.jpg) Umino in April 2024 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Shota Umino (1997-04-17)April 17, 1997 (age 28) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | Shota Umino[1] |
| Billed height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1] |
| Billed weight | 93 kg (205 lb)[1] |
| Billed from | Tokyo, Japan |
| Trained by | Hiroshi Tanahashi Hiroyoshi Tenzan Jon Moxley Jushin Thunder Liger NJPW Dojo[2] Yuji Nagata |
| Debut | April 13, 2017[1] |
Shota Umino (海野 翔太,Umino Shōta; born April 17, 1997) is a Japaneseprofessional wrestler. He is signed toNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Umino was born on April 13, 1997, in thespecial ward ofSetagaya inTokyo, Japan.[1] He is the son of NJPWreferee Hiroyuki Umino (also known under his ring name of "Red Shoes Unno").[1]
Umino made his professional wrestling debut forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)'sdevelopmental territoryLion's Gate on April 13, 2017, losing toTaka Michinoku atLion's Gate Project 4.[3] He then made his debut for NJPW's main roster at Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2017 on April 22 as a "young lion", losing to fellow young lionHirai Kawato.[4] Umino obtained his first win in asix-man tag team match on the first night of theBest of the Super Juniors 24 event, teaming withTomoyuki Oka andVolador Jr. to defeat Tetsuhiro Yagi,Katsuya Kitamura andACH, after Okapinned Yagi.[5] Throughout the following months, Umino would split his time between NJPW's main roster and Lion's Gate. Umino would compete in the2017 Young Lion Cup, but did not win, with a final standing of 4 points (two wins and three losses).[6][7][8][9][10]
In April 2018, Uminomain eventedLion's Gate Project 11, where he teamed withYuji Nagata in a loss to Ayato Yoshida and Go Asakawa.[11] Umino would then lose to Yoshida in a singles match in the main event ofLion's Gate Project 13 in June.[12] Umino and Yoshida would subsequently form a tag team and competed in the2018 World Tag League later that year, but lost all of their matches and ending with a final tally of 0 points (0 wins and 13 losses).[13] Umino also wrestled in the2019 New Japan Cup tournament, but lost toHiroshi Tanahashi in the first round.[14]
AtDominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 9, Umino lost toIWGP United States ChampionJon Moxley.[15] Following the loss, Moxley would state his appreciation of Umino's efforts and adopt Umino as his tag team partner and manager for matches - dubbing him "Shooter".[16][17] Their debut as a team was a loss toJeff Cobb andRen Narita on July 14, which they lost after Umino was pinned by Cobb.[18] The two's partnership was halted when Moxley took a hiatus from NJPW after the end of the2019 G1 Climax in August and began to wrestle more regularly for American promotionAll Elite Wrestling (AEW).[19]
AtRoyal Quest on August 31, Umino teamed with Narita andRyusuke Taguchi in a loss toRoppongi 3K (Rocky Romero,Sho andYoh).[20] Umino would then move onto compete in the2019 Young Lion Cup. Although he would lose his first tournament match toClark Connors,[21] Umino would win his next four matches against Narita,[22] Michael Richards,[23]Yuya Uemura,[24]Alex Coughlin[25] andYota Tsuji,[26] but lost the final match of the tournament toKarl Fredericks, failing to win the tournament with a final score of 10 points.[27] Following the end of the tournament, it was announced that Umino would begin a learning excursion in the United Kingdom.[28]
Umino made his debut forRevolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) at the New Beginnings event on November 9, 2019, in a loss toKyle Fletcher.[29] He had previously wrestled for RevPro in 2018, during the collaborative two-night eventStrong Style Evolved UK.[30][31] Umino also made his debut forOver the Top Wrestling (OTT) at the promotion's Stickin' Out event on January 5, 2020, where he lost to Scotty Davis.[32] On January 18, Umino won RPW's 40-man Revolution Rumblebattle royal.[33] After an absence of over a year due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, Umino made his return to wrestling at RevPro Live In Bristol 3 event in July 2021, defeatingDan Moloney.[34] At RevPro's Uprising event in November, Umino challengedWill Ospreay for theUndisputed British Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated.[35] In May of the following year, Umino challenged Michael Oku for theUndisputed British Cruiserweight Championship, but was defeated.[36] In July, Umino unsuccessfully challengedPac for theAEW All-Atlantic Championship.[37]
