(NOAH) To become the person you want to be

Weekly Pro

22nd January 2025

What Ulka decided after suffering a crushing defeat against Nakamura.

"You’ve embarrassed yourself enough, haven't you? But how you gather up the shattered pieces of yourself and mold them into the person you want to be—that’s entirely up to Ulka; it’s none of my business. You’re too hung up on things—thinking it *has* to be a certain way. I told you to show up as your true self, didn't I? I meant showing up completely naked—stripped bare. Instead, you’ve got this rigid, armored exterior. People can see right through that. That’s not what the audience wants to see. *I* certainly don't. I’m telling you to gather up those embarrassing, shattered fragments of yourself and build something out of them. That’s why you got into the pro-wrestling world in the first place, right?" (Nakamura)

The words Shinsuke Nakamura uttered after his match against Ulka Sasaki were nothing but harsh. Yet, they were spot-on—a reflection of Nakamura’s "kindness" and a form of encouragement.

That bout with Nakamura held immense significance for Ulka.

It was exactly two years ago that watching the Great Muta vs Shinsuke Nakamura match at Budokan on New Year's Day, 2023, changed Ulka's life. He was captivated by the superb bout the two created, and that experience ultimately became the driving force behind his entry into the world of professional wrestling.

He is a top-tier fighter who has competed in the UFC—the pinnacle of the MMA world—and has been active in RIZIN in recent years.

It was the battle he witnessed that day that gave him the resolve to put that past behind him and leap into a new world.

After making my debut at Ariake on January 2nd, 2024, Ulka grew rapidly with each passing day, eventually capturing the GHC National Championship at Budokan on July 13.

Driven by exceptional fighting instincts, a knack for self-promotion, and an insatiable desire to improve, Ulka has made rapid strides in his ability in less than a year since his debut.

His opponent for the double main event at the Budokan is Nakamura—a man with whom he has shared a connection since his days as a mixed martial artist and the very person who inspired him to become a pro wrestler following a match two years ago. Ulka stepped into this pivotal showdown prepared to stake everything on the outcome.

However, the result was a crushing defeat. It was a match that laid bare a truly brutal gap in ability. Nakamura had his opponent dancing in the palm of his hand—dominating not just the outcome, but every single aspect of the contest, from sheer presence to the flow of the match itself.

On one side stands a global superstar who is the reigning WWE United States Champion; on the other, a rookie with barely a year of experience under his belt. Viewed objectively, a disparity between the two is only natural, yet there is no denying the ability of Ulka, who has risen to this level in such a short span of time. That is precisely why Nakamura pressed the attack so relentlessly—as if to teach him a vital lesson through physical experience. He likely attacked this way because he believed that, even if he were to utterly crush him, Ulka would inevitably rise again.

"You might not believe a word I say right now, but I’m going to overtake Shinsuke Nakamura. I truly made up my mind today."

After the match, Ulka voiced his bitter frustration, seemingly wringing the words out of himself. Yet, in the end, he spoke with conviction about his determination to surpass Nakamura. 

That was the sentiment that took root in Ulka’s heart throughout the match.

Having been shattered in a bout where he likely felt the ruthlessness of the ring more keenly than ever before, he knew he had to reclaim his self-worth with his own hands. 

Nakamura once declared, "Becoming the person you want to be, living life on your own terms—that’s what being a pro wrestler is all about, isn't it?" No matter how difficult the path might be, he had found the self he wanted to become, so there was no reason to give up. 

After all, Ulka Sasaki is a pro wrestler.