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is a
professional wrestling 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, real- ...
tag team Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establis ...
consisting of Minoru Tanaka and
Koji Kanemoto is a Japanese professional wrestler of Zainichi Korean descent. He has previously worked with New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling. He is currently a freelancer. Professional wrestling career Kanemoto practiced Judo during his hig ...
. Forming in 1999, the team became one of the most popular in
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), winning 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 ...
in June 2000. After Kanemoto joined
Team 2000 Team 2000 was a professional wrestling stable (wrestling), stable that competed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Throughout its tenure, T2000 was New Japan's top heel (wrestling), heel stable. History Background In August 1998, Masahiro Chono was ...
and Minoru became the masked Heat character in 2002, the team went on hiatus until 2004, when they reunited albeit for one night only as Minoru turned on Kanemoto during the match. The team officially reunited in
All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW/AJP) or simply All Japan is a Puroresu, Japanese professional wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on October 21, 1972, by Giant Baba after he left the Japanese Wrestling Association to create his own promotion. Ma ...
(AJPW) in 2012, where they won the
All Asia Tag Team Championship The is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). Originally, it was the top tag team title in the JWA, but its status became secondary once the NWA International Tag Team Championship was brou ...
twice. The two left AJPW to join the newly formed
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 b ...
in 2013, and continue to team together on the Japanese
independent circuit In professional wrestling, the independent circuit (often shortened to the indie circuit or the indies) is the collective name of independently owned promotions which are deemed to be smaller and more regionalized than major national promotions. ...
.


History


Early years (1999-2001)

Initially rivals, Kanemoto and Tanaka began teaming together in October 1999, and immediately set their sights on 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 ...
, then held by
Shinjiro Otani is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the current acting president of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). He is currently inactive from pro-wrestling competition due to a cervical spine injury sustained in April 2022. A product of the Ne ...
and
Tatsuhito Takaiwa is a Koreans in Japan, Zainichi-Korean professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is one of the more well-traveled junior heavyweights in Japan, having wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and Pro Wrestling Zero1, as well as makin ...
. On October 11, the duo was unsuccessful in their challenge for the titles. Despite the loss, they continued to team together into 2000, and in June defeated Otani and Takaiwa to win the titles for the first time at Summer Struggle. The two held the titles until March 2001, when they were forced to vacate after Kanemoto suffered a legitimate injury during the match.


Break-up (2002–2004)

Kanemoto eventually returned in October that year, turning on Minoru and becoming a heel in the process, joining Team 2000. As a reward for his defection and betrayal of Tanaka, Team 2000 leader
Masahiro Chono is an American-born Japanese retired Professional wrestling in Japan, professional wrestler and actor best known for his 26-year stint with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). As the leader of New World Order (professional wrestling), nWo Japan, Tea ...
gave Kanemoto his own sub-group to lead named "Team 2000 Jr." In his first match back, Kanemoto and the rest of Team 2000 Jr ( Akira and Gedo & Jado) defeated
El Samurai (born April 19, 1966) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and is better known by his stage name El Samurai. Professional wrestling career Early years (1986–1992) Osamu Ma ...
,
Jushin Thunder Liger , better known as and later , is a Japanese retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as a trainer. He is the longest-tenured member of the NJPW roster, having work ...
,
Katsuyori Shibata } is a Japanese professional wrestler, trainer, and former mixed martial artist. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Opps and is one-third of the AEW World Trios Champions with Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs. ...
and Minoru Tanaka, with Kanemoto last pinning Minoru for the win. Kanemoto achieved much singles success throughout 2002, while Minoru struggled to gain any traction with his new Heat character. The two eventually faced off for the
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 ...
on October 14 at The Spiral, with Kanemoto coming out on top. Team 2000 went their own separate ways in late 2002 and Kanemoto thus slowly began to turn face, taking on the role of a no nonsense veteran. As Kanemoto became a fan favourite once again, Heat finally began to achieve success, beating
Jado (born September 28, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler, manager and booker better known by the ring name . He is best known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as part of a tag team with his partner Gedo. Jado and Gedo's care ...
for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in December 2003. In 2004, Heat and Kanemoto slowly became allies again, teaming together throughout the year.


