Yoh
Yoh in July 2018
Birth nameYohei Komatsu
Born (1988-06-25) June 25, 1988[1]
Kurihara, Miyagi, Japan[1]
WebsiteTwitter
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Fujin
Yohei Komatsu
Yo[2]
Yoh[3]
Yohey[4]
Billed height171.5 cm (5 ft 7.5 in)[1]
Billed weight85 kg (187 lb)[1]
Trained byNJPW Dojo
Junji Hirata
Tetsuya Naito[5]
DebutNovember 19, 2012[1]

Yohei Komatsu (小松 洋平, Komatsu Yōhei) (born June 25, 1988), better known by his ring name Yoh (stylised in all caps), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Chaos stable.

After returning from his excursion, he was a part of the junior heavyweight tag team Roppongi 3K, along with Sho. The tag team were five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions and three-time winners of the Super Junior Tag League. Additionally, Yoh is a one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion (alongside Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi) and won the Super Junior Tag League with Lio Rush.

He has previously also worked for the American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) and Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). In the latter promotion, he was known under the ring name Fujin (風神, Fūjin), named after the Japanese God of the wind, and was part of La Ola Amarilla ("the Yellow Wave") alongside Okumura, Kamaitachi and Raijin (the name Sho worked under in Mexico).

Early life

Komatsu was born on June 26, 1988, in Kurihara, Miyagi, Japan where he also grew up. He became interested in professional wrestling by watching it on television with his parents from the age of three.[1] While in school he joined the wrestling club, learning amateur wrestling at a young age.[1][6]

Professional wrestling career

After graduating from university, Komatsu began training for his professional wrestling career at the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) dojo. Initially, he worked a part-time job while trying to pass the NJPW "Young Lions" test, which he finally passed in May 2012.[1]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2012–2016)

Komatsu in March 2015

He made his debut for NJPW on November 19, 2012, on NJPW's NEVER project's Shodai NEVER Musabetsu Kyu Oza Kettei Tournament show where he lost to Takaaki Watanabe.[7] Komatsu competed as one of NJPW's "Young Lions", a class of rookie wrestlers who work mostly against each other early on, wearing all black gear and with no particular ring character, all part of the structured learning process in NJPW.[6] In 2013, he competed in his first major NJPW tournament, teaming up with Kushida to compete in the 2013 Super Junior Tag Tournament. The team lost in the first round to Bushi and Valiente.[8] [9] On January 4, 2014 Komatsu teamed up with Jyushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi and Super Strong Machine to work a non-televised match at Wrestle Kingdom 8, NJPW's biggest show of the year. The team lost to Bushi, Captain New Japan, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tomoaki Honma.[10][11] Throughout 2013 and 2014, Komatsu often faced off against fellow Young Lion Sho Tanaka, with both men trading victories in both singles and tag team competition.[12] By 2015, Komatsu and Tanaka had begun teaming together on a regular basis, including working together in the New Japan Rumble as part of Wrestle Kingdom 9 on January 5, 2015. The two teamed up to eliminate Tiger Mask and Taichi but were both eliminated by Tama Tonga.[13] On January 15, 2015, Komatsu competed at the Fantastica Mania 2015 event as he was called upon to replace the injured Rey Cometa in the NJPW/Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) co-promoted event. The team of Komatsu and Kushida lost to Bárbaro Cavernario and Yoshi-Hashi.[14] On February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Komatsu lost to Tanaka and three days later Komatsu and Satoshi Kojima lost to Captain New Japan and Nakanishi.[15][16] The Invasion Attack 2015 show saw Komatsu, Alex Shelley, Captain New Japan, Kushida and Yuji Nagata defeated Liger, Nakanishi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Sho Tanaka and Tiger Mask.[17]

He was announced to be one of 16 wrestlers selected to be part of the 2015 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. However, he would go on to lose all his qualifying matches.[18] On July 5, 2015, at Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall, Nakanishi, Máscara Dorada, Taguchi, Tanaka and Nagata defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Liger, Kojima, Tiger Mask and Komatsu in the untelevised first match of the night.[19] His next match at a major NJPW show was on September 23, 2015 at Destruction in Okayama where he, Tanaka, Katsuyori Shibata and Nagata defeated David Finlay, Jay White, Nakanishi and Tetsuya Naito.[20] A few days later, at Destruction in Kobe, Komatsu and Tanaka defeated fellow Young Lions Finlay and White.[21] In early 2016, it was announced that Komatsu and Tanaka would compete in the 2016 Fantastica Mania series of shows, competing in what NJPW called the "Yohei Komatsu and Sho Tanaka send-off game", announcing that the two would travel to Mexico and work for CMLL as part of their continued in-ring skill development.[22] The team worked the opening match for each of the six Fantastica Mania events, losing each time.[23][24][25][26][27][28] On the last night, Tetsuya Naito, Komatsu's original trainer, called Komatsu to the ring and implied that he was going to join Naito's stable Los Ingobernables de Japón, but then proceeded to beat him up with Evil.[5]

