The returning Nobuo Yoshihashi, now known as YOSHI-HASHI, let his plans and affiliation be known in an interview yesterday. YOSHI-HASHI will face another former young lion who is returning, Kazuchika Okada, and announced firstly that he will no longer be a junior. Predicted by some to help bolster the junior division, YOSHI-HASHI will instead enter the heavyweight division. The other important thing he announced is that he will be entering CHAOS as a heel, after falling in love with the rudo/heel ways during his very long stay in CMLL.

Okada on the other hand will not be joining CHAOS but was coy on his affiliation, saying he was a loner in the USA and for now will be a loner back home in New Japan. One interesting thing that he did say is that having seen the world, he will not stand out in the “confines of Japan” like Tanahashi, but will be a bigger star with global appeal.

An already young New Japan roster will get even more firepower with the return of these two promising young men who collide on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome.