Yoshihiko (wrestler)

In DDT events and on television broadcasts, Yoshihiko is treated as a human opponent, and it is tacitly understood that the fact that it is a doll is not mentioned. In matches, opponents, tag partners, and the seconds control the doll's movements to direct the match. A match against Yoshihiko allows wrestlers to show the audience the worked performance techniques that create the effect of a dramatic wrestling match.{{Cite web |last=Vigilla |first=Hubert |date=2022-06-07 |title=When Invisible Wrestlers Revealed the Art of Wrestling |url=https://reactormag.com/when-invisible-wrestlers-revealed-the-art-of-wrestling/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Reactor |language=en-US}} In kayfabe, commentators treat Yoshihiko as if it is moving autonomously and fighting the opposing wrestler. This has carried over from DDT to other promotions Yoshihiko has toured to, such as Game Changer Wrestling in the United States.

Taking advantage of his ultra-lightweight body and the imperviousness to human injury, the doll can perform superhuman acrobatic movements (referred to as "sixth-dimensional killing techniques" by commentators). For the same reason, frequent accidents occur, such as his joints bending in impossible directions (double joints), being thrown from the ring far into the back of the audience, his body losing air and shrinking during the match, limbs being torn off, and his brain (stuffing) flying out of his head.{{Cite web |last=Greer |first=Jamie |date=2020-07-09 |title=DDT Pro's Blow Up Doll Yoshihiko On US Tour, Making GCW Debut |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2020/07/09/ddt-pros-blow-up-doll-yoshihiko-on-us-tour-making-gcw-debut/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Last Word on Pro Wrestling |language=en-US}} Because of these injuries, Yoshihiko's body has been replaced with a new doll at least three times.

Regarding his approach to matches against Yoshihiko, Kenny Omega noted:

…we make people feel sorry for this thing and make people feel as though it's a human being putting its life on the line for the entertainment of the fans. We took a lot of time and effort to come out with a way this is going to look legitimate and a way that people are going to be sucked into this world where you could believe it.{{Cite web |title=Kenny Omega Talks Wrestling Blow Up Dolls, The Cleaner Gimmick, More |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/kenny-omega-talks-wrestling-blow-up-dolls-the-cleaner-gimmick-more/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=411Mania.com |language=en-US}}

File:ヨシヒコ.JPG in 2014.]]

On February 9, 2005, Yoshihiko made his debut in DDT under the gimmick of being Muscle Sakai's younger brother.{{Cite web |title=DDT Non-Fix 2/9 at Shin-Kiba 1st RING wrestling results – Internet Wrestling Database |url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/ddt/non-fix-2-9-47587.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=www.profightdb.com}} He fought a fierce battle with Kuma Sentoin, but then withdrew from the ring due to a mysterious illness (air leakage) that caused his entire body to shrink. Yoshihiko participated in matches throughout 2005, but then did not return until 2009.

