30-year-old star loses title match outside AEW
Konosuke Takeshita is amongst AEW's finest in-ring performers. In the past two years, The Alpha has scaled new heights in his career, scoring wins over top stars like Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega.
At Wrestle Kingdom 19, Don Callis' client dethroned Shingo Takagi to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion. The very next night, the 30-year-old star successfully retained his title against Tomohiro Ishii.
The Alpha went on to have numerous successful title defenses since, establishing himself as an invincible entity in the eyes of the audience. The former AEW International Champion also defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in his final match on American soil at NJPW Windy City Riot.
Following a dominant reign, Konosuke Takeshita finally dropped his NEVER Openweight Championship against Oleg Boltin at NJPW Dominion. Having lost to Takeshita in the past, Boltin finally redeemed himself by dethroning the hard-hitting star in their recent encounter.
The defeat comes as another setback for Konosuke Takeshita, who has not done much since losing his International Championship against Kenny Omega at Revolution 2025. Meanwhile, it was a memorable achievement for Boltin, who secured his first singles title in New Japan.
Konosuke Takeshita is set to be away from AEW for a while
Konosuke Takeshita is one of the most consistently featured stars on AEW television. As a member of the Don Callis Family, The Alpha continues to make appearances in the Jacksonville-based promotion on a weekly basis.
Since losing his International Title against Kenny Omega at Revolution, Takeshita has majorly appeared in tag team matches alongside the other members of The Don Callis Family.
The Japanese star also participated in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament 2025, making it to the second round of the competition. After defeating Brody King in the first round, the hard-hitting star ultimately lost to Will Ospreay in the Semi-finals.
The 30-year-old star is all set to take a brief hiatus from the Tony Khan-led company after AEW All In. The former International Champion will head to NJPW next month to compete in the G1 Climax tournament, which is set to begin on July 18. The young star will be part of the B Block, alongside names like Hiroki Goto, Gabe Kidd, and Zack Sabre Jr.
The tournament will culminate on August 17, keeping The Alpha off AEW television for a few shows this summer. After a dominant performance across numerous promotions in the past year, Konosuke Takeshita would hope to cement his legacy by winning the prestigious G1 Climax.