Tetsuya Endo

Endo in February 2023

###

Shiroishi, Miyagi, Japan

**Tetsuya Endo** (遠藤 哲哉, *Endō Tetsuya*, born August 11, 1991) is a Japanese professional wrestler, who has worked for DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) since his debut in April 2012. He is a former four-time KO-D Tag Team Champion, six-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion, a former Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion and a three-time KO-D Openweight Champion.

## Professional wrestling career

### Early career (2012–2013)

After training under Keita Yano, Endo made his professional debut on April 1, 2012, teaming with Keisuke Ishii in a loss to Hiroshi Fukuda and Akito. 29 days after his debut, Endo gained his first win, defeating Daishi at a K-Dojo show. Endo lost the majority of matches he competed in throughout 2012 and 2013, common for young wrestlers in Japan as a method of earning your place in the company and gaining experience.

### Teaming with Takeshita (2013–2016)

In 2013, Endo began teaming with fellow rookie Konosuke Takeshita, teaming with him in a KO-D Tag Team Championship number one contenders match also featuring Kudo and Yasu Urano, losing to the Golden Lovers (Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega). On January 13, 2014, Endo and Takeshita again faced the Golden Lovers in a number one contenders match, this time going to a time limit draw, making the match for the championships at Sweet Dreams on January 26 a three-way. Endo and Takeshita unsuccessfully challenged champions Yuko Miyamoto and Isami Kodaka, with the Golden Lovers winning the match and the championships. On July 13, Endo won his first championship in DDT, teaming with Takeshita and Antonio Honda as Happy Motel to defeat Shuten Dōji (Kudo, Masa Takanashi and Yukio Sakaguchi) to win the KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Championships. Happy Motel dropped the championships back to Shuten Dōji on July 20 in a triple threat match also featuring Team Dream Futures (Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie and Soma Takao). Endo competed in the KO-D Openweight Championship Number One Contenders Tournament, defeating partner Takeshita in the semi-finals on August 24, but losing to Keisuke Ishii in the final. On September 28, Endo and Takeshita captured the KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Championships, defeating the Golden Lovers. The duo successfully defended the championships for 6 months, defeating Shuten Doji (Kudo and Masa Takanashi), Team Dream Futures (Keisuke Ishii and Shigehiro Irie), Makoto Oishi and Shiori Asahi  and Kudo and Yukio Sakaguchi before dropping the belts to Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuji Okabayashi on February 15. On September 13, Endo and Takeshita unsuccessfully challenged the Golden Storm Riders (Kota Ibushi and Daisuke Sasaki) for the KO-D Tag Team Championships. Endo received his first opportunity at the KO-D Openweight Championship on December 13, unsuccessfully challenging Isami Kodaka. After the KO-D Tag Team Championships were vacated due to Kota Ibushi being sidelined with a cervical disc herniation, a tournament was set up to crown new champions, won by Endo and Takeshita after they defeated Shigehiro Irie and Yuji Okabayashi in the final on December 23. On December 29, Endo and Takeshita competed in a special mixed tag team match, teaming with Stardom's Io Shirai to defeat Shuten Doji (Kota Umeda and Yukio Sakaguchi) and Kyoko Kimura. Endo and Takeshita made their first successful defence of the tag team championships on January 16, defeating Isami Kodaka and Ryota Nakatsu, but lost the championships to Damnation (Shuji Ishikawa and Daisuke Sasaki) on March 23 and unsuccessfully challenged them in a rematch on April 24. Endo participated in the 2016 King Of DDT tournament, making it to the semi-finals before being eliminated by eventual winner Shuji Ishikawa.

