Yota Tsuji
Yota Tsuji stands as one of professional wrestling's most compelling rising stars, a powerful force emerging from Japan's prestigious New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion. From his beginnings as a determined "young lion" to his current status as a champion, Tsuji's journey is a testament to rigorous training, international experience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His story invites us to explore the demanding path to becoming a top-tier competitor in the world of puroresu. Yota Tsuji transformed from a diligent NJPW "young lion" into a formidable, globally recognized competitor through intense training and overseas excursions. His dramatic return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling and alliance with Los Ingobernables de Japon cemented his status as a main event challenger. Tsuji's crowning achievements, including winning the New Japan Cup and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, signify his arrival as a leader of NJPW's next generation.
AI Summary
Yota Tsuji stands as one of professional wrestling's most compelling rising stars, a powerful force emerging from Japan's prestigious New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion. From his beginnings as a determined "young lion" to his current status as a champion, Tsuji's journey is a testament to rigorous training, international experience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His story invites us to explore the demanding path to becoming a top-tier competitor in the world of puroresu.
- Yota Tsuji transformed from a diligent NJPW "young lion" into a formidable, globally recognized competitor through intense training and overseas excursions.
- His dramatic return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling and alliance with Los Ingobernables de Japon cemented his status as a main event challenger.
- Tsuji's crowning achievements, including winning the New Japan Cup and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, signify his arrival as a leader of NJPW's next generation.
Before the Ring: A Multi-Talented Athlete
Before stepping into the squared circle, Yota Tsuji was no stranger to athletic competition. He honed his physical prowess across various sports, building a foundation of discipline and strength that would serve him well later in his career.
Tsuji excelled in baseball, American football, and even the martial art of Taekwondo. This diverse athletic background from his high school and university days at Nippon Sport Science University provided him with a unique blend of agility, power, and combat readiness.
The Young Lion's Roar: NJPW Debut
In April 2017, Tsuji took the pivotal step into professional wrestling, signing with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He entered their famed "young lion" system — a rigorous apprenticeship designed to forge the next generation of wrestling superstars through tough training and foundational matches.
A Grueling Start
A year later, Tsuji made his official debut at Lion's Gate Project 11 alongside fellow young lion Yuya Uemura. His initial matches were often learning experiences, facing established veterans and experiencing the unforgiving nature of the NJPW ring.
The young lion era is characterized by plain black trunks, no elaborate entrances, and a focus on fundamental wrestling. It took time, but on September 5, 2018, Tsuji secured his first victory, teaming with Ren Narita to defeat Uemura and Shota Umino, a significant milestone in his development.
Forging Overseas: The Excursion Phase
After three demanding years, it was time for Tsuji to embark on a traditional NJPW "overseas excursion." This crucial phase sends young lions abroad to gain international experience, develop new skills, and forge distinct personas away from the familiar NJPW dojo.
In August 2021, Tsuji wrestled his farewell match as a young lion against Tetsuya Naito, signaling his departure. He first landed in England with Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro), where he teamed with Shota Umino, forming a formidable duo known as The Legion, before heading to Mexico.
Embracing Lucha Libre
In November 2022, Tsuji debuted for Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) under the mononymous name 'Yota.' This move exposed him to the vibrant, high-flying style of lucha libre, adding new dimensions to his in-ring repertoire and persona.
The Return: A New Attitude
May 2023 marked Yota Tsuji's highly anticipated return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Wrestling Dontaku 2023. This wasn't the humble young lion who left; a more aggressive, confident, and stylish Tsuji immediately made his presence felt.
With a shocking attack on IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sanada and his stable, Just 5 Guys, Tsuji immediately challenged for the top title. This bold move signaled his intent to leapfrog the competition and establish himself at the pinnacle of NJPW.
Joining Los Ingobernables de Japon
Days before his title shot, Tsuji made another pivotal decision: he officially joined Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ), Tetsuya Naito's rebellious faction. This alliance provided him with a new edge and instantly solidified his place as a major player in NJPW's landscape.
Championship Aspirations and Triumphs
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Tsuji consistently positioned himself in major tournaments and title contests. He made his debut in the prestigious G1 Climax, pinning top international stars like Will Ospreay and challenging for the IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship.
The Hair vs. Hair Showdown
A deeply personal feud reignited with former young lion stablemate Yuya Uemura, culminating in a dramatic 'Hair vs. Hair' match at The New Beginning in Sapporo in February 2024. Tsuji emerged victorious, forcing Uemura to shave his head in a memorable display of dominance.
New Japan Cup Victory
Building on this momentum, Tsuji entered the 2024 New Japan Cup, a grueling single-elimination tournament. He conquered formidable opponents like Jeff Cobb, El Phantasmo, Ren Narita, and EVIL, ultimately facing three-time winner Hirooki Goto in the finals.
In a career-defining moment, Yota Tsuji defeated Hirooki Goto to win the 2024 New Japan Cup, his first major accolade in NJPW. He proclaimed himself the face of a new era, earning a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, though he ultimately fell to Tetsuya Naito at Sakura Genesis.