At Judgement 2009, Yoshihiko made an appearance as Danshoku Dino's tag-team partner. They defeated Piza Michinoku and Antonio Honda to become #1 contenders for the KO-D Tag Team Championship.{{Cite web |title=DDT Judgement 2009 at Korakuen Hall wrestling results – Internet Wrestling Database |url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/ddt/judgement-2009-32141.html |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.profightdb.com}} During the match, Honda destroyed Yoshihiko's head, but the character "reincarnated" (was replaced with another doll mid-match). The new doll was dressed in a new costume to look like The Great Muta. Then, at Max Bump 2009, Yoshihiko and Dino challenged Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega for the KO-D Tag Team Championship.{{Cite web |title=DDT Max Bump 2009 at Korakuen Hall wrestling results – Internet Wrestling Database |url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/ddt/max-bump-2009-32279.html |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.profightdb.com}} Yoshihiko's head was burst after a giant swing into the crowd from Omega, and he was carried out of the arena. Later in the match, he reappeared dressed in the Undertaker's biker costume, and made a new entrance riding on a tricycle. With his organs and brains (stuffing) being exposed, Yoshihiko and Dino were narrowly defeated after a 30 minutes match. Post-match, Antonio Honda and two associates appeared from backstage to shoot Yoshihiko with a gun. Yoshihiko returned once again and took the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship from Yoshiaki Yago on June 28.{{Cite web |date=2010-11-28 |title=Iron Man Heavymetalweight Championship |url=https://dramaticddt.wordpress.com/ddt-title-history/iron-man-heavymetalweight-championship/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=Dramatic DDT |language=en}} He competed as champion at Ryōgoku Peter Pan on August 23. In the rumble rules battle royal, he lost the title when Toru Owashi threw him out of the ring shortly after he appeared, but reappeared towards the end of the match as Sumo Yoshihiko wearing a large {{xlit|ja|chonmage}} and {{xlit|ja|mawashi}}. He was defeated by Owashi again, but after the match he rolled him up and reclaimed the title (because of the title's 24/7 defense clause). On October 25, he faced Ibushi, then the KO-D Openweight Champion, in a double title match at Welcome To Never Land 2009 in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.{{Cite web |title=DDT Welcome To Never Land 2009 at Korakuen Hall wrestling results – Internet Wrestling Database |url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/ddt/welcome-to-never-land-2009-47586.html |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.profightdb.com}} He pumped up from 2 pounds to 3 pounds and appeared dressed as Hulk Hogan. With the entire Belt Hunter x Hunter faction behind him, he was in top form and used superhuman techniques such as eight consecutive Canadian Destroyers to corner Ibushi, but after a 25-minute battle, he was pinned for the first time by Ibushi's Phoenix Splash and single arm crab hold. However after the match ended by the first fall, with outside assistance, he was able to roll up Ibushi with a neck hold and recapture the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship. At this time, his mask was taken off by Dino and Masa Takanashi, revealing the true face of the Robo Chojin. On December 31, he was entrant #71 in the 108-participant New Year's Rumble, at Tenka Sanbun no Kei: Ōmisoka New Year's Eve Special.{{Cite web |title=BJW/DDT/K-DOJO Tenka Sanbun No Kai – New Years Eve Special at Korakuen Hall wrestling results – Internet Wrestling Database |url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/bjw-ddt-k-dojo/tenka-sanbun-no-kai---new-years-eve-special-21923.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.profightdb.com}} He eliminated Yotsukaider with a Hurracarrana, but was on the defensive against a fierce attack from Kengo Mashimo and Hiroyuki Miyamoto, whilst forming a temporary alliance with Abdullah Kobayashi. In the end, both of them were eliminated after going over the top rope. When Yoshihiko entered the ring, he received the loudest cheers of the 108 entrants, proving his popularity.

On June 13, 2010, Yoshihiko, Mitsuru Sato and Keisuke Ishii captured the UWA World Trios Championship from Tokyo Gurentai and announced their participation in the six-man tag team triple crown match at Ryōgoku Peter Pan 2010.{{Cite web |title=DDT What Are You Doing? 2010 « Events Database « Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=52648 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.cagematch.net}} They lost the championships on July 25 in a three-way match also featuring Kudo, Antonio Honda and Yasu Urano, as well as winners Great Kojika, Mr.{{nbsp}}#6 and Riho.{{Cite web |title=DDT Ryogoku Peter Pan 2010 ~ Summer Vacation « Events Database « Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=54199 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.cagematch.net}} On September 12, he made his first appearance in Campground Pro Wrestling with Ishii as his partner. He had many dangerous moments, such as being hit in the face with a campfire, but in the end, he pinned Ibushi with the Yoshihiko Destroyer. On October 3, at a Union Pro Wrestling event, he teamed up with Seiya Morohashi as a replacement for the seriously injured Yusuke Inokuma, but his partner Morohashi was defeated by Big Murakami's {{xlit|ja|osotogari}}.

