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Yuya Uemura

Yuya Uemura
Uemura in November 2023
Born (1994-11-18) November 18, 1994 (age 30)[1][2]
Imabari, Ehime, Shikoku, Japan[2][1]
Alma materFukuoka University[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Yuya Uemura
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[2][1]
Billed weight198 lb (90 kg)[2][1]
Trained byKatsuyori Shibata
Tiger Mask IV
DebutApril 10, 2018[2][1]

Yuya Uemura (上村優也, Uemura Yūya, November 18, 1994) is a Japanese male professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former Provisional KOPW Champion, and a member of the Just 5 Guys stable. He has also made appearances for Impact Wrestling , All Elite Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions and Game Changer Wrestling.

Early life

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In March 2013, Uemura graduated from Imabari Technical High School. He wrestled collegiately before he started his professional wrestling career.[2][1] In October 2016, he won the West Japan Collegiate Wrestling League's 71 kg Greco-Roman championship.[1] In March 2017, Uemura graduated from Fukuoka University.[1]

Professional wrestling career

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New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2017–present)

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Young lion (2017–2021)

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In April 2017, after graduating from Fukuoka University, Uemura was signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling under New Japan's "young lion" system.[1] A year later, in April 2018, Uemura as well as fellow young lion, Yota Tsuji, made their pro-wrestling debuts at Lion's Gate Project 11 where Uemura was defeated by Ren Narita.[3][4][5] On day one of Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2018, Uemura was defeated by Tetsuhiro Yagi.[6][7] On day six, he was defeated by Tomoyuki Oka.[8] On day eight, Uemura was defeated by Rocky Romero.[9] On day 14, Uemura and Yuji Nagata were defeated by Oka and Shota Umino.[10] On night two of Wrestling Dontaku 2018, Uemura teamed with Narita and Umino to be defeated by the team of veterans, Tiger Mask, Jushin Thunder Liger and Ryusuke Taguchi.[11][12] At New Japan Road 2018, Uemura and Yota Tsuji wrestled to a time-limit draw.[13] At Lion's Gate Project 12, Uemura and Tsuji once again wrestled to a time-limit draw.[14] On day 6 of Best of the Super Juniors XXV, Uemura, Tsuji and Flip Gordon were defeated by Umino, Tiger Mask and Oka.[15] On day 11, Uemura and Dragon Lee were defeated by Umino and Kushida.[16] On day 12, Uemura, ACH and Tsuji were defeated by Umino, Oka and Tiger Mask.[17] Throughout Kizuna Road 2018, Tsuji and Uemura wrestled to time-limit draws.[18][19][20][21][22][23] On September 8, Uemura teamed with Shota defeat Tsuji and Ren Narita to win his first match. In October 2019, Uemura teamed with Tiger Mask as part of the Super Junior Tag Tournament where they came in last place with zero points.[24] Uemura competed in the 2020 New Japan Cup for the first time being eliminated by Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the first round.[1][25] In November 2020, he entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He finished the tournament with 0 wins and 9 losses, failing to advance to the finals.

Foreign excursion (2021–2023)

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In 2022, Uemura travelled to the United States as part of his learning excursion. There, he began competing for All Elite Wrestling, Impact Wrestling and Game Changer Wrestling. In August, Uemura defeated Kenny King in his Impact Wrestling debut and the next month picked up his first win on NJPW Strong when he defeated veteran wrestler Christopher Daniels. After being assaulted by Bully Ray and his enforcers, The Good Hands, in March 2023, Uemura joined forces with Tommy Dreamer and went on to defeat Team Bully as part of Team Dreamer at Rebellion.[26]

Uemura teamed with Joe Hendry briefly in August as JOYA, complete with a new team theme and entrance akin to Hendry's. He would later reflect in an NJPW website interview how the pairing "broadened [his] horizons" about how wrestling can be presented in different ways.[27] On the September 14, 2023 episode of Impact, Uemura competed in a Feast or Fired match, where he secured one of the four briefcases.[28] The following week's episode revealed that he had the briefcase containing a pink slip, meaning he was fired.[29]

Just 5 Guys (2023–present)

