Yuya Uemura (村優也 Uemura Yūya, born November 18, 1994) is a Japanese professional wrestler who was trained by and is currently wrestling for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former one-time Provisional 2024 KOPW Champion. He made his debut for NJPW on April 10, 2018, and worked as a "Young Lion" over the following four years.
In August 2021, Uemura was sent to the American Impact Wrestling (IMPACT) promotion to further his wrestling training and gain international experience, a tradition with NJPW "Young Lions", through NJPW's international partnerships, before returning to NJPW in October 2023, repackaged complete with a new look and a new persona known as the "Heat Storm" (ヒート・ストーム Hīto Sutōmu), as part of the Just 5 Guys stable.
Early life[]
In March 2013, Uemura completed his studies at Imabari Technical High School. He pursued collegiate wrestling before embarking on his professional wrestling journey. In October 2016, he secured the 71 kg Greco-Roman championship in the West Japan Collegiate Wrestling League. Subsequently, in March 2017, Uemura graduated from Fukuoka University.
Professional wrestling career[]
New Japan Pro Wrestling (2017–2021)[]
In April 2017, after graduating from Fukuoka University, Uemura was signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling under the promotion's "young lion" system. In April 2018, Uemura as well as a fellow young lion, made his professional wrestling debut losing to fellow young lion Ren Narita. As is customary for most professional wrestlers and various young lions, Uemura spent most of his matches losing to other, more experienced wrestlers, which would help put over other wrestlers while at the same time give Uemura some in-ring, televised, experience. On September 8, Uemura got his first professional wrestling victory teaming with Shota Umino facing fellow young lions Yota Tsuji and Ren Narita in a winning effort.
In September 2019, Uemura was granted a chance to enter in the 2019 Young Lion Cup during the Road to Destruction tour, following a heated rivalry between the young lions of the Japan and L.A. dojos, that was build up during the 2019 G1 Climax and Super J-Cup tours. Uemura would finish the tournament with a record of one win and six losses, failing to win the tournament. From October 16 until November 1, Uemura and Tiger Mask took part in the 2019 Super Jr. Tag League, losing all of their round-robin matches. In June 2020, Uemura took part in the 2020 New Japan Cup, being eliminated from the tournament by Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the first round. On November 12, it was announced that Uemura would replace Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the 2020 Best of the Super Juniors, after Kanemaru was forced to withdraw from the due to an injury. He lost all his qualifying matches, being defeated by BUSHI, DOUKI, El Desperado, Hiromu Takahashi, Master Wato, Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles, Ryusuke Taguchi and Sho.
Between June and July 2021, Uemura engaged in a series of matches against various wrestlers from the NJPW roster, unfortunately ending up on the losing side in all of them. NJPW often sends their "Young Lions" on learning excursions outside Japan, spanning the United States of America, Europe, or Mexico. In the summer of 2021, it was Uemura's turn, culminating in a match against Kazuchika Okada during the Summer Struggle tour, where he faced a losing outcome as part of his send-off.
Excursion to the United States (2022–2023)[]
On August 14 at Resurgence, Uemura teamed with Adrian Quest, Chris Dickinson, Fred Yehi, and Lio Rush, to face Team Filthy (Danny Limelight, Jorel Nelson, JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs, and Tom Lawlor) in a winning effort. Uemura secured the win for his team. Subsequently, he expressed his desire to train at the LA Dojo, which was accepted by Katsuyori Shibata. In a backstage interview, Uemura announced his transition out of the "Young Lion" phase. Shortly after, Uemura began appearing for NJPW's American weekly television show NJPW Strong, as well various American promotions in the U.S. Independent circuit. On May 1, 2022, Uemura made his debut for All Elite Wrestling on AEW Dark competing against Angelico, in a losing effort. On June 19 at Ignition, Uemura and Christopher Daniels competed in a tournament to crown the inaugural Strong Tag Team Champions. Uemura would receive a personalized ring gear from Daniels as a gift for teaming with him. In the first round, they defeated The Factory (Aaron Solo and Nick Comoroto) and TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste) in the semi-finals, after Uemura crafted the plan to defeat TMDK. In the finals at High Alert, on August 13, Uemura and Daniels were defeated by Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis). Afterwards, as Uemura went on to console Daniels, he turned on him, with Daniels blaming Uemura for losing the match. Afterwards, Uemura challenged Daniels to a match, which led to Uemura defeating Daniels on September 11 at Autumn Action.
