Yuto Nakashima (born January 7, 1997) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...

(NJPW). Known for his martial arts background, he has competed internationally, including notable appearances in

Revolution Pro Wrestling Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro/RPW) is a British professional wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on 26 August 2012 by Andy Quildan after separating from International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom. Revolution Pro Wre ...

(RevPro) and

Westside Xtreme Wrestling Westside Xtreme Wrestling, commonly shortened to wXw, is a German professional wrestling promotion based in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. wXw has been one of the leading professional wrestling promotions in Germany, and most of its event ...

(wXw).

Early life

Nakashima was born in Ogaki,

Gifu Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Gifu Prefecture has a population of 1,910,511 () and has a geographic area of . Gifu Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to the north; Ishikawa Prefecture ...

, Japan. He trained in judo from a young age, achieving black belt status before transitioning to mixed martial arts and then professional wrestling.

Professional Wrestling Career

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021–present)

Young lion (2021–2024)

Nakashima made his debut for NJPW on February 14, 2021, during the Road to Castle Attack event, facing

Yuji Nagata is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, and former mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Considered one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers ...

. However, the match was stopped after Nakashima dislocated his elbow. Following his recovery, Nakashima participated in NJPW's Young Lion matches, frequently competing against wrestlers like

Ryohei Oiwa is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the TMDK stable. He also makes appearances for Pro Wrestling Noah. Early life Oiwa was born in Kōnan, Aichi, Japan on November 7, 1 ...

and

Kosei Fujita is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of The Mighty Don't Kneel stable. He is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, IWGP Junior Heavyw ...

. He achieved his first victory on April 20, 2022, defeating Oiwa. In 2023, Nakashima formed a tag team with Oskar Leube, known as "Young Blood". In January 2024 at

New Year Dash!! New Year Dash!! is a professional wrestling event held annually by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It is held every year the day after Wrestle Kingdom, the biggest show of the year for New Japan, starting at Wrestle Kingdom 8 in 2014. There have ...

, Young Blood wrestled their final match as young lions before embarking on learning excursion (as is customary for NJPW Young Lions), losing to

El Phantasmo Riley Vigier (born October 24, 1986) is a Canadian Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he performs under the ring name El Phantasmo (often shortened to ELP) and is the NJPW World Tel ...

and Hikuleo.

Foreign excursion (2024–present)

In early 2024, Nakashima embarked on an excursion to Europe, wrestling for the likes of

(RevPro) and

(wXw). At RevPro’s High Stakes 2024 event, Young Blood defeated Kieron Lacey and Mark Trew in a tag team match. Young Blood also participated in a tag team match to defeat David Francisco and Goldenboy Santos in a street fight at a subsequent RevPro event. In wXw, Young Blood won the

wXw World Tag Team Championship The wXw World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the German professional wrestling promotion, Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw). The inaugural champions was Swi$$ Money Holding (Double C, ...

at the World Tag Team Festival in October 2024, defeating KXS (

Axel Tischer Axel Tischer (born 5 November 1986) is a German professional wrestler currently performing for German Wrestling Federation (GWF), Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) and Progress Wrestling, where he is the current Progress Wrestling Atlas Championshi ...

and Fast Time Moodo) in the finals. In March 2025, they lost the titles to Big Bucks (Alex Duke and

Norman Harras Norman Halberschmidt (born 28 November 1996), better known by his ring name Norman Harras, is a German professional wrestler. He works for Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), where he is a former two time Shotgun Champion. Professional wrestling c ...

), ending their reign at 152 days.

Personal life

Nakashima’s background in judo and MMA has heavily influenced his wrestling style. His in-ring persona is often described as stoic and disciplined, focusing on technical grappling.

Championships and Accomplishments

* Pro Wrestling Holland ** PWH Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Oskar Leube *

( 1 time) – with Oskar Leube ** WXw World Tag Team Festival (2024) — with Oskar Leube

References

External links

Yuto Nakashima's NJPW Profile

Yuto Nakashima's Cagematch Profile
{{Portal bar, Biography, Japan 1997 births Living people 21st-century male professional wrestlers 21st-century Japanese professional wrestlers Japanese male professional wrestlers 21st-century Japanese sportsmen People from Gifu Prefecture Sportspeople from Gifu Prefecture wXw World Tag Team Champions wXw World Tag Team Festival winners