Episode 130: Matsumoto (Matsu-More)
August 12, 2026
After the show in Takasaki, Gunma, I took a taxi to Takasaki Station together with Young Lion Matsumoto. In the car, I made sure to invite him, saying, "Let's ride back to the Dojo together from Tokyo Station, too." Why? ...Because carpooling with others saves the company money, of course!
Speaking of Matsumoto, he has that ridiculously shredded physique. I'm genuinely envious. On our way back, I probed into his roots and asked him all sorts of detailed questions. It was so interesting that I thought I’d share it here.
Matsumoto hails from Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. He was born on October 16, 2000, so... wait, that makes him 26 this year?
When he was little, he was apparently a kid who cried a lot and slept a lot. He played soccer from elementary school all the way through high school, and in his first year of junior high, he was selected for the city's representative team.
When I said, "Whoa, that’s amazing!", Matsumoto replied that Callum's soccer level is actually absurd, and fellow Young Lion Yuto Yasuda played futsal at a near-professional level. Man, we really have an incredible talent pool.
By the way, as for me... I'm bad—no, terrible—at soccer. During PE class, I tried to kick a soccer ball, accidentally stepped right on top of it, severely sprained my ankle, and showed up to school on crutches the next day. That's the caliber of athlete I am!
Now, for a soccer boy like Matsumoto, when he was in 7th grade, he watched a match of Makabe-san's on World Pro-Wrestling, got completely hooked on pro wrestling, and set his sights on becoming a professional wrestler.
Since I was 68 kg when I graduated high school, I asked him about his weight back then. He entered Omori Gakuen High School and joined the wrestling team at the 66 kg class. And when he graduated high school, he was in the 92 kg class. WHAAAT?! What on earth do you eat to gain that much weight...?!
After graduating high school, Matsumoto went to work at a fitness club. Around 2018, he apparently ran into me at Gold's Gym in Oimachi.
Tana: "Did we talk or something?"
Matsu: "......"
Did we both forget?! No, wait, you should at least remember that, Matsumoto-kun!
After that, he decided to take the New Japan Pro-Wrestling entrance tryouts...
In 2018, Matsumoto submitted his resume to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, naturally to take the tryouts.
Having devoted himself to amateur wrestling in high school, he placed 2nd in the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament. After graduation, he worked as a gym instructor, building his weight up from 66 kg to 93 kg before joining.
Not to bring up my own story, but I was 68 kg in my 3rd year of high school and bulked up significantly to 90 kg when I entered, but Matsumoto going from 66 kg to 93 kg is truly remarkable.
However, there is a record of mine that he probably can't beat. Yes, the number of times taking the tryout test.
I somehow passed on my 3rd tryout attempt.
As for Matsumoto-kun...
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023...
Believe it or not, he passed on his 5th tryout test! You can really feel his iron determination of "I am DEFINITELY going to become a pro wrestler!"
By the way, he also had experience competing in physique contests before entering. That body of his is insanely shredded, after all.
So, burning with hope, he entered the Dojo, but three months in, he injured his ankle. He was told to come back once it healed, resulting in three months of living back at his parents' house. After fully recovering, he re-entered the Dojo and finally made his long-awaited debut in June 2025.
Since debuting, he's been showing a high-spirited fighting style, but I was curious about his "delinquent/rowdy vibe" during matches. When I threw a fastball question asking, "Were you a bit of a troublemaker back in the day?"...
I was spot on!! ((((；ﾟДﾟ)))))))
Currently, he's working hard as part of Goto's Revolutionary Army. He passionately shared his future goals with me: to eventually go on an overseas excursion, make a triumphant return, surpass his mentor Goto-san, and become the IWGP Champion. Give it your all, man!
By the way... to write this diary, the person who hopped in a taxi with him from Tokyo Station and bombarded him with questions continuously for nearly an hour all the way to the Dojo was me (laughs).