2nd breakup (2004-2011)

On October 9, 2004, at Pro-Wrestlers Be Strongest, Minoru returned to his birth name and the Junior Stars re-united to take on
Gedo Gedo (, , , or ''Ghedu'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in Jubaland, southern Somalia. Its regional capital is Garbahaarreey. The region was formed during 1974 and is bordered by the Ogaden in Ethiopia, the North Eastern Province ...
and
Jado (born September 28, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler, manager and booker better known by the ring name . He is best known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as part of a tag team with his partner Gedo. Jado and Gedo's care ...
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 ...
. After Kanemoto finally tagged Minoru in, he shocked the New Japan fans by attacking Kanemoto and helping Gedo and Jado win, turning
heel The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg. Structure To distribute the compressive forces exerted ...
and joining Control Terrorism Unit (C.T.U.) in the process. After turning heel, Minoru wrestled as both himself and Heat throughout late 2004, and the two faced off for the
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 ...
twice in late 2004, with the first match ending by double knockout and the second with Heat pinning Kanemoto.


All Japan Pro Wrestling (2011-present)

October 9, 2004 would be the last time the Junior Stars teamed together during both their runs in NJPW, with Minoru leaving after his contract expired in 2009. The only time the two teamed together during this period was a one-off match where they defeated
Masaaki Mochizuki is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Dragon Gate and Pro Wrestling Noah. Mochizuki is a former FIP World Champion and three-time Open the Dream Gate Champion. Professional wrestling career Early years A former karat ...
and
Shinjiro Otani is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the current acting president of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). He is currently inactive from pro-wrestling competition due to a cervical spine injury sustained in April 2022. A product of the Ne ...
at Masaaki Mochizuki's 15th Anniversary show in December 2008. After Kanemoto began competing outside of NJPW in 2011, he debuted for
All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW/AJP) or simply All Japan is a Puroresu, Japanese professional wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on October 21, 1972, by Giant Baba after he left the Japanese Wrestling Association to create his own promotion. Ma ...
(AJPW) on March 6, re-forming the Junior Stars with Minoru to defeat
Kaz Hayashi , best known by the ring name , is a Japanese business executive and retired professional wrestler who last competed in Gleat and serves as the company's chief technical officer (CTO). He is best known for his work in World Championship Wrestlin ...
and
Shuji Kondo is a Japanese people, Japanese professional wrestler. Prior to becoming a pro wrestler, he played Rugby union, rugby. After starting his career in Dragon Gate (wrestling), Toryumon, Kondo eventually joined All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where h ...
. The two once again teamed up for the 2011 Junior Tag League, making it to the final where they just barely lost out to Kai and Hayashi in a match that went over 30 minutes. Kanemoto once again returned to AJPW in November and the two entered the 2011
Real World Tag League __NOTOC__ The , more commonly known in the West as the Real World Tag League, is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by All Japan Pro Wrestling since 1977, usually, run on the first weeks of December. The first tournament was actuall ...
and performed well, defeating the likes of
Manabu Soya is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently signed to Pro Wrestling NOAH. He is best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling, and he previously lived in Canada training at the Can-Am Wrestling School under Scott D'Amore, working ...
and
Takao Omori is a Japanese professional wrestling, professional wrestler, working for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is a one-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion and seven-time World Tag Team Championship ( ...
and
Masanobu Fuchi is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is also a director and the co-head booker. Fuchi has exclusively worked for All Japan since his debut in 1974, and holds the record for the longest World Ju ...
and Taiyo Kea, but were unable to reach the final and finished the tournament with 8 points. In 2012, Kanemoto was traded to All Japan full time and the Junior Stars officially re-formed, defeating Turmeric Storm (
Tomoaki Honma is a Japanese people, Japanese professional wrestler primarily working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In NJPW, he is a former List of IWGP Tag Team Champions, one-time IWGP Tag Team Championship, IWGP Tag Team Champion and a two-time G1 Ta ...
and
Kazushi Miyamoto is a Japanese professional wrestler. Career Kazushi Miyamoto will forever have the distinction of being the first post-split graduate of the All Japan Pro Wrestling dojo. While in the Dojo Miyamoto was trained by Hiroshi Hase, Johnny Smith, and ...
) to win the
All Asia Tag Team Championship The is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). Originally, it was the top tag team title in the JWA, but its status became secondary once the NWA International Tag Team Championship was brou ...
on October 21. In 2013, Kanemoto joined Tanaka's stable Stack of Arms alongside
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) Kon ...
and
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) ...
. The two remained with AJPW until June 25, 2013, when they left the promotion in a mass-exodus.


