Aaron Wolf (judoka)

Aaron Wolf
Wolf in 2026
Personal information
Born (1996-02-25) 25 February 1996
Shin-Koiwa, Japan
EducationTokai University[1]
OccupationJudoka
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Sport
CountryJapan
SportJudo
‍–‍100 kg
     5th dan black belt
Achievements and titles
1st place, gold medalist(s) (2020)
1st place, gold medalist(s) (2017)
1st place, gold medalist(s) (2021)
Medal record
Men's judo
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2020 Tokyo‍–‍100 kg
Silver medal – second place2020 TokyoMixed team
Silver medal – second place2024 ParisMixed team
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 Budapest‍–‍100 kg
Bronze medal – third place2019 Tokyo‍–‍100 kg
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2022 HangzhouMixed team
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Bishkek‍–‍100 kg
World Masters
Silver medal – second place2019 Qingdao‍–‍100 kg
IJF Grand Slam
Gold medal – first place2018 Osaka‍–‍100 kg
Gold medal – first place2024 Paris‍–‍100 kg
Gold medal – first place2024 Astana‍–‍100 kg
Silver medal – second place2019 Paris‍–‍100 kg
Silver medal – second place2021 Antalya‍–‍100 kg
Bronze medal – third place2016 Paris‍–‍100 kg
Bronze medal – third place2016 Baku‍–‍100 kg
Bronze medal – third place2019 Osaka‍–‍100 kg
Bronze medal – third place2023 Ulaanbaatar‍–‍100 kg
Bronze medal – third place2024 Antalya‍–‍100 kg
IJF Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place2015 Ulaanbaatar‍–‍100 kg
Gold medal – first place2015 Tashkent‍–‍100 kg
Gold medal – first place2018 Budapest‍–‍100 kg
Gold medal – first place2019 Budapest‍–‍100 kg
Silver medal – second place2017 Düsseldorf‍–‍100 kg
World Juniors Championships
Bronze medal – third place2014 Fort Lauderdale‍–‍100 kg
Professional wrestling career
Ring nameAaron Wolf
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Billed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Billed fromShin-Koiwa, Japan
Trained byNJPW Dojo
Yuji Nagata
DebutJanuary 4, 2026
Updated on 4 January 2026

Aaron Phillip Wolf (ウルフ・アロン, Urufu Aron; Japanese surname: Kimura (木村); born 25 February 1996) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former judoka.[2] He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the current NEVER Openweight Champion in his second reign.

As a judoka, he won a gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest and a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He is the son of a Japanese mother and an American father.[3] He retired from judo in June 2025 to pursue a professional wrestling career and signed with NJPW.

Judo career

Wolf became the first athlete of U.S. descent to win the All-Japan Judo Championships with his victory on 29 April 2019. On 15 May 2019 he was promoted to 5th dan.

Wolf qualified to represent Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics,[4] and won the gold medal in the 100 kg competition at the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan.[5]

Wolf retired from Judo competition in June 2025.[6]

Professional wrestling career

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2025–present)

On June 22, 2025, Wolf started his professional wrestling career by signing and training with the promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW); it was also announced that he would make his in-ring debut at Wrestle Kingdom 20.[7] He appeared at King of Pro-Wrestling on October 13, attacking members of House of Torture after their leader, Evil, won the NEVER Openweight Championship.[8]

At Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, 2026, Wolf defeated Evil to win the title in his debut match,[9] but lost it to new House of Torture leader Ren Narita on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka.[10] The following month, Wolf was eliminated by Don Fale in the first round of the New Japan Cup,[11] but defeated him in a rematch on Night 1 of Wrestling Dontaku on May 3.[12] At Dominion 6.14 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 14, Wolf regained the NEVER Openweight Championship from Narita.[13] On June 23, Wolf defeated Yoshi-Hashi to qualify for the B-Block in his first G1 Climax tournament.[14] He finished with eight points after four wins and five losses, failing to advance to the semi-finals.[15]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "WOLF Aaron". Paris 2024 Olympics. International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  2. ↑ "Aaron Wolf". judoinside.com. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Oki, Yui (24 July 2019). "Aaron Wolf Links Japan and U.S. Through Judo". American View. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Japan's Tokyo 2020-bound judo stars win gold at Asia-Oceania Judo Championships". www.insidethegames.biz. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "2020 Summer Olympics — Judo - Men 100 kg Schedule". 2020 Summer Olympics. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Judo: Tokyo Olympic champion Aaron Wolf to retire next June". Kyodo News. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "NJPW announces signing of Olympic gold medalist Aaron Wolf, debut set for Wrestle Kingdom". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  8. ↑ Wannan, Jack (13 October 2025). "EVIL captures NEVER Openweight Championship off Boltin Oleg at King of Pro Wrestling, goes face-to-face with Aaron Wolf". POST Wrestling. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (4 January 2026). "Aaron Wolf Wins NEVER Openweight Title In Debut Match At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20". Fightful. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Wannan, Jack (11 February 2026). "Ren Narita unseats Aaron Wolf for NEVER Openweight Championship in shocking two-minute result". POST Wrestling. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "New Japan Cup 2026". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "【新日本】ウルフアロンがドン・ファレに雪辱！　NEVER王者・成田蓮に挑戦表明「俺がそのベルトの価値を元に戻してやる」". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  13. ↑ Thompson, Andrew (14 June 2026). "Aaron Wolf Becomes Two-Time NEVER Openweight Champion At NJPW Dominion 2026". Fightful. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Pollock, John (23 June 2026). "NJPW Road to G1 Climax Results: Yuto-Ice & Aaron Wolf join G1 Climax, Francesco Akira earns title shot". POST Wrestling. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "新日カードランブル presents G1 Climax 36". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "NEVER 無差別級王座". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 June 2026.
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