At New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 event held at the Tokyo Dome, Olympic gold medalist judoka Aaron Wolf made a remarkable professional wrestling debut. He triumphed over EVIL in a challenging match marked by continuous interference from the faction House of Torture and claimed the NEVER Openweight Championship. Following his win, Wolf took to X (previously Twitter) to share his excitement about officially becoming a pro wrestler and vowed to honor the prestige of the NEVER Openweight title.
Wolf wrote, “Today, I finally became a professional wrestler. Everyone’s support really encouraged me. I will work hard every day to live up to this belt.” The 29-year-old athlete won’t have much time to celebrate as he prepares for his second match at the New Year’s Dash!! event on January 5th. There, he will join forces with Toru Yano, Master Wato, and YOH to face the House of Torture team composed of Dick Togo, Don Fare, Ren Narita, and EVIL, the opponent from his debut.
New Year Dash!! typically features fresh challengers who aim to capitalize on the momentum gained at the Tokyo Dome, and given the lengths House of Torture went to stop Wolf’s victory, it’s clear this rivalry is far from over. Meanwhile, EVIL’s future in NJPW remains uncertain as he considers options beyond the promotion, with rumors suggesting he may not be headed to AEW, where president Tony Khan is reportedly not impressed with his work.
Fan Take: This development is significant for AEW fans because it highlights how NJPW continues to cultivate fresh talent like Aaron Wolf, raising the bar for in-ring competition worldwide. Wolf’s rapid rise could influence both promotions by intensifying talent exchanges and rivalries, ultimately benefiting the sport by delivering more thrilling matches for wrestling fans everywhere.
