Ryusuke Taguchi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
professional wrestler
, trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling
(NJPW), where he is a former one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
and a four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion
.
Pursuing several sports in high school
, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (167.6 lb) class amateur wrestling
in college before entering the NJPW dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall
in Tokyo
, wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight
division.
Taguchi's gimmick is akin to a disco
dancer, often sporting a short afro
and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team
matches. This has earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".
, Taguchi dabbled in many athletic pursuits, including baseball
, soccer
, and track and field
, before entering the 76 kg (167.6 lb) class in amateur wrestling at Tōkai University
. He enrolled in the New Japan dojo in March 2002, passing the promotion's notoriously tough entry test, before debuting on November 22, 2002 in a losing effort against Toru Yano
. Taguchi continued to wrestle in minor matches through early 2003, before being entered into the tenth annual Best of the Super Juniors
(BOSJ) tournament by default after Heat pulled out. Taguchi finished in last place with zero points, losing all of his matches.
In November 2003, Ryusuke Taguchi and fellow New Japan graduate Hirooki Goto
won a 4-team tournament to decide the number one contenders to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
, defeating Wataru Inoue
and El Samurai
in the semifinals and Masahito Kakihara and Masayuki Naruse
in the finals. When the title was vacated just days later due to injury, Taguchi and Goto instead faced Gedo
and Jado
(who had won a separate tournament) on November 29, 2003 to decide the new champions; Gedo and Jado won the match and the title. On December 27, 2003, Taguchi defeated Naofumi Yamamoto
to gain a spot on the card for New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome
show, Wrestling World
. He went on to defeat Akiya Anzawa at the event on January 4, 2004 in under five minutes.
On March 21, 2004, Taguchi and Goto received their second opportunity at the junior tag titles, falling to champions American Dragon
and Curry Man
. On the April Strong Energy tour, Taguchi was entered into the eight-man round-robin
Young Lion Cup (YLC) tournament, earning nine points in the group stage and defeating Hirooki Goto and Michinoku Pro
's Kazuya Yuasa in the semifinals and final, respectively. Winning the tournament earned Taguchi his first singles title opportunity, as he unsuccessfully challenged U-30 (under 30) Openweight Champion
Hiroshi Tanahashi
on May 13, 2004. Taguchi once again competed in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in June 2004, finishing with 4 points by wrestling to 20-minute time limit draws with El Samurai
and American Dragon, and defeating Jushin Liger
in 45 seconds. Taguchi again finished in last place for his block.
In October and November 2004, Taguchi competed in the 7-man, single-elimination
Young Lion Toukon Tournament, a sort of "sequel" to the Young Lion Cup; he received a bye to the semifinals as a result of winning that tournament, defeating Hiroshi Nagao and Katsuhiko Nakajima
in his two matches to punctuate his YLC victory.
promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
(CMLL), a common practice for young Japanese juniors, wrestling simply as "Taguchi". He competed in two farewell matches in New Japan, losing to Wataru Inoue in the first and teaming with Taiji Ishimori
to defeat Tiger Mask IV
and El Samurai in the second. Taguchi made his CMLL debut on February 11, 2005 in the Arena México
, teaming with Black Tiger IV
and Shigeo Okumura
to defeat Negro Casas
, Felino
and Safari. Taguchi also wrestled in Último Dragón's Toryumon Mexico, teaming with Hiromi Horiguchi to win the 4-team Yamaha Cup tournament on February 27, 2005. Taguchi continued to compete in CMLL throughout much of 2005, often teaming with fellow New Japan alumni Shinsuke Nakamura
and Hiroshi Tanahashi. He returned to Japan on October 7, 2005 and wrestled his official return match on October 22, 2005, teaming with Masahito Kakihara to defeat Sangre Azteca and Hirooki Goto.
On February 19, 2006, Ryusuke Taguchi and veteran junior El Samurai defeated heel faction CTU's (Counter Terrorist Unit) Minoru and Hirooki Goto to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, giving Taguchi his first title. They made their first defense on March 19, 2006, defeating another veteran-young lion duo in Koji Kanemoto
and Wataru Inoue, followed by three-time title holders Gedo and Jado on May 7, 2006 in a match that lasted over 30 minutes.
