Rising HAYATO

Hayato in September 2023

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Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan

**Hayato Kubo** (久保颯人, *Kubo Hayato*, born February 24, 1999), better known by his ring name **Rising HAYATO** (ライジングHAYATO, *Raijingu HAYATO*) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for the Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling.

## Professional wrestling career

### Early Career (2016–2018)

Hayato started his professional wrestling career in the Japanese independent scene, more specifically at *Pro Young Master 06*, an event promoted by Dotonbori Pro-Wrestling on October 16, 2016, where he fell short to Takato Nakao in the "Young Master Cup". He soon began chasing opportunities to work for many other promotions. Hayato made an appearance on the third night of the 2018 edition of Pro Wrestling Noah's N-1 Victory from November 11, not as part of the tournament, but in a side tag team match where he teamed up with Yoshiki Inamura, Kaito Kiyomiya and Katsuhiko Nakajima in a losing effort against Hi69, Minoru Tanaka, Mohammed Yone and Takashi Sugiura. At *Freedoms Pro-Wrestling Sengoku-Jidai*, an event produced by Takashi Sasaki on the behalf of Pro Wrestling Freedoms on December 26, 2017, Hayato teamed up with Asosan and Tsuchiya Crazy, falling short to GENTARO, Mammoth Sasaki and Toru Sugiura as a result of a six-man tag team match.

### DDT Pro-Wrestling (2018–2019)

Hayato shared a short-term affiliation with DDT Pro-Wrestling. He made his first appearance at *DDT DNA 42*, an event promoted on March 7, 2018, where he teamed up with MAO and defeated Rekka and Choun Shiryu in the first rounds of the "DNA Super Tag Tournament". At *DNA 43* on April 5, 2018, Hayato teamed up with Mao again and fell short to Naomi Kingdom (Akira Jo and Naomi Yoshimura) in the semifinals of the tournament. His last known appearance took place at *DDT Wrestle Matsuyamania 2019* on June 2, where he teamed up with Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshiaki Yatsu and Yukio Naya in a losing effort against All Out (Akito, Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata) and Tatsumi Fujinami as a result of en eight man tag team match.

### All Japan Pro Wrestling (2019–present)

Hayato made his first appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling on the eighth night of the *Super Power Series 2019* from June 1 where he teamed up with Carbell Ito and Jun Akiyama to defeat Atsuki Aoyagi, Black Menso-re and Bonjin Pulp in the semifinals of a "Six Man Tag Tournament". In the finals which took place on the same night, Hayato and his teammates defeated Hokuto Omori, Kentaro Yoshida and Takao Omori. During time, Hayato challenged for various championships promoted by the company. On the second night of the *AJPW Dream Power Series 2021* from March 8, Hayato teamed up with his "Nextream" stablemate Atsuki Aoyagi and unsuccessfully challenged Purple Haze (Zeus and Izanagi) for the All Asia Tag Team Championship. On the first night of the *2022 AJPW New Year Wars* from January 2, Hayato was announced as one of the newest signings of the promotion. Later that night, Hayato won the traditional battle royal which also involved notable opponents such as Andy Wu, Baliyan Akki, Shuji Ishikawa, Shigehiro Irie, Yoshitatsu, Kazuhiro Tamura and others. On the final night of the event from January 23, 2023, he unsuccessfully challenged SUGI for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship.

On February 4, former Nextream members HAYATO, Yuma Aoyagi, Kento Miyahara, Atsuki Aoyagi formed a stable dubbed "Zennichi Shin Jidai" (New Age of All Japan in English), alongside Shuji Ishikawa, Yuma Anzai and Ryo Inoue, as a reaction against the influence of wrestlers from other promotions, who appeared or held titles in AJPW making them an anti-invader stable. From April 8 and May 4, 2023, HAYATO and Atsuki Aoyagi, took part of 2023 Jr. Tag Battle of Glory, finishing the tournament with a record of two wins, one draw and one loss, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On May 4, HAYATO and Aoyagi were defeated by Black Generation International (Kaito Ishida and Kotaro Suzuki) in the finals. In July, HAYATO began feuding with El Lindaman, following his disrespect towards AJPW. On July 22, six-man tag team match, HAYATO attacked Lindaman after he began mocking the World Junior Heavyweight Championship belt. The following day, after HAYATO's stablemate Ryo Inoue failed to win the title, HAYATO challenged Lindaman to a title match for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship, but failed to win the title on August 23 in a GLEAT show. From November 12 and December 6, HAYATO took part of the 2023 Jr. Battle of Glory, finishing the tourmanent with a record of three wins, three losses and a draw, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Shimanami Driver* (Double underhook over the shoulder back-to-belly piledriver)
	+ *Sid Viscious* (Moonsault)
* **Signature moves**
	+ *Falcon Arrow* (Sitout suplex slam)
	+ Missile Dropkick
	+ *Rising Rising* (Hammerlock turnbuckle walk double leg DDT)
	+ Senton bomb
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Starburst" by Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas (Ehime Pro-Wrestling)
	+ **"Stardust"** (AJPW)

## Personal life

Hayato cites Jun Kasai, Triple H, and Rush as his main inspirations, with their respective influences leading him to make his finishing maneuver, the *Shimanami Driver*, a double underhook over the shoulder back-to-belly piledriver.

Hayato was also featured at the NHK's variety show "NHK Cup Shining!! All Japan Epic Fail Championship Minna ga Deru TV", revealing that after winning the Shikoku Heavyweight Championship, confesseing that he had a crush on a "24-year-old office lady", named Cutie Lee, who was in the audience. However, due to the loss of the championship, the confession ended in failure, and was awarded the "First NHK Cup." Furthermore, even after that, the confession was used as a material for the local newspappers' featured articles.

On October 18, 2020, he won first place in the genre-specific and professional sports division in the contest 2020 Best Body Japan, with him subsequently, participating in the promotion's events.

In October 2020, he entered the Ashihara Kaikan, a karate school, where he received instruction directly from the principal, Hidenori Ashihara. Later in December, he wa appointed as the Ehime Iyokan Tourism Ambassador in the Youth Support Division.

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ January 2nd Korakuen Hall New Year Battle Royal (2022)
* **Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling**
	+ BBW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Imabari Towel Mascaras
* **Ehime Pro-Wrestling**
	+ Union of Shikoku Championship (1 time, inaugural)
	+ Union of Shikoku Tag Team Championship (2 times, inaugural) – with Santaro Ishizuchi (1, inaugural) and Carbell Ito (1)
* **Osaka Pro Wrestling**
	+ Osaka Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Santaro Ishizuchi