At a news conference held in October 2005, he abruptly announced his intention to participate in professional wrestling by saying "I would like to challenge American entertainment professional wrestling taking advantage of "kyogen power" which I have fostered in the kyogen world."
2005年10月、記者会見を開き、「今後は狂言の世界で培った『狂言力』を生かし、本場アメリカのエンターテイメントプロレスに挑戦したい」と、電撃的にプロレス参戦を発表する。