YO-HEY

YO-HEY in May 2022

###

Yabu, Hyogo, Japan

**Yohei Fujita** (藤田 洋平, *Fujita Yohei*), better known by his ring name **YO-HEY** is a Japanese wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling NOAH (NOAH), where he is currently one-half of the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in his sixth reign, while also winning the 2017 and 2018 Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League. As part of a working relationship between NOAH and Dragon Gate (DG), he is a former one-time Open The Triangle Gate Champion.

Fujita started his career in Dragon Gate under the ring name **RYOMA** in tribute to former Japanese movement leader Ryoma Sakamoto. In 2009, Fujita left Dragon Gate due to animal abuse scandal and after that, he was on hiatus until he returned to wrestle in 2011 in SMASH and later move to Wrestling New Classic until 2013, where he left to become a freelancer.

Fujita would work as a freelancer for four years, appearing in multiple promotions across Japan's independent circuit most notably Doutonbori Pro Wrestling and Dove Pro Wrestling, where he held the Dove Pro Tag Team Championship, until he signed an exclusive contract with the NOAH, ending his days as a freelancer.

## Early Life

Yohei’s as a backgrounded in Kung Fu, baseball, soccer, and Judo back in his school days. After graduating from the Human Academy Sports College. He began training in the Dragon Gate Dojo.

## Professional wrestling career

### Dragon Gate (2008–2009)

Fujita made his debut in Dragon Gate on December 22, 2008, against Kenshin Chikano where he wrestled under his real name. On March 20, 2009, during a NEX show, he joined WARRIORS-5 he renamed his ring name to **RYOMA** in honourofo Japanese historic legend Ryoma Sakamoto. In mid 2009, an animal abuse scandal was causing an uproar in Dragon Gate. Fujita was one of the accused and was put on an indefinite disciplinary measure and then Fujita announced his retirement from pro-wrestling due to the issues that were surrounding the whole situation.

### SMASH and Wrestling New Classic (2011–2013)

In 2011 Fujita would move to the USA for a short stay in the Funaki Dojo which is run by Sho Funaki and he tried to enter in WWE but he was unsuccessful at that time. He would then return to Japan under the ring name of YO-HEY and received a tryout match in SMASH which he successfully passed. He would later make his re-debut losing to AKIRA and would later leave SMASH due to a disagreement between Tajiri and financial backer (Quantum Jump Japan CEO) Masakazu Sakai. After that, he would later make his debut in Wrestling New Classic with Yusuke Kodama losing to Mikey Whipwreck and TAJIRI on May 26, 2012, and would later leave to become a freelancer in 2013.

### All Japan Pro Wrestling (2012, 2014–2016)

He would later make his debut in AJPW under the ring name **Gillette** participating in the 2012 AJPW Junior Tag League with KAI finishing with 4 points failed to make into the finals. He would return participating in the 2012 AJPW Junior Hyper League finishing his block with 2 points failed to made into the semifinals. After that, he would make sporadic appearances under his other ring name until 2016 when he made his last appearance teaming with SUSHI losing to Billyken Kid and TORU.

### Freelancer (2013-2017)

After he left Wrestling New Classic he would later become making appearances in Doutonbori Pro Wrestling and he would later participate in the Dotonbori Tag King Decision League with Hayata where he finished with 8 points failing to make in to the finals and he would later make appearances in Dove Pro Wrestling where he participated in the tournament to crown a 1 contender to the Dove Pro Tag Team Championship where he and Ippei made i to the finals but they lost to Billyken Kid and Rey Paloma. In 2014 he participated in the Dotonbori Saikyou Otoko Tournament losing to Shiochi Uchida in the 2nd round. In July 2015 he received another tryout for WWE but he was unsuccessful again. On April 2, 2016, he won his first championship with Kenshin Chikano known as the Gingin BOYS defeating Buffalo and Tsubasa and GUNSO and Hayata for Dove Pro Tag Team Championship in TLC match. They lost the titles to Jun Kasai and GUNSO on November 26. Afterwards, they would split up due to YO-HEY focus on wrestle in NOAH.

