Since joining AEW, Wheeler Yuta has quickly established himself as one of the company’s fastest rising stars, recently aligning himself with Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, & William Regal as part of the Blackpool Combat Club.
With AEW’s first ever joint pay-per view as part of their partnership with NJPW fast approaching, the ROH Pure Champion has named his dream opponent he’d like to share the ring with in Chicago at ‘Forbidden Door’ whilst speaking with Wrestling Inc. Daily.
Yuta picks out ‘The Ace’ Hiroshi Tanahashi as his desired opponent, noting that Tanahashi is someone he idolises.
“There’s so many, you’re going to have to narrow it down. There’s plenty, but you just mentioned Tanahashi, and I think that Tanahashi is one of the guys that I have always envisioned myself across the ring from. That is someone that I would love to face. I don’t know how this joint PPV is going to shake out, but Tanahashi is someone that I have always looked up to.”
-Wheeler Yuta
Yuta also shared the story of the time he first met Tanahashi during a taping of NJPW STRONG, providing further insight into why the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion is his dream opponent.
“I actually met him doing New Japan Strong, he does the Japanese commentary, it was him and Shibata for my debut. So, he was doing the Japanese commentary for my match with Rocky Romero. I don’t quite understand what the translation was, my mom, translated it for me, and she speaks fluent Japanese. But Tananashi said something along the effect of, ‘it feels like I am cheering for my son.’ I don’t know what I did in there that made him think that. But I always thought that was really funny. So, one day I would like to wrestle Tanahashi because that made me laugh a lot, and he’s one of the best wrestlers ever.”
-Wheeler Yuta
Later in the interview, Yuta commented on his status as a member of CHAOS, considering the fact that he’s now aligned with the Blackpool Combat Club. Yuta believes he is still a member of the New Japan stable, and shares a comedic insight into how he stays up to date with his New Japan status.
“So, as far as I know I have not been kicked out. It’s a little weird with the Best Friends, of course, but as far as I know, I am still in Chaos. I think if you go on the New Japan roster page, I think I am still in Chaos. That’s how I’ve been checking actually, I go on the roster page. That, and texting Rocky going, ‘am I still in Chaos?’ I believe his words were, ‘we can still team because what Trent doesn’t know won’t hurt him.’ So, for right now, until someone catches on, I think I am still in Chaos.”
-Wheeler Yuta
Yuta will have the chance to cross paths with several New Japan stars as he’s set to feature in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He joins the likes of Ace Austin, Titan, and El Lindaman in the lineup, with Japan now allowing foreign talent back into the country for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
