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Jiro Kuroshio
, best known as and known as , is a Japanese professional wrestler and internet personality. Kuroshio is known for his work in the Wrestle-1 promotion, where he was a former Wrestle-1 Result Champion and Wrestle-1 Tag Team Champion before leaving the promotion in January 2019. He worked for WWE from 2020 until his release in 2023, performing for the NXT brand under the ring name Ikemen Jiro, where he notably formed a tag team with Kushida known as Jacket Time. Higuchi portrays an ''ikemen'' character, reflected in his aliases, ring attire and mannerisms. Since his release from WWE in 2023, he has gone under the ring name Kuroshio Tokyo Japan, retaining his ''ikemen'' character in the process. Early life Higuchi was born in Adachi, Tokyo. When he was young, he often attended professional wrestling events with his father, who was a fan. His father became friends with the elder brother of Yoshihiro Tajiri, which in turn led to a friendship with Tajiri himself. He started tr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wrestle-1
was a Japanese ''puroresu'' or professional wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion, founded in July 2013 by Keiji Mutoh following his resignation from All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). The core of the promotion's roster was formed by wrestlers loyal to Mutoh, who left AJPW in a mass exodus during June 2013. Mutoh served as the promotion's first president and the head of its parent company, kabushiki gaisha named GEN Sports Entertainment. In March 2017, Kaz Hayashi took over as the new president of Wrestle-1. The promotion held its first event on September 8, 2013, at Tokyo Dome City Hall. The promotion shares its name with a series of professional wrestling events run by AJPW, K-1 and Pride Fighting Championships in the first half of the 2000s, but it is not considered a direct continuation of that project. On April 1, 2020, Wrestle-1 ceased operations. History 2013 Formation On November 1, 2012, Information technology, IT company Speed Partners bought 100% of Al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ray (wrestler)
Ray (February 14, 1982 – August 30, 2018) was a Hong Kong people, Hong Kong Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. After being trained by Emi Sakura, Ray made her professional wrestling debut in September 2003 and would for the next several years wrestle under different Wrestling mask, masks, before she began working for Smash (professional wrestling), Smash in March 2010, unmasked under the ring name Lin Byron (Japanese language, Japanese: リン・バイロン, ) (sometimes transliterated as Lin Bairon). She remained with Smash until the promotion folded in March 2012, after which she transferred over to its successor, Wrestling New Classic (WNC), which lasted until June 2014. In April 2013, Byron became the third WNC Women's Championship, WNC Women's Champion. She revived the Ray character in January 2011, initially signing with Ice Ribbon, before becoming a freelancer in May 2012. Afterwards, she mainly worked for the Reina Joshi Puroresu promotion, while also promotin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestling executive, actor and retired professional wrestler. He is known for his work under his real name and as his alter ego in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), as well as World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and during the 1980s and 1990s, and from his runs in other Japanese, contiguous United States, American, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican, and Mexico, Mexican Professional wrestling promotion, promotions. He was the President (corporate title), president of All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) from 2002 to 2013 and Representative director (Japan), representative director of Wrestle-1 (W-1) from 2013 until its closure in 2020. Considered one of the greatest and most influential wrestlers of all time, Muto is one of the first Japanese wrestlers (''puroresura'') to gain an international fanbase in the 1990s and beyond, thanks in large part to his Great Muta Gimmick (professional wrestling), gimmick. The gimmick is one of the most influential in ''puroresu'', emul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wrestle-1 Tag League
The Wrestle-1 Tag League was a professional wrestling round-robin tag team tournament held by Wrestle-1. It was created in 2014. Originally known as the Tag League Greatest in 2014. The tournament was given its current name in June 2017. The inaugural tournament, was held to determine the first Wrestle-1 Tag Team Champions, which was won by Kaz Hayashi and Shuji Kondo who also became the longest reigning Wrestle-1 Tag Team Champions. The winners of the tournament can choose a title shot of their choosing. The Wrestle-1 Tag League was held under a round-robin system, with two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. The teams finishing a top of the points standings in the two blocks advanced to the knockout stage, where the winner was determined in a head-to-head match. Matches in the Wrestle-1 Tag League had a 30-minute time limit, which is the same as matches for Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship. List of winners 2014 The 2014 Tag League Greatest featured two bloc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masakatsu Funaki
is a Japanese actor, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler known professionally as , who has previously wrestled in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi (PWFG), Newborn UWF (UWF), and Wrestle-1 (W-1). He is also the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations and non-rehearsed shoot wrestling promotions (following five years after the inception of Shooto but predating America's Ultimate Fighting Championship). Funaki was also Pancrase's biggest star; Josh Barnett described him as the "symbol of Japan", Frank Shamrock labeled Funaki "the golden boy" of Pancrase, and Guy Mezger called Funaki "hands down the smartest and most skilled fighter in Pancrase next to Ken Shamrock". Not only the organization's co-founder and most popular fighter, Funaki was also one of Pancrase's most successful fighters to date, scoring submission victories over numerous MMA champions such as Ken Shamroc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masayuki Kono