A Champion's Reign Begins
Tsuji's ascent continued, securing his first NJPW championship gold alongside LIJ stablemates Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi, winning the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. This marked a significant step in his championship journey.
IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion
The pinnacle arrived on January 4, 2025, at Wrestle Kingdom 19, where Yota Tsuji defeated David Finlay to capture the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. This monumental victory made him the first Japanese holder of the title and solidified his status as a major singles champion.
Tsuji successfully defended his title against top challengers like Jack Perry and EVIL, showcasing his resilience and main event capability. His reign, lasting 162 days, proved his ability to hold NJPW's prestigious gold, before eventually losing it to Gabe Kidd.
Beyond the Ring: Personal Connections
Yota Tsuji also has a twin brother named Shota, who made a memorable appearance during the 2023 G1 Climax. Shota, a professional stuntman, famously disguised himself as Yota to play a trick on Gabriel Kidd, adding a unique and playful dimension to Tsuji's public persona.
Accolades and Recognition
Tsuji's remarkable progress has not gone unnoticed. He was ranked No. 23 among the 30 best Pro Wrestlers Under 30 by ESPN in 2023 and climbed to No. 71 in the prestigious Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI 500 in 2024, reflecting his growing influence.
His New Japan Cup final match against Hirooki Goto in 2024 also earned the coveted Best Bout Award from Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards, a testament to his captivating in-ring performances.
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Yota Tsuji (hair) Yuya Uemura (hair) Sapporo, Japan The New Beginning in Sapporo: Night 2 February 24, 2024
Article
Yota Tsuji
Yota Tsuji (辻 陽太, Tsuji Yōta; born September 8, 1993) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion in his first reign, and the current IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion in his record-tying second reign. He is also a member of the Unbound Co. stable, the successor to Bullet Club and Los Ingobernables de Japon.
Tsuji is the winner of the (/wiki/NewJapanCup#2024) New Japan Cup and is a one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion with Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi. During his excursion to Mexico, he wrestled for partner promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) as the mononym Yota. On Fantastica Mania tours, he performs under the ring name Philip Marlowe Jr., his alter ego inspired by the fictional detective Philip Marlowe.
Early life
Yota Tsuji
Before wrestling, Tsuji had played baseball, American football and had done taekwondo. In March 2012, he graduated from Yokohama Tateno high-school. In March 2016, Tsuji graduated from Nippon Sport Science University.
Professional wrestling career
Young lion and foreign excursion (2017–2023)
In April 2017, Tsuji was signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) under New Japan's "young lion" system. A year later, Tsuji as well as fellow young lion, Yuya Uemura, made their pro-wrestling debuts at Lion's Gate Project 11 where Tsuji was defeated by Tomoyuki Oka. In his second match, he was defeated by Ren Narita. During night one of Wrestling Dontaku 2018, Tsuji and Shota Umino were defeated by Bullet Club (Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi). At Lion's Gate Project 12, Tsuji and Uemura went to a time-limit draw. At Lion's Gate Project 13, Tsuji and Uemura wrestled to a draw. On September 5, at Aichi, Tsuji teamed with Narita to defeat Uemura and Umino, winning for the first time.
After three years, New Japan reported that Tsuji would be going on overseas excursion along with Uemura as of August 1, 2021. On that day, Tsuji wrestled his last match as a young lion, facing Tetsuya Naito, with whom he had a minor feud, in a losing effort. He then joined Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW) in England where we remained for 14 months before joining Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in Mexico.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (2023–2025)
Tsuji returned to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in May 2023 at Wrestling Dontaku 2023, attacking IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sanada and the remainder of the Just 5 Guys stable, whilst challenging Sanada for the title. The title match was made official for Dominion. On June 3 at the press conference the day before the event, Tsuji officially joined Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ). The day after at the event, Tsuji unsuccessfully challenged Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
In July, Tsuji made his debut in the annual G1 Climax tournament, competing in the A Block. Tsuji finished the tournament with 7 points, narrowly missing out on qualifying to advance to the quarter-final round. On August 13, Tsuji pinned reigning IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay in an eight-man tag team match, leading Tsuji to held the IWGP United Kingdom Championship over the fallen Ospreay, setting up at title match at Destruction on September 24, which Tsuji failed to win the title from Ospreay. In October, Tsuji returned to the UK at Royal Quest III, defeating Luke Jacobs. The following month, Tsuji participated in the World Tag League, teaming with Zandokan Jr. of CMLL. The duo finished with 6 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals. Following the tournament, Tsuji renewed a feud with former Young Lion dojo stablemate Yuya Uemura, who had joined Just 5 Guys, which started after Uemura pinned Tsuji in a tag-team match. Due to this, a singles match at Wrestle Kingdom 18 was set. On January 4, 2024, at Wrestle Kingdom, Tsuji was defeated by Uemura.
