PROGRESS ATLAS Championship heading to Tokyo!

The PROGRESS ATLAS Championship will be on the line at NOAH The New Year 2026 in Tokyo!

Will Kroos will defend his title when he takes on Saxon Huxley as 2026’s professional wrestling schedule starts with a bang in the Far East.

NOAH The New Year is considered one of the biggest annual professional wrestling events, held every New Year’s Day at the Nippon Budokan, with its return for 2026 just days away.

Kroos won the ATLAS title after defeating Gene Munny at Chapter 184: Camden Lock Up on September 28, 2025, and the 29-year-old will be aiming to retain his belt in Japan.

Hailing from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Kroos has been on the rise since his PROGRESS debut at Chapter 132: By the Beard of Zeus, in April 2022, following a spell on the British independent circuit with British Wrestling Revolution, North Wrestling and Preston City Wrestling.

Throughout his time in PROGRESS, Kroos has been involved in major competitions including Super Strong Style 16 prior to securing his ATLAS crown in September 2025 when he overcame Munny in a stunning finale.

Kroos has quickly become one of the most talked-about rising stars in British wrestling, and PROGRESS Wrestling fans have had the privilege of watching his evolution up close.

Standing in the opposite corner to Kroos will be Huxley, who has competed under Pro Wrestling NOAH having previously been signed to WWE between 2017-2022.
Huxley has also appeared at PROGRESS, where he defeated Taishi Ozawa in a pre-show match at Chapter 169: The Devil On My Shoulder, at Camden’s Electric Ballroom, back in July 2024.

The Main Event, a GHC Heavyweight Championship Match, will see Yoshiki Inamura step into the ring as the champion against challenger OZAWA.

Both wrestlers have PROGRESS experience in their lockers.

Yoshiki Inamura, who made his PROGRESS debut in September 2023, is a former ATLAS Champion, winning the prestigious belt in April 2024.

Inamura will look to continue his fine run in Pro Wrestling NOAH by defending the GHC Heavyweight title.

Taishi Ozawa’s tenure in PROGRESS Wrestling has been marked by a series of challenging matches that have tested and highlighted his tenacity and skill in the ring.

He made his debut at Chapter 162: The Light Of The Dragon on January 28, 2024, facing off against Rob Drake.
It promises to be a thrilling event in Japan, with plenty of current and former PROGRESS stars battling it out to see in 2026.

To watch the show live with English commentary, please click here to visit Wrestle Universe.