofTNA Impact!, Goto and Minoru lost to Dutt and Shelley, giving a first round victory and two points to Team USA.On May 14, 2006, atSacrifice, Goto and the other members of Team Japan accompanied Liger to ringside, assisting him in his victory over Team Canada captainPetey Williams. Later that night, all four members of Team Japan took part in agauntlet matchthat was won by Team Canada captain Petey Williams.The 2006 World X Cup was won by Team USA (with five points), with Team Japan coming last with three points.
On August 1, 2006, Goto left for a lengthy learning excursion to Mexico after losing in a farewell match at the CTU 2nd Anniversary Show.While in Mexico he wrestled primarily forConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libreand forÚltimo Dragón'sToryumon Mexico. During his time in Mexico, he formed a rudo unit withHajime OharaandShigeo Okumurain CMLL.
In August 2007, Goto returned to New Japan after his almost one-year stay in Mexico.Upon his return, the now much more muscular Goto graduated from a Jr. heavyweight to a Heavyweight.Goto showed a great deal of promise and skill since last seen in July 2006. He showcased a whole new moveset and he quickly tried to establish himself as one of the top Heavyweights in New Japan. Not that far into his return Goto join the Stable "R.I.S.E" withShinsuke Nakamura,Travis Tomko,Giant Bernard, and fellow former CTU teammates Minoru,Milano Collection AT, andPrince Devitt. On November 11, he challengedHiroshi Tanahashifor theIWGP Heavyweight Championship, but after a long and hard-fought match, Tanahashi would win with the Texas Cloverleaf.Shortly after that Goto entered the2007 G1 Tag Leaguewith Milano Collection AT, but the pair would finish in third place.
In 2008 Goto wrestled one of his childhood idols,The Great Mutaat New Japan's annualJanuary 4 Tokyo Dome Show. Although having a good showing, Goto would fall to Muta.
Goto's progress was good through 2008 but a surprise victory in New Japan's prestigious G1 Climax in August surpassed everyone's expectations. Goto earned 8 points in Block B, tied for first with Nakamura, but he advanced to the final due to a direct win over the former IWGP champion and RISE leader. MeetingTogi Makabein the final, Goto overcame outside interference and blood loss to defeat the leader of theGreat Bash Heel(G.B.H.) faction, pinning him with the Shouten.
In March 2009 Goto defeatedKarl Anderson, Shinsuke Nakamura,Yuji Nagataand Giant Bernard to win the2009 New Japan Cupand earn a shot at Hiroshi Tanahashi's IWGP Heavyweight Championship.On May 3, 2009, atWrestling Dontaku 2009, Tanahashi defeated Goto to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
On January 4, 2010, atWrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome,Takashi Sugiurasuccessfully defended hisGHC Heavyweight Championshipagainst Goto.In March, Goto defeatedYujiro Takahashi,Masato Tanakaand Togi Makabe to win the2010 New Japan Cupfor the second year in a row.Goto went on to challenge the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on April 4, but would once again fail in his attempt to win the title.On June 28, 2010, Goto, teaming up with Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi entered the J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament.Two days later the trio defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi,TajiriandKushidain the finals to win the tournament.During August'sG1 ClimaxGoto debuted a new finishing maneuver, across-leggedcradle, which he initially titled as Goto Special but was later renamed Goto-Shiki Hold (Goto Style Hold), has earned him pinfall victories over former IWGP Heavyweight Champions Yuji Nagata and Shinsuke Nakamura, but a loss to eventual G1 winnerSatoshi Kojimaon the final day of the tournament dropped him fourth in his block, narrowly missing the finals.On October 11 Goto defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to earn the right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.However, the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima vetoed the result of the match and named Nakamura his first challenger for the belt.On December 11, while Kojima successfully defended his title against Nakamura, Goto was derailed from his quest to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship with a loss against Hiroshi Tanahashi.The following day Kojima defeated Goto in a non–title match, ending Goto's dream of main eventingWrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome.Instead, Goto teamed with the returningKazuchika Okadain a tag team match, where they were defeated byPro Wrestling NoahrepresentativesYoshihiro TakayamaandTakashi Sugiura.On March 6 Goto began his quest to win his thirdNew Japan Cupin a row, but was defeated in the first round by Shinsuke Nakamura.On March 20, the final day of the tournament, Goto turned heel by abandoning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi during a tag team match against Satoshi Kojima andMVP.This marked Goto's final appearance for New Japan, before leaving for his second excursion to Mexico.