Taguchi again competed in the BOSJ in June 2006, finishing in fourth place out of seven in his block with seven points, defeating Jushin Liger, Sangre Azteca and Fuego, and wrestling to a double count out with Jado. Taguchi and Samurai faced Gedo and Jado in a title rematch on July 8, 2006, losing the belts to their challengers in another 30-minute match. On September 3, 2006, Taguchi made his debut in New Japan's WRESTLE LAND brand, teaming with Pegasus Kid II
to defeat Milano Collection AT
and Makai Rey Cobra #3; he also wrestled in a brief "bonus track" match later in the night, winning a 14-man tag team match along with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tanaka, Jado, Gedo, Pegasus Kid and Gran Naniwa
against Toru Yano, Milano, and five members of the Makai Club. Taguchi continued to participate in WRESTLE LAND through 2006 and 2007. On September 24, 2006, Taguchi made his first attempt at a major singles junior title by challenging Tiger Mask for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
, losing in 13 minutes.
's Masanobu Fuchi
to defeat Kikutaro
, Nobutaka Araya and Akira Raijin, pinning Kikutaro after the Dodon. Four days later on January 7, 2007, Taguchi suffered a right eye injury in a tag team match with Tiger Mask against Jushin Liger and Milano Collection AT, forcing him out of action for two months. He had been scheduled to compete in a four-man tournament to decide the number one contender to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
, but was removed as a result of the injury; Taguchi returned on March 3, 2007. On March 11, 2007, Taguchi was introduced as the first member of El Samurai's new Samurai Gym faction, and was later joined by Yujiro
on March 18, 2007. On April 13, 2007, Taguchi challenged Minoru for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in his first shot at the title, albeit unsuccessfully. Minoru also stole the Samurai Gym signboard after the match, carrying it as a trophy for the next several months.
Taguchi entered the 14th annual Best of the Super Juniors tournament in June 2007, having his strongest showing to date, winning five out of six group stage matches by defeating Tetsuya Naito, Koji Kanemoto, El Samurai, Dragon Gate
's BxB Hulk, and junior champion Minoru, finishing in first place for his block with 10 points. Taguchi lost in the semifinals however, to eventual winner Milano Collection AT. As a reward of sorts for beating Minoru in the tournament, Taguchi was granted a second shot at the Junior Heavyweight title on July 6, 2007, defeating Minoru once more to win his first singles championship, and retrieving the Samurai Gym signboard. He made his first defense of the title on September 24, 2007, defeating Tiger Mask. He defended the championship once again on October 7, 2007 at independent promotion Pro Wrestling KAGEKI's tenth anniversary show, defeating the company's founder Azteca; the following day, Taguchi again defended the title, defeating Minoru once more. On October 28, 2007, Taguchi defended the title for the third time in one month, defeating 5-time champion Koji Kanemoto in Kobe
, Kanemoto's hometown. Taguchi lost the title in his fifth defense on December 8, 2007, falling to Wataru Inoue.
, Koji Kanemoto and Tiger Mask to face the "Alliance" of Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX
's Masato Tanaka
and Tatsuhito Takaiwa
, and DRADITION's Katsushi Takemura and Yutaka Yoshie
; the Alliance won the encounter, Yoshie pinning Taguchi. Taguchi faced Wataru Inoue in a rematch for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on January 27, 2008, losing to Inoue once more. On February 1, 2008, it was announced that El Samurai would be leaving NJPW due to his contract expiring, effectively ending Samurai Gym. In March and April 2008, Taguchi represented NJPW in several interpromotional matches with the newly renamed Pro Wrestling ZERO1; on March 30, 2008 at New Dimension, Taguchi and Koji Kanemoto defeated ZERO1's Masato Tanaka and Tatsuhito Takaiwa. On the following New Japan Brave tour, Taguchi defeated Takaiwa in a singles match. He then teamed with Kanemoto and Manabu Nakanishi in three tag team matches in late April, he and Nakanishi defeating ZERO1's Takao Ōmori
and Osamu Namiguchi, he and Kanemoto again defeating Tanaka and Takaiwa, and he and Kanemoto losing to Tanaka and Shinjiro Otani.
