 Endo in March 2022 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tetsuya Endo (遠藤 哲哉,Endō Tetsuya) (1991-08-11)August 11, 1991 (age 34) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Tetsuya Endo Endo=Pehlwan[1] |
| Billed height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Billed weight | 80 kg (176 lb) |
| Trained by | Keita Yano |
| Debut | April 1, 2012[2] |
Tetsuya Endo (遠藤 哲哉,Endō Tetsuya; born August 11, 1991)[2] is aJapaneseprofessional wrestler, who has worked forDDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) since his debut in April 2012. He is a three-timeKO-D Openweight Champion and a former four-timeKO-D Tag Team Champion. Endo also makes appearances for DDT's sister promotionPro Wrestling Noah where is a former one-timeGHC National Champion.
After training underKeita Yano, Endo made his professional debut on April 1, 2012, teaming withKeisuke Ishii in a loss toHiroshi Fukuda andAkito.[3] 29 days after his debut, Endo gained his first win, defeating Daishi at aKaientai Dojo show.[4] Endo lost the majority of matches he competed in throughout 2012 and 2013, a common thing for young wrestlers in Japan as a method of earning one's place in the company and gaining experience.
In 2013, Endo began teaming with fellow rookieKonosuke Takeshita, teaming with him in aKO-D Tag Team Championship number one contenders match also featuringKudo andYasu Urano, losing to theGolden Lovers (Kota Ibushi andKenny Omega).[5]
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 championsYuko Miyamoto andIsami Kodaka, with the Golden Lovers winning the match and the championships.[6] On July 13, Endo won his first championship in DDT, teaming with Takeshita andAntonio Honda as Happy Motel to defeat Shuten-dōji (Kudo,Masa Takanashi andYukio Sakaguchi) to win theKO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[7] Happy Motel dropped the championships back to Shuten-dōji on July 20 in a three-way match also featuring Team Dream Futures (Keisuke Ishii,Shigehiro Irie andSoma Takao).[8] Endo competed in the KO-D Openweight Championship Number One Contenders Tournament, defeating partner Takeshita in the semi-finals on August 24,[9] but losing to Keisuke Ishii in the final.[10] On September 28, Endo and Takeshita captured the KO-D Tag Team Championship, defeating the Golden Lovers.[11] The duo successfully defended the championships for 6 months, defeating Shuten-dōji (Kudo and Masa Takanashi),[12] Team Dream Futures (Keisuke Ishii and Shigehiro Irie),[13]Makoto Oishi andShiori Asahi[14] and Kudo and Yukio Sakaguchi[15] before dropping the belts toDaisuke Sekimoto andYuji Okabayashi on February 15.[16]
On September 13, Endo and Takeshita unsuccessfully challenged the Golden Storm Riders (Kota Ibushi andDaisuke Sasaki) for the KO-D Tag Team Championship.[17] Endo received his first opportunity at theKO-D Openweight Championship on December 13, unsuccessfully challenging Isami Kodaka.[18] After the KO-D Tag Team Championship was 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.[19] On December 29, Endo and Takeshita competed in a special mixed tag team match, teaming withStardom'sIo Shirai to defeat Shuten-dōji (Kota Umeda and Yukio Sakaguchi) and Kyoko Kimura.[20]
Endo and Takeshita made their first successful defence of the tag team championships on January 16, 2016, defeating Isami Kodaka andRyota Nakatsu,[21] but lost the championships toDamnation (Shuji Ishikawa and Daisuke Sasaki) atJudgement, on March 23,[22] and unsuccessfully challenged them in a rematch on April 24.[23] In June, Endo participated in the2016 King of DDT Tournament, making it to the semi-finals before being eliminated by eventual winnerShuji Ishikawa.[24]
On July 17, 2016, Endo unsuccessfully challenged longtime friend and tag team partner Takeshita for his KO-D Openweight Championship.[25] After the match, Daisuke Sasaki made his way to the ring, carrying a DamnationT-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 andturning heel for the first time in his career. On August 6, Endo, Sasaki andMad Paulie defeated Shuten-dōji (Kota Umeda, Masahiro Takanashi and Yukio Sakaguchi) in the finals of a tournament to win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[26] On October 9, Endo and Sasaki won the KO-D Tag Team Championship, becoming double champions,[27] however, on December 4, Endo and Sasaki lost the KO-D Tag Team Championship to Takeshita andMike Bailey[28] and on December 11, lost the KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Championship to Shuten-dōji (Takanashi, Sakaguchi and Kudo).[29]
On March 20, 2017, atJudgement, Endo and Shuji Ishikawa unsuccessfully challenged Sakaguchi andMasakatsu Funaki for the KO-D Tag Team Championship.[30] On June 25, Endo defeatedHarashima in the final to win the2017 King of DDT Tournament.[31]