Wrestle-1 (2013-2014)

Kanemoto and Tanaka were both part of the mass exodus from
All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW/AJP) or simply All Japan is a Puroresu, Japanese professional wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on October 21, 1972, by Giant Baba after he left the Japanese Wrestling Association to create his own promotion. Ma ...
(AJPW) to form
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 b ...
, led by
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 duri ...
. They continued to team together in Wrestle-1, and earned a shot at the
TNA World Tag Team Championship The TNA World Tag Team Championship is a men's professional wrestling #World Tag Team Championship, world tag team championship (professional wrestling), championship which is owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) professional wrestlin ...
in June 2014, unsuccessfully challenging The Wolves (
Davey Richards Wesley David Richards (born March 1, 1983), best known under the ring name Davey Richards, is a retired American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. Best known for his time in Impact Wrestling, TNA Wrestling and Ring of Honor, and for ...
and Eddie Edwards) on July 6.


Freelance (2016-present)

After Kanemoto left Wrestle-1 in 2014, he began to compete independently once again, and started to work for
Pro Wrestling Zero1 , often referred to simply as Zero1 and sometimes referred to as Pro Wrestling Zero1 Catch as Catch Can (stylized as ZERO1 and PRO WRESTLING ZERO1 CATCH AS CATCH CAN, respectively), is a Professional wrestling in Japan, Japanese professional wre ...
in 2016. After Minoru eventually left Wrestle-1 in 2016, they reformed once again in Zero1 and won the
NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship The International Lightweight Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight (referred to by Zero1 as "lightweights", <)
from
Isami Kodaka is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to Pro-Wrestling Basara (Basara). He originally started his career in the Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) promotion in July 2002, but later left the promotion to become a freelancer, before signing w ...
and
Takumi Tsukamoto is a Japan, Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Japanese professional wrestling promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW). Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2009–present) At ''BJW World Triangle Night In Korakue ...
in March 2017. The two became rivals once again in late 2018 in Minoru's new home promotion of Pro Wrestling Noah. On November 25, 2018, Kanemoto and
Hiroshi Yamato , better known by his ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler who works as a freelancer. Trained by the All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, he started his career in February 2007 working in Mexico for the International Wrestling Revolution ...
unsuccessfully challenged Minoru and
Hi69 is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by his ring name Hi69 (pronounced as Hiroki). He is currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah. Since debuting in 2000, Tanabe has frequently worked for Kaientai Dojo, Michinoku Pro Wrestling, Ap ...
for the
GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship The is a professional wrestling tag team Championship (professional wrestling), title in Japanese Professional wrestling promotion, promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, contested exclusively among Cruiserweight (professional wrestling), junior heavywei ...
.


Championships and accomplishments

*New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) **
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 ...
( one time) *All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) **
All Asia Tag Team Championship The is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). Originally, it was the top tag team title in the JWA, but its status became secondary once the NWA International Tag Team Championship was brou ...
( two times) *Pro Wrestling Zero1 **
NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship The International Lightweight Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight (referred to by Zero1 as "lightweights", <)
( one time)


References

{{reflist All Japan Pro Wrestling teams and stables Japanese promotions teams and stables New Japan Pro-Wrestling teams and stables Wrestle-1 teams and stables