Mochizuki Junior

Ryoto in March 2023

###

Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan

**Ryoto Mochizuki** (望月龍斗, *Mochizuki Ryōto*, formerly: 望月リョート) (born April 20, 2002), better known by the ring name **Mochizuki Junior** (望月ジュニア, *Mochizuki Junia*) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained and currently signed to Dragon Gate (DG), where he is a former one-time Open The Triangle Gate Champion.

Ryoto is a second generation professional wrestler, following his father, Dragon Gate veteran Masaaki Mochizuki. Originally known as **Masaharu Eto** (江藤成春, *Etō Masaharu*), he began training with Dragon Gate, and debuted in the following year as part of the Dragon Gate Future class. Mochizuki along with his father and the later's tag team partners/rivals formed M3K, leading him to win his professional wrestling title the Open The Triangle Gate Championship in July 2022, alongside his father and Susumu Mochizuki.

## Early life

Ryoto Mochizuki was born on April 20, 2002, in Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan, he is the son of the Dragon Gate veteran Masaaki Mochizuki. From 4 to 12 years old, he trained Karate in the Oyama dojo, in Shibuya, Tokyo Japan. During his time in Junior and High-School he also played volleyball.

He decided to join Dragon Gate due to his love with the promotion, as well as his father working for them. He was integrated in the Dragon Gate dojo on April 15, 2021, as part of the second class of the Dragon Gate Future, under an endured and rigorous training, he made his main roster debut a year later.

## Professional wrestling career

### Dragon Gate (2022–Present)

On May 11, 2022, Ryoto made his main roster debut, then-known as Masaharu Eto, saving Masaaki Mochizuki from a pre-match assault from H.Y.O, along with the other members of Z-Brats, BxB Hulk and Diamante. After the match, Eto was called out by Mochizuki, who wished to reform M2K along with his former partners for the Toryumon Reunion Vol 2. show. However, with K-ness being retired, a space was left in blank, leading to Eto fill the gap.

On June 3, Mochizuki confessed that Eto was promised to be a big rookie, due to him being his own son "Ryoto Mochizuki" who had just recently turned 20 years, for much surprise. Shortly after, Mochizuki, his father, Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda, defeated the returning Aagan Iisou (Shuji Kondo, "brother" YASSHI, Toru Owashi and Shogo Takagi). After the match, Mochizuki praised his father on his efforts. Afterwards, Mochizuki's father announced the formation of M3K, with the former members of M2K Kanda, Susumu and Ryota. Último Dragón, then congratulated Mochizuki on his son's debut, before questioning the concept of M3K. This led to Mochizuki chosing the "Mochizuki Junior" ring name to his son, which he agreed. On July 21, Junior, his father and Susumu challenged *Los Perros del Mal de Japón* (Eita, Kotaro Suzuki and Nosawa Rongai) to a title match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, which they accepted. At the event, on July 30, Junior, his father and Susumu defeated Eita, Suzuki and Rongai to win the Open The Triangle Gate Championship. They lost the titles to ISHIN, KAI and Shun Skywalker on November 6 at Gate of Destiny.

In February, Junior and his father took part in the 2023 Rey de Parejas, finishing the tournament with a record of one win, two draws and one loss, failing to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. Following the tournament, Junior's father Masaaki, who was impressed by Susumu and Kanda proposed a title challenge for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, which led Susumu to nominate Junior as their partner instead. Masaaki was initially reluctant, but ended accepting, following Susumu's persistence. Three days later, at Champion Gate in Osaka, Junior, Susumu and Kanda unsuccessfully challenged Gold Class (Ben-K, BxB Hulk and Kota Minoura) for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship. Shortly after, Junior began a storyline with his father, where Masaaki has insisted that his son Junior needed him, and he was not ready to be on his own in big matches without him yet. Using Junior's failed title challenge alongside Kanda and Susumu on March 4 at Champion Gate in Osaka as proof. Junior on the other hand refused his dad help, as he wanted to get stronger on his own. Masaaki earned the title match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship, following a victory over Natural Vibes, on March 11, with Kzy and Big Boss Shimizu accepting Masaaki's title challenge at Memorial Gate in Wakayama. At the event, on March 18, Junior and his father unsuccessfully challenged Kzy and Shimizu for the Open The Twin Gate Championship. On August 3, following a six-man tag team match, Junior challenged ISHIN to a title match for the Open The Brave Gate Championship. ISHIN initially refused, but then reluctantly accepted. On August 20 at Dangerous Gate, Junior unsuccessfully challenged ISHIN for the Open The Brave Gate Championship. On October 22, Junior began teaming with Yoshiki Kato, after the latter asked his father, if he could team with him, not as a member of M3K, but for the sake of drawing out his own potential as teaming with Junior would help him achieve that goal. On October 23, Junior and Kato won their first match as a team, facing Daiki Yanagiuchi and Ryoya Tanaka in a winning effort. On November 4 at Power Struggle, Junior and Kato made their debut in NJPW as part of the "Frontier Zone", teaming with Strong Machine J in a losing effort to Oleg Boltin, Ryusuke Taguchi and The DKC. The following day at Gate of Destiny, Kato turned on Junior to join Z-Brats, ending their team. Shortly after, Junior suffered a leg injury, but on November 9, he requested a match with his father.

On January 11, 2024, Junior announced that he would make his return from injury on January 27 at Gate of Bayside, before going on learning excursion in February. Afterwards, Junior's father Masaaki announced that M3K would be disbanding with the stable's last match being on February 7.

## In Wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Twister the World* (Twisting fisherman brainbuster) - 2022-present
* **Signature moves**
	+ Abdominal stretch
	+ Bicycle knee strike
	+ Inverted figure-four leglock
	+ Multiple kick variations
		- Back heel
		- Big boot to a cornered opponent
		- Brazilian to the head of a kneeling opponent
		- *Illusion* (Feint roundhouse followed by a reverse roundhouse)
		- *Kakato Otoshi* (Axe)
		- Roundhouse to the head of a kneeling or seated opponent
		- *Sankakugeri* (Corner springboard enzuigiri)
		- *Wagamamana Hizakozou* (Multiple shoot to the opponent's chest)
	+ *Twister* (Twisting brainbuster) – adopted from his father
	+ *Ura Twister* (Inverted twisting brainbuster) - adopted from his father
* **With Masaaki Mochizuki**
	+ Double low kick
	+ *Double Twister* (Assisted twisting brainbuster, sometimes inverted)
* **Nicknames**
	+ **"The Soul of the Kicking King Junior"**
* **Entrance themes**
	+ **"G.W.D"** by Thee Michelle Gun Elephant (used while part of M3K)
	+ **"Final Stage"** by Dragon Gate

## Championships and Accomplishments

* **Dragon Gate**
	+ Open The Triangle Gate Championship (1 time) – with Masaaki Mochizuki and Susumu Mochizuki