Peatzilla | MP
By: Noah Leatherland
DDT has marked its territory as perhaps the promotion with the biggest personality in Japan. With one of the most varied rosters in wrestling today, DDT continues to build its momentum and its fanbase through big characters, clashing styles and in-ring excellence. This year’s edition of Wrestle Peter Pan, the biggest event on the DDT calendar, draws near. In the main event, MAO challenges Yuki Ueno for the KO-D Openweight Championship, the top prize in DDT.
Despite personifying the spirit DDT, and being one of the most decorated members of the roster, the KO-D Openweight Title belt has never been fastened around MAO’s waist. His challenge for Ueno’s title will be a rematch from 2024’s Wrestle Peter Pan main event, where Ueno emerged as the victor. MAO’s road back to challenging Ueno has been a long one. Back in 2024, he and Ueno stood side by side as part of The37KAMIINA faction. Since then, MAO has left and started his own group, Strange Love Connection. He has represented DDT around the world, and even flew the promotion’s flag in the 2025 Best of the Super Juniors in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
This year’s KING OF DDT tournament was as a potential path MAO could take to Ueno and the KO-D Openweight Title. MAO made it all the way to the finals, losing out to tournament winner Shinya Aoki. With a successful defence against Aoki, Ueno hand picked his opponent for Wrestle Peter Pan. Wanting to face off against a man he believed could help push DDT to higher heights, Ueno chose MAO.
Now in his third reign as KO-D Openweight Champion, Ueno will have crossed 600 cumulative days as champion by the time he collides with MAO in the Ryogoku Kokugikan on August 11th. If MAO wants to ascend to the top of DDT, he will need to defeat one of the greatest champions the promotion has ever seen. Before those two stars of DDT battle it out for the KO-D Openweight Title, Monthly Puroresu had the opportunity to catch up with MAO.
Monthly Puroresu:
You describe your style as ‘f*cked up wrestling for a f*cked up world’. Why do you think that appeals to so many fans?
MAO:
I think that’s the DDT way, and it’s the very spirit I inherited from Sanshirō Takagi.
Monthly Puroresu:
You play in a hardcore band called Dos Quatro. How does performing music compare to performing in the ring?
MAO:
With a live music concert, you face straight ahead and it feels like a battle with the audience right in front of you, but with pro-wrestling, the ring is open on all four sides. When you’re trying to entertain everyone whilst being aware of all directions, your movements naturally become more expansive. I do feel that pro-wrestling and live music are different forms of entertainment.
Photo Credit: MAO on X
Monthly Puroresu:
There is a lot of crossover between heavy music fans and wrestling fans. Why do you think those two fanbases are so close?
MAO:
I think everyone carries some sort of impulse within them. I suppose wrestling, hardcore and heavy music are all ways that make it easy to let those impulses out, aren’t they?
Monthly Puroresu:
Is there anyone on the DDT roster you think has a surprising taste in music?
MAO:
Yuki Ishida’s into reggae, which isn’t really a surprise given how he looks. Chris is into UK punk. Daisuke Sasaki likes fast hardcore punk, too. You’d think we’d all be into the same kind of intense, fast music, but it turns out our tastes differ slightly. I think that’s what makes it interesting.
Monthly Puroresu:
What have you been listening to recently? Do you have any music recommendations for your fans?
MAO:
Lately, I’ve been into that laid-back guitar pop sort of thing. I notice there are quite a few solo projects—not full bands—popping up in the US at the moment. The tracks I’ve been listening to a lot are ‘lose her’ by s0rrow and ‘im so blue for you’ by zombiwebz.
Monthly Puroresu:
Pro wrestling and hardcore music are both quite aggressive. Is there anything you do to chill out?
MAO:
Honestly, I just spend my time zoning out. It’s not that I’m doing nothing, exactly. The times when ideas pop into my head are usually when I’m in the shower or drying my hair with the hairdryer. Anyway, I make a point of zoning out. I might be in the park, drinking juice and eating bread, just zoning out whilst watching the pigeons.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
You will face Yuki Ueno in the main event of Wrestle Peter Pan. Ueno is defending the KO-D Openweight Championship. You have won many titles in DDT, but not this one. How important is the KO-D Championship to you?