### DAMNATION (2016–2021)

On July 17, Endo unsuccessfully challenged longtime friend and tag team partner Takeshita for his KO-D Openweight Championship. After the match, Daisuke Sasaki made his way to the ring, carrying a DAMNATION T-shirt and offering Endo a spot in the group. At the same time, Takeshita offered a handshake as a sign of respect for his longtime friend. Endo pushed Takeshita away, taking the DAMNATION T-shirt instead, attacking Takeshita, joining DAMNATION and turning heel for the first time in his career. On August 6, Endo, Sasaki and Mad Paulie defeated Shuten Doji (Kota Umeda, Masahiro Takanashi and Yukio Sakaguchi) in the finals of a tournament to win the KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Championships. On October 9, Endo and Sasaki won the KO-D Tag Team Championships, becoming double champions, however, on December 4, Endo and Sasaki lost the KO-D Tag Team Championships to Takeshita and Mike Bailey and on December 11 lost the KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Championships to Shuten Doji (Takanashi, Sakaguchi and Kudo). On June 25, Endo defeated HARASHIMA to win the 2017 King of DDT tournament. On August 28 Endo unsuccessfully challenged Takeshita for his KO-D Openweight Championship. On May 29, 2018 in the sixth episode of DDT Live! Maji Manji, Endo won the Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract to receive an opportunity to the KO-D Openweight Championship. On June 26 Endo and Paulie defeated Kazusada Higuchi and Daisuke Sekimoto to become the new KO-D Tag Team Champions. On July 22 Endo and Paulie lost the titles to Mike Bailey and MAO. From November 30 until December 15, Endo took part in the 2019 D-Oh Grand Prix, where he finished the tournament with a record of three wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. During the tournament, Endo briefly held the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, before losing it at the tournament. On April 5, 2019, Endo cashed his Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere against stablemate Daisuke Sasaki to win KO-D Openweight Champion, before losing the title to his rival Konosuke Takeshita on July 15.

On February 23, 2020, at Into The Fight, Endo defeated Akito to win the Saitama Super Arena Sword. Afterwards, Endo found himself a new challenger for his sword, which was Kazusada Higuchi. On May 2 at DDT TV Show, Endo lost his sword to Higuchi. Seven days later, during a backstage interview, Endo confronted Higuchi, warning that the sword would return to him. On May 16, Endo teamed with his DAMNATION stablemate Daisuke Sasaki in a winning effort against All Out (Akito and Konosuke Takeshita), with Endo pinning Akito, winning Akito's Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract in the process. After the match, Endo asked DDT's Assistant Producer Hisaya Imabayashi if the rules for the Sword and Gauntlets had changed, but Imabayashi confirmed that the rules are the same, leading Endo to call out Higuchi. Afterwards, Endo successfully cashed in his contract against Higuchi, regaining the Saitama Super Arena Sword. On June 7 on the second night of Wrestle Peter Pan, Endo successfully cashed in his Saitama Super Arena Sword against Masato Tanaka to win the KO-D Openwight Championship for the second time. He lost the title to 2020 D-Oh Grand Prix winner Jun Akiyama on February 14, 2021. On September 4, DAMANTION took part in the Dramatic Survivor tournament, in which the losing unit would be forced to disband. DAMNATION and 37KAMIINA faced each other in the finals after both teamed lost their first round match. This led to DAMNATION losing to 37KAMIINA and as a result being forced to disband. From November 3 until December 5, Endo took part in the 2021 II D-Oh Grand Prix, where he finished the tournament with a record of three wins and two losses, but he would fail to advance to the finals of the tournament after losing to Yuki Ueno on the last day of the tournament.