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On October 9, 2023, at Destruction, Uemura made his return to NJPW, teaming with Taichi and Douki against House of Torture, thus becoming the newest member of Just 5 Guys.[30] In November later that year, Uemura teamed with Taichi, in the World Tag League. The duo finished the tournament with 8 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals.[31] Following the tournament's conclusion, Uemura began a feud with former Young Lion Dojo stablemate Yota Tsuji, who had also returned from his excursion and had since joined Los Ingobernables de Japon. The feud began when Uemura pinned Tsuji in a tag-team match. Due to this a singles match between the two men was set for Wrestle Kingdom 18.[32] On January 4, 2024 at Wrestle Kingdom, Uemura defeated Tsuji.[33] On February 24 at The New Beginning in Sapporo, Uemura was defeated by Tsuji in a Hair vs. Hair match.[34]

Championships and accomplishments

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Collegiate wrestling

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Professional wrestling

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Luchas de Apuestas record

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See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Yota Tsuji (hair) Yuya Uemura (hair) Sapporo, Japan The New Beginning in Sapporo: Night 2 February 24, 2024 [34]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Yuya Uemura". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Yuya Uemura". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  3. ^ "NJPW Lion's Gate Project11". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Lion's Gate Project11". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  5. ^ Tees, David (April 10, 2018). "NJPW Lions Gate Project 11 Results: Yuji Nagata, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Hiro Saito, Gedo, Tiger Mask IV, Manabu Nakanishi & More In Action!". FIGHTFUL. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  6. ^ "NJPW Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Tag 1". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  7. ^ Davies, Don. "Road to Dontaku: Day One Update". CANOE-SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  8. ^ "NJPW Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Tag 6". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  9. ^ "NJPW Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Tag 8". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  10. ^ "NJPW Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Tag 14". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  11. ^ "NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Tag 2". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  12. ^ Joyce, Brian (May 5, 2018). "NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – Night Two – REVIEW". WrestleTalk. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  13. ^ "NJPW New Japan Road 2018". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  14. ^ "NJPW Lion's Gate Project12". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  15. ^ "NJPW Best Of The Super Junior XXV - Tag 6". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  16. ^ "NJPW Best Of The Super Junior XXV - Tag 11". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  17. ^ "NJPW Best Of The Super Junior XXV - Tag 12". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  18. ^ "NJPW Kizuna Road 2018 - Tag 5". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  19. ^ "NJPW Kizuna Road 2018 - Tag 3". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  20. ^ "NJPW Kizuna Road 2018 - Tag 8". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  21. ^ "NJPW Kizuna Road 2018 - Tag 1". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  22. ^ Tees, David (June 17, 2018). "NJPW Kizuna Road 2018 Day 2 Results: The NEVER Openweight Title Is Defended, Plus Chaos Competes In Tag Team Action". FIGHTFUL. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  23. ^ "NJPW Kizuna Road 2018 - Tag 6". Cagematch. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Super Junior Tag League 2019". Cagematch. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  25. ^ "NJPW New Japan Cup 2020 - Tag 2". Cagematch. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  26. ^ Maloney, Chris (April 16, 2023). "Impact Rebellion live results: Steve Maclin vs. KUSHIDA World title match". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  27. ^ "Yuya Uemura: Teaming With Joe Hendry In IMPACT Broadened My Horizons". Fightful. October 20, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  28. ^ Maloney, Chris (September 14, 2023). "Impact Wrestling 1000 live results: Dudley Boyz in action, Feast or Fired match". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  29. ^ MacDonald, Josiah (September 21, 2023). "Impact Wrestling 1000 week two live results: 10-woman tag team match". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  30. ^ Fritts, Chick (October 9, 2023). "NJPW Destruction in Ryogoku live results: SANADA vs. EVIL lumberjack match". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  31. ^ "Semifinals set for NJPW World Tag League 2023". 7 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Yuya Uemura vs. Yota Tsuji set for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18". 22 December 2023.
  33. ^ Fritts, Chick (January 4, 2024). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 live results: SANADA vs. Naito, Okada vs. Danielson". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  34. ^ a b "NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo (2/24/24): World Title Bout, Hair vs. Hair Match, More". Yahoo Entertainment. 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  35. ^ Ross, Patrick (September 10, 2024). "Full 2024 PWI 500 list revealed". aiptcomics.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
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