### Pro Wrestling Noah (2016–Present)

In December 2016 after the Suzuki-gun storyline with Pro Wrestling Noah, the president of NOAH Masayuki Uchida announced that he would let freelancers wrestle in NOAH. On January 14, 2017, he would make his debut in NOAH defeating Rionne Fujiwara. Later in January 2017 YO-HEY and HAYATA defeated Hi69 and Taiji Ishimori. After the match, YO-HEY and HAYATA stated that they wanted a match for the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. This led to a feud for the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. On February 18 he and HAYATA would fail to capture the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions losing to Hi69 and Taiji Ishimori. Three days later, YO-HEY and HAYATA came together with Daisuke Harada and Tadasuke to form a new stable named RATEL'S.

In July YO-HEY and HAYATA would take part in the Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League. The two would finish the tournament with five wins and two losses, advancing to the finals. At the finals, YO-HEY and HAYATA defeated Ishimori and Hi69 to win the tournament. On August 6 YO-HEY unsuccessfully challenged Ishimori for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. On August 26 YO-HEY and HAYATA defeated Ishimori and Hi69 to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On September 3, Noah announced that YO-HEY had signed an exclusive contract with the promotion, ending his days as a freelancer. On January 27, 2018, YO-HEY and HAYATA lost the titles to Ishimori and Hi69. From July 7 to July 31, YO-HEY and HAYATA took part of the Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On August 5, YO-HEY and HAYATA defeated Hitoshi Kumano and Hajime Ohara in the finals to win the tournament for a second consecutive year. Afterwards, YO-HEY asked NOAH's President Masayuki Uchida for the return of the Global Junior League, which NOAH later announced its return to be scheduled from September 8 to October 4. Later that month, YO-HEY took part in the tournament, finishing with a record of three wins and two draws, advancing to the finals. On October 4, YO-HEY was defeated by Kotaro Suzuki in the finals of the tournament. On December 16 at Great Voyage in Yokohama vol.2, YO-HEY turned on Harada and left RATEL'S and afterwards align himself with Kotaro Suzuki and Yoshinari Ogawa. HAYATA would join them on January 26, before turning on them on February 1, rejoining RATEL'S. Their stable would be named Stinger.

On May 19, YO-HEY returned to RATEL'S, after Stinger turned on him, due to YO-HEY aiming to win with HAYATA their third Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League. From May to June, YO-HEY and HAYATA took part of the 2019 Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of five wins, two losses, and one draw, advancing to the finals of the tournament YO-HEY and HAYATA were defeated by the Kotaro Suzuki and Yoshinari Ogawa in the finals on June 9. From June until July, YO-HEY took part in the 2019 Global Junior League, finishing the tournament with a record of three wins and two losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. In the following years Global Junior League, YO-HEY finished the tournament with a record of one win and two losses, failing to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On March 29, 2020, YO-HEY and HAYATA defeated Atsushi Kotoge and Kotaro Suzuki to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the second time. On May 9, during a title defense against Kotaro Suzuki and Yoshinari Ogawa, HAYATA turned on YO-HEY, joining Ogawa and Suzuki to reform Stinger. Afterwards, Tadasuke made the save, he and YO-HEY challenged HAYATA and Ogawa to a match for the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Following's HAYATA betrayal, Tadasuke proclaimed the disbanding of RATEL'S, ending their three-year existence. Shortly after, Tadasuke also turned on them to join KONGOH.

On September 23, YO-HEY turned on Harada, before Harada was attacked by Stinger. Afterwards, Full Throttle led by Atsushi Kotoge went to help, leading to Kotoge reform the Momo no Seishun Tag with Harada for the third time, which in turn led Kotoge to be kicked out of Full Throttle and replaced by YO-HEY. On May 2, 2021, after Seiki Yoshioka turned on Full Throttle, YO-HEY decided to leave the stable in order to join Nosawa Rongai's group, effectively disbanding Full Throttle. On June 27, at Muta The World, the group was revealed to be the Los Perros del Mal de Japon, afterwards YO-HEY along with Nosawa Rongai and Eita defeated Stinger (Yoshinari Ogawa, Seiki Yoshioka and Yuya Susumu). Afterwards the group started a brawl between the two stables with Kotaro Suzuki and Ikuto Hidaka coming to help, outnumbering Stinger and getting the upper hand on them.