Goto made his return to CMLL on March 25 and would, for the next month, work for the promotion as a heel, culminating in a match on April 29 atArena México's 55th anniversary show, where he unsuccessfully challengedÚltimo Guerrerofor theCMLL World Heavyweight Championshipin aTwo Out of Three Falls match.Goto returned to New Japan on May 3, when he teamed with Tama Tonga to defeat Takashi Sugiura andMakoto Hashiin a tag team match. Later in the event, Goto attacked and declared a war on Hiroshi Tanahashi after he had successfully defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura.Goto would once again fail in his IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge on June 18, 2011.After the match, Goto and Tanahashi seemingly made peace with each other, with Tanahashi suggesting that they go for theIWGP Tag Team Championshiptogether.On June 23, Goto, Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi won their second J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament in a row by defeating the team of Giant Bernard, Jyushin Thunder Liger and Karl Anderson in the finals of the three-day-long tournament.On July 3 Goto and Tanahashi failed in their attempt to capture the IWGP Tag Team Championship from Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson.On August 1, Goto entered the2011 G1 Climax, where he went on to win six out of his nine matches, but a loss toStrong Manon the final day of the tournament dropped him to second place in his block, causing him to narrowly miss the finals of the tournament.In the2011 G1 Tag League, Goto teamed with Hiroshi Tanahashi as "The Billion Powers".After picking up two wins and two losses in their first four matches in the group stage of the tournament, Goto and Tanahashi defeated the Beast Combination (Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe) on November 4 to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.On November 6, Goto and Tanahashi were eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals byBad Intentions.On November 12 atPower Struggle, Goto unsuccessfully challenged Masato Tanaka for theIWGP Intercontinental Championship.On January 4, 2012, atWrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, Goto reignited his rivalry with Pro Wrestling Noah's Takashi Sugiura, defeating him in a singles match.
On February 12 atThe New Beginning, Goto defeated Masato Tanaka to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship for the first time.Goto made his first title defense on March 11, defeating Yujiro Takahashi.On April 1, Goto entered the2012 New Japan Cup. After victories over Yujiro Takahashi,La Sombraand Togi Makabe, Goto defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi on April 8 in the finals to win the tournament for the third time and earn another shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.On May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2012, Goto unsuccessfully challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.On May 20, Goto made his second successful defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship againstTomohiro Ishii.On July 22, Goto lost the title to Shinsuke Nakamura in his third defense.On October 8 atKing of Pro-Wrestling, Goto received a rematch for the title, but was again defeated by Nakamura.On November 11 atPower Struggle, Goto unsuccessfully challenged Kazuchika Okada for theright to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the Tokyo Dome.From November 20 to December 1, Goto took part in the round-robin portion of the2012 World Tag League, alongside Karl Anderson under the team name "Sword & Guns".The team finished with a record of four wins and two losses, finishing second in their block and advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.On December 2, Goto and Anderson defeatedTencozy(Hiroyoshi Tenzanand Satoshi Kojima) to advance to the finals of the tournament, where, later that same day, they defeated the reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions,K.E.S.(Davey Boy Smith Jr.andLance Archer), to win the tournament.Sword & Guns received their shot at the IWGP Tag Team Championship on January 4, 2013, atWrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, but were defeated in a rematch by K.E.S.
