[Anna Nakagawa’s FRIDAY Report] From Judo to Pro Wrestling! Where Is “The Strongest Rookie,” Wolf Aaron, Now?

“When do I even get a day off?”

Nakagawa: You announced your switch from judo to pro wrestling last June and made your ring debut this past January. Even though you’re Wolf—who won a gold medal as a judoka—I really sense your determination to start over as a complete rookie.

I’d say that precisely because he’s well-known, he’s paying close attention to every single thing he needs to be mindful of.

Wolf: Even though I have a track record in judo, this is a completely different industry. There are some similarities, but even so, I think it’s only natural to start from scratch.

Nakagawa: You come across as very laid-back, but you’re the type who thinks things through carefully, aren’t you?

Wolf: I may look like this on the outside (laughs). The T-shirt I’m wearing today is my own, so I’m sorry it’s all wrinkled.

Nakagawa: You seem really busy lately. What’s your daily life like?

Wolf: My schedule might be packed. When I’m on a tour, I spend about two weeks traveling around the country for matches, and once that’s over, I’m technically off. …Well, that’s the plan, but in the end, I end up having work—including media appearances like today’s—squeezed into that time. I actually get anxious when I don’t have work.

I’m grateful for it, but in the end, it makes me wonder, “Wait, when is my day off, anyway?”

“I’ll keep showing the best I can do.”

Nakagawa: I don’t think it’s easy to get used to that kind of daily routine—what do you think?

Wolf: I’ve gotten used to it, but when I’m this busy, I realize there’s no such thing as being 100% in top form. In the world of pro wrestling, there are times when I have 10 matches in two weeks. So, if you ask me if I’m at 100% every single day during that, the answer is obviously no.

But what makes you a top-tier performer is being able to deliver a performance that feels like the best possible to the audience, even when you’re not at 100 percent. I think a true professional is someone who can consistently perform at a certain level, no matter what kind of days they’re having.

Nakagawa: That’s a wonderful professional mindset. How do you get yourself into that kind of state?

Wolf: It’s a matter of getting used to it. I keep expanding the range of what I can do, and in doing so, I just keep showing the absolute best of what I’m capable of at that moment.

Nakagawa: Do you ever have any regrets after a match?

Wolf: Of course I do. It hasn’t even been half a year since I started (at the time of the interview). But I try to understand what I should do better—a sort of limit for who I am right now.

Nakagawa: I see. So you’re making adjustments based on an understanding of your own limits.

Wolf: Things I used to have to think about at first become second nature through repetition. Once that happens, I shift my focus to challenging myself with something else. It’s a cycle where I keep expanding the depth and breadth of what I can do.

Nakagawa: That’s amazing—it sounds like the mindset of a savvy businessperson. How do you go about that kind of self-reflection? Do you jot things down in a notebook or on your phone?

Wolf: I don’t write it down. It’s all in my head. If I write it down, I feel a sense of relief and just leave it at that. Instead, I think about it a lot and make sure it’s firmly embedded in my body. Is it different for you, Nakagawa-san?

Nakagawa: Since speaking is my main job, I make a conscious effort to express myself in writing. I write in a notebook and use the notes app on my phone, too. I feel that way, even if I’m suddenly asked a question, I can put my thoughts into words more naturally.

[Anna Nakagawa’s FRIDAY Report, Part 3: Part 2] A Friend of Five Years! Learning the Secrets of Being Natural from Wolf Aron

《Wolf Aaron: Born in Tokyo. He has an American father and a Japanese mother. A former judoka, he won the gold medal in the men’s 100kg class at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He is currently active as a professional wrestler with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. © New Japan Pro-Wrestling》

《Anna Nakagawa: Born in Tokyo.Spent her childhood in Finland and Puerto Rico. Joined NHK as an announcer in 2016 and worked on “Sunday Sports” and as an on-site announcer for the Paris Olympics. After leaving the network in the spring of 2025, she joined the talent agency Horipro and is now active in a wide range of roles as a freelance announcer and entertainer》

From the July 17 & 24, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*