In the meantime, on the August 2 episode of Impact!, Uemura made his debut for Impact Wrestling, losing to Kenny King. Uemura would spend the following months as an enhancement talent, losing most of his match to other, more experienced wrestlers, which would help put over other wrestlers while at the same time give Uemura some in-ring, televised, experience. In March 2023, he began feuding with Bully Ray and his enforcers The Good Hands (Jason Hotch and John Skyler), after triyng to save Tommy Dreamer from an assault by them. This led to Impact announcing that Dreamer and Ray would both lead teams of five in Hardcore War at Rebellion on April 16, with Uemura being part of Team Dreamer, that ended winning the match, ending their feud. On the June 22 Impact!, Uemura unsucessfully challenged Joe Hendry for the Impact Digital Media Championship. Soon after, he was caught up in King and Hendry's feud, leading to a three-way match for the Impact Digital Media Championship, on the July 28 Impact!, involving Uemura, King and Henry. He failed to win the match, after King pinned him to retain his title. Shortly after, Uemura began assisting Joe Hendry in his feud with King and Sheldon Jean, which eventually led the two to formed a team named "Joya", a combination of their first names.
On the September 16, episode of Impact 1000, Uemura participated at the Feast or Fired match where he picked one of the briefcases alongside Chris Bey, Crazzy Steve and Moose. The following week, Uemura opened his briefcase, which was revealed to be the Pink Slip, and resulted in him being fired. Uemura had his Goodbye Ceremony on the September 28, episode of Impact, which was interrupted by The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz). This led to Impact's Director of Authority Santino Marella to a make a match between the two teams, where if Joya won, Uemura would keep his job. Uemura and Hendry lost the match, after Miguel spray painted Uemura's eyes, marking his last appearance for the promotion.
Return to NJPW (2023–Present)[]
On October 9, 2023, at Wrestling Dontaku, Uemura made his returned to NJPW, as the mysterious member of Just 5 Guys, who had been teased by SANADA, during their feud with House of Torture. In his NJPW return match, Uemura teamed with fellow stablemates DOUKI and Taichi in a six-man tag team match, where they defeated House of Torture's (Yujiro Takahashi, Sho and Yoshinobu Kanemaru), with him pinning Takahashi for the win. Afterwards, in a post match interview, Uemura made it clear that he was not interested in playing "second fiddle", revealing that he accepted joining the stable, under the condition that he would face all of his stablemates in a singles match, due to losing to them before his excursion. From November 25 until December 6, Uemura and Taichi took part in the 2023 World Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins, and three losses, failing to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.
On December 22, following a match between Just 5 Guys and Los Ingobernables de Japón, Yuya Uemura challenged career rival Yota Tsuji to a match at Wrestle Kingdom 18, which he accepted. Afterwards, Uemura referenced a promise Tsuji had previously for a singles match between the two. At the event, Uemura defeated Tsuji on his first singles match since his return from his excursion. The following day, at New Year Dash!, Just 5 Guys extended their feud with Los Ingobernables de Japón, with the angle resulting in a various matches between both stables. On February 5, Uemura accepted a challenge by Tsuji for a Hair vs. Hair match. On February 24 at The New Beginning in Sapporo, Uemura was defeated in a Hair vs. Hair Lucha de Apuestas match, and, as a result, shaved bald.
