Hyo Watanabe

Born

1997-01-04

Birthplace

Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan

Biography

Hyo Watanabe, better known as HYO, is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Dragon Gate, where he debuted in 2016. After spending several years climbing the ranks, he reinvented himself as the eccentric, leopard-like HYO, complete with a tail, feline mannerisms, and his stuffed leopard, Myon Myon, while joining the villainous R.E.D. stable before remaining with its successor, Z-Brats. In late 2023, HYO turned on Z-Brats and joined forces with Luís Mante to form Big Hug, which later grew into its own unit with the addition of Jacky Kamei. The transformation helped establish HYO as one of Dragon Gate's most distinctive personalities, and he has gone on to become a two-time Open the Brave Gate Champion, one-time Open the Twin Gate Champion, and three-time Open the Triangle Gate Champion. In 2026, he made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling tournament debut as part of the Best of the Super Junior tournament.