On February 11, 2022, during a match between Los Perros del Mal de Japon and Stinger, YO-HEY accidentally attacked Nosawa Rongai, causing Stinger to win the match. Afterwards, Los Perros del Mal de Japon turned on YO-HEY, kicking him out of the stable. This led to Atsushi Kotoge, and the NOAH's juniors composed by Kotoge, Daisuke Harada, Hajime Ohara, Junta Miywaki and Haoh making the save, with YO-HEY joining them. Shortly after, in a backstage interview, YO-HEY ask Kotoge to team with him to challenge for the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On February 23 at Gain Control In Nagoya, YO-HEY and Kotoge defeated HAYATA and Yuya Susumu to win the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles to Chris Ridgeway and Yoshinari Ogawa on April 29 at Majestic. On June 8, YO-HEY, Kotoge and Harada defeated Stinger's Yoshinari Ogawa, Seiki Yoshioka and Yuya Susumu to win Dragon Gate's Open The Triangle Gate Championship. They vacated the titles on June 23, after Harada registered a fever. Harada was replaced by Extreme Tiger in a match to crown the new champions, where they lost to Eita, Nosawa Rongai and Kotaro Suzuki for the vacate titles. On December 23, YO-HEY and Dragon Gate's Kzy defeated Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles to Yoshinari Ogawa and Eita at NOAH The New Year on January 1, 2023.

On March 17, YO-HEY came into the ring and attacked Kondo, Ohara and Hi69, saving Tadasuke from an attack by them, before extending his to him, who took it, leaving KONGOH. Later that night, YO-HEY and Tadasuke were revealed as the newest members of Jake Lee's newest stable Good Looking Guys. On April 16 at Green Journey in Sendai, YO-HEY and Tadasuke defeated Eita and Yoshinari Ogawa to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles to Stinger (Chris Ridgeway and Daga) on June 22. YO-HEY and Tadasuke regained the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on January 2, 2024 at NOAH The New Year by defeating Los Golpeadores (Alpha Wolf and Dragon Bane) and Ninja Mack and Alejandro in a three-way match.

## Personal life

On May 24, 2021, YO-HEY revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 amid its pandemic in Japan. In August, YO-HEY tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Bamboo Dragonfly* (Corkscrew splash)
	+ *Ganmen G* (Running double knee drop to a seated opponent) – 2017–present
	+ *Face G* (Jumping double knee drop to a standing opponent)
	+ Shooting star press – as Gilette; 2012
	+ *Super Face G* (Diving double knee drop to a standing opponent)
	+ *YO-ROLL* (Single leg jackknife pin to an oncoming opponent)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Bulldog
	+ Hurricanrana
	+ Knife-edge chop
	+ Jumping forearm smash
	+ Jumping leg lariat
	+ Low back kick to the chest
	+ Moonsault
	+ Multiple kick variations
		- Drop
		- Low back to the chest
		- Missile
		- Single leg drop
		- Super
	+ *Twist of Fate* (Front facelock cutter)
* **With HAYATA**
	+ **Signature moves**
		- Double superkick into a seated opponent
		- Legsweep (HAYATA) / Single leg dropkick (YO-HEY)
		- Roll up (YO-HEY) into a superkick (HAYATA) followed by a rolling superkick (YO-HEY)
		- Wheelbarrow facebuster/cutter combination
* **Nicknames**
	+ **"flying playboy"**
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred
	+ "Africa" by Karl Wolf
	+ **"HOW-RING"** by Takahiro "Anija" Nakamura (NOAH; September 16, 2019-present)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **666**
	+ 666 Championship (1 time)
* **Dove Pro Wrestling**
	+ Dove Pro Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kenshin Chikano
* **Dragon Gate**
	+ Open The Triangle Gate Championship (1 time) – with Daisuke Harada and Atsushi Kotoge
* **Pro Wrestling NOAH**
	+ GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (6 times, current) – with HAYATA (2), Atsushi Kotoge (1), Kzy (1) and Tadasuke (2, current)
	+ Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League (2017, 2018) – with HAYATA