On April 29, 2008, Taguchi faced his former partner and generation rival, Hirooki Goto, who had since graduated to the heavyweight division. The match, which took place in Goto's hometown of Kuwana
, was won by Goto in just under 15 minutes. In June of that year, Taguchi once again entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, finishing in first place for his six-man block with eight points, losing only to Tatsuhito Takaiwa in a rematch of their April meeting, and defeating the man who won the Junior title from him, Wataru Inoue. Taguchi advanced to the semifinals as a result, losing to Koji Kanemoto.
On July 5, 2009, at Circuit 2009 New Japan Soul Taguchi and Prince Devitt
defeated The Motor City Machineguns of Alex Shelley
and Chris Sabin
to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On January 4, 2010, at Wrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome Taguchi and Devitt successfully defended the titles against Averno and Último Guerrero
. On April 21 Taguchi and Devitt were stripped of the titles, after they had not defended them for 30 days. On May 8 the two entered a tournament in an attempt to regain the Championship, but were defeated in the finals by the team of El Samurai and Koji Kanemoto. On June 28, 2010, Taguchi, teaming up with Devitt and Hirooki Goto entered the J Sports Crown 6 Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament. Two days later the trio defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, TAJIRI
and KUSHIDA
in the finals to win the tournament. On July 19, Taguchi and Devitt defeated Koji Kanemoto and El Samurai to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the second time as a team. On October 11 Taguchi and Devitt lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi). On January 22, 2011, Taguchi defeated Máscara Dorada
for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship
at a Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
and New Japan Pro Wrestling co–promoted event, titled Fantasticamania 2011
, in Tokyo
. At the second Fantastica Mania 2011 show the following day, Taguchi and Devitt regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship from Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi. On April 3, Taguchi made his first defense of the CMLL World Welterweight Championship, defeating Japanese independent performer Madoka. In May 2011, Taguchi took part in New Japan's first ever tour of the United States, during which he and Devitt successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against the Strong Style Thugz (Homicide and Low Ki
) on May 15 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors, Taguchi debuted a new finishing move, the Milano–saku Dodon's Throne, and used it to win five out of his eight round robin stage matches to finish second in his block and advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On June 10, Taguchi defeated his own tag team partner and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt to advance to the finals of the tournament, where he was defeated by Kota Ibushi. On June 18, Taguchi lost the CMLL World Welterweight Championship back to Máscara Dorada. On June 23, Taguchi, Devitt and Hirooki Goto won their second J Sports Crown 6 Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament in a row by defeating the team of Giant Bernard, Jushin Liger and Karl Anderson
in the finals of the three day long tournament. On August 1, Taguchi unsuccessfully challenged Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. On August 14, Taguchi and Devitt successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Ibushi and Kenny Omega. On September 11, Apollo 55 defeated Taichi
and Taka Michinoku to make their seventh successful IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship defense, breaking the record for most defenses during a single reign. On October 10, Taguchi and Devitt lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards
and Rocky Romero
).
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
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...
, trained by and currently performing for 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...
(NJPW), where he is a former one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
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....
and a four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team 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 August 8, 1998 at a NJPW live event...
.
Pursuing several sports in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (167.6 lb) class amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
in college before entering the NJPW dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall
Korakuen Hall
is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight
Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
division.
Taguchi's gimmick is akin to a disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
dancer, often sporting a short afro
Afro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
matches. This has earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".
2002-2004
During high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Taguchi dabbled in many athletic pursuits, including baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, before entering the 76 kg (167.6 lb) class in amateur wrestling at Tōkai University
Tokai University
is a private university in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1943 by Shigeyoshi Matsumae, who had formerly been the engineering president of the Ministry of Communications...
. He enrolled in the New Japan dojo in March 2002, passing the promotion's notoriously tough entry test, before debuting on November 22, 2002 in a losing effort against Toru Yano
Toru Yano
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former IWGP Tag Team Champion.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
. Taguchi continued to wrestle in minor matches through early 2003, before being entered into the tenth annual Best of the Super Juniors
Best of the Super Juniors
This article is about the professional wrestling tournament. For the South Korean boy band, see Super Junior.The Best of the Super Juniors is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling , typically in May or June...
(BOSJ) tournament by default after Heat pulled out. Taguchi finished in last place with zero points, losing all of his matches.
