Yuji Okabayashi

###

Nankoku, Kōchi, Japan

**Yuji Okabayashi** (岡林 裕二, *Okabayashi Yūji*, born October 31, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler, who has worked for Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) since his debut in June 2008. He is best known as part of a tag team with Daisuke Sekimoto, with whom he has held the BJW Tag Team Championship, All Japan Pro Wrestling's (AJPW) World Tag Team and All Asia Tag Team Championships and DDT Pro-Wrestling's KO-D Tag Team Championship. As a singles wrestler, he is a former three-times BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion.

## Professional wrestling career

Okabayashi is a former member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and had a sports background in judo and weightlifting, when he joined Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) in 2008 for a new career in professional wrestling. He made his debut for the promotion against Katsumasa Inoue on June 27, 2008. Okabayashi joined the promotion's non-deathmatch division, Strong BJ, eventually becoming one of its cornerstones alongside the likes of Daisuke Sekimoto and Yoshihito Sasaki. Four months after his debut, Okabayashi made his American debut, when he, along with several other BJW wrestlers, took part in the Global Gauntlet events held by the Chikara promotion.

Back in BJW, Okabayashi formed a tag team with Daisuke Sekimoto, which led to him winning his first title on July 27, 2009, when the two defeated Isami Kodaka and Masashi Takeda for the BJW Tag Team Championship. After a five-month reign, they lost the title to Shinya Ishikawa and Yoshihito Sasaki. On January 9, 2010, Okabayashi made his debut for Osaka Pro Wrestling, when he and Sekimoto unsuccessfully challenged Hideyoshi and Masamune for the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship. The following April, Okabayashi returned to Chikara to represent BJW in the 2010 King of Trios tournament, where he formed a trio with Sekimoto and Kankuro Hoshino. They made it to the semifinals, before being eliminated by Bruderschaft des Kreuzes (Ares, Claudio Castagnoli and Tursas). At the end of 2010, *Tokyo Sports* named Okabayashi Japanese professional wrestling's Rookie of the Year.

The following year, Okabayashi and Sekimoto began making appearances for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where they won the All Asia Tag Team Championship twice. During the year, they also won the Big Japan Tag League. At the end of the year, *Tokyo Sports* named Okabayashi and Sekimoto the 2011 Tag Team of the Year. During 2012, Okabayashi set his sights on the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship, a new title intended for the Strong BJ division. He received his first shot at the title on June 21, but was defeated by Yoshihito Sasaki. The following month, Okabayashi regained the BJW Tag Team Championship, this time teaming with Shinobu. After a four-month reign, they lost the title to Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto in the finals of the 2012 Big Japan Tag League. On March 31, 2013, Okabayashi received another shot at the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship, unsuccessfully challenging longtime tag team partner Daisuke Sekimoto.

