Yukio Sakaguchi

###

Tokyo, Japan

**Yukio Sakaguchi** (坂口 征夫, *Sakaguchi Yukio*, born July 26, 1973) is a Japanese professional mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, actor and judoka, who is currently signed with DDT Pro-Wrestling and has fought and competed for World Victory Road, DREAM, Pancrase, Pro Wrestling Wave, S-Cup, Shooto, Big Japan Pro Wrestling, Union Pro Wrestling, Kaientai Dojo, Dradition, Legend The Pro-Wrestling and K-1. Sakaguchi is known for his fight with Nigerian K-1 kickboxer, Film actor, and male model Andy Ologun. Yukio is the son of former judoka and professional wrestling legend Seiji Sakaguchi and the older brother of actor Kenji Sakaguchi, who notably co-starred in Ikebukuro West Gate Park when the television show made its debut run in 2000 and most recently in 2012 started making regular appearances on the show Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi, he also co-starred in the film Face.

In 2009 Yukio was featured in *Kamui Gaiden*; the film was a box office hit in Japan and the Netherlands. After positive reviews on Yukio's performance he was later chosen to play a small supporting role in the sequel to *Ninja Assassin*, set to be released in 2014.

In October 2012 Sakaguchi signed a multi-fight deal with Pancrase and in January 2013 re-signed with DDT for the rest of that year. He is a former seven times KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions, former one-time KO-D Openweight Champion, three-time KO-D Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2015 King of DDT tournament.

## Professional wrestling career

Sakaguchi made his professional wrestling debut on March 22, 2012, when he defeated Michael Nakazawa at a Hard Hit event, a mixed martial arts inspired sub-brand of Dramatic Dream Team (DDT). He was then drafted as part of the New World Japan (nWJ) stable, and made his DDT main card debut on July 22, when he and stablemates Sanshiro Takagi and Soma Takao defeated Hikaru Sato, Michael Nakazawa and Tanomusaku Toba in a six-man tag team match, with Sakaguchi once again submitting Nakazawa for the win. On August 18, Sakaguchi took part in DDT's fifteenth anniversary event in Nippon Budokan, where he and Takao won a five-team gauntlet match. Sakaguchi continued representing nWJ until September 19, when the stable, along with all other stables in DDT, was forced to disband. Sakaguchi and Takagi, however, remained aligned and formed a new stable named "Real Outsiders", replacing Soma Takao with the returning Yoshiaki Yago, also a former member of the New World Japan stable. During late 2012, Sakaguchi also formed a regular partnership with Akito, after defeating him in a singles match on October 13. On January 13, 2013, Yukio made an appearance for the LEGEND The Pro-Wrestling promotion, teaming with Riki Choshu and Tatsumi Fujinami in a six-man tag team match, where they were defeated by Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger and Masahiro Chono. Post-match Liger criticized Sakaguchi, claiming that he did not belong in the same ring with the five other men as he was "only" the son of Seiji Sakaguchi. This led to DDT putting together a match for its February 17 event, where Sakaguchi and Akito were defeated by Liger and his fellow New Japan Pro Wrestling worker Hiromu Takahashi, with Takahashi pinning Akito for the win. Afterwards, Liger requested a singles match with Sakaguchi.

On March 20, Sakaguchi took part in the annual Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Contract Battle Royal, winning the match by scoring the last elimination over Masa Takanashi and earning a shot at DDT's top title, the KO-D Openweight Championship. Following the win, Sakaguchi claimed that he had finally earned his spot in DDT. On April 13, Sakaguchi failed in his title challenge against the defending KO-D Openweight Champion Shigehiro Irie. The following day, Sakaguchi teamed with fellow mixed martial artist Hikaru Sato and defeated FUMA and Kudo in a tag team match to become the number one contenders to the KO-D Tag Team Championship. On May 3, Sakaguchi and Sato defeated HARASHIMA and Yasu Urano to win the KO-D Tag Team Championship, Sakaguchi's first professional wrestling title. Sakaguchi and Sato made their first title defense against Monster Army members Hoshitango and Yuji Hino on June 2. Sato's and Sakaguchi's second successful title defense took place on June 14, when they defeated former champions Kudo and Yasu Urano. Post-match Sato, the de facto leader of the tag team, had mentioned that he wanted to start defending the title against younger wrestlers, and later nominated rookies Akito and Konosuke Takeshita as their next challengers. On June 23, Sato and Sakaguchi defeated Akito and Takeshita for their third successful title defense. Sakaguchi then made it to the semifinals of the annual King of DDT tournament, before losing to finalist Kenny Omega on July 7.

