Vertical Bison | MP
By: Ian McCord
For some professional wrestlers, the opportunity to test their mettle in Japan is a dream that many work their whole careers towards. Testing their mental and physical toughness in a place where professional wrestling is treated as serious sport is a true badge of honor if your voyage is successful.
Chris Ridgeway was given that opportunity back in 2019 and he took the proverbial ball and ran with it.
Having made his professional wrestling debut in the early 2010’s, Chris Ridgeway built an impressive resume before making his way over to Japan from the UK to compete for Pro Wrestling NOAH. Jumping aboard “The Ark” had become a goal of Ridgeway’s since discovering the green mat on YouTube back in his high school days.
During his time with NOAH, Ridgeway made a name for himself as a technical Jr. Heavyweight standout, who quickly fell under the learning tree of the legendary Yoshinari Ogawa. Ridgeway cemented his name in the Global Honored Crown’s history books, becoming a two-time GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, once with Ogawa and another with Daga.
After some time away to focus on life back home in the UK, Ridgeway made his return to Japan in 2024 wrestling for GLEAT, where he fit right in with the hard-hitting style that the promotion centers on. Ridgeway is set to make another run in GLEAT, however, this time, he won’t be coming alone.
It was announced back in August that Ridgway and long-time friend and former BJW Death Match Heavyweight Champion, Drew Parker, would be debuting as a tag team in Japan. The duo are coming to make a statement against the toughest that GLEAT has to offer.
Image Credit: Chris Ridgeway
Monthly Puroresu recently caught up with Chris Ridgeway to discuss the time he spent competing for Pro Wrestling NOAH, his upcoming return to GLEAT with Drew Parker, and more.
Monthly Puroresu: Do you remember the first time you saw Japanese professional wrestling and what stuck out to you about it?
Chris Ridgeway: I can’t remember the exact match but I was probably about 16. It would’ve been one of the matches from an NOAH/ROH crossover show. That style was really attractive to me, they were getting properly stuck into each other and I liked the physical presentation it had. Then I went down YouTube rabbit hole after rabbit hole and would obsessively watch everything I could.
Monthly Puroresu: In 2019 you debuted for Pro Wrestling NOAH and went on to become a two-time GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with Yoshinari Ogawa and Daga. How did your involvement with NOAH come to be?
Chris Ridgeway: Honestly I spoke it into existence enough times that it happened! I think for a while it was very obvious what I wanted to do in wrestling and where I wanted to be. I had a lot of help from great people around me. One thing led to another and I was able to wrestle KENOH for Will Ospreay’s promotion at the time, Frontline, and then wrestle in front of Marufuji. A combination of those things led to being contacted by the NOAH office and the rest is history. Will was really helpful in setting me up with NOAH at the time and I was lucky enough to be wrestling against the best wrestlers in this country, regularly. You’re only as good as the people you’re in there with.
Monthly Puroresu: You were a member of Yoshinari Ogawa’s faction Stinger during your time with NOAH. What is the best piece of advice you received from Ogawa?
Chris Ridgeway: “Pay it forward” – he was a big leader kind of guy but stoic, I’d say. I was shocked that I was able to work with him so much considering a lot of my early training days were watching him and ZSJ team together. Very cool guy.
Monthly Puroresu: What is your favorite memory from being a part of Stinger?
Chris Ridgeway: I got to team with Ogawa, Daga, Kotaro Suzuki, Seiki Yoshioka, Atsushi Kotoge, HAYATA, and sometimes EITA. If you know your wrestling you know those are a few of the best junior heavyweights to ever do it. Being able to absorb knowledge on the job with them and being around those guys kept me on my toes too. Winning the belts with Ogawa in Ryogoku and then with Daga in Korakuen are 2 of my favourite nights ever in wrestling. Being brought into Stinger was a complete surprise too, I didn’t know it was happening until Ogawa literally pulled me into an interview and announced me right after a match in Osaka. Writing about all this is having me relive these memories, so cool.
Monthly Puroresu: At the NJPW/AJPW/NOAH All Together Again event in 2023 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan you and Sean Legacy defeated ZSJ and Kosei Fujita in a special tag team match. What did it mean to you to get to represent NOAH at such a big event?
Chris Ridgeway: Yeah really cool at the time. Me and Zack often express how it would be good to work together and we got to dabble a little bit in that one. But in terms of what he and I did in that match barely scratches the surface of what we can do. I’m eagerly anticipating getting a singles match with him again some time. He’s the measuring stick of the style of wrestling I love. But I’ve got more success against him than he has against me, so I can let him try and get his win back.
Image Credit: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu: What led to your departure from Pro Wrestling NOAH?
