Fujita “Jr.” Hayato Announces In Ring Return in 2027

Fujita “Jr.” Hayato will return to the ring.

Japanese indie wrestling legend, Fujita “Jr.” Hayato announced that he has stepped down as Michinoku Pro commissioner and is set to return to wrestle starting sometime next year against the reigning MPW Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion, Sangre Azteca Jr.

The announcement came following Azteca’s latest defense of his title against Tsunago Sato in the main event of MPW’s Grande Dos 2026 show from Sunday. After beating the young upstart, the luchador challenged Hayato to a match for the belt, to which Hayato agreed while also ending his commissionership with the promotion.

For longtime Japanese wrestling fans, this is a massive deal on the same level as Katsuyori Shibata coming back in 2022 or Tsukasa Fujimoto earlier this year. Hayato, for many of these fans, is one of the key people who helped introduce them to the scene outside of New Japan.

He began his career in 2004 after training under Jinsei Shinzaki. He spent most of his career with Michinoku Pro, where he won the MPW Tohoku Junior Heavyweight belt three times for a record 1380 total days. Additionally, he also held the LIDET UWF belt in GLEAT and also the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Titles with Ikuto Hidaka in 2016.

Sadly, Hayato’s career was cut short in late 2018 after he announced that he had a spinal tumor and ependymoma, which later came back in 2024. Nevertheless, the 40-year-old is set to finally return.

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As always we will provide any updates on Fujita “Jr.” Hayato as soon as we hear more.