is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is working as a freelancer. He is best known for his time in Wrestle-1, where he is a former two-time Wrestle-1 Champion. Career All Japan Pro Wrestling (2003–2005) Kono began training in the All Japan Dojo in late 2002 and made his debut on March 28, 2003 in a losing effort to Nobutaka Araya.The Internet Wrestling Database Cagematch. Retrieved on 2011-01-26. For the next two years, Kono was largely featured in opening matches where he worked with fellow newcomers and older wrestlers, often coming out on the losing end, a common practice for young wrestlers in Japan as a way of paying dues. During this time, Kono had ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wrestle-1 Championship
The was the top professional wrestling title owned by the Wrestle-1 (W-1) Professional wrestling promotion, promotion. In Japanese language, Japanese the title's name includes the katakana term for "championship", , derived from the English language instead of the more common kanji term . The title also does not feature the word "Heavyweight" or any other weight class, indicating an Openweight, open-weight status ''de facto''. Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won as a result of a scripted match. There have been seventeen reigns shared among eleven wrestlers. History Championship tournament On July 21, 2014, a full year after the start of the promotion, Wrestle-1 announced the creation of its first own title, the Wrestle-1 Championship. Previous Wrestle-1 events had featured matches for championships owned by other promotions like All Star Wrestling (ASW), European Wrestling Promotion (EWP), Pro Wrestling Zero1 and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andy Wu (wrestler)
is a Japanese professional wrestler who worked for Wrestle-1 until its closure in 2020. He is currently a freelancer. Professional wrestling career All Japan Pro Wrestling (2012–2013) Andy Wu debuted for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) on July 15, 2012, teaming with Yasufumi Nakanoue in a losing effort against Minoru Tanaka and Gillette. In July, he entered the 2012 Junior Hyper League but finishes with no wins. He also competed in the 2013 Junior Hyper Tag League with Sushi and managed to pick up two wins but would not proceed to the next stage. Afterwards, Wu would go on a learning excursion to Mexico to train under Pantera. He wrestled briefly whilst in Mexico, making rare appearances in Queretaro in the summer and wrestling a dark match for International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) on August 18. During his time in Mexico, backstage issues led to the resignation of Keiji Mutoh and several other wrestlers effective July 1. When Wu returned to Japan, he would choos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yusuke Kodama
is a Japanese professional wrestler and currently wrestlers for All Japan Pro Wrestling as a freelancer. Kodama is best known for his time with Wrestle-1 (W-1), where he is a former two time UWA World Trios Champion, two time Wrestle-1 Cruiser Division Champion and one time Wrestle-1 Tag Team Champion with Shotaro Ashino. Professional wrestling career Smash (2010–2012) Yusuke Kodama was trained by Tajiri and was set to debut in Hustle in September 2009; unfortunately, Hustle was forced to cancel all the upcoming shows due to economic issues, so Kodama followed Tajiri to the newborn Smash. Kodama made his professional wrestling debut on April 23, 2010, at Smash.2, against Hajime Ohara and lost. As is customary for most professional wrestlers, Kodama spent most of his matches losing to other, more experienced wrestlers, which would help put over other wrestlers while at the same time give Kodama some in-ring, televised, experience. Kodama would take on some of Japan's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akira Nogami
is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working as Akira (occasionally stylised in all-capitals). He has also worked as a trainer. Professional wrestling career New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1984–2004) After graduating from high school in 1984, Nogami was initiated into the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) dojo. He debuted in October of that year against Keiji Mutoh. In April 1990, he left on an overseas learning excursion to Europe in Otto Wanz's Catch Wrestling Association and returned to NJPW a year later. Showing a new wrestling style, he changed his name to Akira (stylized in all capital letters) and adopted the gimmick of a kumadori-wearing kabuki actor. Akira scored a big win over Jyushin Thunder Liger in August 1991 to begin his one and only reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. After losing the title to Norio Honaga in November 1991, he graduated to the heavyweight division. In June 1992, he teamed up with Hiroshi Hase to participate in the NWA Wo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kaji Tomato
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for his tenure with the Japanese promotions Kaientai Dojo, Big Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and many others. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2006–present) As part freelancer, Kaji is known for competing in multiple promotions of the Japanese independent scene. He participated in one of the longest matches in professional wrestling history, an 108-man battle royal at Tenka Sanbun no Kei: New Year's Eve Special, a cross-over event held between Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), DDT and Kaientai Dojo from December 31, 2009, competing against other infamous wrestlers such as Great Kojika, Danshoku Dino, Kenny Omega, Tajiri, Gota Ihashi, Kota Ibushi and many others. Kaji often competed in independent shows such as ''TAKA & Taichi Produce TAKATaichi House In Yokohama'' from December 22, 2018, where he wrestled in a 16-person battle royal also involving Taic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fit Finlay
David John Finlay (, born 31 January 1958) is a Northern Irish former professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE as a trainer and assistant coach at the Performance Center, as well as a producer. He is best known for his tenures with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1996 to 2000 under the ring name Fit Finlay, and in WWE from 2005 to 2010 under the mononymous name Finlay. Finlay debuted in 1974, and has held over 20 championships around the world throughout his career, including the WCW World Television Championship and the WWE United States Championship. Professional wrestling career Early career (1974–1995) Finlay's first match was for his father's promotion in Glynn in 1974, when he filled in for a wrestler who no-showed. He began wrestling on a full-time basis in Carrickfergus and throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for the next four years before moving to England in 1978. In England, he wrestled for independent promoters such as Jackie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