Chris Ridgeway: I got a phone call from back home the night before a show and it wasn’t good news. I couldn’t focus at all on the match that I was wrestling in and I knew then and there with that news, and other things that were going on in my world right there and then, that I had to be at home. Part wanting to be more accessible for my family at the time, part guilt for being away whilst things were going on, and part anxiety something was going to happen. So I put that over wrestling and I stayed home for a while and things moved on with companies, and I wasn’t in a position where I was willing to do long tours in Japan. All respect to NOAH though, they were supportive in my decision and were completely professional.
Monthly Puroresu: In 2024 you returned to Japan, competing for GLEAT, and had the opportunity to work with some big names: El Lindaman, Fuminori Abe, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Minoru Tanaka, and others. Is there a match you consider your favorite during your first tour with the promotion?
Chris Ridgeway: I loved tagging with Minoru Tanaka, we got to team twice on my first night there at Korakuen Hall so that was pretty cool. Another legend there, I always keep good company.
Monthly Puroresu: During your early days in NOAH you spent time teaming with Kotaro Suzuki, who has become the mentor of Parker Bordeaux, who competes in GLEAT. Have you had a chance to check out any of his matches? If so, what are your thoughts on Parker Bordeaux?
Chris Ridgeway: Parker Bordeaux is cool man. I like him, a hard working honest lad that gets himself stuck in. Really polite and respectful too. Shared a few long coach journeys to Osaka together, he’s sound.
Monthly Puroresu: You are returning to GLEAT in September with Drew Parker as “North x Wales Strong”. What are you two hoping to accomplish during your time in Japan?
Chris Ridgeway: Tag belts honestly. Me and Drew go way back, known each other for years. We used to travel around the north west together in cars when we were new. We wrestled around the same circles and worked together plenty. For my first time going to Japan, before I boarded (he’d gone out just before me) I was on the phone with him. As I was getting on the plane I was asking what to expect, and we met up a bunch of times out there when our hectic schedules aligned. But yeah anyway winning the G Infinity would just be so sick and then go and eat some good food. Proper full circle moment, he’s a lovely lad and a class wrestler. Handsome too.
Monthly Puroresu: What would it mean to you to win GLEAT’s tag team titles, the G-INFINITY Championship with Drew?
Chris Ridgeway: I want us to win them and bring them to the UK and defend them. I want to put GLEAT on more people’s screens and eyes around the UK and Europe, it deserves more acknowledgment than it gets around my way. Too many talented wrestlers from there are quite under the radar here and I think we can shine a light on the promotion itself.
Monthly Puroresu: If given the opportunity is there a GLEAT singles title you would want to challenge for and why?
Chris Ridgeway: G Rex of course, I would want to be at the top of the company. I’m capable and believe in myself to do that. I think for a while I’ve sat back a bit and not pushed myself to be at the forefront of a company but that’s what my aim is now. So, tag belts or singles belts, I want it all.
Monthly Puroresu: Since the last time you were in Japan you’ve dealt with some health issues, how have you been feeling lately? Does this upcoming trip feel like a big return?
Chris Ridgeway: Yes it feels huge for me. I’m absolutely piling the pressure on myself, getting myself in the right head space to go out there and do what I do. My neck is stronger than about 3 necks put together now. I’d put myself against any variation of cattle you can think of and win in a traditional headbutt fight.
Monthly Puroresu: Along with being a wrestler, you are also one of the head trainers at Futureshock Performance Center in Manchester England. What advice do you give your students who are hoping to wrestle in Japan?
Chris Ridgeway: Have a bit of something about you. They already have great wrestlers there that wrestle the ‘Japanese style’ so don’t be a version of that, be creative and adapt to it whilst bringing them something different. Also, go to the gym and be ready to have a sore body a lot. You’ve got to be tough, man.
Monthly Puroresu: Have any of your students gone to Japan to wrestle?
Chris Ridgeway: Not yet, but there’s a few I could happily send out as soon as tomorrow in good faith and I know they’d smash it.
Monthly Puroresu: What is your favorite thing to do in your free time while in Japan?
Chris Ridgeway: Wandering about, eating delicious food, having a drink. I enjoy a frolick, a mooch. Training with great wrestlers too.
Monthly Puroresu: Thank you so much for your time. Do you have any final words for your fans around the world?
Chris Ridgeway: No problem, thanks for considering me for this!
I don’t have fans around the world haha but hello if you’ve read this and thanks for having a look.
Shout out to Futureshock PC and everyone there, from the trainers Sam and Lana to all the students. If you’re a wrestler in the UK (Manchester specifically) come train with us everyone is welcome.
Keep an eye out for me and Drew bringing home some tag gold to the UK!
NWS!
Image Credit: Ian McCord
Monthly Puroresu would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Chris Ridgeway for this interview.
Date:
September 4, 2026
