Toru Yano

Yano is one of professional wrestling's greatest polymaths. Variously he has been a recording artist, DVD producer, master curry chef, bar owner, local tourism ambassador and sommelier out of the ring, and within it a vicious brawler, fundamentally skilled mat wrestler and cunning master thief. After a promising college amateur wrestling career, where he was a successful part of the prestigious Nippon University team, Yano was scouted by the NJPW Dojo, and truly came into his own in the Great Bash Heel faction, until he poached its talent to form CHAOS. Between the two stables, Yano became an IWGP Tag Team Champion three times and a NEVER Openweight 6-Man Champion four times. On August 29 2020, Yano shocked Kazuchika Okada to win the unique KOPW 2020 trophy. With matches contested under stipulation rules, Yano was able to cater his reign to his unique style of competition, and retained the trophy into December. Already the King of Pro-Wrestling for 2020, Yano was the first holder of the KOPW 2021 trophy, winning a four way at Wrestle Kingdom. Proving his toughness as well as his smarts, Yano retained against Chase Owens in a vicious YTR Strap Match at Castle Attack, and looks to retain the trophy year round.