Aaron Wolf Achieves "6-Person Sweep" by Defeating Formidable Opponents Including RIZIN Fighter Yusuke Yachi and Ozeki Baruto! Secures an Ippon in Gold Medalist Naohisa Takato's Retirement Match! / Yusuke Yachi Demands Rule Change, Stating "This is Just Judo!"?

New future television "ABEMA" celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday, April 11, 2026. To commemorate this milestone, three individuals—Yusuke Yachi, Baruto, and Naohisa Takato—challenged Aaron Wolf in the second part of 'If You Get a 3-Count on Aaron Wolf, You Win 10 Million Yen,' a highlight project of the special program '30-Hour Limit Break Festival.'

The '30-Hour Limit Break Festival,' broadcast from 3 PM on Saturday, April 11, 2026, is a special program commemorating ABEMA's 10th anniversary. It features special editions of popular original programs, along with numerous challenging projects typical of ABEMA, broadcasting non-stop for 30 hours with a mix of history and challenges that symbolize ABEMA's past and future. On the day, ABEMA as a whole was envisioned as a "festival venue," with three channels running simultaneously. Viewers could freely switch between channels to experience entertainment that breaks conventional wisdom.
*The official hashtag is #Abema30hours. We would appreciate it if you could use it on social media, etc.

This time, 'If You Get a 3-Count on Aaron Wolf, You Win 10 Million Yen,' featuring Aaron Wolf, a judoka who transitioned to professional wrestling, was broadcast as a highlight project of the '30-Hour Limit Break Festival' from 3:30 PM on Saturday, April 11 (Part 1) and from 9 PM (Part 2). This marks the first "10 Million Yen Series" in five years since 'If You Beat Mikuru Asakura in a Street Fight, You Win 10 Million Yen' broadcast in 2021. The rules stipulated a 4-minute single match, with victory achieved by either "getting a 3-count with the opponent's back on the mat" or "scoring an ippon with a throwing technique." All striking techniques, joint locks, choking techniques, attacks to vital points, and biting were prohibited, and both participants wore judo gis.

The MC for Part 1 was New York, and for Part 2, Chihara Junior served as MC, with former NHK announcer Anna Nakagawa as assistant MC for both parts. Announcer Shigeru Kiyono provided live commentary, while New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yuji Nagata, and judoka Hiroshi Izumi served as commentators. Guests included gold medalist Natsumi Tsunoda, entertainment industry's leading combat sports enthusiasts Tsutomu Sekine and Kazuwa Katsumata, and those with deep knowledge of combat sports such as Asuka Kishi, Rina Hashimoto, and Saya Kamitani, making for a star-studded lineup.

In Part 2, held from 9 PM on Saturday, April 11, Wolf, who had defeated all three challengers in Part 1, faced a series of even stronger opponents. Great attention was drawn to the battles as fatigue accumulated.

First to appear was MMA fighter Yusuke Yachi. Although they were seniors and juniors in junior high school, before the match, Yachi grabbed the microphone and demanded a rule change, stating, "This is just judo!" Wolf agreed, saying, "I want to show some pro-wrestling moves too," leading to an unprecedented development where subsequent matches were suddenly held under rules allowing "choking and joint locks (up to the arm)."

In the match, Yachi showed an MMA fighter's offense, attempting to gain the initiative by pulling guard, instantly creating a tense atmosphere in the venue. However, in the end, Wolf, who had read his movements, applied a ground technique and secured a 3-count in 49 seconds from the start of the match. Reflecting on the match, Wolf commented, "I anticipated him pulling guard and aimed for a cover." Yachi, who faced his junior high school junior, also said, "I couldn't move due to his vise-like strength," while praising Wolf as a "reliable junior."

Next to appear was former Ozeki Baruto, standing 197cm tall and weighing 200kg. Against an opponent of extraordinary physique and power, the match began with an intense clash from the outset. Wolf calmly responded to Baruto's charge while maintaining distance. Creating an opening with a feint, he executed his specialty Ouchi Gari (large inner reap) for an ippon victory in 43 seconds from the start. The overwhelming conclusion brought a huge cheer from the venue.

After the match, Wolf confessed, "I was really scared at first. It felt like a wall was closing in." Wolf said, "I thought it would be bad if he grabbed my belt," while Baruto also admitted, "His speed is different." The clash between top athletes from different disciplines generated great excitement in the venue.

Finally, the last challenger was Naohisa Takato, a Tokyo Olympic Judo Men's 60kg class gold medalist. This was a "clash of champions" between seniors and juniors from Tokai University, both gold medalists.

Before the match, Wolf described Takato as a "judo genius," showing caution towards his skill. Takato, on the other hand, positioned this match as his "retirement match," stating his resolve: "I want to get an ippon and retire after this." With special feelings on both sides, the fateful match began.

In the match, both sides engaged in a sophisticated grappling battle and tactical exchanges, creating a breathtaking development in the venue. In the end, Wolf utilized his size advantage to execute an O-soto Gari (large outer reap) for an ippon, deciding the match. After a fierce 2-minute 34-second battle where their pride clashed, Wolf emerged victorious.

After the match, Wolf said, "I'm honored to have been able to have my senior's last match in this way." Takato also commented, "Thanks to Aaron, I had fun being able to compete in such a wonderful place. I'm truly grateful," and "I'm glad I could receive an O-soto Gari at the end." It was a moving match that showed the bond between the two.

Wolf, who fought through six consecutive matches, summarized, "The tension was incredible. I feel a sense of accomplishment that it ended safely." When asked about the "strongest opponent," he said, "It's definitely not Kuriya-san (laughs)," drawing laughter from the audience.

Keywords: Aaron Wolf, Judo, Pro Wrestling, Variety, Special Program, ABEMA, Free Streaming