NJPW Star Yuto-Ice Shares His Feelings on the WWE Debut of KYOKI F.K.A. Hiromu Takahashi

By: Lewis Carlan

Former longtime New Japan Pro-Wrestling superstar Hiromu Takahashi made his on screen WWE debut in Aug. 2026 and aligned himself with Shinsuke Nakamura. Takahashi underwent a name change is is now known as KYOKI while competing for the WWE.

KYOKI made his WWE in-ring debut on Aug. 24th when he defeated Kit Wilson in a dark match on Monday Night RAW.

In a new interview, as reported by Tokyo Sports, NJPW superstar Yuto-Ice gave his thoughts on the WWE debut of KYOKI. Yuto-Ice revealed that he is incredibly jealous of KYOKI because he is making more money than him at the moment. He believes the time will come when he and Takahashi will cross paths again.

From Yuto-Ice:

“Just recently, he put the feelings I had into words for me. He said, ‘It’s not about envying someone getting titles or things like that, it’s seeing someone who looks like they’re having fun in the ring that makes me envious.’ When I see guys who are higher up than me or making more money, I definitely feel envious too. So right now, I’m incredibly jealous of Hiromu. If I become someone who brings in even more money, the possibility of facing him isn’t zero. No matter what form it takes, the time will come when we cross paths eventually, so I’ve got to make myself worth even more money. I can push myself on my own, but when you see someone you like giving it their all, it makes you want to work hard too. I want to keep myself prepared to cross paths with Hiromu anytime. Whether it’s standing alongside him or on the opposite side of the ring, I can picture both.” (H/T goes to meraWRESTLING for the English quote translation)

Photo Credit: New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Yuto-Ice is a former IWGP World Tag Team Champion with his Knockout Brothers partner OSKAR. He is a member of the Unbound Co. faction and has been marked as one of the young talents who can lead NJPW into the next decade.