In February 2013, Goto made a challenge towards former high school classmate Katsuyori Shibata,which led to a tag team match on February 10, where he and Wataru Inoue were defeated by Shibata andKazushi Sakuraba. Afterwards, Goto and Shibata had a heated confrontation, building to a future singles match between the two.In March, Goto once again made it to the finals of theNew Japan Cup, before losing to Kazuchika Okada.Goto and Shibata finally faced off in a singles match on May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2013, which ended in a draw.A rematch between the two took place on June 22 atDominion 6.22, where Shibata was victorious.A third match between the two on July 20 ended in another draw.During early August, Goto participated in the2013 G1 Climax. On August 8, however, it was revealed that Goto had suffered a fractured jaw and was pulled from the tournament.He was leading the A block with four wins (which included a big win over IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada) and two losses and had three matches left when he was pulled from the G1.
Goto returned on December 8, challenging Katsuyori Shibata to a match atWrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome.On January 4, 2014, Goto defeated Shibata in his return match.The match ended the rivalry between Goto and Shibata and led to the two forming a tag team.The following day, Goto scored the pinfall in an eight-man tag team main event againstChaos, after which he challenged Kazuchika Okada to a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.On February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka, Goto received his seventh shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship,but was yet again unsuccessful in capturing the title.Afterwards, Goto and Shibata entered the IWGP Tag Team Championship picture, defeating the reigning champions,Bullet Club(Doc Gallowsand Karl Anderson), in a non-title match at New Japan's 42nd anniversary event on March 6.They received their title shot on April 6 atInvasion Attack 2014, but were defeated by Gallows and Anderson.From July 21 to August 8, Goto took part in the2014 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of four wins and six losses.During the tournament final event on August 10, Goto and Shibata faced off in another singles match, where Shibata was victorious.Goto then entered a storyline, where he started leading a counterattack against the Bullet Club and Chaos stables, with the goal of revitalizing the New Japan Seikigun ("regular army"), which he represented alongside the likes of Shibata and Hiroshi Tanahashi.On November 8 atPower Struggle, Goto received his first shot at theNEVER Openweight Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Tomohiro Ishii.Later in the month, Goto and Shibata entered the2014 World Tag League, where they opened with a three match losing streak,only to come back and win their four remaining matches, winning their block and advancing to the finals.On December 7, Goto and Shibata defeated Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson in the finals to win the 2014 World Tag League.This led to a rematch between the two teams on January 4, 2015, atWrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome, where Goto and Shibata defeated Anderson and Gallows to become the new IWGP Tag Team Champions.Goto and Shibata's reign ended in their first defense on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka, where they were defeated by Anderson and Gallows.
On March 8, Goto and Shibata once again faced off in the second round of the2015 New Japan Cupin a match, where Goto was victorious.Goto eventually made it to the finals of the tournament on March 15, where he was defeated byKota Ibushi.On May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2015, Goto defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship for the second time.Goto made his first title defense on July 5 atDominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall, defeating Nakamura in a rematch.From July 23 to August 15, Goto took part in the2015 G1 Climax.After six victories, one of which came over reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada,Goto entered the final day with a chance to advance from his block, but was eliminated after suffering his third loss of the tournament against Yuji Nagata.Through NJPW's working relationship with theRing of Honor(ROH) promotion, Goto returned to the United States on August 21, teaming withJay BriscoeandMark Briscoein a six-man tag team match, where they defeated Okada,BerettaandRocky Romero.Goto's Intercontinental Championship reign ended on September 27 atDestruction in Kobe, when he was defeated by Shinsuke Nakamura in another title rematch.