### Burning (2021–present)

On December 7, 2021, DDT announced that, at the request of Endo and Jun Akiyama, Kenta Kobashi had endorsed the reformation of the Burning stable (originally formed in 1998, in All Japan Pro Wrestling) for its fourth incarnation after Kobashi presued him to form a unit after the disbanding of DAMNATION with Kobashi asked him to add Yusuke Okada and Yuya Koroku to join the unit which he accepted. On December 26, at Never Mind 2021 in Yoyogi, this new stable made their debut by defeating 37KAMIINA (Shunma Katsumata, Yuki Ueno, MAO and Toui Kojima). On March, 20, 2022, at Judgement 2022, Endo defeated his longtime rival and former tag team partner Konosuke Takeshita to regain the KO-D Openweight Championship for the third time. On June 12, at CyberFight Festival 2022 Endo would suffer a during a match between him and his Burning stablemate Jun Akiyama and Kazusada Higuchi against Katsuhiko Nakajima, Atsushi Kotoge and Yoshiki Inamura as result he would be forced to relinquish his KO-D Openweight Championship and forfeit his spot in the 2022 King of DDT tournament. From November 1 until December 4, Endo took part in the 2022 D-Oh Grand Prix, where finished his block with a record of two wins, and two losses and one draw, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. On December 29, Endo, Okada and their new stablemate Kotaro Suzuki defeated Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi and Kazuki Hirata to win KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles to Shinya Aoki, Super Sasadango Machine and Yuki Ueno on February 26, 2023. On March 21, at Judgement, Endo defeated Naruki Doi to win the DDT Universal Championship. He lost the title to Matt Cardona on July 23 at Wrestle Peter Pan. On October 4, Endo was confronted with his past when Daisuke Sasaki asked him to join DAMNATION T.A after their match. While Endo was on good terms with Sasaki, he refused to join the stable because it cannot compare to the original DAMNATION they were both a part of, with Endo suggesting that Sasaki should join Burning instead, setting up a match at Ultimate Party on November 12, which Endo lost. From November 26 until December 24, Endo took part in the 2023 D-Oh Grand Prix, where he finished the tournament with a record of three wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On Janaury 3, 2024, Endo was defeated by Yukio Naya in the finals. Afterwards, Sasaki advised Endo to leave Burning and join him, but before Endo could answer he advised Endo to think about his words. On January 5, Endo refused to join DAMNATION T.A, leading Sasaki to attack Endo, before being saved by Yuki Iino, staying at Burning. The following day, DAMNATION T.A attacked Endo during his match against Takeshi Masada.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Argentine backbreaker rack transitioned into a sitout powerbomb
	+ *Burning Star Press* (Shooting star press)
	+ Corkscrew moonsault - early career
	+ Corkscrew 450° splash
	+ *SKP* *- Schoolboy Krunch Package* (Schoolboy transitioned into a small package) - 2021; adopted from Makoto Oishi
	+ *Yurikamome* (Inverted lotus hold can opener, sometimes while applying a neck crank)
* **Signature moves**
	+ *ACNH – Animal Crossing New Horizons* (Pumphandle half nelson wheelbarrow driver) – 2020–present
	+ Exploder suplex
	+ Flip piledriver, sometimes while applying a double underhook
	+ Headbutt
	+ Multiple kick variants
		- Drop
		- Enzuigiri
		- Handspring overhead
		- Overhead
		- Spin
	+ Multiple moonsault variants
		- Cartwheel over the top rope corkscrew plancha
		- Diving
		- Springboard
		- *Tetsuya in the Sky with Diamonds* (Diving side slam)
		- *Tetsuya in the Sky* (Standing side slam)
	+ No-touch over the top rope suicide dive
	+ *Puma Jikiden Toque de Espaldas* (Double arm wrench crucifix pin) - adopted from Puma King
	+ *Sasuke Special* (Cartwheel over the top rope suicide moonsault)
	+ Sitout powerbomb
	+ Snap suplex
	+ Springboard forearm smash
* **Nicknames**
	+ "Shikkoku no Senpū" (Japanese for "Jet Black Whirlwind")
	+ "Ibushi Chokugeki Sedai no Shinjin" (Japanese for "Newcomer of the Ibushi-directed Generation")
	+ **"Burning Star"**
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Here I Am" by Sertab Erener
	+ "Flying Bomb" (DDT; used while in Happy Motel)
	+ "Damnit" (DDT; used while in DAMNATION)
	+ **"CORE TOOL"** by Osamu Suzuki (DDT; used while in BURNING)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **DDT Pro-Wrestling**
	+ KO-D Openweight Championship (3 times)
	+ Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
	+ DDT Universal Championship (1 time)
	+ KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Konosuke Takeshita and Antonio Honda (1) and Daisuke Sasaki and Mad Paulie (1) and Soma Takao and Mad Paulie (1) and T-Hawk and El Lindaman (1), Soma Takao and Yuji Hino (1) and Yusuke Okada and Kotaro Suzuki (1)
	+ KO-D Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Konosuke Takeshita (2) and Daisuke Sasaki (1) and Mad Paulie (1)
