WRESTLER OF THE MONTH: KEIJI SAKODA
By Les Honig

It seems like a universe ago when Big Schwag first brought in his newest Oriental mercenary to protect his interests in UPW, but for Ryan “Keiji” Sakoda, much has changed for that awesome recruit; as he has matured over the past three years and added a whole repertoire of experience to his already impressive and lethal arsenal.

Indeed, as he stands on the other side of several fantastic WWE dark matches over the past few months and with his hopes ever high that soon he might be tapped for duty in America’s top national fed, Keiji can look upon his days here in So Cal’s top alliance as contributing much to his current positive situation.

Raised in L.A.’s Hacienda Heights, Ryan Sakoda remembers his childhood as one where he early on had that wrestling dream prominent in his consciousness.  “Even before I was six or seven, I would be glued in front of the TV with my grandfather watching L.A.’s Olympic Auditorium matches, and by the time I was ten I was a confirmed little Hulkamaniac.” Inspired by his other idol, the charismatic and incredible Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, Sakoda decided from that age that he wanted someday to walk in those fabulous footsteps as well. 

Laughing now that he was really the “black sheep” of the family when it came to career plans, (his mom is a college professor; his dad a retired high school principal); the surprisingly sensitive, soft-spoken and keenly intelligent super-athlete, nonetheless, sidelined that fantasy to concentrate on other youthful sports-related pursuits; studying judo for ten years and becoming a standout on his high school football team.

Still, as he entered college and majored in sports medicine, his real obsession began more and more to take shape; and before too long he was seeking out how to make that transition to a field that he really felt he could make his mark in.

After several post-collegiate years of non-fulfilling work, primarily as a waiter, Keiji decided that he must finally make the big move, so he began to seek out wrestling schools; originally intending to try out Killer Kowalski’s famous Massachusetts facility;

that is, till he discovered another famous training center practically on his doorstep. Discovering San Bernadino’s School of Hard Knocks run by Jesse Hernandez and Bill Anderson, Sakoda soon enrolled and was an immediate success; as he displayed the intense dedication that has always marked his career. It was here, too, that he came upon and met, in those pre-UPW days some of its current stars; like Frankie Kazarian, the Pitbulls and The Ballards.

“I was learning a lot there but I really longed to find a place that would have direct contact with WWF,” he recalls now, “and Frankie told me all about UPW and how they already were beginning to have some of their talent discovered by Titan and even given developmental deals.”

Coming down to see a show in the summer of 2000, he was immediately impressed and soon was becoming both a trainee and regular star at Galaxy Theatre shows.  Still, the progress was a bit slow for Ryan, and while he continued to train and even improve on his superb physical condition, the frustration grew a bit; particularly when WCW was sold to World Wrestling Federation and the available slots dried up.

Deciding then to strike out on his own, Sakoda left UPW to try his hand at an alternative plan; wrestling in a number of local feds; but after a while realized, particularly with the renewal in liason between Ultimate Pro Wrestling and the WWE, that his chances for career advancement lay here where he had already made his greatest inroads.

“And there was another factor too that drew me back here,” Sakoda says. “It is the great camaraderie between the boys. I missed all my friends here and so I came back.”

And that decision indeed has proven a wise one, as the Japanese phenom has already been featured in several successful Zero One tours, but even more so, has now been able to show off his talents to some of the Titan Sports’ most prestigious scouts.

“I have no idea where the future may take me, “says Ryan Sakoda now candidly, “but I know that this is the best time in my life right now. I am doing what I always dreamed of doing and if I keep working hard I feel in my heart that it is only a matter of time till it all comes together for me.”

A winning attitude indeed from one of UPW’s most enduring and popular talents, who we proudly name as March’s Wrestler of the Month!

Mike Knox

Skulu

Al Katrazz

Predator