Umino would make his return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, on April 16, 2022, atWindy City Riot, where he answeredJay White's open challenge but was defeated.[38] Umino made his return to Japan as the "Roughneck" on November 5 atBattle Autumn, where he confronted and attacked Ospreay and hisUnited Empire stablemates, challenging Ospreay for Ospreay'sIWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.[39] The match took place on November 20 atHistoric X-Over, where Umino once again was defeated by Ospreay.[40] On January 4, 2023, atWrestle Kingdom 17, Umino teamed withHiroshi Tanahashi andKeiji Muto to defeatLos Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito,Bushi andSanada), in Muto's NJPW retirement match, where Umino pinned Bushi for the win.[41]
In March, Umino participated in theNew Japan Cup, being defeated in the quarterfinals byDavid Finlay.[42] The second round victory over Sabre, earnt Umino a NJPW World Television Championship match atSakura Genesis in April, where Sabre defeated Umino.[43] On May 21 atResurgence, Umino reunited withJon Moxley, teaming with him and Yuta, to defeatChaos (Kazuchika Okada,Rocky Romero andTomohiro Ishii).[44] He participated in his firstG1 Climax tournament, where was placed in the A Block.[45] Umino finished his tournament with 6 points, narrowly missing out on a place to advance to the quarterfinals.[46]
In September, Umino teamed withYuji Nagata andMaster Wato to face off in aBest of Seven Series, againstEl Desperado,Ren Narita and Minoru Suzuki. The series culminated on October 9 atDestruction in Ryōgoku, where Umino pinned Narita in the final match to draw the series, at a record of 3–3–1. After the match, Umino shook hands with rival Narita.[47] AtPower Struggle, Ospreay defeated Umino to retain the United States title.[48]
In November, Umino continued his alliance with Narita, with the two teaming in the annualWorld Tag League, with the duo participating in the A-Block.[49] However, in their final match of the tournament, Narita turned on Umino and sided with their opponents, House of Torture. This ended their campaign with 6 points, meaning they failed to advance to the semi-finals.[50] Umino sought his revenge heading into the new year, teaming withKaito Kiyomiya,Ryohei Oiwa,Daiki Inaba,Shuji Kondo andJunta Miyawaki to defeat House of Torture atNoah The New Year on January 2, 2024.[51] Two days later atWrestle Kingdom 18, Umino teamed with Kiyomiya once more to face Narita andEvil, but failed to win the match.[52]
On January 13 atBattle in the Valley, Umino teamed withJacob Fatu andFred Rosser to defeatTeam Filthy (Tom Lawlor,Jorel Nelson andRoyce Isaacs) in a six-man tag-team match. Following the match, Umino was attacked byJack Perry, who then ripped up his contract withAll Elite Wrestling.[53] The following month, atThe New Beginning in Sapporo, Umino challenged Evil for theNEVER Openweight Championship, but was unsuccessful.[54] The following month, Umino entered theNew Japan Cup, where he faced Perry in the first round.[55] On February 6, Umino was defeated by Perry, who joined House of Torture after the match.[56] On April 12, atWindy City Riot, he defeated Perry. After the match, they shook hands and gave respect. Umino later appeared in the show, running off Narita from attacking Moxley, who had just won theIWGP World Heavyweight Championship.[57] AtResurgence, Umino unsuccessfully challenged Moxley for the championship.[58] Umino participated his secondG1 Climax tournament, where he was placed in A Block. Umino finished the tournament with 8 points, but failed to advance to the quarter-finals. After the tournament, Umino began receiving negative reactions from fans despite being ababyface.[59]
On January 4, 2025 atWrestle Kingdom 19, Umino unsuccessfully challengedZack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in the main event.[60] On February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka, Umino was defeated byGreat-O-Khan. After the match, O-Khan attempted to shave Umino’s head, only for Umino to stop O-Khan and do it himself.[61] In March, Umino received a first-round bye in theNew Japan Cup, defeating O-Khan in a rematch in the second round,[62]Jeff Cobb in the quarter-final,[63]Shingo Takagi in the semi-final,[64] but lost toDavid Finlay in the finals.[65] On April 4 atSakura Genesis, Umino defeatedHiroshi Tanahashi. After the main event, reigning IWGP World Heavyweight ChampionHirooki Goto called out Umino and challenged to a title match atWindy City Riot, which Umino accepted.[66] On April 11 at Windy City Riot, Umino failed to win the title from Goto.[67]