Overseas learning excursion (2016–2017)

Komatsu and Tanaka would be the latest in a long line of young Japanese wrestlers to travel to Mexico to learn the lucha libre style. In Mexico, Komatsu was given the ring name Fujin, named after the Japanese God of Wind, teaming with Tanaka who would be known as Raijin, named after the Japanese God of Thunder.[29] The duo made their Mexican debut on January 31, teaming up with Okumura, forming the most recent version of La Ola Amarilla ("The Yellow Wave").[30] The group was joined by Kamaitachi, the previous NJPW trainee who has worked for CMLL since 2014.[31] On March 22, Fujin took part in the 2016 edition of The CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa, a tournament in which rookies team up with veterans in a single-elimination tournament. Teaming up with Rey Escorpión, Fujin won his block, advancing to the finals of the tournament scheduled for April 5,[32] in which they were defeated in the finals of the tournament by Esfinge and Volador Jr.

In October 2016, Komatsu and Tanaka, now billed as "Yohey" and "Sho" and known as the "The Tempura Boyz", began working regularly for American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), with whom NJPW also had a working relationship.[33]

Return to NJPW (2017–present)

Roppongi 3K (2017–2021)

Roppongi 3K performing the 3K on Ryusuke Taguchi

On October 9, 2017, at King of Pro-Wrestling, Komatsu and Tanaka, billed as "Yoh" and "Sho", returned to NJPW, when they were revealed as Rocky Romero's new tag team Roppongi 3K. The two defeated Funky Future (Ricochet and Ryusuke Taguchi) in their return match to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.[34] Through their affiliation with Romero, Yoh and Sho also became part of the Chaos stable.[35] On November 5 at Power Struggle, Roppongi 3K defeated Super 69 (ACH and Ryusuke Taguchi) in the finals to win the 2017 Super Jr. Tag Tournament.[36] On January 4, 2018, Roppongi 3K lost the Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) at Wrestle Kingdom 12,[37] but won it back on January 28 at the New Beginning in Sapporo. In May 2018, Yoh entered his second Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He finished the tournament with 3 wins and 4 losses, failing to advance to the finals. In October, Sho and Yoh entered the 2018 Super Junior Tag League, winning the tournament for the second time in a row to face El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru at Wrestle Kingdom 13. However, an earlier loss to the team of Shingo Takagi and Bushi made the title match a triple threat, that Takagi and Bushi would go onto win, with Takagi pinning Sho. At New Japan’s 47th Anniversary Event, Sho and Yoh would defeat Takagi and Bushi to win the championship for a third time. In June, Roppongi 3K would lose the Junior Tag Team Championship to the team of El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori. In November, Sho and Yoh would win the Super Junior Tag League#2019|Super Junior Tag League]] for the third time in a row. At Wrestle Kingdom 14, Roppongi 3K would defeat Phantasmo and Ishimori to win the titles for the fourth time. Roppongi 3K would make their first successful title defense against Desperado and Kanemaru at The New Beginning in Osaka. They would make their second successful title defense against Rocky Romero and Ryusuke Taguchi on the first night of the New Japan Road tour. Following New Japan’s return to producing wrestling shows, Yoh entered the 2020 New Japan Cup losing to Bushi in the first round.[38] During this match, Yoh tore his left ACL which kept him out of action for the rest of 2020.[39][40]

YOH returned to NJPW during the finals of the 2021 New Japan Cup.[41] Later that year along with partner Sho, Yoh entered the Super Junior Tag League. Despite entering as favourites and former winners the pair struggled to pick up any wins. On August 16, 2021, following a loss to Suzuki-gun, Sho attacked Yoh, ending their eight-year partnership.[42]

Singles career (2021–present)