Tsuji and Uemura continued their feud further into the new year. This culminated on February 24, at The New Beginning in Sapporo, where Tsuji defeated Uemura in a Hair vs. Hair match, forcing Uemura to shave his hair. Tsuji attempted to use his momentum, by entering the New Japan Cup, the following month. Tsuji defeated Jeff Cobb, El Phantasmo and Ren Narita, in the first 3 rounds. In the semi-finals, he defeated Evil, to advance to the tournament finals. In the New Japan Cup final, Tsuji defeated three-time cup winner, Hirooki Goto, to win the 2024 New Japan Cup, his first major accolade in NJPW. After the match, Tsuji claimed he was the face of a new era in NJPW, before being joined in the ring by LIJ leader and stablemate, Tetsuya Naito. Tsuji's New Japan Cup win has earned him a shot at Naito's IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis, on April 6. At Sakura Genesis, Tsuji was defeated by Naito. On June 9 at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, Tsuji teamed with fellow LIJ members Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi to defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Oleg Boltin, and Toru Yano to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. This would be Tsuji's first ever championship in NJPW. They dropped the titles back to them seven days later at New Japan Soul. Tsuji participated in the G1 Climax, competing in the B Block. Tsuji finished with 10 points, and was able to qualify for the playoff stage, where he defeated Konosuke Takeshita in the quarter-final, David Finlay in the semi-final, but lost to Zack Sabre Jr. in the grand finals.
On January 4, 2025, at Wrestle Kingdom 19, Tsuji defeated Finlay to win the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, his first NJPW singles title and became the first Japanese holder of the title. The next night at Wrestle Dynasty, Tsuji successfully defended the title against Jack Perry. On February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Tsuji defended his title against Gabe Kidd, where the match ended in a double knockout. On April 4 at Sakura Genesis, Tsuji successfully defended his title against Evil. On June 15 at Dominion 6.15 in Osaka-jo Hall, Tsuji lost his title to Gabe Kidd, ending his reign at 162 days. On October 13 at King of Pro-Wrestling, Tsuji regained the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship from Kidd after a submission victory.
Unbound Co. and IWGP Heavyweight Champion (2026–present)
On January 4, 2026, at Wrestle Kingdom 20, Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita in a Winner Takes All match to retain the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship and win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. After the match, he declared himself as the "IWGP Heavyweight Champion" rather than the World Heavyweight Champion, and was attacked by Jake Lee shortly after. After Wrestle Kingdom 20, at New Year Dash!!, Tsuji announced the dissolution of Bullet Club and Unaffilated, replacing the alliance with Unbound Co., which was a complete merger. Also at New Year Dash!!, Tsuji revealed the V4 design of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Per his wishes and the blessing of President Hiroshi Tanahashi, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt was revived, the lineage combined into the World Heavyweight Championship's, and Tsuji recognized as the 87th IWGP Heavyweight Champion. On February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Tsuji successfully defended the Heavyweight Championship against Jake Lee.
Revolution Pro Wrestling (2021–2024)
On foreign excursion from New Japan, Tsuji joined Revolution Pro Wrestling and wrestled his first match overseas in a losing effort against Kyle Fletcher on September 4, 2021. He and Shota Umino formed a tag team called The Legion that competed in the Great British Tag League tournament. Tsuji wrestled for RevPro until going to Mexico in November 2021. He returned to RevPro in October 2024 to wrestle Mascara Dorada on RevPro Global Wars UK.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2022–present)
Tsuji debuted for Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), on November 11, 2022, now under the mononymous name of Yota, accompanied by Vincent and El Mesías, where they defeated El Valiente, Blue Panther and Soberano Jr.. On May 14, 2023, Yota lost to Gran Guerrero for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship. On 24 July 2024, he was announced as a participant in the 2024 Grand Prix. On August 24, 2024, Yota, Titan and Zandokan Jr. defeated Los Infernales (Averno, Euforia & Mephisto) by DQ. On August 25, 2024, Yota and Akira defeated Los Guerreros Laguneros (Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr.) On August 26, 2024, Yota was defeated by Averno in a Lightning Match at the Arena Puebla. On August 27, 2024, Yota lost to Gran Guerrero for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship by DQ at the Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara. Yota continues to be regular participant in CMLL and NJPW co-promoted event Fantastica Mania.
Personal life
Yota Tsuji
Tsuji has a twin brother named Shota, who appeared during Night 13 of the 2023 G1 Climax disguising himself as Yota to bait Gabe Kidd during his entrance. Shota is a professional stuntman.
Championships and accomplishments
Yota Tsuji
• ESPN • Ranked No. 23 of the 30 best Pro Wrestlers Under 30 in 2023
• New Japan Pro-Wrestling • IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current) • IWGP Intercontinental Championship (1 time, final) • IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship (2 times, current) • NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi • New Japan Cup ((/wiki/NewJapanCup#2024))
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated • Ranked No. 31 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2025
• Tokyo Sports • Best Bout Award (2024) Tsuji vs. Hirooki Goto on March 20
Luchas de Apuestas record
Yota Tsuji
<table><thead><tr><th>Winner (wager)</th><th>Loser (wager)</th><th>Location</th><th>Event</th><th>Date</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Yota Tsuji (hair)</td><td>Yuya Uemura (hair)</td><td>Sapporo, Japan</td><td>The New Beginning in Sapporo: Night 2</td><td>February 24, 2024</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>