In November 2003, Ryusuke Taguchi and fellow New Japan graduate Hirooki Goto
Hirooki Goto
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He has wrestled primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling since his debut.-Career:Goto attended Kokushikan University, where he took part in freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling. Upon graduating, Goto qualified to join New Japan Pro Wrestling, but left the...
won a 4-team tournament to decide the number one contenders to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team 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 August 8, 1998 at a NJPW live event...
, defeating Wataru Inoue
Wataru Inoue
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Professional wrestling career:Inoue made his debut in 1999 on the Japanese independent circuit, then climbed the ladder to get to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2004...
and El Samurai
Osamu Matsuda
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his stage name El Samurai.-Early years :...
in the semifinals and Masahito Kakihara and Masayuki Naruse
Masayuki Naruse
is a Japanese professional wrestler and Professional mixed martial artist.-Career:Naruse debuted in Fighting Network RINGS 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...
in the finals. When the title was vacated just days later due to injury, Taguchi and Goto instead faced Gedo
Keiji Takayama
Keiji Takayama better known as Gedo , is a long time professional wrestler. He formed a long-lasting tag team with Jado...
and Jado
Shoji Akiyoshi
, better known by his ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling with his tag team partner Gedo...
(who had won a separate tournament) on November 29, 2003 to decide the new champions; Gedo and Jado won the match and the title. On December 27, 2003, Taguchi defeated Naofumi Yamamoto
Naofumi Yamamoto
is a Japanese professional wrestler and former boxer, who is currently signed to WWE, performing on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Yoshi Tatsu.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
to gain a spot on the card for New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
show, Wrestling World
January 4 Dome Show
The January 4 Tokyo Dome Show is a professional wrestling major show, some times broadcast as a Pay-Per-View , held by Japanese Professional wrestling promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling...
. He went on to defeat Akiya Anzawa at the event on January 4, 2004 in under five minutes.
On March 21, 2004, Taguchi and Goto received their second opportunity at the junior tag titles, falling to champions American Dragon
Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand as Daniel Bryan, and currently holds the SmackDown Money in the Bank briefcase, which enables him to have a World Heavyweight Championship match at any time of his choosing...
and Curry Man
Christopher Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is also known for performing under the ring name Curry Man. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , while also...
. On the April Strong Energy tour, Taguchi was entered into the eight-man round-robin
Round-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
Young Lion Cup (YLC) tournament, earning nine points in the group stage and defeating Hirooki Goto and Michinoku Pro
Michinoku Pro Wrestling
Michinoku Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded by The Great Sasuke in 1993. Michinoku Pro was the first independent wrestling promotion in Japan to not base its operations in Tokyo, but rather in Morioka, Iwate...
's Kazuya Yuasa in the semifinals and final, respectively. Winning the tournament earned Taguchi his first singles title opportunity, as he unsuccessfully challenged U-30 (under 30) Openweight Champion
IWGP U-30 Championship
The IWGP U-30 Championship was a professional wrestling championship in New Japan Pro Wrestling for wrestlers under the age of 30. It was proposed as part of a tournament called the G2 U-30 Climax by Hiroshi Tanahashi, who ended up winning the tournament in April 2003. The U-30 Championship became...
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hiroshi Tanahashi
is a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion in his fifth reign.-Early life:...
on May 13, 2004. Taguchi once again competed in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in June 2004, finishing with 4 points by wrestling to 20-minute time limit draws with El Samurai
Osamu Matsuda
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his stage name El Samurai.-Early years :...
and American Dragon, and defeating Jushin Liger
Jushin Liger
, better known as and later, is a Japanese professional wrestler who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling.He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior...
in 45 seconds. Taguchi again finished in last place for his block.
In October and November 2004, Taguchi competed in the 7-man, single-elimination
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
Young Lion Toukon Tournament, a sort of "sequel" to the Young Lion Cup; he received a bye to the semifinals as a result of winning that tournament, defeating Hiroshi Nagao and Katsuhiko Nakajima
Katsuhiko Nakajima
is a Japanese professional wrestler, represented as a freelancer by his mentor Kensuke Sasaki's Kensuke Office dojo and agency. He along with Sasaki and other Kensuke Office graduates currently most frequently wrestle in Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the current GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion in...
in his two matches to punctuate his YLC victory.