On April 29, 2011, he competed for the first time in an organization other than DDT or Union at GWSP6 of Kaientai Dojo. He challenged for the WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship with Ibushi as his partner, but lost by pinfall with Ryuichi Sekine's Hardcore Body Press.

On February 15, 2015, Ibushi, upon winning the KO-D Openweight Championship at the Saitama Super Arena Community Arena, named Yoshihiko as his challenger in a post-match microphone call. That match was held on March 21, 2015.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihiy44TfHpo |title=KO-D無差別級選手権試合〈49代王者〉飯伏幸太 vs ヨシヒコ〈挑戦者〉 ／ 2015.3.21 埼玉県・春日部ふれあいキューブ |date=2021-10-06 |access-date=2025-01-18 |via=YouTube}} Yoshihiko unleashed nine consecutive Canadian Destroyers, more than he had done against Ibushi in their 2009 singles match, but was defeated by a sit-down Last Ride, a Phoenix Splash, and a single arm crab hold.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LApVz53Spw |title=【KO-D Openweight Title】Kota Ibushi (c) vs Yoshihiko (21/03/2015＠Saitama Kasukabe Hall) |date=2015-03-22 |access-date=2025-01-01 |via=YouTube}}

In July 2020, he made his first solo tour of the United States and fought Joey Janela in an Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship title match at Game Changer Wrestling's Homecoming Weekend Part 2 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, but was defeated and the belt was taken overseas.

Yoshihiko was one of the final three wrestlers left standing out of more than 80 who competed in the 2024 Clusterfuck Battle Royal at Joey Janela's Spring Break: Clusterfuck Forever 2024. He survived a pizza cutter attack from Nick Gage to the head but was eliminated, losing to Microman.{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Jeremy |date=April 7, 2024 |title=Microman Wins 2024 Clusterf*ck Forever |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/microman-wins-2024-clusterfck-forever |access-date=January 17, 2025 |website=Fightful}} On November 2, 2024, Mao and Yoshihiko appeared at Alcatraz, a Banger Zone Wrestling event held in Faches-Thumesnil, France. They won the BZW Tag Team Championship from Jack Sans-Nom and Paul Robinson via a Rainmaker from Yoshihiko, and took the BZW tag titles back to Japan.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-01 |title=DDT Around The World – November 2024 |url=https://dramaticddt.wordpress.com/2024/12/01/ddt-around-the-world-november-2024/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Dramatic DDT |language=en}} Mao and Yoshihiko successfully defended the BZW Tag Team Championship against Kazuki Hirata and Antonio Honda at DDT's New Year☆Dramatic Parade 2025: Answer Will Be Given in a Year on January 3, 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-03 |title=DDT "New Year☆Dramatic Parade 2025 ~Answers Will be Revealed One Year Later~" Results |url=https://dramaticddt.wordpress.com/2025/01/03/ddt-new-year%E2%98%86dramatic-parade-2025-answers-will-be-revealed-one-year-later-results/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Dramatic DDT |language=en}}

• Banger Zone Wrestling

:*BZW Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Mao{{Cite web |title=Title Reigns « BZW Tag Team Championship « Titles Database « Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=5276&page=5&reign=6 |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.cagematch.net}}

• DDT Pro-Wrestling

:*Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (22 times)

:*KO-D 8-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Toru Owashi, Antonio Honda and Kazuki Hirata

:*UWA World Trios Championship (1 time) – with Mitsuru Sato and Keisuke Ishii{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2021 |title=Universal Wrestling Association World Trios Title |url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/uwa/uwa-6.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130043217/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/uwa/uwa-6.html |archive-date=November 30, 2024 |website=Wrestling-Titles.com |publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Twitter|YoshihikoDDT}}
• [https://www.ddtpro.jp/wrestlers/67bd66947be0880002c2f9c9 Yoshihiko]'s DDT Pro-Wrestling profile {{in lang|ja}}

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