Konosuke Takeshita Bio
Konosuke Takeshita (竹下 幸之介, Takeshita Kōnosuke; born May 29, 1995) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Don Callis Family and a former one-time AEW International Champion. Takeshita also competes for the Japanese promotions DDT Pro-Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the winner of the 35th G1 Climax and the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in his first reign.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and competing at around 230 pounds, Takeshita is known for his hard-hitting style and his quick rise through the Japanese independent scene. Over more than a decade in the ring, he has captured top titles in DDT, NJPW, and AEW, establishing himself as one of the most decorated Japanese wrestlers of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Konosuke Takeshita was born in Osaka, Japan, on May 29, 1995. Growing up in the Kansai region, he developed an early love for professional wrestling, attending his first DDT Pro-Wrestling show at the age of 12, where he was famously kissed by the flamboyant performer Danshoku Dino. The experience left a lasting impression and helped set the course for his future career.
As a young athlete, Takeshita participated in track and field at school, an experience that built the strength and conditioning base that would later define his in-ring presence. Outside of competition, he developed a strong interest in weightlifting and bodybuilding, hobbies that shaped his powerful physique. In February 2014, he was admitted to Nippon Sport Science University, where he continued to balance academics with his growing wrestling commitments.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Takeshita began training for a professional wrestling career with DDT Pro-Wrestling in 2011. In April 2012, DDT officially announced that he would make his debut on August 18 at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan, one of the most prestigious venues in the country. Before that debut, he took part in exhibition matches, and on August 4, 2012, he scored an upset win over Hiroshi Fukuda to claim the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, a 24/7-style title that could be defended anywhere.
On August 18, 2012, Takeshita was defeated by El Generico in his official debut match. Despite the loss, his performances caught the attention of observers, and at the end of 2013, Tokyo Sports named him Japanese professional wrestling’s Rookie of the Year, making him the first wrestler still in high school to win the award. He also finished second in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Rookie of the Year voting, narrowly losing to Yohei Komatsu by a 906 to 902 margin.
Konosuke Takeshita Career
Early Career (2012-2015)
Takeshita’s first major success came on September 28, 2014, when he and Tetsuya Endo defeated Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi to win the KO-D Tag Team Championship for the first time. Omega later dubbed Takeshita the “Future of DDT,” a label that would prove prophetic. In 2015, he reached the finals of the King of DDT tournament before losing to Yukio Sakaguchi, and on December 23, 2015, he and Endo won the KO-D Tag Team Championship for a second time.
During these developmental years, Takeshita also gained valuable interpromotional experience. On August 17, 2014, he faced New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Hiroshi Tanahashi at DDT’s Ryōgoku Kokugikan event, an appearance that introduced him to a wider national audience. He formed the “Happy Motel” stable with Antonio Honda and Tetsuya Endo, winning the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship on July 13, 2014, and signed with the Oscar Promotion talent agency in June 2014.
DDT Pro-Wrestling Breakthrough (2016-2021)
On May 29, 2016, his 21st birthday, Takeshita defeated Daisuke Sasaki to win the KO-D Openweight Championship for the first time, becoming the youngest KO-D Openweight Champion in history, surpassing a record previously held by Nosawa Rongai by three years and six months. He successfully defended the title seven times before losing it to Shuji Ishikawa on August 28, 2016, at DDT’s biggest event of the year, Ryōgoku Peter Pan.
Takeshita’s run as DDT’s top star continued into 2017. On January 29, he defeated Kudo in a tournament final to become the number one contender, then won the KO-D Openweight Championship for the second time at Judgement by defeating Harashima. He set a new record for most successful defenses of the KO-D Openweight Championship, reaching 11 successful defenses before losing the title to Shigehiro Irie on April 29, 2018.
In 2019, Takeshita won the D-Oh Grand Prix by defeating Go Shiozaki in the finals, the 2019 King of DDT tournament by defeating Soma Takao in the finals, and a third KO-D Openweight Championship by defeating Daisuke Sasaki. He also won a fourth KO-D Openweight Championship in July 2019 by defeating Tetsuya Endo at Wrestle Peter Pan. In 2021, he won the Ultimate Tag League with stablemate Shunma Katsumata as part of the new The37Kamiina unit, then captured a fifth KO-D Openweight Championship on August 21, 2021, by defeating Jun Akiyama at Wrestle Peter Pan.
All Elite Wrestling Era (2022-Present)
Takeshita made his AEW debut during the promotion’s first non-televised event, “The House Always Wins,” in a 10-man tag team match. He quickly established himself as a major force, impressing critics with a non-title singles match against AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page on May 18, 2022. After accumulating wins on AEW Dark: Elevation and challenging for the ROH World Championship at Battle of the Belts III, he signed with the company on November 19, 2022, while keeping his DDT contract.
At Double or Nothing on May 28, 2023, Takeshita aligned with Don Callis to attack Kenny Omega, forming the Don Callis Family and turning heel. He defeated Omega three times in pay-per-view matches within two months, including a singles bout at All Out, which led Callis to give him the moniker “The Alpha.” He ended a feud with Chris Jericho by defeating him on February 7, 2024, and on October 12, 2024, at WrestleDream, he won the AEW International Championship in a three-way match against Will Ospreay and Ricochet, his first championship in AEW.
