| Yoshihiko |
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![]() Yoshihiko being held by Michael Nakazawa |
| Born | December 25, 2004 |
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| Website | www.ddtpro.com/wrestlers/210 |
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| Billed height | 120 cm (3 ft 11 in) |
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| Billed weight | 400g |
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| Debut | February 9, 2005 |
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Yoshihiko (ヨシヒコ) is a professional wrestler and member of the DDT Pro-Wrestling roster.[1] The character of Yoshihiko has been portrayed exclusively by a series of inflatable or stuffed female sex dolls, but he is treated as a real competitor within kayfabe and has held four different championship titles.
Overview
In DDT events and on television broadcasts, Yoshihiko is treated as a human opponent, and it is tacitly understood that the fact that he is a doll is not mentioned. In matches, opponents, tag partners, and seconds control the doll's movements to direct the match. A match against Yoshihiko allows wrestlers to show the audience the worked performance techniques that create the effect of a dramatic wrestling match.[2] In kayfabe, commentators treat Yoshihiko as if he is moving autonomously and fighting the opposing wrestler. This has carried over from DDT to other promotions Yoshihiko has toured to, such as Game Changer Wrestling in the United States.
Taking advantage of his ultra-lightweight body and imperviousness to human injury, the doll can perform superhuman acrobatic movements (referred to as "sixth-dimensional killing techniques" by commentators). For the same reason, frequent accidents occur, such as his joints bending in impossible directions (double joints), being thrown from the ring far into the back of the audience, his body losing air and shrinking during the match, limbs being torn off, and his brain (stuffing) flying out of his head.[3] Because of these injuries, Yoshihiko's body has been replaced with a new doll at least three times.
Regarding his approach to matches against Yoshihiko, Kenny Omega noted:
…we make people feel sorry for this thing and make people feel as though it's a human being putting its life on the line for the entertainment of the fans. We took a lot of time and effort to come out with a way this is going to look legitimate and a way that people are going to be sucked into this world where you could believe it.[4]
Character history
On February 9, 2005, Yoshihiko made his debut in DDT under the gimmick of being Muscle Sakai's younger brother.[5] He fought a fierce battle with Inokuma, but then withdrew from the ring due to a mysterious illness (air leakage) that caused his entire body to shrink like a balloon. Yoshihiko participated in matches throughout 2005 but then did not return until 2009.
At DDT Judgement 2009, Yoshihiko made an appearance as Danshoku Dino's tag-team partner. They defeated PIZA Michinoku & Antonio Honda to become #1 contenders for the KO-D Tag Team Championship.[6] During the match, Honda destroyed Yoshihiko's head, but the character "reincarnated" (was replaced with another doll mid-match). The new doll was dressed in a new costume to look like the Great Muta.
Then, at DDT Max Bump 2009, Yoshihiko and Dieno challenged Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega for the KO-D Tag Team Championship.[7] Yoshihiko's head was burst after a giant swing into the crowd from Omega, and he was carried out of the arena. Later in the match, he reappeared dressed in the Undertaker's biker costume, and made a new entrance riding on a tricycle. With his organs and brains (stuffing) being exposed, Yoshihiko and Dieno were narrowly defeated after a 30 minute match. Post-match, Antonio Honda and two associates appeared from backstage to shoot Yoshihiko with a gun. Kenny Omega vowed revenge.
Yoshihiko returned once again and took the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship from Yoshiaki Yago on June 28, 2009.[8]
He competed as champion at Ryogoku Peter Pan: I Can't Be an Adult on August 23rd. In the Royal Rumble format match, he lost the title when Owashi Toru threw him out of the ring shortly after he appeared, but reappeared towards the end of the match as Sumo Yoshihiko wearing a large ginkgo and mawashi. He was defeated by Owashi again, but after the match he rolled him up and reclaimed the title (because of the title's 24/7 defense clause).
On October 25, 2009, he faced KO-D Openweight Champion Kota Ibushi in a double title match at DDT Welcome To Never Land 2009 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.[9] He pumped up from 2 pounds to 3 pounds and appeared dressed as Hulk Hogan. With the entire Belt Hunter x Hunter faction behind him, he was in top form and used superhuman techniques such as eight consecutive Canadian Destroyers to corner Ibushi, but after a 25-minute battle, he was pinned for the first time by Ibushi's Phoenix Splash and single arm crab hold. However after the match ended by the first fall, with outside assistance, he was able to roll up Ibushi with a neck hold and recapture the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship. At this time, his mask was taken off by Dino and Takanashi, revealing the true face of the Robo Chojin.