After defeatingTetsuya Naitoon January 4, 2016, atWrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome, Goto received his eighth shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship,but yet again failed to win the title, being defeated by the defending champion, Kazuchika Okada, on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka. Goto went into the match with new attire, painting his body white and covering himself with script. Following the match, Okada offered Goto a spot in the Chaos stable.Over the next several events, Okada tried to shake hands with Goto and get him to join Chaos on multiple occasions, but was turned down each time.In March, Goto made it to the finals of the2016 New Japan Cup, but was defeated there by Tetsuya Naito. After the final match, Goto finally agreed to shake hands with Okada, after he saved him from a post-match assault by Naito and hisLos Ingobernables de Japónstable, and joined Chaos.From July 18 to August 12, Goto took part in the round-robin portion of the2016 G1 Climax, where he won his block, besting both Hiroshi Tanahashi and reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, with a record of six wins and three losses, advancing to the finals.On August 14, Goto was defeated in the finals byKenny Omega.At the end of the year, Goto took part in the2016 World Tag League, teaming with Chaos stablemate Tomohiro Ishii.The two finished the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals due to losing to block winners Togi Makabe andTomoaki Honmain their final round-robin match.
On January 4, 2017, atWrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome, Goto defeatedKatsuyori Shibatato win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the first time.Goto made his first successful title defense on February 5 atThe New Beginning in SapporoagainstJuice Robinson.His second defense took place at the NJPW and ROH co-producedHonor Rising: Japan 2017event, where he defeated ROH wrestlerPunisher Martinez.On April 9 atSakura Genesis 2017, Goto made his third successful defense againstZack Sabre Jr., despite outside interference from Sabre'sSuzuki-gunstablematesMinoru SuzukiandEl Desperado. Afterwards, Goto brawled with Suzuki, setting up his next title defense.On April 27, Goto lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Suzuki.On June 11 atDominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall, he failed to reclaim the title in a rematch against Suzuki in a Lumberjack Deathmatch.The following month, Goto entered the2017 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of five wins and four losses, failing to advance from his block.At the end of the year, Goto teamed withYoshi-Hashiin the2017 World Tag League. Finishing with a record of four wins and three losses, the team failed to qualify for the finals, after losing toEvilandSanadain their final round-robin match.On January 4, 2018, Goto defeated Minoru Suzuki in aHair vs. Hair matchto win the NEVER Openweight Championship, forcing Suzuki to have his head shaved bald.On January 5, 2018, at New Year's Dash, he was challenged to a title match byEvil, which he accepted. The match took place on February 10, 2018, atThe New Beginning in Osaka, where Goto was victorious.On February 23, 2018, Goto made his second successful defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship against The Beer City Bruiser at the NJPW and ROH co-producedHonor Rising: Japan 2018event.On April 27, 2018, at Road to Wrestling Dontaku, Goto made his third successful defense of the NEVER Openweight championship in a rematch with Juice Robinson.On June 9, 2018, atDominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo hall, Goto lost the NEVER Openweight Championship toMichael Elginin a 3-way match which also involvedTaichi, ending his second reign at 156 days.On June 17, 2018, at Kizuna Road, Goto defeated Elgin in a rematch for the NEVER Openweight Championship to win back the titleGoto made his first successful title defence againstJeff CobbatG1 Special in San Francisco.From July 14 to August 12 Goto took part in theG1 Climax 2018and he ended up with 3 wins and 6 losses, failing to advance to the finals. On the final day of the G1 Climax, a returningTaichilater challenged him for the NEVER Openweight Championship, which Goto accepted.On September 17, atDestruction in Beppu, Goto lost the NEVER Openweight Championship to Taichi in his second defense.On October 27, Goto requested for a rematch for the NEVER Openweight Championship, replacing his Chaos stablemateWill Ospreay, who was scheduled to challenge Taichi atPower Strugglefor the title but was unable to do so due to Ospreay suffering an injury.Taichi, however, waved off Goto's challenge and declined immediately.Despite this, the title match was eventually still set at Power struggle which took place on November 3. At the event, Goto defeated Taichi to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the fourth time. Goto would lose the belt to Kota Ibushi on December 9, without having any defenses.