In mid-2013, Sakaguchi began feuding with the Monster Army stable, brought on by them stealing a gown and a statue belonging to his father Seiji. The rivalry culminated in an eight-man tag team match on August 17, during the first day of DDT's 16th anniversary weekend in Ryōgoku Kokugikan, where Sakaguchi, Akito, Kazuki Hirata and Masa Takanashi faced Monster Army members Antonio Honda, Daisuke Sasaki, Hoshitango and Yuji Hino. Sakaguchi submitted Honda for the win, following outside interference from his brother Kenji. The following day, Sakaguchi and Sato lost the KO-D Tag Team Championship to Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto. In late 2013, Sakaguchi was named the number one contender to the KO-D Openweight Championship, held by Harashima. En route to the title match, Sakaguchi submitted Harashima in a six-man tag team match on December 15 to win the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship. On December 23, Sakaguchi failed in his KO-D Openweight Championship challenge against Harashima and, as a result, also lost the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship back to him.

On March 2, Sakaguchi formed a new stable, later named Shuten-dōji, with Kudo and Masa Takanashi, based on the three's shared love of alcohol. On May 4, Shuten-dōji defeated Daisuke Sasaki, Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi to win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship. They lost the title to Happy Motels (Antonio Honda, Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo) in their second defense on July 13. Shuten-dōji, however, regained the title from Happy Motel just seven days later in a three-way match, which also included Team Drift (Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie and Soma Takao). They lost the title to Team Drift on August 17 at DDT's largest event of the year, *Ryogoku Peter Pan 2014*. On February 15, 2015, Shuten-dōji won the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship for a record-tying third time, defeating previous champions Genpatsu Daio (Brahman Kei, Brahman Shu and Gorgeous Matsuno). Shuten-dōji then entered a series of matches with Team Drift, where the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship changed hands between the two teams three times in six weeks with Shuten-dōji losing the title on March 1, winning it on March 21, and losing it again on April 11. On June 28, Sakaguchi defeated Konosuke Takeshita in the finals to win the 2015 King of DDT tournament. This led to Sakaguchi defeating stablemate Kudo on August 23 to win the KO-D Openweight Championship for the first time. He lost the title to Isami Kodaka on November 28. On December 11, 2016, Sakaguchi, Kudo and Takanashi defeated DAMNATION (Daisuke Sasaki, Mad Paulie and Tetsuya Endo) to win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship for the fifth time. On January 9, 2017, Sakaguchi and Masakatsu Funaki defeated Konosuke Takeshita and Mike Bailey to win the KO-D Tag Team Championship. On January 22, Sakaguchi, Kudo and Takanashi lost the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship to Kazusada Higuchi, Kouki Iwasaki and Mizuki Watase in a three-way match, also involving Antonio Honda, Konosuke Takeshita and Trans-Am★Hiroshi. On April 29, Sakaguchi and Funaki lost the KO-D Tag Team Championship to Danshoku Dino and Yoshihiro Takayama in their third defense. On June 25, Sakaguchi, Kudo and Takanashi won the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship for a record-tying sixth time by defeating NωA (Makoto Oishi, Mao and Shunma Katsumata). But they would vacate the titles due to Kudo sufering a concusion after Kudo and Takanashi lost to HARASHIMA and Naomichi Marufuji on October 10. Following Kudo's return, Shuten-dōji won the title for the seventh time by defeating All Out (Akito, Diego and Konosuke Takeshita) on December 10. They lost the titles to Kota Umeda, Yuki Ueno and Koju Takeda on March 25, 2018.

