Vertical Bison | MP
By: Noah Leatherland
Working and living full time in Japan, Chris Brookes has become synonymous with DDT Pro Wrestling. For as much as Brookes has embraced DDT and Japan, they have both embraced him just as much. In his time there, Brookes has held his fair share of gold, including two reigns as the KO-D Openweight Champion. He is one of four foreigners to have reached such heights in DDT, and being at the top of that short list for days with the title. 2026 also saw Brookes found his own faction, Fantomes Dramatic, recruiting Antonio Honda, Hinata Kasai and HARASHIMA into the ranks.
Brookes’ experience does not start and stop with DDT, however. The Brit has made consistent appearances for ChocoPro, as well as popping up in DDT’s sister promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling when called upon. Brookes has even appeared in New Japan Pro Wrestling, having a part in opening Wrestle Kingdom 20 in the Tokyo Dome earlier this year. As well as taking those booking across the country, Brookes has also been making his own stamp on the scene. His own brand, BAKA GAIJIN, has run in bars, basements and arenas in across Tokyo and beyond.
Now, Brookes is looking ahead to the Ryogoku Kokugikan. On November 3rd, DDT Pro Wrestling will take over the venue for this year’s Ultimate Party event. There, Brookes will take on one of his closest friends in DDT. As the reigning KO-D Openweight Champion, MAO had the opportunity to select his opponent for DDT Ultimate Party. He did not hesitate to nominate Chris Brookes. As such, the main event for Ryogoku Kokugikan is set, and Brookes has the chance to climb the mountain one more time.
With a huge match on the horizon, Monthly Puroresu had the chance to catch up with Chris Brookes.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
You’ve been in Japan full-time now for around 7 years. How has life changed for you compared to when you first arrived?
Chris Brookes:
Life has only gotten easier the more I’ve learned the language and culture and integrated into it, but largely not much has changed fundamentally. Everyone says there is a ‘honeymoon’ period with living overseas, but if there is I haven’t left it yet. I love living here.
Monthly Puroresu:
New places also means a lot of new faces. Who helped you settle into life in Japan? Who do you find yourself spending a lot of time with now?
Chris Brookes:
Initially Takeshita was a huge help. He wanted to get better at English and was in that position as the face of DDT and he really helped me settle in. Special shout outs to Makoto Oishi, Shota, Daisuke Kiso and Mr. HAKU of course too. These days if they’re on BAKA GAIJIN shows I’m probably hanging out with them regularly, so that bunch of weirdos.
Monthly Puroresu:
You’ve kept a pretty busy schedule over the past few years. How do you think you’ve developed as a performer since making the move to Japan?
Chris Brookes:
I think I’ve matured a lot, whilst maintaining a sense of immaturity which is good. For whatever reason, I find myself as a defacto ‘wrestling dad’ to a lot of people which is flattering but ages me horribly.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
DDT has made its mark on the scene with its more outlandish approach to pro wrestling, from stipulations, to weapons, to the venues themselves. You’ve been involved in your fair share of these wild moments. Has there been any ideas that almost went too far? Where do you get your ideas from?
Chris Brookes:
I just do things with the mentality of a) “is it funny?” and b) “will we get in trouble for this?” and if it seems kinda funny but also like you might get in a bit of trouble that’s a good sweet spot. In terms of looking for ideas, anywhere outside wrestling. The stuff in wrestling has been done so you can’t do it again.
Monthly Puroresu:
Speaking of, things got pretty chaotic at the final night in Shinjuku FACE. How did it feel to say goodbye to (and help tear down) a venue you’ve competed in so many times?
Chris Brookes:
It was bittersweet. I like breaking stuff. So smashing the wall was a lot of fun. Sad that on that occasion we were actually allowed to smash the walls because FACE is going away.
In all seriousness, the venue that whole leaves in the scene is immeasurable. It served as a perfect middle ground between smaller venues like Shin Kiba and Tokyo Square and much larger ones like Korakuen Hall whilst having the huge benefit of being so central in the heart of Shinjuku so mid-week shows for customers were perfectly doable after a working day.
Allegedly, they’re looking to build a new FACE somewhere so I hope it’s sooner rather than later.
Monthly Puroresu:
The last time you spoke with Monthly Puroresu, you were coming up on the first anniversary of BAKA GAIJIN. How has it been to build BAKA GAIJIN over the past few years? Do you have any specific goals for the brand?
