, better known by his
ring name
A ring name is a type of stage name or nickname used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons ...
Douki (stylised in ''
all caps
In typography, text or font in all caps (short for "all capitals") contains capital letters without any lowercase letters. For example: All-caps text can be seen in legal documents, advertisements, newspaper headlines, and the titles on book co ...
'' as DOUKI), is a Japanese
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...
signed to
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...
(NJPW), where he is a member of the
House of Torture
House of Torture is a villainous professional wrestling stable primarily appearing in the Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW); it was formerly a sub-grouping of the stable Bullet Club. The stable is led by Evil and also consists of ...
faction and one-half of the current
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions
The is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the . The title was introduced on August 8, 1998, at an NJPW live event. The IWGP Junior ...
, alongside
Sho. Douki was a part of the ''
Suzuki-gun'' stable from 2019 till the faction's disbandment in 2022. He is a former
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Professional wrestling career
Early career
In May 2010, Hayama had planned to go to Mexico by himself, but
Milano Collection A.T.
, is a Japanese color commentator and retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name . As Milano, Sawafuji adopted the gimmick of an Italian fashion aficionado/supermodel, reflected in his ring attire. Milano is also known for walkin ...
had introduced him to
Taichi
Taichi is a Japanese given name and surname.
Given name
Taichi (written: , , , , , or ) is a masculine Japanese given name.
People with the given name
Notable people with the name include:
*, Japanese volleyball player
*, Japanese footballe ...
. After that, he went to
CMLL
Co., Ltd. (CMLL; , "World Wrestling Council") is a ''lucha libre'' professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. The promotion was previously known as (EMLL) (''Mexican Wrestling Enterprise''). Founded in 1933, it is the oldest profe ...
's wrestling school every day and practiced at the gym with Taichi, and debuted under the name ''Kansuke'' in November of the same year.
In 2012, when he joined
Los Perros del Mal
Los Perros del Mal (''English: The Dogs of Evil'') was a Mexican ''lucha libre'' wrestling group stable, originally competed in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and in Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA). The name (meaning "The Dogs of Evil") is a pla ...
(a stable that was formed in December 2008), Hayama thought, "There are other Japanese wrestlers, so let's change the character." He thus adopted the ring name ''Douki''. He served as a member of the stable ''Japones del Mal''. His ring name is derived from
Kansuke Yamamoto's ordination name "Michiki".
After spending time in Mexico, Douki made his first appearance in Japan at a
Tokyo Gurentai
is a professional wrestling stable, currently made up of Fujita, Kikuzawa, Mazada, and Nosawa Rongai. The group was formed in 2000 by Kikuzawa, Mazada and Nosawa and has since appeared for Japan's four biggest promotions; All Japan Pro Wrestli ...
show on October 10, 2015.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Suzuki-gun (2019–2022)
On May 10, 2019,
El Desperado had to be pulled from the
Best of the Super Juniors Tournament due to injury, and Taichi introduced Douki as Suzuki-gun's newest member to replace Desperado. Douki would finish with only 2 points in the tournament.
On August 1, 2020, NJPW announced a tournament to crown new NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions in which Douki took part alongside stablemates
Minoru Suzuki
(born June 17, 1968) is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, known for his tenure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former one-time IWGP Intercontinental Ch ...
and El Desperado.
In March 2022, Douki participated in the
New Japan Cup __NOTOC__
The New Japan Cup (NJC) is an annual single-elimination professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) since 2005. It is considered the second most prominent heavyweight tournament in NJPW, after the G1 Climax wh ...
, where he lost to fellow Suzuki-gun stablemate
Zack Sabre Jr.
Lucas James Uggles Eatwell (born 24 July 1987), known by his ring name and its abbreviated form ZSJ, is an English-born professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In NJPW, he is the second and current leader of the ...
in the second round. In November, Douki and
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he is a member of House of Torture and a former member of Bullet Club. He also works as a backstage producer for NJPW.
Professional wrestling career ...
competed in the
Super Junior Tag League
The Super Junior Tag League is a professional wrestling tag team professional wrestling tournament, tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Established in 2010, but preceded by the G1 Climax Junior Heavyweight Tag League in 2001 (won ...
, finishing with eight points and failing to advance to the finals.
In December, at the World Tag League and
Best of the Super Juniors
The Best of the Super Juniors (stylized as the BEST OF THE SUPER Jr. and often abbreviated BOSJ) is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), typically in May or June. Originally known as Top of the Supe ...
finals, Minoru Suzuki announced the disbandment of Suzuki-gun by the end of the year. The final match between the faction took place on December 23, where the team of Taichi, Sabre Jr, Kanemaru and Douki defeated Suzuki,
Lance Archer
Lance Hoyt (born February 28, 1977), better known by his ring name Lance Archer, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where is a member of The Don Callis Family and one-half of The Murder Machines w ...