On January 15, 2024, Sakaguchi announced his retirement from professional wrestling, Sakaguchi stated his reason for retiring was a personal matter and Sanshiro Takagi wanted Sakaguchi to reconsider and tried to pursuade him to stay, but he refused, with his retirement match being against HARASHIMA on February 7.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Cobra clutch
	+ *Kami no Migi Hiza* (Jumping knee strike)
	+ Rear naked choke
	+ *Rengoku* (High kick)
	+ Right Knee of God (Jumping knee strike into a conored opponent)
	+ Snap suplex
	+ Northern lights suplex
	+ German suplex

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Hideki Okatani and Saki Akai
	+ All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Hideki Okatani
* **DDT Pro-Wrestling**
	+ Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (5 times)
	+ KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship (9 times) – with Kudo and Masa Takanashi/Masahiro Takanashi (7), Kazusada Higuchi and Saki Akai (1) and Hideki Okatani and Saki Akai (1)
	+ KO-D Openweight Championship (1 time)
	+ KO-D Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Hikaru Sato (1), Masakatsu Funaki (1) and Kazusada Higuchi (1)
	+ King of DDT (2015)
	+ One Night 6-Man Tag Team Tournament (2017) – with Kudo and Masahiro Takanashi
	+ Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Contract (2013)
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ PWI ranked him #**285** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016
	+ PWI ranked him #**297** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017

