Vertical Bison | MP
By: Noah Leatherland
DDT packed the fans into Korakuen Hall on September 13th. The fans, the wrestlers, and the promotion as a whole were there to celebrate one of their own, Yuki Ueno. The event was a celebration of Ueno’s 10th anniversary as an in-ring competitor. Debuting for DDT back in 2016, Ueno has become an icon of DDT’s modern era over the past decade.
Ueno has held the promotion’s top prize on three occasions. Put together, his reigns total 605 days. He is in fourth place on all time title holders by days, third if you rank by title defences. Ueno has also held the DDT Universal Championship more times and for more days than anyone. Plus, he’s held every type of KO-D tag belt there is, from duos, to trios, to quintets. That is all a roundabout way of saying that Ueno has left an undeniable mark on DDT, and will surely continue to do so.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Ueno’s 10th anniversary event had a taste of everything that makes DDT special. The dark match was a wild multi-man brawl that spread across the entirety of Korakuen Hall as fans were still making their way to their seats. A variety of pro wrestling styles filled the card, coming from teenage prospects and living legends alike. Names from across the wrestling world collided to realise dream encounters, seen with Konosuke Takeshita colliding with Chihiro Hashimoto. Then, the main event saw Ueno take on longtime friend and The37KAMIINA ally, Shunma Katsumata in a rematch from Ueno’s first Korakuen Hall main event back in 2017.
Now, Ueno has eyes on the future. With ten years in the rearview mirror, there is another decade and more ahead. Ueno finds himself without the KO-D Openweight Championship, having lost the gold to MAO at Wrestle Peter Pan in August. But, the chatter leading into that match and at the anniversary event has made Ueno’s next big goal clear: DDT in the Tokyo Dome. With Ueno about to begin his eleventh year as a professional wrestler, Monthly Puroresu had the opportunity to catch up with him.
Monthly Puroresu:
Congratulations on your 10th anniversary in pro wrestling. How does it feel to reach such a landmark in your career?
Yuki Ueno:
I was truly delighted to be able to take part in this event alongside the people who have been part of my life over the past ten years and who have helped shape who I am today.
Monthly Puroresu:
Your anniversary event showcased various aspects of DDT. What do you think is it about DDT that holds such appeal and attracts so many fans?
Yuki Ueno:
DDT is a ring where everyone is free to express themselves and do what they love. I believe the most important thing about professional wrestling is how you choose to live your life and whether you can show that to others. With Sanshirō Takagi leading the way, it’s a ring where everyone can enjoy themselves, and I think that’s what makes it so appealing.
Monthly Puroresu:
You faced Shunma Katsumata in the main event. You first faced each other in 2017 in Korakuen Hall. How did it feel to share the ring again? Could you feel how much you had grown since that first match?
Yuki Ueno:
Rather than looking back on the past, I was simply happy to be able to face Katsumata—who has been fighting alongside me all this time in The37KAMIINA—in front of a packed Korakuen Hall, a venue where people from all over the world were watching, following WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
Monthly Puroresu:
You have achieved so much in DDT. Many consider you one to be one of the DDT’s greatest wrestlers. Are you able to think of yourself like that?
Yuki Ueno:
I don’t know if that assessment is fair. But I’ve always believed that I exist because of others. After all, we humans cannot exist on our own. If someone sees the good in me, I think that means they are a wonderful person too.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
In August, you lost the KO-D Openweight Championship to MAO. Your reign lasted for almost a year. After holding a title for so long, does it feel strange to be without it?
Yuki Ueno:
Not at all. When I have the belt, I simply enjoy using it as a part of my fighting style, and when I don’t have it, I fight using the very fact that I don’t have it as part of my strategy, so it doesn’t feel out of place at all.
Monthly Puroresu:
Your match with MAO was the main event of Wrestle Peter Pan. How do you deal with the pressure of being in such big matches?
Yuki Ueno:
Whether it’s the main event at WRESTLE PETRER PAN, the main event at an Ueno Park show, or even the opening match, there’s no difference. All I can do is put into practice what I’ve built up over time, so perhaps there isn’t any pressure as such. Especially since my opponent was MAO-chan—he was a brilliant opponent who put me at ease about giving it my all—so I felt absolutely no pressure at all.
Monthly Puroresu:
You have spoken a lot about wanting to take DDT to the Tokyo Dome. What steps do you think DDT needs to take to get there?
Yuki Ueno:
In every single match, it goes without saying that we give it our all; but as far as what we can do, we are committed to two things: loving our wrestling and sharing it with everyone—sharing it and loving it.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
KONOSUKE TAKESHITA confirmed that you two will face each other if DDT reaches the Tokyo Dome. What would a match like that mean for you?
Yuki Ueno:
It was watching Takeshita that inspired me to become a professional wrestler, so I think the match will be full of romance and drama.
Monthly Puroresu:
What other matches would you like to see at a DDT show in the Tokyo Dome?
Yuki Ueno:
I want to create a place where everyone who has been involved with DDT over the years can come and enjoy themselves. So, whilst I don’t know what sort of matches will take place, my vision is for DDT to become a place where not only our own wrestlers, but also those from other organisations, can come and realise their dreams.
Photo Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling
Monthly Puroresu:
The Tokyo Dome is a very big goal. Are there any other goals you are working towards in your career?
Yuki Ueno:
There’s a shopping centre called Ario in Yao City, Osaka Prefecture, which is my home town. I used to go there all the time, so I’d love to hold an event there (laughs).
Monthly Puroresu:
Thank you for your time. Do you have any final words for Yuki Ueno fans around the world?
Yuki Ueno:
As we continue to build on our efforts, I’m sure the day will come when we’ll be coming to see you all. Until then, please enjoy Yuki Ueno and DDT Pro Wrestling.
Monthly Puroresu would like to extend our sincere gratitude to DDT Pro Wrestling for facilitating this interview with Yuki Ueno.
Date:
September 30, 2026