On May 29, 2018, Endo won the Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract in arumble rules match to receive an opportunity to the KO-D Openweight Championship.[32] On June 26, Endo and Paulie defeatedKazusada Higuchi and Daisuke Sekimoto to become the new KO-D Tag Team Champions.[33] On July 22, Endo and Paulie lost the titles to Moonlight Express (Mike Bailey andMao).[34] From November 30 until December 15, Endo took part in the2019 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 theIronman Heavymetalweight Championship.[35]
On April 5, 2019, atDDT Is Coming to America, Endo cashed his Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract against stablemate Daisuke Sasaki to win the KO-D Openweight Champion,[36] before losing the title to his rival Konosuke Takeshita on July 15, atWrestle Peter Pan.[37]
On February 23, 2020, atInto The Fight, Endo defeated Akito to win the Saitama Super Arena Sword, symbolizing a KO-D Openweight title shot atWrestle Peter Pan 2020 (initially scheduled to take place at theSaitama Super Arena).[38] However, on May 2, Endo lost the sword to Kazusada Higuchi.[39] 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. Using the rules of the Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract to his advantage, Endo immediately cashed it in against Kazusada Higuchi to challenge him for the sword. Endo won the match and thus regained the Saitama Super Arena Sword.[40] On June 7, on the second night of Wrestle Peter Pan, Endo successfully cashed in his Saitama Super Arena Sword againstMasato Tanaka to win the KO-D Openwight Championship for the second time.[41] He lost the title to2021 D-Oh Grand Prix winnerJun Akiyama atKawasaki Strong, on February 14, 2021.[42]
On September 4, 2021, Damnation took part in the Dramatic Survivor tournament, in which the losing unit would be forced to disband. Damnation andThe37Kamiina faced each other in the finals after both teams lost their first round match. This led to Damnation losing and as a result being forced to disband.[43] Their final match was held on September 26, inKorakuen Hall. The match saw Daisuke Sasaki, Endo and Mad Paulie defeat Soma Takao, Shuji Ishikawa andNobuhiro Shimatani (withYuji Hino) in a six-man tag team match.[44]
On December 7, 2021, DDT announced that, at the request of Endo and Jun Akiyama,Kenta Kobashi had endorsed the reformation of theBurning stable (originally formed in 1998, inAll Japan Pro Wrestling) for its fourth incarnation.[45] Endo and Akiyama were immediately joined byYusuke Okada and Yuya Koroku.[46] On December 26, atNever Mind 2021 in Yoyogi, this new stable debuted by defeating The37Kamiina (Shunma Katsumata,Yuki Ueno, Mao andToui Kojima).[47]
On March, 20, 2022, atJudgement 2022, Endo defeated his longtime rival and former tag team partnerKonosuke 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 stablemateJun Akiyama and Kazusada Higuchi againstKatsuhiko 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 the2022 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 winKO-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 theDDT Universal Championship. He lost the title toMatt 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 January 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. On February 7, Endo and Iino defeated Daisuke Sasaki and KANON to win theKO-D Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles to Chris Brookes and Takeshi Masada on August 10.
On December 28 at Ultimate Party, Endo announced that Burning would be disbanded.
On February 21, 2023, atKeiji Mutoh Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last-Love", Endo made his debut in Pro Wrestling Noah, teaming withYuya Koroku, Hideki Okatani and Takeshi Masada in a losing effort to The 37KAMIINA (MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Toi Kojima and Yuki Ueno). Over the following year, he began working more regularly in NOAH at their Limit Break events.
On January 2, 2025 at New Year Reboot, Endo announced that he would start working regularly for NOAH, before declaring that he would win all titles in NOAH. Later that night, Endo challengedManabu Soya to a title match for theGHC National Championship. At the event, on January 11,Team 2000 X interfered in the match, with Endo picking upYoshitatsu's tonfa, before hitting Soya with it and performing a shooting star press to become the new champion. Afterwards, he was accepted into Team 2000 X, turning heel in the process. He lost the title back to Soya on February 11. On April 14, Endo was confronted by Jun Akiyama andTakashi Sugiura in a post-match interview, as Sugiura stated that he wanted Akiyama's help to bring Endo back to the correct path. Sugiura stated that he wanted to team with Akiyama in doing so, leading to a match on May 3, atMemorial Voyage in Kokugikan, where he and Owadasan were defeated by Akiyama and Sugiura.