## References

1. ↑ *ja:Boyzドラマティック・レインスペシャル～女祭り15～* (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-06-15.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 *ja:坂口征夫* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2014-05-16.
3. ↑ Yukio Sakaguchi  (in Japanese). *Pancrase*. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
4. ↑ Yukio Sakaguchi . *Sherdog*. Retrieved on 2012-11-06.
5. ↑ http://www.adcombat.com/pancrase-252-09-29-2013-first-fight-of-20th-year-anniversary-show-is-sakaguchi-vs-ito
6. ↑ Yukio Sakaguchi . *Internet Movie Database*. Retrieved on 2012-11-06.
7. ↑ *ja:ハードヒット～月になる男達～* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
8. ↑ 【6・30リポート④】坂口征夫がnWJに加入、武道館参戦  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2012-06-30). Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
9. ↑ Road to Budokan 2012  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
10. ↑ 武道館ピーターパン～DDTの15周年、ドーンと見せます超豪華4時間SP～  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Archived from the original on 2013-10-03. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
11. ↑ *ja:【9・19リポート】既存ユニット解散、新ユニット続々誕生* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2012-09-19). Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
12. ↑ DDT ブルーライト横浜 2012  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
13. ↑ DDT　大阪24区めぐり～東成区  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
14. ↑ Never Mind 2012  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
15. ↑ *ja:「オレが潰す！」獣神が坂口征夫に怒り爆発!! 蝶野＆天山＆ライガーがレジェンドプロレスで凱歌!!* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2013-01-13). Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
16. ↑ *ja:【会見】2・17後楽園で坂口がライガーとタッグで激突* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-02-06). Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
17. ↑ *ja:【2・17リポート②】ライガーが坂口に一騎打ち要求* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-02-17). Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Judgement 2013  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-03-23.
19. ↑ *ja:【3・20リポート②】「いつでもどこでも挑戦権」は移動式* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-03-20). Retrieved on 2013-03-27.
20. ↑ April Fool 2013  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-04-13.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 【4・14リポート】後楽園で光留&坂口がKO-Dタッグ挑戦  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-04-14). Retrieved on 2013-04-14.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Max Bump 2013  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-05-03.
23. ↑ http://www.ddtpro.com/result/ddt/article/1370166791/[*dead link*]
24. ↑ Road To Ryougoku 2 days in Kokura～ドラマティック・ドリーム・鳥かしわめし～  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-06-14.
25. ↑ 【会見】6・14小倉でKudo&ヤスがKO-Dタッグ挑戦  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-06-06). Retrieved on 2013-06-14.
26. ↑ 【6・14リポート】彰人&竹下が後楽園でKO-Dタッグ挑戦へ  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-06-14). Retrieved on 2013-06-14.
27. ↑ What are you doing 2013  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-06-23.
28. ↑ King of DDT Osaka 2013  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-07-07.
29. ↑ 【7・21リポート2】新田恵利さん招聘／坂口家vsモ軍決定  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-07-21). Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
30. ↑ *ja:【両国初日リポート3】両国初日の地上波放送決定!!* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-08-17). Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
31. ↑ *ja:坂口憲二が華麗なドロップキックを披露＝８.１７ＤＤＴ両国大会* (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Yahoo! (2013-08-17). Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
32. ↑ 【両国2日目2】ヤンキー二丁拳銃がKO-Dタッグ奪取  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-08-18). Retrieved on 2013-08-18.
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 【博多リポート】二丁拳銃の勢いが止まらない！　KO-DタッグV6達成!!／坂口が前哨戦でHarashimaに勝利、アイアンマン奪取！／LinQ・伊藤がまさかの毒霧で勝利に貢献、なぜか高校留年を告白  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2013-12-15). Retrieved on 2013-12-15.
34. ↑ Never Mind 2013  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-12-23.
35. ↑ 【春日部リポート】テレ玉の番組名は『DDTプロレス中継さいたまースラム！』。4月2日より毎週水曜日深夜26時30分～27時にオンエア!!／Kudo&高梨&坂口のユニット名は酒呑童子に決定。初陣のメインは...／ディーノ、埼玉ゲイレスリング化計画をブチ上げる  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2014-03-09). Retrieved on 2014-03-09.
36. ↑ 【梅田リポート】Kudoが前哨戦でHarashimaから勝利。Kudo＆高梨のユニットに坂口が加入!!／ドリフがKO-D6人タッグ初防衛。ディーノ＆大石は坂口にユニット継続を懇願するも、あっさり拒否される／4・13大阪でくいしんぼうvs菊タロー／竹下が高校生最後の地元大会を勝利で飾る／飯伏が戦慄の雪崩式パイルドライバー  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2014-03-02). Retrieved on 2014-03-04.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Road to Ryogoku in Sendai〜ドラマティック・ドリーム・タン〜  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2014-05-04.
38. ↑ Road to Ryogoku in Osaka〜ドラマティック・ドリーム・通天閣〜  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2014-07-15.
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Road to Ryogoku 2014  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2014-07-20.
40. ↑ 【DDT】HarashimavsイサミvsケニーのKO-D無差別級戦、竹下vs棚橋、飯伏vs近藤  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2014-08-17). Retrieved on 2014-08-17.
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 さいたまスーパーDDT2015  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-02-15.
42. ↑ DDT大阪24区めぐり〜港区  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-03-01.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 *ja:さいたまースラムスペシャル！2015〜テレ玉放送1周年記念大会〜* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-03-01.
44. ↑ Road to Ryogoku 2015 in Kokura～ドラマティック・ドリーム・鶏かしわ飯～  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-04-12.
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 King of DDT 2015 Tokyo  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-06-28.
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 両国ピーターパン2015～DDTより愛をこめて～  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-08-23.
47. ↑ *ja:大阪オクトパス2015* (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-11-28.
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 *ja:Road to Super Arena～ドラマティック・ドリーム・とんこつ～* (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-12-11.
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 *ja:Road to Super Arena in Oyodo～ドラマティック・ドリーム・天六～* (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-01-09.
50. ↑ *ja:ベストウェスタンラリアットシリーズ2017開幕戦 in レンブラントホテル東京町田* (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-01-22.
51. ↑ Max Bump 2017  (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-04-29.
52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Black Out presents King of DDT 2017 Final Round  (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-06-25.
53. ↑ *ja:DDT 6.28後楽園大会　King of DDT2015準決勝　坂口vs.樋口、竹下vs.佐々木、決勝戦* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2015-06-28). Retrieved on 2015-06-30.
54. ↑ DDT万博～プロレスの進歩と調和～  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
55. ↑ *ja:Dramatic Fan Club限定興行vol.2～北千住で僕たちと握手♡～* (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-05-13.
56. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016 . *The Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2016-09-01.