“You have to feel it for yourself, the enjoyment and the sadness, and through the struggle you’ll find the strength beyond.“
DDT Pro Wrestling has produced several outstanding talents over the years. In the promotion’s variety show-like environment, young wrestlers are able to not only develop a well-rounded arsenal of wrestling skills, but become entertaining, larger than life personalities very quickly. In recent years, one of the biggest standouts in this regard has been Yuki Ueno. With comparisons often drawn to DDT alumnus Kota Ibushi, Ueno has been making his own name in the promotion thanks his playful, refreshing attitude and impressive talent in almost all areas of wrestling.
Ueno’s inspiration to become a wrestler originally stemmed from his former schoolmate, Konosuke Takeshita. After seeing his work in DDT, Ueno decided to become his rival. He joined the promotion’s developmental brand, then known as DDT New Attitude (DNA), and, once he graduated, began his steady climb up the card, never losing sight of his goal.
Outside of the ring, however, he and Takeshita formed a different kind of connection: They both loved visiting the sauna. Together with Ueno’s fellow DNA graduates Shunma Katsumata and MAO, they formed DDT’s “Sauna Club”, a group of friends that would often meet in their free time to indulge in what they would later call “heat wave power” (Neppower).
Eventually, the Sauna Club was officially turned into an in-ring faction and renamed to The37KAMIINA (pronounced “Sauna Kameena”). Thanks to their energetic attitudes and entertaining antics, T37K quickly became very popular and that support helped Ueno grow even further. By the seventh year of his career, he had finally gathered almost every major honor DDT had to offer in both the tag team and singles divisions.
However, not everything was well. After signing a second contract with major American promotion AEW and falling in with “the Invisible Hand” Don Callis, Takeshita began to distance himself from T37K, choosing instead to team with Daisuke Sasaki, DDT’s most prominent villain. Caught in the middle, Ueno ultimately decided to stick with his faction, but the situation was clearly wearing on him.
Still, the show must go on. With Takeshita’s decreasing presence in the company, Ueno is widely seen as the wrestler most likely to become DDT’s new “future”. But there is one step left to take before he can truly fill that position. The KO-D Openweight Championship, DDT’s most prestigious title, has still eluded him thus far. And so, he challenged the promotion’s top international wrestler and current champion, Chris Brookes, for the belt. At Ultimate Party 2023, they will face each other in the main event.
There is no animosity between Ueno and Brookes. While they may sometimes squabble or tease each other, they also respect each other deeply. This match will be, in many ways, an expression of their friendship, but also of their mutual will to drive their promotion forward. And because of that, neither will be holding anything back. Their battle will determine the future of DDT.
Just before this crucial match in his career, Wrestle Inn spoke to Yuki Ueno about his opinion of Brookes, his relationships with the other T37K members, and much more.
Q: It has been seven years since you first entered the DDT ring. Looking back at your career so far, what do you consider your biggest moments?
Ueno: July 2nd 2023 against HUB. At Referee Matsui’s produce show, I was very honored to go against HUB. He’s the strongest yet coolest wrestler around and I got to go all out against him. He passed down the WR, my finisher, as a present and also promised to face me one-on-one in a singles match down the road as well.
Q: You first joined DDT as part of DNA (DDT New Attitude). What were the most valuable things you learned during that time?
Ueno: To be able to blaze my own trail.
Q: In addition to being a wrestler, you’re also a TV actor. Is there anything you’ve learned working as an actor that has helped you in wrestling or vice versa?
Ueno: A producer once told me that as an actor, performing is not about acting but to lay yourself bare. In wrestling, to lay your true self in the ring is the most important facet. So whether it’s acting or wrestling, they share the same core thinking.
Q: If you could choose freely, which wrestler would you most like to have a match against?
Ueno: Hiroshi Tanahashi
Q: You’re currently a member of DDT’s most popular faction, The37KAMIINA. What makes T37K special, in your opinion?
Ueno: The37KAMIINA light up the room with our vibe and help each other out with our creative thinking. They are also very reliable partners in the ring.
Q: T37K was founded after a match between you and MAO. How has your relationship changed since then?
Ueno: The37KAMIINA was born through the Sauna. We bring excitement and give energy to each other. MAO is very creative and very empty at the same time, so he constantly surprises us. I like him a lot.
Q: T37K leader Shunma Katsumata has been out with an injury for a while now. How has that affected the faction?
Ueno: Kojima has revitalised T37K while Shunma has been away, and then some. Shunma is the heart of T37K and brings us energy all the time.
Q: You were the debut anniversary opponent of youngest member Toi Kojima. How would you say he has developed since joining your faction?
Ueno: Wrestling with us is like wrestling on a higher level compared to other factions. In a short span of time, Kojima has become a high paced wrestler faster than those of his generation. Now is the time for him to prepare to take the next step. And Kojima’s headspace is on a totally different level from us, I think he has the potential to not be a world class wrestler but a universe class wrestler.
Q: When Konosuke Takeshita extended his hand to you after your singles match at Big Bang 2023, Kojima pushed him away from you. How did you feel about that?
Ueno: I was so busy worrying about myself, and when Kojima took the first step by himself, I was so shocked to see him be very reactive in that situation.
Q: What do you think of Takeshita’s current trajectory?
Ueno: He managed to get the world to recognise his ability all by his own hands. I hope he continues to bring out the best version of himself.
Q: What do you think of the role Daisuke Sasaki has taken towards Takeshita?
Ueno: Daisuke Sasaki is the boss and also the best foil. I think they’re a perfect tag team.
Q: When they offered you to join the two of them, how did you feel about that?
Ueno: I don’t know if they offered me to join them or to join the team of Sasaki and Takeshita, but I know that you don’t become strong or change immediately like that.
Q: Why did you ultimately decide to stick with The37KAMIINA?
Ueno: I want to become stronger, but you don’t just become stronger just by joining them. You have to feel it for yourself, the enjoyment and the sadness, and through the struggle you’ll find the strength beyond. The37KAMIINA is so creative and I’m always jealous of what they constantly strive to do.
Q: You will be facing Chris Brookes for the KO-D Openweight Championship on November 12th. What do you think of Brookes, as a wrestler and as a champion?
Ueno: Chris and I are best pals. What we think and what we feel, we always share with each other. The good times and the bad, what we don’t like, our dreams and life itself. He’s been the strongest ever since I met him and I respect him even now. I support his path as a champion with all my heart, but I know there’s potential to be even greater. And even if I’ll stop it, I want to face him and win against him.
Q: How are you planning to defeat him?
Ueno: I’ll put everything in my heart against him. When the top of DDT holds the belt that’s painted with the history of DDT, and he goes against the challenger who wishes to carry DDT on his back? That in itself will become DDT.
Q: Do you have a final message you would like to share with your international fans?
Ueno: When I become the top champion of DDT, what will the view be like then? How long can I show this vision to the fans? I’m looking forward to making it happen. Let’s see that view together, shall we?
Thank you to DDT for arranging this interview and to Yuki Ueno for generously taking time to answer these questions.
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