After losing the AEW International Championship to Kenny Omega at Revolution on March 9, 2025, ending his reign at 148 days, Takeshita entered the 2025 Owen Hart Cup, where he was eliminated in the semi-finals by Will Ospreay. He and Kyle Fletcher formed a tag team called “Protoshita” in June 2025, and at Full Gear on November 22, 2025, he and Kazuchika Okada failed to capture the CMLL World Trios Championship. Tensions between Takeshita and Okada grew within the Don Callis Family, and later that night, Takeshita announced his entry into the 2025 Continental Classic.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling Era (2024-Present)
Takeshita made his NJPW singles debut at the 2024 G1 Climax, finishing with a 5-4 record before being eliminated in the B block play-off by Yota Tsuji. On January 4, 2025, at Wrestle Kingdom 19, he defeated Shingo Takagi to win the NEVER Openweight Championship in a Winner Takes All match that also involved his AEW International Championship. After defending the title against Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestle Dynasty, he announced he had signed with NJPW while remaining under contract with AEW and DDT.
Takeshita’s star turn in NJPW came in the summer of 2025. From July 19 to August 17, 2025, he competed in the G1 Climax 35, advancing out of the B Block with a 6-3 record, defeating David Finlay in the playoffs, Zack Sabre Jr. in the semi-finals, and Evil in the final, becoming the first contracted AEW and DDT wrestler to win the G1 tournament. On October 13, 2025, at King of Pro-Wrestling, he cashed in his guaranteed title shot to defeat Zack Sabre Jr. and win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, his first reign with the title.
Style and Strengths
Takeshita combines a strong athletic base from his track and field background with the power developed through years of weightlifting and bodybuilding. He excels in hard-hitting, strike-based matches and is known for his ability to absorb punishment while maintaining a fast pace. His partnerships with managers like Don Callis and stablemates such as Kyle Fletcher have allowed him to refine his strategic approach to longer matches.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Takeshita’s signature moments are his record-setting reign as the youngest KO-D Openweight Champion, his 11 successful title defenses in that run, and his historic G1 Climax 35 victory in 2025. He also defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in Tanahashi’s final match in the United States at Windy City Riot on April 11, 2025, adding a meaningful passing-of-the-torch moment to his résumé.
Konosuke Takeshita Career Wins
Konosuke Takeshita has accumulated a deep collection of championships across DDT Pro-Wrestling, NJPW, and AEW. His victories span singles, tag team, and tournament formats, with multiple reigns in several of the most prestigious divisions in Japanese and American wrestling.
DDT Pro-Wrestling Highlights
Takeshita is a five-time KO-D Openweight Champion, four-time KO-D Tag Team Champion, five-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion, and four-time Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion. He won the King of DDT Tournament in 2019 and 2021, becoming a two-time winner, and won the D-Oh Grand Prix in 2019 and 2021 II, also a two-time achievement. He also captured the Ultimate Tag League in 2021 alongside Shunma Katsumata.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond DDT, Takeshita is a one-time NEVER Openweight Champion in NJPW, a one-time AEW International Champion, the 2025 G1 Climax winner, and the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He also holds a victory in the 2017 Differ Cup cross-promotional tag team tournament, partnering with Yuki Ueno to defeat a Pro Wrestling Noah team in the finals.
Konosuke Takeshita Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Takeshita does not come from a well-documented wrestling family and is largely regarded as a self-made competitor whose career was sparked by a childhood fandom of the sport. His path into professional wrestling began with his own initiative, training with DDT from 2011 onward.
Personal Life
In May 2025, Takeshita revealed that he had married fellow professional wrestler Yuka Sakazaki. He has previously stated that one of his long-term athletic goals was to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics as a decathlete, reflecting his deep interest in multi-discipline athletic competition.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been the most decorated year of Konosuke Takeshita’s career. He began the year by winning the NEVER Openweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 19 and successfully defending it against Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestle Dynasty and Ryohei Oiwa at Sakura Genesis before losing the title to Boltin Oleg at Dominion 6.15 in Osaka-jo Hall after a 162-day reign.
His run through the G1 Climax 35, where he defeated David Finlay, Zack Sabre Jr., and Evil in succession, cemented his status as a main-event star in NJPW. He cashed in his G1 prize at King of Pro-Wrestling on October 13, 2025, defeating Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and he successfully defended the title against Hirooki Goto at Final Homecoming on November 2.
In AEW, Takeshita’s 2025 has been marked by both team success and internal tension. He formed the “Protoshita” tag team with Kyle Fletcher, and his ongoing friction with Don Callis Family stablemate Kazuchika Okada has become a major storyline heading into the 2025 Continental Classic. With the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship around his waist and a top-tier feud in AEW on the horizon, Takeshita enters the remainder of 2025 as one of the most prominent Japanese wrestlers on the global stage.
