It’s Official: Ares to Face IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji at Bound For Unbound
On November 20, Vietnam Pro Wrestling’s “The Unstoppable Force” Ares will make his New Japan Pro-Wrestling singles debut against reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji at Tokyo’s legendary Korakuen Hall.
The match is now official for NJPW: Bound For Unbound, a special Korakuen Hall event presented by Tsuji’s Unbound Co. faction. NJPW’s official preview describes Ares as a standout from Vietnam’s rapidly growing wrestling scene and frames the match as an opportunity that could change the trajectory of his career.
For Ares, the bout represents the next step in a journey that has accelerated dramatically over the past three months. In August, Tsuji traveled to Ho Chi Minh City and appeared at Vietnam Pro Wrestling’s The Rumble, where he personally invited Ares to train at the legendary NJPW Dojo in Japan.
Ares then spent approximately two months immersed in New Japan’s Young Lion training system before making his historic NJPW debut on October 7 at Korakuen Hall. On that night, he stood alongside Tsuji in tag-team competition against Ryohei Oiwa and Zack Sabre Jr.
Six weeks later, the relationship changes completely. The man who opened the door for Ares now becomes the opponent standing across from him.
Mentor vs. Student. Senpai vs. Kōhai.
The championship will not be on the line, but the symbolism of the match is difficult to overstate. Tsuji is not only the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion — he is also heading toward the biggest stage in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he will defend the title against AEW star Kenny Omega in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 21 at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2027.
Ares, meanwhile, was born, raised and developed as a professional wrestler in Vietnam. From training in Ho Chi Minh City and competing in front of VPW crowds to entering the NJPW Dojo and now receiving a singles match with New Japan’s top champion, his rise represents a milestone not only for his own career but for the growing professional wrestling scene in Vietnam.
The story also gives added weight to comments Tsuji recently made to Weekly Pro Wrestling, where he said that the significance of facing Ares goes beyond winning or losing and expressed hope that the opportunity would inspire other wrestlers at VPW to keep working toward the same level.
🇯🇵 NJPW: BOUND FOR UNBOUND
📅 Friday, November 20, 2026
🚪 Doors: 5:30 PM JST
🔔 First Bell: 6:30 PM JST / 4:30 PM Vietnam Time
📍 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Watch on NJPW World Tickets / Event InfoTHE MENTOR VS. THE STUDENT. SENPAI VS. KŌHAI. A MOMENT IN VIETNAMESE WRESTLING HISTORY.
Event and match information confirmed by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Additional background from Vietnam Pro Wrestling.