Yota Tsuji

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Yota Tsuji
Tsuji in November 2023
Birth nameYota Tsuji
Born (1993-09-08) September 8, 1993 (age 30)[1][2]
Yokohama, Japan[1][2]
Alma materNippon Sport Science University[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Yota Tsuji
Yota
Billed height1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[2][1]
Billed weight227 lb (103 kg)[2]
Billed fromYokohama, Japan[1][2]
Trained byNJPW Dojo
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Ultimo Guerrero
DebutApril 10, 2018[1][2]

Yota Tsuji (辻 陽太, Tsuji Yōta, born September 8, 1993[3]) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Los Ingobernables de Japon stable. Tsuji is the winner of the 2024 New Japan Cup and has also made appearances for Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).

Early life[edit]

Before wrestling, Tsuji had played baseball, American football and had done taekwondo.[2][3][1] In March 2012, he graduated from Yokohama Tateno high-school.[2][3] In March 2016, Tsuji graduated from Nippon Sport Science University.[2][3]

Professional wrestling career[edit]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2017–present)[edit]

Young lion (2017–2021)[edit]

In April 2017, Tsuji was signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) under New Japan's "young lion" system.[2][3] A year later, Tsuji as well as fellow young lion, Yuya Uemura, made their pro-wrestling debuts at Lion's Gate Project 11 where Tsuji was defeated by Tomoyuki Oka.[4][5][6] In his second match, he was defeated by Ren Narita.[7] During night one of Wrestling Dontaku 2018, Tsuji and Shota Umino were defeated by Bullet Club (Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi).[8] At Lion's Gate Project 12, Tsuji and Uemura went to a time-limit draw.[9] At Lion's Gate Project 13, Tsuji and Uemura wrestled to a draw.[10] On September 5, at Aichi, Tsuji teamed with Narita to defeat Uemura and Umino, winning for the first time. After three years, New Japan reported that Tsuji would be going on overseas excursion along with Uemura as of August 1, 2021. On that day, Tsuji wrestled his last match as a young lion, facing Tetsuya Naito, with whom he had a minor feud with, in a losing effort.

Foreign excursion (2021–2023)[edit]

It was announced by Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW) that Tsuji would make his debut for the promotion on September 4. Tsuji wrestled his first match overseas in a losing effort against Kyle Fletcher.

Tsuji debuted for Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), on November 11, 2022, now under the mononymous name of Yota, accompanied by Vincent and El Mesías, where they defeated El Valiente, Blue Panther and Soberano Jr..[11] On May 14, 2023, Yota lost to Gran Guerrero for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship.[12]

Los Ingobernables de Japon (2023–present)[edit]

Tsuji returned to New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Wrestling Dontaku 2023, attacking IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sanada and the remainder of the Just 5 Guys stable, whilst challenging Sanada for the title.[13] The title match was made official for Dominion. On June 3 at the press conference the day before the event, Tsuji officially joined Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ).[14] The day after at the event, Tsuji unsuccessfully challenged Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.[15]

In July, Tsuji made his debut in the annual G1 Climax tournament, competing in the A Block.[16] Tsuji finished the tournament with 7 points, narrowly missing out on qualifying to advance to the quarter-final round.[17] On August 13, Tsuji pinned reigning IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay in an eight-man tag team match, leading Tsuji to held the IWGP United Kingdom Championship over the fallen Ospreay, setting up at title match at Destruction on September 24, which Tsuji failed to win the title from Ospreay.[18] In October, Tsuji returned to the UK at Royal Quest III, defeating Luke Jacobs.[19] The following month, Tsuji participated in the World Tag League, teaming with Zandokan Jr. of CMLL. The duo finished with 6 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals.[20] Following the tournament, Tsuji renewed a feud with former Young Lion dojo stablemate Yuya Uemura, who had joined Just 5 Guys, which started after Uemura pinned Tsuji in a tag-team match. Due to this, a singles match at Wrestle Kingdom 18 was set.[21] On January 4, 2024 at Wrestle Kingdom, Tsuji was defeated by Uemura.[22]

