Wrestler Profile

Shota Umino

Shota Umino carries the heaviest expectations in New Japan — anointed as Jon Moxley's protégé, the Roughneck returned from his UK excursion with his mentor's brawling edge grafted onto dojo fundamentals. The son of legendary referee Red Shoes Unno, he grew up inside the business he is now expected to lead.

His Death Rider DDT — a gift from Moxley — symbolizes a career built on borrowed violence and homegrown polish. Featured in main events alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi's farewell arc and pushed hard in G1 competition, Umino has absorbed both the pressure and the criticism that comes with being the chosen one.

The question that follows him — ready or not? — is the engine of New Japan's future storytelling. WrestleRanks voters track his weekly answer with unusual attention: aces are made one performance at a time.

Promotions

Shota Umino is associated with NJPW (2023–2026).

Championship history

• IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship (NJPW) — Former champion · 1 reign · Former IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion; pinned Andrade El Idolo in a three-way at Dominion 6.14, then lost the title to Gabe Kidd.

Shota Umino in the WrestleRanks rankings

Shota Umino is tracked as a respected veteran on WrestleRanks. Rankings are decided one week at a time, based on who had the strongest individual week across matches, promos, momentum and championship activity. Learn more about how our rankings work, or see the live, interactive profile with weekly rank history and voting on the Shota Umino ranking page.

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