Yoh in November 2023, taunting Robbie Eagles

Following Sho's betrayal, the two faced off at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, where Sho defeated Yoh via referee stoppage.[43] After the match, Sho joined Bullet Club, accepting a shirt from Evil, Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo, hence joining their sub-group House of Torture.[44] Following the loss, Yoh was inactive in the ring, until November, where he participated in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Yoh finished second in the block, ending with 14 points and advancing to the finals, after avenging his loss to Sho on the final day.[45] In the finals, Yoh lost to Hiromu Takahashi.[46] At Wrestle Kingdom 16, Yoh teamed with Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi, in a losing effort to House of Torture for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[47]

During the Golden Series tour in February, the duo lost in a rematch to House of Torture.[48] The following month, Yoh entered the 2022 New Japan Cup, but lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi in the first round.[49] In May, Yoh entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, competing in the A Block.[50] Yoh ended his tournament campaign with 8 points, failing to advance to the finals.[51] In July, Yoh, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi defeated House of Torture to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. The trio lost the titles in a rematch to House of Torture in September at Burning Spirit[52] In November, Yoh teamed with new Chaos stablemate Lio Rush in the Super Junior Tag League. The duo finished joint top of the block with 14 points, advancing to the finals.[53] In the finals, Yoh and Rush defeated Bullet Club's Ace Austin and Chris Bey, to win Yoh's record fourth Super Junior Tag League.[54] The duo earnt their title shot at Wrestle Kingdom 17, where they lost to IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira).[55]

At The New Beginning in Sapporo, Yoh faced Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated.[56] In May, Yoh entered the 2023 Best of the Super Juniors, competing in the B Block.[57] Yoh finished the tournament with 12 points, narrowly missing out on advancing to the semi-finals.[58] As Rush was unavailable for the Super Junior Tag League due to illness, Yoh made a surprise appearance at Michinoku Pro Wrestling's anniversary show and confronted Musashi, who he had known since high school.[59] Musashi accepted his invitation, but they finished eighth in the block with eight points.[60]

Championships and accomplishments

Roppongi 3K as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions and the winners of the 2017 Super Jr. Tag Tournament