Tsuji and Uemura continued their feud further into the new year. This culminated on February 24, at The New Beginning in Sapporo, where Tsuji defeated Uemura in a Hair vs. Hair match, forcing Uemura to shave his hair.[23] Tsuji attempted to use his momentum, by entering the New Japan Cup, the following month.[24] Tsuji defeated Jeff Cobb, El Phantasmo and Ren Narita, in the first 3 rounds.[25] In the semi-finals, he defeated Evil, to advance to the tournament finals.[26] In the New Japan Cup final, Tsuji defeated three-time cup winner, Hirooki Goto, to win the 2024 New Japan Cup, his first major accolade in NJPW. After the match, Tsuji claimed he was the face of a new era in NJPW, before being joined in the ring by LIJ leader and stablemate, Tetsuya Naito. Tsuji's New Japan Cup win has earned him a shot at Naito's IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis, on April 6.[27] At Sakura Genesis, Tsuji was defeated by Naito.

Personal life[edit]

Tsuji has a twin brother named Shota, who appeared during the final block A of 2023 G1 Climax disguising himself as Yota to bait Gabriel Kidd during his entrance.[28] Shota is a professional stuntman.[29]

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Yota Tsuji". Cagematch. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Yota Tsuji". NJPW1972. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e "辻 陽太 Yota Tsuji". njpw.co.jp (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. ^ "LION'S GATE PROJECT11". njpw.co.jp (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  5. ^ "LION'S GATE PROJECT11". njpw.co.jp (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  6. ^ "NJPW Lion's Gate Project11". Cagematch. Cagematch. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. ^ "NJPW Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Tag 2". Cagematch. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. ^ "NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Tag 1". Cagematch. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  9. ^ "NJPW Lion's Gate Project12". Cagematch. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  10. ^ "NJPW Lion's Gate Project13". Cagematch. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Extranjeros tienen polémicos debuts en la Arena México". publimetro.com.mx (in Spanish). November 11, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  12. ^ Apolo Valdés (May 15, 2023). "Gran Guerrero retuvo el Campeonato Peso Completo CMLL ante Yota". Super Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  13. ^ Thompson, Andrew (May 3, 2023). "Yota Tsuji returns to NJPW at Wrestling Dontaku, takes out Just 5 Five Guys". POST Wrestling. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Tsuji joins LIJ as title contenders go face to face in Osaka". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Fritts, Chick (June 4, 2023). "NJPW Dominion live results: Seven title matches". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "NJPW G1 Climax 33 Participants, Blocks & Full Schedule". Voices of Wrestling. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  17. ^ Rueter, Sean (2023-08-09). "New Japan's G1 Climax 33 quarterfinals are set". Cageside Seats. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  18. ^ Fritts, Chick (2023-09-24). "NJPW Destruction in Kobe live results: Ospreay vs. Tsuji title match". Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  19. ^ Fritts, Chick (2023-10-14). "NJPW Royal Quest III live results: Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr". Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  20. ^ Carey, Ian (2023-12-07). "Semifinals set for NJPW World Tag League 2023". Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  21. ^ Currier, Joseph (2023-12-22). "Yuya Uemura vs. Yota Tsuji set for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18". Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  22. ^ Fritts, Chick (2024-01-04). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 live results: SANADA vs. Naito, Okada vs. Danielson". Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  23. ^ Williams, Suit (2024-02-24). "NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo 2024 (February 23 & 24) Results & Review". Voices of Wrestling. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  24. ^ Carey, Ian (2024-02-26). "NJPW reveals brackets for 2024 New Japan Cup". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  25. ^ Fritts, Chick (2024-03-17). "New Japan Cup 2024 night 10 live results: Shingo vs. EVIL". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  26. ^ Currier, Joseph (2024-03-19). "Full card announced for 2024 New Japan Cup Finals". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  27. ^ Fritts, Chick (2024-03-20). "New Japan Cup 2024 finals live results: Hirooki Goto vs. Yota Tsuji". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  28. ^ "【新日本・Ｇ１】辻陽太〝替え玉〟は双子の兄！ ゲイブ一蹴し「高額な請求をさせてもらう」". 東スポWEB (in Japanese). 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  29. ^ 栗田尚樹. "【新日本】怪物・辻陽太が２人？ 入場した辻に奇襲するゲイブの背後にニヤリと笑う辻 - プロレス : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  30. ^ Caldwell, Brandon; Raimondi, Marc (August 3, 2023). "From MJF and Rhea to...a Viking? Here are the 30 best pro wrestlers under 30". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.

External links[edit]

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