, Desperado and Michinoku. After the match, each of the Suzuki-gun members spoke about their memories as a part of the group and thanked leader Suzuki. The night ended with all members posing with the Suzuki-gun flag, only to be interrupted by former member
Takashi Iizuka, causing all nine men to pose in the ring, behind the Suzuki-gun flag.
Just 4 Guys / Just 5 Guys (2023–2025)
On January 5, 2023, at
New Year Dash, Michinoku, Taichi, Douki, and Kanemaru formed Just 4 Guys with the aim of reaching the top of New Japan. On February 4, at
The New Beginning in Sapporo, Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru challenged
Catch 2/2 (
Francesco Akira
Francesco Akira Begnini (born November 12, 1999), better known by his ring name Francesco Akira, is an Italian professional wrestler working for the Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is a part of the Catch 2/2 tag-team alongsid ...
and
TJP) for the
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
The is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the . The title was introduced on August 8, 1998, at an NJPW live event. The IWGP Junio ...
, but lost. In the quarterfinal round of the
New Japan Cup __NOTOC__
The New Japan Cup (NJC) is an annual single-elimination professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) since 2005. It is considered the second most prominent heavyweight tournament in NJPW, after the G1 Climax wh ...
, Sanada defeated LIJ stablemate and leader,
Tetsuya Naito
is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is best known for his 20-year run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he served as the leader of the ''Los Ingobernables de Japon'' stable, and was a multi-time world champion. ...
. After the match, Sanada was joined in the ring by Taichi, Kanemaru, Michinoku and Douki, where they all shook hands, thus joining the stable which changed their name to Just 5 Guys.
Through NJPW's partnership with
All Elite Wrestling
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is an American professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. It is owned and operated by Shahid Khan, Shahid and Tony Khan, with the latter serving as President (corporate title), president an ...
(AEW), Douki made his AEW debut on the June 23 episode of ''
AEW Rampage
''AEW Rampage'', also known as ''Friday Night Rampage'' or simply ''Rampage'', is an American professional wrestling television program that was produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), running from August 13, 2021, to Dece ...
'', losing to
"Jungle Boy" Jack Perry.
On June 25 at
Forbidden Door Forbidden Door or ''The Forbidden Door'' may refer to:
* ''The Forbidden Door'', professional wrestling term referring to working agreement between promotions
* AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door, professional wrestling joint events:
** Forbidden Door ( ...
, Douki accompanied Sanada for the latter's successful IWGP world title defense against Perry. At the July 5, 2024 New Japan Soul event, Douki defeated El Desperado to capture his first championship, becoming the
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Douki would reign as champion until
Wrestle Kingdom 19
Wrestle Kingdom 19 was a professional wrestling event promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 4, 2025, at the Tokyo Dome, in Tokyo, Japan. It was the 34th January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the 19th promoted unde ...
on January 4, 2025, losing the title back to El Desperado via referee stoppage after injuring his arm while performing a diving senton to the outside of the ring.
House of Torture (2025–present)
At
Dominion 6.15 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 15, 2025, Douki turned heel and joined
House of Torture
House of Torture is a villainous professional wrestling stable primarily appearing in the Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW); it was formerly a sub-grouping of the stable Bullet Club. The stable is led by Evil and also consists of ...
. Douki would team with
Sho to win the
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
The is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the . The title was introduced on August 8, 1998, at an NJPW live event. The IWGP Junio ...
from
Master Wato and
YOH.
Championships and accomplishments
*
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...
**
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
The is a professional wrestling world junior heavyweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the . Only wrestlers under the junior heavyweight weight-limit may hold ...
(
1 time)
**
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
The is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the . The title was introduced on August 8, 1998, at an NJPW live event. The IWGP Junio ...
(
1 time, current) – with
Sho
*''
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...
''
**Ranked No. 176 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''
PWI 500
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...
'' in 2024
''Luchas de Apuestas'' record
References
External links
*
Douki Japanese profile
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Douki
1991 births
Living people
Japanese male professional wrestlers
Masked wrestlers
Martial artists from Yokohama
Professional wrestlers from Kanagawa Prefecture
Suzuki-gun members
21st-century male professional wrestlers
21st-century Japanese professional wrestlers
Expatriate professional wrestlers in Mexico
IWGP Junior Heavyweight champions