Every Wrestling Rookie Of The Year: Where Are They Now?

10. 2013: Yohei Komatsu

Essa Rios Lita
NJPW

Known now as YOH, it's ironic that Komatsu was awarded the prize in 2013: his former Roppongi 3K teammate SHO eventually overtook him as the real future prospect of the New Japan Pro Wrestling junior heavyweight division.

In another twist, it is SHO who these days draws the ire of critics, now that he is part of the reviled House of Torture stable. For critics of relentlessly lazy and overdone cheap heat, that stable is aptly named.

YOH meanwhile remains very talented, but Hiromu Takahashi is the perennial junior Ace, even though he and NJPW itself could do with promoting him to the heavyweight ranks, and Master Wato is being groomed as his replacement.

Knowing the speed with which NJPW operates, Hiromu's heavyweight will take at least three years. Where that positions YOH, who knows.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!