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "YOH - YOH- CHAOS ~ NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  2. ↑ "The Addiction take on The Tempura Boyz at Undisputed Legacy". Ring of Honor. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  3. ↑ "King of Pro-Wrestling". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  4. ↑ "10/15/16 Glory By Honor - Dearborn, MI". Ring of Honor. August 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Meltzer, Dave (February 1, 2016). "February 1, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2016 Royal Rumble, Road to Wrestlemania, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 25. ISSN 1083-9593.
  6. 1 2 "Komatsu y Tanaka". Box y Lucha magazine (in Spanish). No. 3218. January 24, 2016.
  7. ↑ "NEVER". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ "10月25日、11月6日後楽園で「Super Jr.タッグT」開催!! ヤングバックスが初参戦!! バリエンテ、バレッタも来日!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Road to Power Struggle" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  10. ↑ "バディファイトPresents Wrestle Kingdom 8 in 東京ドーム". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  11. ↑ Caldwell, James (January 4, 2014). "Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of New Japan's biggest show of the year – four title changes, former WWE/TNA stars featured, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Yohei Komatsu matches against Sho Tanaka". Cagematch.net. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  13. ↑ Johnson, Mike; Trionfo, Richard. "Complete New Japan WrestleKingdom PPV coverage (page 2)". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  14. ↑ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2015". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ "新日本プロレス「The New Beginning in Osaka」". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  16. ↑ "新日本プロレス「The New Beginning in Sendai」". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. February 14, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  17. ↑ Rose, Bryan (April 5, 2015). "New Japan Invasion Attack results 4–5–15: AJ Styles vs. Kota Ibushi". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Best of the Super Jr.XXII". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved June 4, 2015.
    "Best of the Super Jr.XXII". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved June 5, 2015.
    "Best of the Super Jr.XXII". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 29, 2015.
    "Best of the Super Jr.XXII". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 23, 2015.
    "Best of the Super Jr.XXII". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 22, 2015.
    "Best of the Super Jr.XXII". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 27, 2015.
    "Best of the Super Jr.XXII". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  19. ↑ 新日本プロレス「Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo hall」. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  20. ↑ Macklin, Matthew (September 23, 2015). "NJPW Destruction in Okayama report". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  21. ↑ Macklin, Matthew (September 27, 2015). "New Japan Destruction in Kobe results". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  22. ↑ "小松洋平、田中翔の"無期限海外遠征"が決定！ 『FANTASTICA MANIA』全6大会で"壮行試合"が実現！" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. January 7, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Arrancó Fantasticamanía 2016". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). January 17, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  24. ↑ Zellner, Kris (January 20, 2016). "The Lucha Report". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  25. ↑ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2016". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  26. ↑ Zellner, Kris (January 25, 2016). "Mario Meija Jimenez aka the original Espectrito & WWF's Mini Vader passes away: The Lucha Report". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  27. ↑ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2016". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  28. ↑ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2016". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  29. ↑ "CMLL vs NJPW, en puerta". Esto Enlinea (in Spanish). 6 January 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Negro Casas contra Volador; la rivalidad continúa". Esto Enlinea (in Spanish). 3 February 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  31. ↑ Carrera, Pep. "La Ola Amarilla busca conquistar la Arena México" (in Spanish). Plantilla Deportivo. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  32. ↑ López Peralta, Gonzalo (March 23, 2016). "Arena México Lucha Libre 22 de Marzo de 2016". Yahoo! Deportes (in Spanish). Yahoo!. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Card finalized for Dearborn on October 15". Ring of Honor. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  34. ↑ Rose, Bryan (October 8, 2017). "NJPW King of Pro Wrestling live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Evil". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  35. ↑ "King of Pro-Wrestling". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  36. ↑ Currier, Joseph (November 5, 2017). "NJPW Power Struggle live results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  37. ↑ Renner, Ethan (January 3, 2018). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 live results: Okada-Naito, Omega-Jericho". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  38. ↑ NJPW. "2020.06.23 NJPW WORLD Special NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  39. ↑ "YOH『膝について』". Roppongi3k YOHオフィシャルブログ「立ち話もなんですから」Powered by Ameba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-07-06.
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  41. ↑ "Roppongi 3K's YOH returns to NJPW". 21 March 2021.
  42. ↑ NJPW. "Noppongi 3K: Super Jr. Tag League Update (night 5) | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  43. ↑ "2021.09.04 "Card Fight!! VANGUARD overDress" presents WRESTLE GRAND SLAM in MetLife Dome | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING".
  44. ↑ "SHO Joins Bullet Club at NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam | Fightful News".
  45. ↑ "Finals Set in NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 Tournament | Fightful News".
  46. ↑ "Best of the Super Juniors 2021 winner crowned". 15 December 2021.
  47. ↑ "WRESTLE KINGDOM 16 in 東京ドーム – 東京・東京ドーム 2022/1/5".
  48. ↑ "2022.02.20 New Years Golden Series | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING".
  49. ↑ "NJPW Results: New Japan Cup 2022 Day 1 – Tokyo, Japan (3/2)". 2 March 2022.
  50. ↑ "NJPW Best of Super Juniors 29 Lineup Announced, Including Champions from ROH, IMPACT & GLEAT". May 2022.
  51. ↑ "NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 29 finals live results: Hiromu vs. El Desperado". Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  52. ↑ "2022.09.25 Burning Spirit | New Japan Pro-Wrestling".
  53. ↑ "Finals set for NJPW Super Junior Tag League after the last round-robin matches". 10 December 2022.
  54. ↑ "NJPW World Tag League & Super Junior Tag League live results: Winners crowned". Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  55. ↑ "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights". Bleacher Report.
  56. ↑ "NJPW the New Beginning in Sapporo live results: Three title matches". Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  57. ↑ "Complete lineups for Best of the Super Juniors tournament". 3 May 2023.
  58. ↑ "Finals Set for NJPW 2023 Best of the Super Juniors Tournament". 26 May 2023.
  59. ↑ "Michinoku Pro's MUSASHI to team with YOH in Super Jr Tag League!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. October 15, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  60. ↑ Carey, Ian (November 2, 2023). "Finals set for NJPW Super Junior Tag League". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  61. ↑ "Sakura Genesis 2021 Results". New Japan Pro Wrestling (English Site). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2021-04-04. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  62. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 5, 2017). "Super Junior Tag Tournament (2017)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  63. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 3, 2018). "Super Junior Tag League (2018)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  64. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 3, 2019). "Super Junior Tag League (2019)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  65. ↑ Dilta, Abhishek (September 16, 2022). "PWI 500 2022 List Rankings Full List Male And Female Wrestlers". thesportsgrail.com. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  66. ↑ Middleton, Marc (November 18, 2020). "FTR Takes Top Spot On The Inaugural PWI Tag Team 50 List". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  67. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (January 27, 2014). "The 2013 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Annual Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 1–36. ISSN 1083-9593.
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