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Douki (wrestler)
, better known by his ring name Douki (stylised in ''all caps''), is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the '' Just 5 Guys'' stable. Douki was a part of the '' Suzuki-gun'' stable from 2019 till the faction's disbandment in 2022. Professional wrestling career Early career In May 2010, Hayama had planned to go to Mexico by himself, but Milano Collection A.T. had introduced him to Taichi. After that, he went to CMLL'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 (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 tim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. Founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, the promotion was sold to Yuke's, who later sold it to Bushiroad in 2012. TV Asahi and Amuse, Inc. own minority shares of the company. Naoki Sugabayashi has served as the promotion's Chairman since September 2013, while Takami Ohbari has served as the president of the promotion since October 2020. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, NJPW is the largest and longest-running professional wrestling promotion in Japan. It was affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance at various points in its history. NJPW has had agreements with various MMA and professional wrestling promotions around the world, including WWE, World Championship Wrestling, American Wrestling Association, World Class Championship Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, WAR, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, UWFi, Ring of Honor, Pride Fighting Championships, and All Elite Wrestling. NJPW's bigge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 Wrestling, Dragon Gate, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah, as well as several larger independent promotions such DDT Pro-Wrestling, Diamond Ring, Kaientai Dojo, Osaka Pro Wrestling and Wrestling New Classic (WNC), while also regularly producing their own independent events. The stable has also made appearances for promotions in Mexico and the United States. Currently the stable is working most notably for Wrestle-1. "Gurentai", denoting "hoodlums", is one of the three principal member categories of the yakuza crime syndicate. History In July 2000, while working for the American Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW) promotion in Los Angeles, California, Japanese wrestlers Kikuzawa and Nosawa began teaming together as "Tokyo Gurentai". Later ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Francesco Akira
Francesco 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), where he is a member of the United Empire stable and a current IWGP Junior Tag Team Champion. Begnini has also wrestled for All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW) where he was a former AJPW Junior Heavyweight Champion. Professional wrestling career Early career Begnini debuted as a professional wrestler in the Italian wrestling circuit, working for the Italian Championship Wrestling, the promotion where he trained, for the Rising Sun Wrestling Promotion, ASCA Wrestling, and also for Irish and British promotions such as Over the Top Wrestling and Attack! Pro Wrestling. All Japan Pro Wrestling (2019–2022) Begnini made his debut in All Japan Pro Wrestling at ''AJPW Excite Series 2019'' on February 7, where he teamed up with Black Menso-re, Kento Miyahara and Yoshitatsu in a losing effor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
United Empire
, originally , is a professional wrestling faction, performing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and RevPro, the faction is led by Will Ospreay. The group was formed in October 2020 by Ospreay and Great-O-Khan, when Ospreay turned on his Chaos stablemate Kazuchika Okada during the G1 Climax. Fellow NJPW wrestlers Jeff Cobb and Aaron Henare would join, as well as freelancers T. J. Perkins and Francesco Akira, and the team of Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis known as Aussie Open, and "Lord" Gideon Grey from RevPro. Ospreay is the current IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion in his first reign, O-Khan is the current British Heavyweight Champion in his first reign, and TJP & Akira are the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in their first reign as a team and individually. Concept The formation's concept is based on the multitude of its members whereabout countries and cultures. So far, the stable has had members from seven different countries. Kyle Fletcher and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The New Beginning In Sapporo (2023)
The New Beginning in Sapporo was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on February 4 and 5, 2023 in Sapporo, Hokkaido at the Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center. The first night of the event featured eight matches, one of which was contested for a championship, while the second night featured three championship matches out of also eight matches overall. This was the thirty-fifth event under the New Beginning name and the fifth to take place in Sapporo, with the last back in 2020. Production Background NJPW held the inaugural The New Beginning event on February 15, 2011, with future events going on to take place annually in January and/or February. In 2022, New Beginning events were absent, aside from The New Beginning USA. Storylines The New Beginning in Osaka featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Year Dash!!
