Aaron Wolf made history at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20, winning the NEVER Openweight Championship in his very first professional wrestling match. The 29-year-old Olympic gold medalist submitted EVIL with a triangle choke in just under 13 minutes, overcoming heavy interference from the House of Torture faction to capture his first championship at the Tokyo Dome.
From Olympic Gold to Pro Wrestling Gold
Wolf won gold in the 100kg judo category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, defeating South Korea's Cho Gu-ham in the final via ippon after more than five minutes of golden score overtime. He also won the 2017 World Judo Championships and became just the 10th male judoka in history to complete the "triple crown" of All-Japan Championships, World Championships, and Olympic gold.
Born to an American father and Japanese mother, Wolf became the first athlete of U.S. descent to win the All-Japan Judo Championships in 2019. He retired from competitive judo in June 2025 and signed with NJPW that same month, with Wrestle Kingdom 20 announced as his in-ring debut.
Young Lion Look Shocked Fans
Wolf surprised the sold-out Tokyo Dome crowd by appearing not as an Olympic celebrity, but as a traditional NJPW young lion. He shed his judo gi on the stage to reveal plain black trunks and boots, with a shaved head completing the stripped-down look typically reserved for NJPW's rookie trainees. The presentation signaled that Wolf wanted to earn respect the hard way.
Match Overcame House of Torture Chaos
True to form, EVIL's House of Torture faction turned the match into controlled chaos. Early on, EVIL wrapped a chair around Wolf's neck and struck it with another chair. Multiple House of Torture members attacked Wolf while referees were distracted, and the towering Don Fale splashed Wolf through a table from the ropes.
Toru Yano, Master Wato, and YOH ran out to help even the odds, but they were overwhelmed by House of Torture's numbers. Wolf survived a ref bump, powder to the eyes, and EVIL's lariat before finally turning the tide.
Judo Background Wins the Day
Wolf showed impressive offense throughout, hitting an Olympic Slam and a top rope splash for near falls. When EVIL attempted his Everything Is EVIL finisher, Wolf countered with a judo throw and locked in an armbar. EVIL escaped, but Wolf transitioned to a triangle choke that put the champion to sleep.
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The finish played perfectly into Wolf's legitimate combat sports background. Rather than pin EVIL, he submitted him with a technique rooted in his judo expertise, giving the victory an air of authenticity that resonated with the Tokyo Dome crowd.
Building to Wrestle Kingdom
The feud between Wolf and EVIL began at King of Pro-Wrestling in October, when Wolf saved Boltin Oleg from a House of Torture attack. At a subsequent press conference, EVIL spray-painted the NEVER Openweight Championship and mocked it as Wolf's "gold medal," setting up the championship match.
Wolf trained at NJPW's Noge Dojo in Tokyo since signing, working to translate his judo instincts into professional wrestling. In interviews, he credited watching NJPW since college and specifically mentioned Katsuyori Shibata and Tomohiro Ishii's rivalry for the NEVER Openweight Championship as an inspiration.
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What It Means
Wolf becomes the first Japanese Olympic gold medalist to pursue professional wrestling, and NJPW's decision to put a championship on him immediately shows enormous confidence in his star power. The company's scouting department head, Yuji Nagata, has publicly stated Wolf has the potential to become a "new ace" for the promotion.
With the NEVER Openweight Championship around his waist, Wolf's next challenge will be proving his debut wasn't a fluke. NJPW has announced "Death Vegas" for April 16 in Las Vegas, which could provide an opportunity for Wolf to showcase his new championship to American audiences.