MAO:
As the DDT UNIVERSAL Champion, I’ve worked hard to raise the profile of DDT, and this is the belt that represents the very pinnacle of DDT. As a DDT wrestler, I have to become the strongest. Unlike the top belts in other promotions, being the strongest in DDT is incredibly difficult. I have to stand at the pinnacle of all the different styles.
Monthly Puroresu:
You faced Yuki Ueno at Wrestle Peter Pan in 2024. You lost that match. How have you changed since that match? How do you think Ueno has changed?
MAO:
I left The37KAMIINA. I parted ways with Yuki Ueno, with whom I’d been working for so long, and went on to form my own unit. After that, I also competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and I’ve been even more committed to being DDT’s MAO, gaining the strength to prove that I’m DDT’s MAO wherever I compete. Yuki Ueno lost the Openweight title for a while, but he’s since regained the championship. During his title defences, he’s absorbed many of his opponents’ strengths, and he’s also successfully turned fans who’ve come from outside the promotion into loyal DDT supporters. I believe that’s one of his key strengths.
Monthly Puroresu:
Yuki Ueno chose you to be his opponent. Does that add any pressure to this match? Do you have something to prove?
MAO:
I’d been planning to win the tournament and stand face-to-face with Yuki Ueno, but I never imagined he’d actually call me over. I’m absolutely delighted that Yuki Ueno wants me on his own terms, and the two of us need to keep driving DDT forward from here on out. I was taken by surprise, but I was happy, and I’m now fully resolved to give it my all. It’s been about a year and a half since I left The37KAMIINA. I wonder how much we’ve both grown. I left The37KAMIINA because I wanted to stand opposite Yuki Ueno. I don’t think things would have turned out this way if we’d stayed as teammates. Unless I beat Yuki Ueno, there’s no point in me having left The37KAMIINA. I want to prove that.
Image Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
You and Yuki Ueno have both spoken about wanting a DDT show at the Tokyo Dome. What would a show at the Tokyo Dome mean for you?
MAO:
I see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think it’s a huge gamble—if we hold an event at the Tokyo Dome and fail to attract an audience, the whole company could go under. I realise we have to proceed with caution, and I don’t know when we’ll actually be able to pull it off. But if we keep Korakuen Hall and Ryogoku full, the Tokyo Dome will eventually come into view. Of course, it’s a dream, but I don’t expect it to come true straight away. I see this as the first step towards building that up.
Monthly Puroresu:
If DDT did a show at the Tokyo Dome, what kind of matches would you want to see there?
MAO:
I really do think that KONOSUKE TAKESHITA’s involvement will prove to be crucial. I believe DDT needs to produce a wrestler who can draw a crowd by facing KONOSUKE TAKESHITA in a singles match. Whether that’s me, Ueno, or someone else, I’m not sure yet.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
It has been over a year since you competed in the United States. What are your favourite memories from wrestling in America? Were there any memorable experiences outside of the ring?
MAO:
It was staying at Jimmy Lloyd’s house. Every day was thrilling and great fun. I found the city of Philadelphia incredibly stimulating. I’ve got fond memories of the whole week I spent at Jimmy Lloyd’s house, as well as my time with the group called Circle 6. Their style is quite similar to DDT’s. Wrestling on the streets of Hollywood on New Year’s Eve was a really great memory.
Monthly Puroresu:
Thank you very much for your time. Do you have any final messages for your fans around the world?
MAO:
I want to become the strongest in DDT, win the KO-D Openweight Championship, become an even greater symbol of DDT, and perfect my own wrestling style. Beyond that, I hope to be able to hold a show in the US whilst I’m still champion. I’d also like to hold a show in France, and I’d love to visit the UK and Southeast Asia too. I’d be delighted to be able to compete overseas whilst I hold the Openweight Championship. Stay tuned!
Monthly Puroresu would like to extend our sincere gratitude to DDT Pro Wrestling for facilitating this interview with MAO.
MAO challenges Yuki Ueno for the KO-D Openweight Championship at DDT Wrestle Peter Pan on August 11th at the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Date:
August 4, 2026