New Year Dash!! is a professional wrestling event held annually by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It is held every year the day after Wrestle Kingdom, the biggest show of the year for New Japan, starting at Wrestle Kingdom 8 in 2014. There have been eight events under the name held so far, with the traditional January 5 date. In 2020 and 2021, with Wrestle Kingdom a two night event, New Year Dash!! was held January 6. The event was not held in 2022, with the intended return to a one-day Wrestle Kingdom for 2023, the event will return to January 5. Production Background New Year Dash!! is traditionally held at Korakuen Hall, a prestigious venue right next to the Tokyo Dome, where Wrestle Kingdom is held. The 2020 edition, however, was held at Ota City General Gymnasium due to the event being the official retirement ceremony for Jyushin Thunder Liger. The 2021 edition was held at Tokyo Dome City Hall, another venue right next to the Dome. Storylines New Year Dash!! features p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takashi Iizuka
, better known by his ring name , is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his 33-year career in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. He has also worked for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was a one-time GHC Tag Team Champion. Debuting in 1986 under his real name, Iizuka formed the tag team J-J-Jacks with fellow dojo trainee Akira Nogami in 1992. After changing his ring name to in 1995, he became a mainstay of the New Japan seikigun, and was a frequent tag team partner for Yuji Nagata during the early 2000s. In 2008, Iizuka underwent a drastic change to his look, character and wrestling style, turning heel, shaving his head bald, growing a sinister beard, and adapting a hardcore wrestling style. He was also given the gimmick of an uncontrollable madman, and nicknamed "The Great Traitor" for his betrayal of the New Japan roster. Iizuka competed for New Japan Pro-Wrestling over four separate decades before retiring ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lance Archer
Lance Hoyt (born February 28, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Lance Archer. He also makes sporadic appearance for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is also known for his time with WWE as Vance Archer, and impact Wrestling (TNA) under his real name and as Lance Rock. Hoyt began his career in 2000 and worked in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) from 2004 until 2009. In TNA, he wrestled first as Dallas, winning the NWA World Tag Team Championship twice with Kid Kash. After Diamond Dallas Page signed with TNA, he changed his name to Lance Hoyt and formed a rock band themed tag team with Jimmy Rave and Christy Hemme, the Rock N Rave Infection, eventually changing his name to Lance Rock in 2008. After Hoyt left TNA, he signed with WWE, where he worked until 2010 as Vance Archer. After he left WWE, he signed a contract with Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he worked as Lance Archer. Du ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Super Junior Tag League
The Super Junior Tag League is a professional wrestling tag team tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Established in 2010, but preceded by the G1 Climax Junior Heavyweight Tag League in 2001 (won by El Samurai and Jushin Thunder Liger), it is the junior heavyweight equivalent of the World Tag League for heavyweight tag teams. From 2010 to 2017, it was named the Super Junior Tag Tournament and followed a single-elimination format, before becoming the Super Junior Tag League in 2018, switching to a round-robin format. Since the tournament's inception, there were two years where the tournament did not take place—in 2011 and 2020 (due to major changes to NJPW's schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic). Super Junior Tag Tournament (2010–2017) 2010 Super J Tag Tournament was a one-night professional wrestling tournament hosted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling and took place on May 8. Most of the wrestlers involved were signed to New Japan but did feature wrestlers from o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he also works as a backstage producer. Kanemaru is best known for his work in Pro Wrestling Noah, where he holds the records for the most reigns with the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. Professional wrestling career All Japan Pro Wrestling (1996–2000) Kanemaru debuted in 1996 for All Japan Pro Wrestling, in the last years of owner Giant Baba's regime, which had isolated the promotion from outsider wrestlers at the expense of the younger, lighter-weight talent. His first high-profile match in 1997 saw him team with New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Koji Kanemoto (Tiger Mask III) to battle freelancer Satoru Sayama, the original Tiger Mask, and his disciple, Michinoku Pro Wrestling's Yoshihiro Yamazaki (who would go on to become Tiger Mask IV), in a battle of Tiger Masks (as Mitsuharu Misawa, who once portrayed Tiger Mask II, was now a heavyweight and fully focused on the Triple Crown Heavyw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zack Sabre Jr
Lucas Eatwell (born 24 July 1987), better known by his ring name Zack Sabre Jr. (Katakana: ザック・セイバーJr, ''Zakku Seibā Jr.''), is an English professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Outside NJPW, Sabre performs for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Ring of Honor (ROH), Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW), and Progress Wrestling (Progress). Sabre is a former NWA United Kingdom Junior Heavyweight Championship winner and a product of the NWA-UK Hammerlock training school. He started training with NWA-UK Hammerlock at the age of 14, under the guidance of Jon Ryan and Andre Baker. Sabre's offensive moveset includes a wide array of intricately complex technical wrestling holds and pinning combinations, harsh strikes (stemming from his love of puroresu), explosive athleticism and dazzling acrobatics. The readers of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' voted Sabre the Best Technical Wrestler of the year for seven consecutive years (2014 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 which follows a round-robin format. Since the 2006 edition, the winner of the tournament, like with the G1 Climax, would receive a championship match, originally, for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. However, unlike with the G1 Climax, the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion could not participate in the tournament (in the case of the champion winning the G1 Climax, he would get to pick the next challenger for his title). In 2014–2018, the winner could choose to challenge for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship instead, while in 2015–2018, the NEVER Openweight Championship was also an option; only the 2014 winner Shinsuke Nakamura chose not to compete for the Heavyweight Championship, challenging for the Intercontinental Championship ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
