Olympic Gold Medalist To Make Pro Wrestling Debut

AEW

An Olympic gold medalist has made the transition from judo to professional wrestling, signing a contract with NJPW.

Aaron Wolf competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, taking gold in men’s 100kg judo, retiring from the sport in June 2025.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling has now confirmed the signing of the martial arts star in a press release dated June 23 that reads:

“At a special press conference in Tokyo on June 23, Aaron Wolf, who won gold in the men’s 100kg judo during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, announced a transition into the professional wresting sphere, and that he had signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, working towards a debut on January 4 2026 at Wrestle Kingdom 20.

“29 year old Wolf, who was born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and American father, became a national sporting icon for his achievements, particularly in the 2020 games, and has been a household name as a television personality, up to his retirement from judo earlier in June.

“Wolf was joined at the press conference by Bushiroad CEO Takaaki Kidani and NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi was first to address the media, announcing Wolf officially joining New Japan, and explaining that it was the Olympian that first approached New Japan with the idea of turning pro. ‘Wolf has shown his dedication and passion for pro-wrestling,’ Tanahashi explained, adding that ‘should he make his debut he will be the first Japanese gold medalist to come into professional wrestling. I have high expectations, and I would like to see him debut on January 4 2026 in the Tokyo Dome’.

“In Wolf’s first statement as a professional wrestler, he expressed his excitement at ‘standing on a new stage,’ after his retirement from the judo ranks. Wolf explained that since he was a college student he had watched NJPW’s weekly World Pro-Wrestling broadcasts, attracted to ‘how cool the wrestlers were in and out of the ring,’ as well as ‘a whole different appeal to judo’. Wolf said that he had always wanted to get into professional wrestling ‘once I had nothing left to achieve in judo,’ and that after his Tokyo gold and appearance in the Paris Olympics last year, he made his first moves into the pro-wrestling world. Going further into what he enjoyed about pro-wrestling and its appeal to him, Wolf said that ‘before the match, the match itself, and after it, too, those are all places where a pro-wrestler brings their way of life into the open, and it’s where Aaron Wolf can express himself moving forward.’

“That said, Wolf fully understood the tough trials he was set to undergo. ‘I won’t waste a second of this time to prepare,’ Wolf stated, continuing that ‘I fully understand that I will be starting from zero.’ Nonetheless, Wolf received words of encouragement from owner Takaaki Kidani, who remarked ‘as a fan’ on the ‘incredible sight’ of judo’s top and pro-wrestling’s top of Tanahashi and Kidani sat together. Kidani said of Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4 that with Tanahashi’s retirement and Wolf’s debut, ‘there’s no better indication of the end of one era and the beginning of another’.

“After contracts were signed and Wolf’s NJPW status was made official, the panel took questions from the assembled media. Asked about what kind of wrestler he aimed to become, Wolf humbly explained that he was ‘at the beginning of his journey,’ and that such things would come into focus later on. About his training experience thus far, how he might approach the in ring aspects and even what costume design he is considering, Wolf was affable but humble. ‘I really believe that you can’t build a house without a strong foundation,’ he explained, saying that he had to let go of certain aspects and instincts he had picked up in judo. ‘My first love is judo though,’ he continued ‘and I won’t throw that away. I would like to bring some aspects of that with me (in pro-wrestling).

“Asked about the mechanics of pro-wrestling, Wolf admitted that he was in the early stages of his journey. As he worked on his fundamentals, Wolf said that ‘rolling and side falls are very similar to judo, but bumping backwards isn’t something we do in judo so that’s taking some getting used to,’ adding with a laugh ‘I used to be pretty good at judo, so I’m not so used to being thrown around.’ On what form his debut match might take, Wolf said that he was hoping for a singles match, ‘and that’s what I’m working toward’ when it came to Wrestle Kingdom 20; asked about the potential of wrestling Tanahashi at the Dome, the Ace responded dryly that ‘speaking as a promoter, it’s best to have my retirement and Wolf’s debut as two separate attractions. But I’ll see him at the Dojo, so perhaps we can go one on one without any people there’.

While Wolf has now joined NJPW, two former stars have recently been announced for appearances following their departures.

As recently reported, Tetsuya Naito and Bushi are scheduled to compete at RevPro Summer Sizzler in the United Kingdom on July 25.

NJPW will crossover with AEW once more as Forbidden Door returns on August 24 at The O2 in London, England.

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• Aaron Wolf
• NJPW

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