On December 31, 2009, he participated in the 108-man New Year's Rumble, a big bonus track at the Tenka Sanbun no Kake New Year's Eve Special (Korakuen Hall).[10] He disqualified Yotsukaider with a hurricanrana, but was on the defensive against a fierce attack from Kengo Mashimo and Hiroyuki Miyamoto, and for some reason, he and Abdullah Kobayashi got along well over their nipples . In the end, both of them were disqualified after going over the top rope. When he entered the ring, he received the loudest cheers of the 108 wrestlers, proving his popularity.
On June 13, 2010, Yoshihiko, Mitsuru Sato and Keisuke Ishii captured the UWA World Trios Championship from Tokyo Gurentai and announced their participation in the Six-Man Tag Triple Crown Match at Ryogoku Peter Pan 2010 ~Summer Vacation, Ah Summer Vacation, Summer Vacation~.[11] They lost the championships on July 25 in a triple threat match also featuring Kudo, Antonio Honda and Yasu Urano, as well as winners Great Kojika, Mr. #6 and Riho.[12]
On September 12, 2010, he made his first appearance in Campground Pro Wrestling with Keisuke Ishii as his partner. He had many dangerous moments, such as being hit in the face with a campfire, but in the end he pinned Kota Ibushi with the Yoshihiko Destroyer.
On October 3, 2010, at Union Pro Wrestling (Shinjuku FACE), he teamed up with Haruya Morohashi as a replacement for the seriously injured Yusuke Inokuma, but his partner Morohashi was defeated by Big Murakami's oosoto-gari.
On April 29, 2011, he competed for the first time in an organization other than DDT or Union at GWSP6 (Chiba Blue Field) of Kaientai-Dojo. He challenged for the WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship with Kota Ibushi as his partner, but lost by pinfall with Ryuichi Sekine's Hardcore Body Press.
In the 2013 Ryogoku Kokugikan tournament, he appeared as "Akihiro", possessed by Akihiro Miwa. He won the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship with a technique called the Spiritual Coaster.
On February 15, 2015, Kota Ibushi, upon winning the KO-D Openweight Championship at the Saitama Super Arena Community Arena, named Yoshihiko as his challenger in a post-match microphone call. That match was held on March 21, 2015,[13] Yoshihiko unleashed nine consecutive Canadian Destroyers, more than he had done against Ibushi in their 2009 singles match, but was defeated by a sit-down Last Ride, a Phoenix Splash, and a single arm crab hold.[14]
In July 2020, he made his first solo tour of the United States and fought Joey Janela in an Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship title match at Game Changer Wrestling's Homecoming Weekend PART 2 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, but was defeated and the belt was taken overseas.[3]
On November 11, 2024, MAO and Yoshihiko competed at Banger Zone Wrestling in Salle Jacques Brel, Faches-Thumesnil, France. They won the BZW Tag Team Championship from Jack Sans-Nom & Paul Robinson (c) via a Rainmaker from Yoshihiko, and took the BZW tag titles back to Japan.[15]
Yoshihiko was one of the final three wrestlers left standing out of more than 80 who competed in the 2024 Clusterfuck Battle Royal at Joey Janela's Spring Break. He survived a pizza cutter attack from Nick Gage to the head but was eliminated, losing to Microman.[16]
Mao and Yoshihiko successfully defended their BZW Tag Team Titles at DDT's New Year☆Dramatic Parade 2025 ~Answers Will Be Revealed One Year Later~ on January 3, 2025.[17] Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda submitted to Yoshihiko's "Arc de Triomphe Hold" (double ankle lock).
Titles won
DDT Pro-Wrestling
- Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion : 814th, 823rd, 825th (Sumo Yoshihiko), 827th, 970th, 1010th, 1060th, 1166th, 1210th, 1276th, 1315th, 1352nd, 1361st, 1485th, 1693rd, 1700th
- KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Champion: 6th (partners: Toru Owashi, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata)
Banger Zone Wrestling
- BZW Tag Team Champions: 6th (with MAO)[18]
Other
References
