Akitoshi Saito
On August 26, Kotoge won his first title as a heavyweight, when he and Go Shiozaki defeated Maybach Taniguchi and Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC Tag Team Championship. They lost the title to Muhammad Yone and Quiet Storm on October 1. On March 11, he teamed with Naomichi Marufuji to defeat Akitoshi Saito and Shiro Koshinaka and later that night challenged Takashi Sugiura, who had just defeated Kenoh for the GHC Heavyweight Championship, to a title match, then busted him open with a headbutt. During the Global Tag League in April, he managed to pin the champion in a tournament match. Kotoge received his title match on April 29, but was defeated by Sugiura.