	+ King of DDT (2017, 2020)
	+ Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere (2014–2016, 2018–2020)
	+ Saitama Super Arena Sword (2020)
* **Japan Indie Awards**
	+ Best Bout Award (2020) vs. Daisuke Sasaki on November 3
	+ Best Bout Award (2014) – with Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi on October 28
	+ Best Unit Award (2016,2017) Damnation with Daisuke Sasaki, Mad Paulie and Shuji Ishikawa
* **Toshikoshi Puroresu**
	+ New Year's Eve Shuffle Tag Tournament (2019) – with Takuya Nomura
* ***Tokyo Sports***
	+ Technique Award (2020)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `wrestlingdata1`
2. ↑ 【名古屋リポート】HarashimaがKudoを破り、KO-D無差別級王者に返り咲く／DDT初のアジアタッグ戦は石井&入江がV2達成／アイドルランバージャックマッチでしず風＆絆～Kizuna～が大暴れ…大石がExtreme級王座奪取!!／彰俊が漢タイツを装着し掟破りの男色ドライバー!!／佐々木がKing of DDT予選を突破  (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-01-24.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 遠藤哲哉 - DDTプロレスリング公式サイト .
4. ↑ Saalbach, Axel. Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database .
5. ↑ Saalbach, Axel. Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database .
6. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Osaka Bay Blues Special 2013 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
7. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Revival! Osaka Dotonbori Story 14 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
8. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Road To Ryogoku In Osaka ~ Dramatic Dream Tsutenkaku « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
9. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Road To Ryogoku 2014 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
10. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Road To Saitama Super Arena 6 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
11. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Memories Of Summer Vacation 2014 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
12. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Dramatic General Election 2014 Final Voting Day - Last Hope Special « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
13. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Sapporo Pro Wrestling Fiesta 2014 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
14. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Road To Saitama Super Arena 7 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
15. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT God Bless DDT 2014 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
16. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Never Mind 2014 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
17. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Saitama Super DDT 2015 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
18. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Osaka Bay Blues Special 2015 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
19. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Super Star Lanes 2015 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
20. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Never Mind 2015 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
21. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Ring Dream & DDT Pro Wrestling Event "Encore ~Hoshizora Puroresu~" « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
22. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Yokohama Tosogare 2016 ~Shinshun~ « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
23. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Judgement 2016 ~ DDT 19th Anniversary Show « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
24. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Max Bump 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
25. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT King Of DDT 2016 Tokyo « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
26. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Road To Ryogoku 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
27. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Saitam Slam! Vol. 13 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
28. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Sapporo Wrestling Festa ~ DDT Sea Urchin ~ « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
29. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Osaka Octopus 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
30. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. DDT Never Mind 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
31. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. Titles « Tetsuya Endo « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
32. ↑ 【後楽園リポート】二丁拳銃がWユージを撃破し、天下統一！タッグトーナメントを制覇／インディー大賞MVPはHARASHIMA、ベストバウトは10・28後楽園のKO-Dタッグ戦、ベスト興行は8・17両国 - DDTプロレスリング公式サイト .
33. ↑ *ja:「年越しプロレス2016～年忘れ！五団体シャッフル・タッグトーナメント～」* (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Yahoo! (2016-12-31). Retrieved on 2017-01-01.