Masayuki Naruse
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese professional wrestler
and Professional mixed martial artist.
in 1992 where he was displayed as a scrappy junior heavyweight willing to take on opponents twice his size. He and other RINGS wrestlers made the transition to mixed martial arts
with the promotion in the late 1990s. He was RINGS first ever Light-Heavyweight champion in 1997 after defeating Lee Hasdell
, Wataru Sakata
and Chris Haseman
in an eight man tournament.
Naruse compiled a RINGS record of 36-37-4, with matches spanning between 1992 and 1999. His last fight for RINGS was against Ricardo Fyeet
at Rings - Battle Genesis Vol. 7 on March 20, 1999. Naruse won by Submission in the first round.
In 2002, with RINGS' collapse, he moved to New Japan Pro Wrestling
, it was a well timed move as owner Antonio Inoki
was giving former MMA fighters immediate pushes & he was immediately placed into a feud with Minoru Tanaka, who used to work for BattlARTS, RINGS' rival promotion. Within 4 months of his debut, Naruse captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
from his rival Tanaka.
He left New Japan in 2004 to go back to competing in MMA. On December 31, 2003, he defeated Jan Nortje
by Rear naked choke
at K-1 PREMIUM 2003 Dynamite!!
. On October 23, 2004, Naruse beat Tony Williams by Armbar at JF 3 - Jungle Fight 3.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and Professional mixed martial artist.
Career
Naruse debuted in Fighting Network RINGSFighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
in 1992 where he was displayed as a scrappy junior heavyweight willing to take on opponents twice his size. He and other RINGS wrestlers made the transition to mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
with the promotion in the late 1990s. He was RINGS first ever Light-Heavyweight champion in 1997 after defeating Lee Hasdell
Lee Hasdell
Lee Hasdell is a former British mixed martial artist, kickboxer and promoter. He promoted the first professional mixed martial arts events in the United Kingdom. Lee Hasdell began his professional career as a Kickboxer in 1989, eventually winning three British Kickboxing titles...
, Wataru Sakata
Wataru Sakata
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He has a professional MMA record of 11-13-0 as of December 31, 2003.He started his career in Akira Maeda's Fighting Network RINGS in 1994 after being trained by Animal Hamaguchi. He made the transition to mixed martial arts in the late...
and Chris Haseman
Chris Haseman
Chris Haseman is a former Australian mixed martial artist. He is currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division.He lost his fight at Spartan Reality Fight 9 against Bill Mahood in 2004, retiring afterwards...
in an eight man tournament.
Naruse compiled a RINGS record of 36-37-4, with matches spanning between 1992 and 1999. His last fight for RINGS was against Ricardo Fyeet
Ricardo Fyeet
Ricardo Fyeet is a Dutch Kick boxer and former mixed martial arts fighter. He debuted for RINGS Holland in 1998, defeating Andrew Keja by knockout...
at Rings - Battle Genesis Vol. 7 on March 20, 1999. Naruse won by Submission in the first round.
In 2002, with RINGS' collapse, he moved to New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
, it was a well timed move as owner Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki
is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...
was giving former MMA fighters immediate pushes & he was immediately placed into a feud with Minoru Tanaka, who used to work for BattlARTS, RINGS' rival promotion. Within 4 months of his debut, Naruse captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
from his rival Tanaka.
He left New Japan in 2004 to go back to competing in MMA. On December 31, 2003, he defeated Jan Nortje
Jan Nortje
Johannes "Jan" Nortje is a South African kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and undefeated pro boxer who has fought for Strikeforce, DREAM, K-1, PRIDE Fighting Championship, and New Japan Pro Wrestling....
by Rear naked choke
Rear naked choke
The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...
at K-1 PREMIUM 2003 Dynamite!!
K-1 PREMIUM 2003 Dynamite!!
K-1 PREMIUM 2003 Dynamite!! was an annual kickboxing and mixed martial arts event held by K-1 on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at the Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan...
. On October 23, 2004, Naruse beat Tony Williams by Armbar at JF 3 - Jungle Fight 3.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Crazy Cyclone (Spinning back fist)
- Signature moves
- Belly to back suplex
- Capture Suplex
- Double heel hook
- Dragon sleeper
- Dragon suplex
- Fujiwara Armbar
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestlingis a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
- AJPW All Asia Tag Team ChampionshipAJPW All Asia Tag Team ChampionshipThe All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling . It was created on November 16, 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association when King Kong Czaya & Tiger Jokinder defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan &...
(1 time) - with Mitsuya Nagai
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipIWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
(1 time)