NJPW signs Olympic gold medalist Aaron Wolf, debut set for Wrestle Kingdom
An Olympic gold medalist has signed with NJPW.
The company announced today in a press conference that Aaron Wolf, who won the 2020 Olympic gold medal in judo at 100 kg, had signed with the company. Shortly after that announcement, NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi said that Wolf would have his first professional wrestling match on January 4, 2026 at the Tokyo Dome.
Wolf said during the press conference that he had just come from his last judo tournament. As a college student, he said he always looked forward to watching World Pro-Wrestling, NJPW’s television show, and realized this could be “a new way to express himself.”
He said he had started training this month. Tanahashi said that while he wouldn’t be living with the rest of the Young Lions, he would be training with them in their dojo and would be attending events prior to his debut.
Takaaki Kidani, CEO of NJPW’s parent company Bushiroad, said he was “very happy and appreciative” of Wolf’s decision to enter pro wrestling.
In addition to his Olympic gold medal, Wolf also won gold at the 2017 World Judo Championships.