2019 would see Goto change effectively. After some massive losses, including one toJay Whiteon April 29, Goto would travel to the United States to train under Shibata's LA Dojo system to improve as he also briefly wrestled for Ring of Honor during theirWar Of The Worldsseries. From July 6 until August 11, 2019, Goto returned and took part in the 2019 G1 Climax, where he finished the tournament with a record of five wins (one against Jay White) and four losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament, due to losing toShingo Takagiin their head-to-head match. Goto would avenge his loss to Shingo at September'sDestruction in Kobehowever. In the same event, he would challenge White for his newly won Intercontinental Championship, although White repeatedly refused, the match was set up anyway forPower Struggle, where Goto would lose. From November 16 until December 8, Goto andKarl Frederickstook part in the 2019 World Tag League, failing to win the tournament with a record of three wins and twelve losses. Afterward, Goto began feuding withKENTA. Throughout the 2019 World Tag League, KENTA began mocking Goto after his matches, leading Goto to attack him on November 29. Despite being attacked by Goto, KENTA continued to mock Goto leading him to attack KENTA again on December 8. At a press conference the following day, Goto drew the ire of KENTA, after calling into question his in-ring abilities, leading KENTA to return the favor and attack him.
On January 5, 2020, on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome, Goto defeated KENTA to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the fifth time. He lost the title to Shingo Takagi on February 1, at The New Beginning in Sapporo. In June, Goto took part in the 2020 New Japan Cup, being eliminated from the tournament by EVIL in the second round. On August 9, Goto, Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi defeated fellow CHAOS stablemates Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano &Shoin a tournament final to win NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. From September 19 until October 17, Goto took part in the 2020 G1 Climax, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins and five losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. During the tournament, Goto and Toru Yano broke the record of the shortest match in the tournament's history with the match lasting 18 seconds, surpassing the record held byKenzo SuzukiagainstTadao Yasudain the 2002 tournament, which their match lasted 37 seconds. From November 15 until December 6, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi took part in the 2020 World Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of five wins and four losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. In March 2021, Goto took part in the 2021 New Japan Cup, losing in the second round to eventual finalist Shingo Takagi on March 13. From September 19 to October 20, Goto took part in the 2021 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of three wins and six losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. Goto, Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi's reign would break the record for the longest reign as champions at 454 days and the most successful title defenses with 9 defenses, before losing the titles to House of Torture (EVIL, Sho & Yujiro Takahashi) on November 6 at Power Struggle. From November 14 to December 12, Goto took part in the round-robin portion of the 2021 World Tag League, alongside Yoshi-Hashi. The team finished with a record of nine wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On December 15, Goto & Yoshi-Hashi defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi in the finals to win the 2021 World Tag League. On January 4, 2022, on the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 16, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi defeated Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship.On Night 2, Goto, Yoshi-Hashi andYoh, failed to capture the NEVER Openweight 6-man Tag Team championships from House of Torture.
In March 2022, Goto competed in theNew Japan Cup, defeating Yuji Nagata andDick Togo, before being defeated byCimain the third round.AtHyper Battle, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi, now going by the tag- team nameBishamon, lost the IWGP Tag Team Championships toUnited Empire'sJeff Cobb andGreat-O-Khan.AtDominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall, Goto competed in anAEW Interim World Championshipeliminator match for a chance to faceJon Moxleyfor the title atForbidden Door, a co-produced show between NJPW and American wrestling companyAll Elite Wrestling. At the event, Goto was defeated by Hiroshi Tanahashi.Instead at the show, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi competed in the opening match on the Buy-In, defeatingQ. T. MarshallandAaron Solo.This win lead to the pair getting anAEW World Tag Team Championshipeliminator match onAEW Rampage, making theirAEWdebuts against current championsThe Young Bucks, which they lost.In June, Goto was announced to be competing in theG1 Climax 32tournament in July, as a part of the C Block.Prior to the beginning of the tournament, Goto teamed with Yoshi-Hashi and Yoh to win the Never Openweight 6-man tag-team championships in a Wrestle Kingdom rematch. Goto finished his G1 campaign with a total of 6 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals.
