The 2026 New Japan Cup winner, Callum Newman, continues to make new enemies. The British star has taken aim at former United Empire leader Will Ospreay, as well as fellow rising star Shota Umino.
Newman has stepped up in NJPW over recent months following extensive top tier departures over the last year. Filling the void has become a habit for the 23-year-old. After United Empire leaders Ospreay and TJP left NJPW, Newman led the stable to new glories. During 2025, Newman won the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice. He also challenged then IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto for his title in a losing effort.
Newman also boosted United Empire’s numbers following the departures of TJP, Jeff Cobb, and Mark Davis in 2025. The acquisition of Andrade El Idolo and Jake Lee added impressive depth heading into 2026. After defeating David Finlay at New Beginning, Newman stormed to victory in the New Japan Cup, becoming the youngest wrestler in history to win the tournament. A world title match against Yota Tsuji at Sakura Genesis awaits. But rather than focusing on his IWGP Heavyweight Championship bout, Newman seems more occupied by old ghosts and new rivals.
‘There’s a lot going on, let’s say…’
Callum Newman has mixed emptions about Will Ospreay’s return… Check out the interview!https://t.co/o0p0RM7McR#njpw #njSG pic.twitter.com/bMPDNhs0yO
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) March 30, 2026
Newman Riles Ospreay Ahead of World Title Bout
A full-blown feud between the two United Empire leaders has been teased since New Year’s Dash. The event was the site of Ospreay’s return, who has vowed to return to NJPW to help Newman lead United Empire. Speaking to NJPW in a new interview, Callum Newman questioned the timing of Ospreay’s return, suggesting that he was looking to capitalize off the faction’s resurgence.
Newman had said:
“He’s always supported me since I first met him at 15. But he left me in a country I didn’t know, and told me to just do my best. So it feels he did things a little half-arsed, like he didn’t mean it completely. He only really came back and started supporting United Empire again when I took over and started doing things my way. When we started to build momentum and became one of the top groups again, that’s when he decided to come back- it feels a little too convenient.”
Newman Reveals the Good and the Bad About Shota Umino
But before skewering Ospreay, Newman offered Shota Umino a huge compliment – but it was laced with criticism. Newman met Umino in the semifinals of the New Japan Cup, knowing he faced a significant challenge in the 28-year-old. Umino fell at the final hurdle in 2025, losing to David Finlay. Umino was determined to go one step better in 2026, but he was stopped in his tracks by Newman.
“I honestly think that Shota is one of the best wrestlers in the world. Very talented. But every time a big opportunity comes along, he fails. For all of his talents, there’s something about him that means when he’s in a big spot, he fails every single time.
“He’s an extremely talented pro-wrestler, he loves this, and you can see he just wants to make people happy. He does that to the point it makes some people sick, but take that away, and you can see he’s one of the most talented wrestlers in the world.”
Callum Newman has the chance to claim his first world title at Sakura Genesis this weekend. But based on this interview, the young British wrestler may already be thinking about his first title challengers.
