Peatzilla | MP
By: Lewis Carlan
After debuting back in November 2012, New Japan Pro-Wrestling superstar YOH has carved out a very successful and impressive career for himself.
YOH has held the IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on an incredible six separate occasions. In addition, he currently holds the NEVER Openweight Six Man Titles with Master Wato & Toru Yano.
On September 24th, YOH challenged El Desperado for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship in a spectacular match. Despite falling short in winning the title, YOH proved that he has become a force as a singles wrestling competitor.
The NJPW Super Jr. Tag League kicks off on October 23rd in Korakuen Hall, and it has been revealed that YOH will being teaming with Master Wato in the tournament. YOH & Wato are former IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
YOH was gracious enough to grant an interview to Monthly Puroresu to discuss IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship , the Super Jr Tag League and many more topics.
Here is the Monthly Puroresu interview with NJPW superstar YOH:
Monthly Puroresu:
On September 24th, you faced El Desperado for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. It was a spectacular match but you fell short and were defeated. What was your level of disappointment that you were unable to win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title?
YOH:
It was my fifth challenge for the IWGP Junior title, and although I lost, I think that it was the most effective mix of of the character and style I’ve been able to foster over my career. I came into New Japan Pro-Wrestling to be the best, so as long as I have that goal in mind, you’ll see me continuing to improve and continuing to work toward that IWGP Title.
Monthly Puroresu:
Would you consider your career incomplete unless you win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title and how much does that championship mean to you?
YOH:
I think over the course of my career certainly the value of that belt and the level of competition for it has constantly improved. That’s a testament to the quality of wrestlers that we have in the junior division and I’m always ready to take aim and have a shot at any one of those guys in the top flight.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
With the Super Jr Tag League coming up, what is your game plan ahead of the tournament?
YOH:
This year I’ll be teaming with Master Wato. I really feel he’s the most dependable partner I’ve ever had. Obviously I wouldn’t enter if I didn’t plan on winning, so I plan on winning!
Image Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
Which do you enjoy competing in more – singles or tag team matches and why have you made that decision?
YOH:
I’ve had a lot of success in tag teams, but an important factor to that is the quality of my partners of course. I always feel like tag matches are something you only see in pro-wrestling, not in any other combat sport, so to have that and have success in that field is a real honour. There’s something special about tag wrestling, but I really want to wrestle more as a singles as well. I wouldn’t say I like one over the other, I love all pro-wrestling.
Monthly Puroresu:
You made your debut back in 2012, how would you reflect on your career and what have you seen as the biggest changes?
YOH:
I’ve had a lot of fun but it hasn’t all been that way. That’s a good thing, and that’s what’s given me the career I’ve had. I’ve been doing this for 12 years now- people in the business say you really only get on the right path after wrestling 1000 matches, which on the NJPW schedule means about ten years. I think if I look at myself ten years in, that’s where I really started to have a better idea of who the wrestler YOH is. So that goes to show just how deep pro-wrestling is as a sport. As for the biggest changes, I think the world has become more flexible, and I think wrestling has gotten more flexible with it. Individual wrestlers have become a lot more creative, and it’s been great to see more movement and collaboration between different companies as well.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
When you have the day off from competing, what do you enjoy doing to relax?
YOH:
I’ve been making a lot of collages lately. And I’ve started working with sewing machines, making bags.
Monthly Puroresu:
Hiromu Takahashi is the current GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion for Pro Wrestling NOAH, do you hope to win titles from rival promotions in the future as well and do you have any in mind?
YOH:
I have a ton of respect for Hiromu in lighting things up across the whole wrestling space. I’m waiting for the right time, but when that time is right I’ll make some moves myself.
Monthly Puroresu:
What’s next for YOH? Where do you go from here?
YOH:
Well what I have in mind right now is what’s right in front of me and that’s the Super Jr. tag League. I plan on crafting something big for myself in the year to come.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
When your pro-wrestling career is over, what do you want the fans to remember you by?
YOH:
I plan on becoming the company president. So remember me that way!
Monthly Puroresu would like to extend our sincere gratitude to New Japan Pro-Wrestling for facilitating this interview with YOH and providing the English text translation.
Date:
October 16, 2025