Okabayashi missed most of 2014 with a left shoulder injury, which he suffered while wrestling in Germany in January. He returned from the injury on December 21. His first big match since his return took place on February 2, 2015, when he unsuccessfully challenged Shuji Ishikawa for the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship. On February 15, Okabayashi and Sekimoto won another tag team title, when they defeated Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo to win the DDT Pro-Wrestling promotion's KO-D Tag Team Championship. On July 20, Okabayashi scored his first-ever win over Sekimoto, when he defeated him to become the new BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion, winning the first singles title of his professional wrestling career. On August 23, Okabayashi and Sasaki lost the KO-D Tag Team Championship to Daisuke Sasaki and Kota Ibushi. On October 29, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated Kohei Sato and Shuji Ishikawa in the finals to win the 2015 Saikyo Tag League and the BJW Tag Team Championship. They lost the title to Hideyoshi Kamitani and Ryota Hama on December 30. On June 8, 2016, Okabayashi won another tag team title, when he and Yasufumi Nakanoue defeated Kazma Sakamoto and Yuji Hino for the Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship. A week later, Okabayashi and Daisuke Sekimoto defeated The Bodyguard and Zeus to win AJPW's World Tag Team Championship. On July 24, Okabayashi lost the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship to Hideyoshi Kamitani in his fourth defense. On July 29, Okabayashi and Nakanoue lost the Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship to Jun Kasai and Manabu Soya in their second defense. On October 31, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto to win their second Big Japan Saikyo Tag League in a row. On November 27, Okabayashi and Sekimoto lost the AJPW World Tag Team Championship back to Bodyguard and Zeus. On December 14, Okabayashi and Sekimoto won their second Tag Team of the Year award from *Tokyo Sports*. On January 2, 2017, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated Kohei Sato and Shuji Ishikawa to win the BJW Tag Team Championship for the third time. Okabayashi and Sekimoto lost the titles to Abdullah Kobayashi and Ryuji Ito on July 17. On August 27, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated KAI and Naoya Nomura to win the vacant AJPW World Tag Team Championship for the second time. They relinquished the title on October 16 after Okabayashi suffered a shoulder injury. It was later announced that Okabayashi would be undergoing surgery the following December, which would sideline him for up to a year. On January 13, 2019, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated Suwama and Ishikawa to regain the titles. The lost the titles back to them on March 19, 2019. On May 5, Okabyashi defeated his tag team partner Daisuke Sekimoto to win the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion for his second time. He would lose it to Kohei Sato on August 25. On January 2, 2021, Okabayashi lost the title to Yasufumi Nakanoue.

## Personal life

Okabayashi married his partner of two years, Mika Mukai, in July 2012. On August 5, 2021, Okabayashi tested positive for COVID-19 amid its pandemic in Japan.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Argentine backbreaker
	+ *Golem Splash* (Diving splash)
	+ *Golem Camel* (Wrenching Camel Clutch)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Lariat
	+ Oklahoma Stampede
	+ Vertical suplex
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Difícil de Entender" by Ratos de Porão
	+ "Heading for Tomorrow" by Gamma Ray
	+ **"Angry Golem"** by Big Japan Pro Wrestling

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ All Asia Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Daisuke Sekimoto
	+ World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Daisuke Sekimoto
* **Active Advance Pro Wrestling**
	+ 2AW Openweight Championship (1 time, current)
* **Big Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ BJW Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Daisuke Sekimoto (5) and Shinobu (1)
	+ BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship (4 times, current)
	+ Yokohama Shopping Street 6-Man Tag Team Championship (3 times, current) – with Kazuki Hashimoto and Takumi Tsukamoto (1) and Ryuichi Kawakami and Shinya Ishikawa (1) and Chicharito Shoki and Yasufumi Nakanoue (1)
	+ 8-Man 1 Day Tournament (2009) – with Daisuke Sekimoto, Shinya Ishikawa and Yoshihito Sasaki
	+ Dainichi-X (2011) – with Abdullah Kobayashi
	+ D-Dash Tag Tournament (2009) – with Atsushi Ohashi
	+ Saikyo Tag League (2011, 2015, 2016) – with Daisuke Sekimoto
	+ Saikyo Tag League (2019) – with Shigehiro Irie
* **DDT Pro-Wrestling**
	+ KO-D Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Daisuke Sekimoto (1) and HARASHIMA (1)
* **Japan Indie Awards**
	+ Best Bout Award (2015) vs. Daisuke Sekimoto on July 20
	+ MVP Award (2015)
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ PWI ranked him #**60** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016
	+ PWI ranked him #**172** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017
* ***Tokyo Sports***
	+ Best Tag Team Award (2011, 2016) – with Daisuke Sekimoto
	+ Fighting Spirit Award (2015)
	+ Newcomer Award (2010)
* **Toshikoshi Puroresu**
	+ New Year's Eve Shuffle Tag Tournament (2020) – with HARASHIMA
* **Wrestle-1**
	+ Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Yasufumi Nakanoue