In March Uemura took part in the 2024 New Japan Cup, before being eliminated from the tournament by Shingo Takagi on March 8 at the first round. Since then, seeking to build momentum in order to rebuild himself, Uemura embarked on a winning streak, scoring multiple wins in multiple matches, such as pinning then-former one-half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions Yoshi-Hashi. On April 6, at Sakura Genesis, Uemura along with his stablemates SANADA and DOUKI defeated United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan and Callum Newman), after Uemura directly pinned O-Khan. Uemura challenged O-Khan, with O-Khan accepting the challenge. Meanwhile later that night, after Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi) recaptured the IWGP Tag Team Champions. Uemura challenged Bishamon, with Uemura reminding Yoshi-Hashi's previous loss to him. Yoshi-Hashi accepted his challenge on the behalf of the team. At the next day, the match was officially announced, with SANADA being Uemura's tag team partner. On April 14, at Wrestling World in Taiwan, Uemura and SANADA unsucessfully challenged Bishamon for the IWGP Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile four days later, ahead of their match, a fan vote was held by each men proposing each stipulation, Uemura proposed a Catch Rules Match, alluding to O-Khan’s proficient grappling background while O-Khan once again proposed a "Rural Revitalization Match in Hamamatsu" in a pledge to ‘unite the fiefdoms’ across Japan under his suzerainty. Four days later, it was announced that O-Khan and Uemura would face each other in a Rural Revitalization Match in Hamamatsu, following the result of a fan poll. On April 27, Uemura defeated O-Khan to become the Provisional KOPW Champion after Uemura defeated O-Khan in the first and third falls. On May 4 at Wrestling Dontaku, after Shingo Takagi successfully defended the NEVER Openweight Championship, Uemura confronted Takagi, during a post-match interveiw, challenging him to a title match which he accepted, after having lost previously to Uemura in the 2024 New Japan Cup. On May 11 at Resurgence, Uemura unsucessfully challenged Takagi for the NEVER Openweight Championship.
Also, on May 4 at Wrestling Dontaku, O-Khan stated that NJPW's biggest priority should be to take care of these local areas of Japan and bring in new viewers, as such the KOPW Regional Revitalization matches that he had for the KOPW Championship would be a prime example of that. Afterwards, he challenged Uemura to a rematch for the provisional KOPW Championship. The title match was announced on May 13. On May 31, Uemura and O-Khan proposed their stipulations for the match, with O-Khan proposing Rural Revitalization rules match and Uemura proposed a Storm Catch Rules match. Under this ruling, again, strikes would be prohibited in favour of throws, grappling and submissions. Under these rules, there would be a fifteen minute time limit, and rope breaks or leaving the ring would be limited to twice, after which a rope break would constitute a disqualification. On June 2, NJPW announced that Uemura’s stipulation defeated O-Khan’s Rural Revitalization rules match, with Uemura receiving 58.3% of the votes compared to O-Khan's 41.7%. On June 9 at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, Uemura lost the Provisional KOPW Championship back to Great-O-Khan in a Storm Catch Rules match. From July 20 and August 14, Uemura took part in the 2024 G1 Climax, his first G1 Climax tourmanent. After winning four of his eight block matches, he would suffer a legitimate right arm injury in his match with Yota Tsuji, resulting in Uemura having to withdraw from the tournament, with his last remaining tournament match against Boltin Oleg being declared forfeit on Uemura's part.
On February 11, 2025 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Uemura made his return from his injury, by intervening to assist Taichi, who was under attack by the War Dogs. He subsequently issued a challenge to SANADA, declaring that he would serve as his stepping stone in his goal of becoming the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Their feud continued over the following months, leading to a match in the first round of the 2025 New Japan Cup, which he won, eventually reaching the quarter finals of the tournament, where he was defeated by eventual winner David Finlay. Uemura eventually got his match with SANADA, defeating him on April 5 at Sakura Genesis.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Kanukki Suplex / Deadbolt Suplex (Bridging double overhook suplex)
- Diving Crossbody
- Signature moves
- Arm drag
- Belly-to-back suplex
- Dropkick
- Frankensteiner
- Knife edge chop
- Multiple forearm smash variations
- Standing
- Flying
- Multiple bulldog variations
- Diving
- Springboard
- Boston crab
- Uppercut
- Nicknames
- "Heat Storm"
- Entrance themes
- "Be The Best" by Yonosuke Kitamura
Championships and accomplishments[]
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- Provisional KOPW 2024 Championship (1 time)
- Impact Wrestling
- Feast or Fired (2023 – Pink Slip)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 324 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2022
Luchas de Apuestas record[]
| Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yota Tsuji (hair) | Yuya Uemura (hair) | Sapporo | The New Beginning in Sapporo | February 24, 2024 |
External links[]
- Yuya Uemura's New Japan Pro-Wrestling profile