Chris Brookes:
BAKA GAIJIN continues to continue providing people with their monthly dose of underground mat pro-wrestling for oddballs. This year we somehow ended up having a match at 2am at NYLON (a popular fashion magazines) anniversary event which was pretty weird. I hope we can keep finding new avenues and new unexpected places to bring our gang of misfit characters. Next up on the horizon we’re finally doing a show in a ring! December 26th at Shin Kiba 1st RING. It might even be great!
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
Looking ahead, you’ve got a match for the KO-D Openweight Championship against MAO at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. How do you prepare for big main events like this?
Chris Brookes:
With familiar territory there’s still an air of pressure. It’s flattering to be in that position but also there’s an expectation. I like those days though. They end up being the ones you remember.
Monthly Puroresu:
MAO personally selected you as his challenger for the Ryogoku show. How does it feel to share such a platform with him? What kind of match can fans expect from the two of you?
Chris Brookes:
FUCKED UP WRESTLING FOR A FUCKED UP WORLD.
Monthly Puroresu:
When MAO addressed the crowd and picked you, he made a point to say how loyal you have been to DDT. What is it about DDT that has made you stay?
Chris Brookes:
DDT was a place I wanted to grow in the beginning, then became a place I felt indebted to. These days, DDT feels like my home. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Image Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
You’ve held the KO-D Openweight Championship twice before. That also means you have lost the title twice. When you’ve reached such heights, is it difficult to then be without the title?
Chris Brookes:
It opens up doors to other things. As a champion, you have a lot of responsibility to be the face of the company and your schedule ends up pretty full. On the other hand, when you’re not the champion you suddenly have a lot more free time to do other things. Both have their merits.
Monthly Puroresu:
MAO won the belt from Yuki Ueno back at Wrestle Peter Pan. Going into that match, both men mentioned wanting to take DDT all the way to the Tokyo Dome. Konosuke Takeshita also brought that same idea up at Ueno’s anniversary event. What would a DDT event in the Dome mean to you? What do you think DDT needs to do to get there?
Chris Brookes:
I think post pandemic DDT has been on a steady stream of upward momentum which makes what was possibly an unthinkable goal at a point now seem within reach. DDT continues to expand, grow its fan base and constantly attempt new things which I think is very important too. We’re constantly expanding, trying new collaborations and new ventures and I think the Dome is within our reach. Consistency is key and I think DDT is very consistent.
Monthly Puroresu:
If DDT were able to reach that goal, what kind of match would you want to have at a DDT Dome show?
Chris Brookes:
Match 1! If we make it to such a stage I wanna get out there early and then enjoy watching the rest of it with everyone else and a nice beer.
Monthly Puroresu:
Of course, you’ve already wrestled in the Tokyo Dome, facing El Phantasmo at Wrestle Kingdom 20. How was the experience of wrestling in front of a crowd that big?
Chris Brookes:
Very jarring and strange. Walking down the ramp it’s just a sea of people and you can’t see their faces, you can’t look into their eyes. My shows in Shimokitazawa I can see how every single person reacts to every single thing. It’s very different, but very fun at the same time. I never imagined I’d ever get to wrestle at the Tokyo Dome, so before it I strangely wasn’t nervous. Felt like a dream.
Photo Credit: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
That match with El Phantasmo was also a bit of a DDT vs. NJPW bout. There is a lot of speculation that there might be more crossovers like that with the recent ownership changes for New Japan. The DDT Universal Championship is even in the hands of a NJPW’s Ryusuke Taguchi. Would you welcome more crossovers like that?
Chris Brookes:
I think it’s beneficial to both companies as well as the fans who want to see those crossovers, so absolutely. Why not?
Monthly Puroresu:
Thank you so much for your time. Do you have any final messages for Chris Brookes fans around the world?
Chris Brookes:
Inhaled. Burned. Thrown away.
If it were anything but a cigarette, it would surely be crying.
Photo Credit: Geek Studio on Tumblr
Monthly Puroresu would like to extend our sincere gratitude to DDT Pro Wrestling for facilitating this interview with Chris Brookes.
Chris Brookes challenges MAO for the KO-D Openweight Championship at DDT Ultimate Party on November 3rd in the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Date:
October 26, 2026