## References

1. ↑ Byers, Ryan 2010-01-12. Into the Indies 01.12.10: Romeo vs. Juliet . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Yuji Okabayashi . *Puroresu Central*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 *ja:岡林　裕二* (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 *ja:岡林 裕二* (in Japanese). *Wrestle-1*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
5. ↑ *ja:ケガ人続出の大日本が門戸開放を宣言* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-01-26). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
6. ↑ The Global Gauntlet - Night 1 . *Chikara*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
7. ↑ The Global Gauntlet - Night 2 . *Chikara*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 BJW Tag Team Title . *Wrestling-Titles.com*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
9. ↑ ja:１月９日試合結果 (in Japanese). *Osaka Pro Wrestling* (2010-01-09). Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
10. ↑ Johnson, Mike 2010-04-19. Biggest wrestling tournament of the year kicks off Friday at ECW Arena: 2010 Chikara King of Trios this weekend . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
11. ↑ Higham, Joshua 2010-04-26. Chikara King of Trios finale live report from Philadelphia . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 *ja:東京スポーツ　プロレス大賞* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
13. ↑ *ja:アジアタッグ王座* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 BJW . *Cagematch*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
15. ↑ *ja:実績とチームとしての完成度の高さを評価* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2011-12-15). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
16. ↑ 「一騎当千」優勝の佐々木義人がベルト新設を要求 ５．５横浜でアブ小林vs.石川のデスマッチ戦開催へ  (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Yahoo! (2012-03-26). Archived from the original on 2012-03-29. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 *ja:BJW世界ストロングヘビー級王座* (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
18. ↑ *ja:岡林裕二、忍組が至宝奪還* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2012-07-16). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
19. ↑ *ja:関本が挑戦者に大森指名「ワイルドなら出てこい」* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2013-04-05). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
20. ↑ *ja:大日本・岡林が復帰後初勝利* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-12-22). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
21. ↑ *ja:復帰岡林が王者・石川に善戦* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-02-03). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 *ja:ＫＯ―Ｄタッグは関本、岡林組が新王者* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-02-16). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
23. ↑ *ja:大日本 7.20両国大会　関本vs.岡林のストロングBJ戦、アブ小vs.伊東のデスマッチヘビー級戦、ツインタワーズvs.ヤンキー二丁拳銃のタッグ王座戦* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2015-07-20). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
24. ↑ *ja:関本撃破！岡林ストロング王座初戴冠* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-07-21). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
25. ↑ *ja:DDT 8.23両国大会　Kudovs.坂口のKO-D無差別級戦、Harashimavs.棚橋、LiLiCoプロレスデビュー戦* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2015-08-23). Retrieved on 2015-08-23.
26. ↑ *ja:【ＤＤＴ両国】飯伏タッグ奪回したが…「防衛戦はしません」* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-08-24). Retrieved on 2015-08-24.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 *ja:「最侠タッグリーグ2015優勝決定戦」後楽園ホール大会* (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-10-29). Retrieved on 2015-10-29.
28. ↑ *ja:大日本「最侠タッグ」優勝！岡林　涙の“２冠王”* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-10-30). Retrieved on 2015-10-30.
29. ↑ *ja:後楽園ホール大会* (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-12-30). Retrieved on 2015-12-30.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 「Wrestle-1 Tour 2016 Outbreak」  (in Japanese). *Wrestle-1* (2016-06-08). Retrieved on 2016-06-08.
