New Japan Pro Wrestling is one of the top wrestling promotions in the world and has had no issues of getting major names to be part of the company. Late Sunday night in the United States, the company announced an emergency press conference and revealed the signing of a 2020 Olympic Gold medalist. Let’s take a closer look at who it is and what we know surrounding the news at this point.
New Japan Pro Wrestling Signs Aaron Wolf
During Monday’s press conference to announce the signing, 2020 Olympic Gold medalist in judo Aaron Wolf was at the table with New Japan Pro Wrestling President Hiroshi Tanahashi and chairman Takaaki Kidani to sign his NJPW contract officially. During the press conference, it was also announced that Wolf will be making his debut at the same event that Tanahashi will be retiring at: Wrestle Kingdom 20. However, it is not expected to be a match between the two but just another attraction point.
Wolf explained in Japanese how he wanted to enter professional wrestling and has been a wrestling fan.
“I’ve just come from my last judo tournament and I’ve been very busy but I’m happy to be here. As Tanahashi explained, I approached NJPW with the idea to come into professional wrestling. Since I was a college student, I always looked forward to seeing World Pro-Wrestling and seeing how cool and aspirational these figures were. I realized this would be a new way to express myself outside of judo. I do not take my debut in the Tokyo Dome lightly on January 4. I realize that while I was at the very top of the judo world, in professional wrestling I have to start from square one and I appreciate your support.”
The 29-year-old won the gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 100 kg competition and will bring familiarity to New Japan Pro Wrestling, as the promotion has been able to bring ‘outsiders’ from wrestling and make them into stars.
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