In September 2022 atBurning Spirit, Goto, Yoshi-Hashi and Yoh, lost the 6-man tag-team championships back to House of Torture.The month after this, Goto competed in a tournament to crown the inauguralNJPW World Television Champion, but was defeated by Kenta in the first round.In November, Bishamon competed in theWorld Tag League, finishing joint-top of the block and thus advancing to the finals.In the finals, Bishamon defeatedAussie Open(Kyle FletcherandMark Davis) to win the tournament for a second year in a row.On January 4 2023, atWrestle Kingdom 17, the duo defeatedFTRto win the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the second time as a tag-team.
Bishamon made their first title defense atThe New Beginning in Sapporoin February, defeatingTMDK(Mikey NichollsandShane Haste).A month later, the duo successfully defended the titles against Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Later in the month, Goto competed in the 2023New Japan Cup, receiving abyeto the second round, where he defeated Kyle Fletcher.In the following round, Goto was defeated byTama Tonga.In April atSakura Genesis, Bishamon lost the IWGP Tag Team titles to Aussie Open, ending their third reign at 94 days.Later in the month, Goto made his debut on Tamashii, NJPW's Australasian subsidiary.In June atDominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, Bishamon won their third IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship and Goto's overall fourth, defeating House of Torture and United Empire to win both the vacant IWGP Tag Team titles and theStrong Openweight Tag Team Championships, thus becoming double champions.Five Days later, Bishamon reunited with Tomohiro Ishii atAll Together Again, a joint event between NJPW,Pro Wrestling Noah(NOAH) andAll Japan Pro Wrestling(AJPW), to defeat NOAH'sMasa Kitamiya,Daiki InabaandYoshiki Inamura.On July 4 on night 1 ofNJPW Independence Day, Bishamon lost the Strong Openweight Championships, to Bullet Club Wardogs (Alex CoughlinandGabriel Kidd).The following night in a rematch, the duo defeated Coughlin and Kidd to retain the IWGP Tag Team Championships.The following week, Goto entered theG1 Cimaxtournament, where he'd compete in the D Block.Goto finished with 6 points, failing to advance to the tournament's quarterfinals.
Bishamon returned to tag-team competition in November, competing in the annualWorld Tag League, participating in the B-Block.The duo finished with 9 points, making them runner's up in the block, thus advancing them to the semi-finals.In the semi-final round, Bishamon defeated Bullet Club Wardogs (Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd).In the tournament finals, Bishamon defeated, Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions,Guerrillas of Destiny(HikuleoandEl Phantasmo), to win their third consecutive NJPW World Tag League, whilst also making them the record winners.Due to them already being IWGP Tag Team Champions, the duo decided to use their World Tag League win to have atitle vs titlerematch againstGuerrillas of Destiny(G.O.D), atWrestle Kingdom 18. On January 4, 2024, at Wrestle Kingdom. Bishamon was defeated by G.O.D, ending the team's third IWGP Tag Team title reign at 214 days.
In March 2024, Goto entered the annualNew Japan Cup, receiving abyeto the second round.Goto defeatedChase Owensto advance to the quarterfinals.In the next round, Goto was scheduled to faceDavid Finlay, but advanced to the semi-finals, when Finlay pulled out of the tournament due to an illness.Goto defeated the previous year's cup winner Sanada in the semi-finals, thus advancing to his first New Japan Cup final in 8 years.In the Cup final, Goto was defeated byYota Tsuji.
After winning the annual New Japan Ranbo atWrestle Kingdom 19, Goto challengedZack Sabre Jr.for theIWGP World Heavyweight ChampionshipatThe New Beginning in Osaka. At the event, Goto defeated Sabre, to win his first world championship. He dedicated his win to his deceased father and celebrated with his son and daughter.
Goto made his acting debut in 2016 with a cameo appearance as a gangster in the Indonesian action filmHeadshot.In 2020, Goto appeared inKamen Rider Zero-One the Movie: Real×Timeas Buga, a computer avatar and one of the users of the Kamen Rider Abaddon powers.