31. ↑ *ja:6･8　Wrestle-1後楽園ホール大会　【W-1王座】Kaivs芦野　【W-1タッグ】火野＆Kazumavs中之上＆岡林　【UWA6人タッグ】Tajiri＆カズ＆稔vs河野＆Yasshi＆村瀬　【クルーザーディビジョン】鼓太郎vsAkira* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2016-06-09). Retrieved on 2016-06-09.
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 *ja:世界タッグ奪取 関本＆岡林組が次期挑戦者に小鹿を指名* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-06-16). Retrieved on 2016-06-16.
33. ↑ *ja:関本大介、岡林裕二組が初のタッグ王者に　全日本* (in Japanese). *Nikkan Sports* (2016-06-16). Retrieved on 2016-06-17.
34. ↑ Takagi, Hiromi 2016-07-24. *ja:星野が伊東破り涙のデスマッチ王座戴冠 岡林が新鋭・神谷に敗れ王座転落* (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Yahoo!. Retrieved on 2016-07-25.
35. ↑ *ja:＜大日本＞神谷が大金星！岡林下し初戴冠* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-07-25). Retrieved on 2016-07-25.
36. ↑ 「Wrestle-1 Tour 2016 Symbol」  (in Japanese). *Wrestle-1* (2016-07-29). Retrieved on 2016-07-29.
37. ↑ *ja:征矢がＷ－１タッグ王座奪取* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-07-30). Retrieved on 2016-07-30.
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 *ja:【大日本】“ヤンキー二丁拳銃”撃破！関本＆岡林が最侠タッグ3度目Ｖ* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-11-01). Retrieved on 2016-11-01.
39. ↑ *ja:ゼウス組が関本組から世界タッグ王座奪還* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-11-28). Retrieved on 2016-11-28.
40. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2016-11-27. AJPW Sumo Hall results: Miyahara vs. Suwama for the Triple Crown . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-11-27.
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 *ja:【プロレス大賞】最優秀タッグは大日本・関本＆岡林組 ５年ぶり２度目* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-12-14). Retrieved on 2016-12-14.
42. ↑ *ja:「新春」後楽園ホール大会* (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling* (2017-01-02). Retrieved on 2017-01-02.
43. ↑ *ja:頭突きで血が飛び出しても勝った！関本＆岡林がＢＪＷタッグ奪回* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2016-01-02). Retrieved on 2016-01-02.
44. ↑ *ja:関本＆岡林が世界タッグ返り咲き！秋山＆大森が挑戦名乗り「胸貸してくれ」* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2017-08-28). Retrieved on 2017-08-27.
45. ↑ *ja:【全日本】関本、岡林組が世界タッグ奪還* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2017-08-28). Retrieved on 2017-08-28.
46. ↑ *ja:岡林裕二選手欠場に伴い、世界タッグ王座返上のお知らせ* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2017-10-16). Retrieved on 2017-10-16.
47. ↑ *ja:【全日】岡林負傷で世界タッグ王座返上　秋山＆大森は関本＆伊東と決定戦* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2017-10-16). Retrieved on 2017-10-17.
48. ↑ *ja:※岡林裕二選手　現在の状態に関して* (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling* (2017-11-09). Retrieved on 2017-11-09.
49. ↑ *ja:結婚！大日・岡林「子供3人欲しい」* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2012-09-17). Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 ja:岡林 裕二 (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling*. Archived from the original on 2012-01-10. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
51. ↑ Yuji Okabayashi . *Big Japan Pro Wrestling USA*. Archived from the original on 2009-09-24. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
52. ↑ *ja:横浜ショッピングストリート6人タッグ王座* (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
53. ↑ ja:2009年8月19日(水) (in Japanese). *Big Japan Pro Wrestling*. Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
54. ↑ Dainichi-X 2011 . *Cagematch*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
55. ↑ D-Dash Tag Tournament . *Cagematch*. Retrieved on 2015-07-25.
56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 *ja:年越しプロレス12.31後楽園大会　大日本、DDT、K-Dojoから16チーム参加の年忘れ！三団体シャッフル・タッグトーナメント* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2016-01-01). Retrieved on 2015-12-31.
57. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016 . *The Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2016-09-01.
58. ↑ *ja:【プロレス大賞】敢闘賞の岡林　入院中にもスクワット* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2015-12-08). Retrieved on 2015-12-08.