Why Toshiyuki Sakuda is One of the Most Important Hardcore Wrestlers in Japan Today

In the modern landscape of professional wrestling, the independent wrestling scene has grown to the extent that there are many pro-wrestlers a part of it who are satisfied with their careers. Although the independent promotions can't offer the six-figure (and sometimes higher) salaries that major promotions do, some wrestlers prioritize the freedom that independent promotions offer over money, with many active ones for them to wrestle in without becoming lost in the shuffle as they potentially would in a larger promotion. And in Japan, one of those wrestlers is Toshiyuki Sakuda.

To a casual pro-wrestling fan, Toshiyuki Sakuda is one of the smallest wrestlers who is a specialist in hardcore wrestling -best known as "deathmatches" in Japan- which emphasizes weapons, blood, and a willingness to push the boundaries of physical and mental endurance. But for those who have followed his career on the Japanese independent scene as well as in major companies in Japan and promotions outside of the country, it’s clear that Sakuda is something much more: A wrestler who can fit into any environment he wrestles in.

Toshiyuki Sakuda's journey began at BJW's School Dojo, where he had well-rounded training. Not only did Sakuda learn deathmatch skills, but he also learned ring psychology as well, so that every move made during his matches is done for a specific reason, even when objects such as barbed wire and fluorescent light tubes come into play.


After wrestling for BJW full-time from 2014 to 2020, Toshiyuki Sakuda became a freelancer, with all the tools needed to succeed in any type of promotion, be it hardcore or traditional.

Since becoming a freelancer, Toshiyuki Sakuda has appeared in AJPW, where he was able to show that he was more than a hardcore wrestler. Sakuda has also been able to present his hardcore talents on a broad scale, both in multiple independent promotions in Japan and promotions outside of the country. For example, in FREEDOMS, Sakuda's win-loss record includes wins over wrestlers such as legends former CZW Junior Heavyweight Champion Jun Kasai and former Regina Di WAVE Champion Rina Yamashita.

And in the United States, in 2024 and 2025, he participated in the annual IWA Deep South Carnage Cup, a tournament known for some of the most violent deathmatches in the US. Sakuda was in the final match of the tournament both years, establishing himself as an internationally recognized innovator in hardcore/deathmatch wrestling.

Toshiyuki Sakuda has even become a prominent figure in promotions that mainly feature women wrestlers due to his specialization in hardcore/deathmatch wrestling. Sakuda has taken part in intergender matches in WAVE and Ice Ribbon, and he has especially blended seamlessly into Prominence, a promotion specifically dedicated to hardcore matches. One of Sakuda's most notable Prominence matches was in 2023 with Suzu Suziki, who at the time was one of the stars of Ice Ribbon, and today is one of the stars of Stardom. This match was a part of Suzuki's "Ten Death Match" series.



What could ultimately become Toshiyuki Sakuda's greatest achievement is Deathmatch Innovative Element, which he launched in 2021 and is one of the newer hardcore/deathmatch promotions in Japan. As the current DIE Asian Deathmatch Champion, Sakuda has defended his title outside of DIE, putting it on the line in February 2026 at a Deathmatch Downunder event in Australia against Mad Dog (who has also appeared in BJW). This increased the legitimacy of the DIE Asian Deathmatch Championship and promoted DIE internationally.

In addition, DIE is open to co-producing events with promotions based outside of Japan, making DIE a bridge for foreign talent. In June 2025, the promotion co-produced an event with US-based ICW No Holds Barred, which brought foreign talent to Japan that included former CZW star Danny Demanto and former IWA World Champion John Wayne Murdoch.

Most notably, DIE shows are broadcast on IWTV, a streaming platform that is available on Android, iOS, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and online. The number of video streaming users worldwide is expected to amount to 4.6 billion users by 2027, which makes it easier for independent promotions to reach a wider audience. If DIE is publicized as effectively as possible so that fans become aware of what it has to offer, the visibility and show attendance of the promotion will increase, potentially making DIE a leader in the global hardcore/deathmatch scene.

By being a freelancer and starting DIE, Toshiyuki Sakuda has become a connection between traditional Japanese hardcore and the international hardcore scene. He honors the approach, presentation, and philosophy of hardcore wrestling that he is a veteran of, while also utilizing the American style of hardcore wrestling by presenting spectacle and shocking visual moments that generate immediate reactions and give fans something to talk about the next day.