2005-2006
On January 6, 2005, Taguchi announced that he would be going on a learning excursion to MexicanMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(CMLL), a common practice for young Japanese juniors, wrestling simply as "Taguchi". He competed in two farewell matches in New Japan, losing to Wataru Inoue in the first and teaming with Taiji Ishimori
Taiji Ishimori
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Pro Wrestling NOAH as well as making appearances for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración through a NOAH/AAA working relationship.-Professional wrestling career:...
to defeat Tiger Mask IV
Tiger Mask IV
Yoshihiro Yamazaki , best known by his ring name Tiger Mask , is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Yamazaki is the fourth wrestler to portray the Tiger Mask image / persona; having used it since 1995...
and El Samurai in the second. Taguchi made his CMLL debut on February 11, 2005 in the Arena México
Arena México
Arena México is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico located in the Colonia Doctores neighboorhood in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or Lucha libre, shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The building is called the "cathedral of lucha...
, teaming with Black Tiger IV
Rocky Romero
John R. Rivera is a Cuban American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Rocky Romero and as the fourth incarnation of Black Tiger. As Romero he was one half of the tag team The Havana Pitbulls , along with Ricky Reyes...
and Shigeo Okumura
Shigeo Okumura
Shigeo Okumura is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and is currently billed simply as Okumura. Okumura originally worked for Tokyo Pro Wrestling and later on All Japan Pro Wrestling in Japan but...
to defeat Negro Casas
Negro Casas
José Casas Ruiz is a Mexican professional wrestler and trainer currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre under the ring name Negro Casas. He is the son of former wrestler, turned referee Pepe Casas and brother of professeional wrestlers El Felino and Heavy Metal...
, Felino
El Felino
El Felino , is the ring name of Jorge Luis Casas Ruiz, who is a Mexican professional wrestler or Luchador currently wrestling for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . He is the son of wrestler and referee Pepe Casas, the brother of Negro Casas and Heavy Metal and the cousin of Black Star...
and Safari. Taguchi also wrestled in Último Dragón's Toryumon Mexico, teaming with Hiromi Horiguchi to win the 4-team Yamaha Cup tournament on February 27, 2005. Taguchi continued to compete in CMLL throughout much of 2005, often teaming with fellow New Japan alumni Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.-Super Rookie :...
and Hiroshi Tanahashi. He returned to Japan on October 7, 2005 and wrestled his official return match on October 22, 2005, teaming with Masahito Kakihara to defeat Sangre Azteca and Hirooki Goto.
On February 19, 2006, Ryusuke Taguchi and veteran junior El Samurai defeated heel faction CTU's (Counter Terrorist Unit) Minoru and Hirooki Goto to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, giving Taguchi his first title. They made their first defense on March 19, 2006, defeating another veteran-young lion duo in Koji Kanemoto
Koji Kanemoto
is a professional wrestler. He is of Zainichi Korean descent.-Career:Kanemoto practiced Judo during his high school days and won a few championships as a professional before being recruited by the New Japan Dojo. He debuted in November 1990, wrestling against Michiyoshi Ohara. In March 1992, he...
and Wataru Inoue, followed by three-time title holders Gedo and Jado on May 7, 2006 in a match that lasted over 30 minutes.
Taguchi again competed in the BOSJ in June 2006, finishing in fourth place out of seven in his block with seven points, defeating Jushin Liger, Sangre Azteca and Fuego, and wrestling to a double count out with Jado. Taguchi and Samurai faced Gedo and Jado in a title rematch on July 8, 2006, losing the belts to their challengers in another 30-minute match. On September 3, 2006, Taguchi made his debut in New Japan's WRESTLE LAND brand, teaming with Pegasus Kid II
Fergal Devitt
Fergal Devitt is an Irish professional wrestler currently contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently in his second reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion...
to defeat Milano Collection AT
Akihito Terui
Akihito Terui , also known as Milano Collection A.T., is a Japanese retired professional wrestler.-Career:Terui made his debut in 2000 in Toryumon, and gained success. He later adopted the persona of Milano Collection A.T. Akihito Terui (born August 27, 1976), also known as Milano Collection A.T.,...
and Makai Rey Cobra #3; he also wrestled in a brief "bonus track" match later in the night, winning a 14-man tag team match along with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tanaka, Jado, Gedo, Pegasus Kid and Gran Naniwa
Gran Naniwa
was a Japanese professional wrestler. Naniwa was known for his comedic gimmick, in which he performed mannerisms of crabs. This was also reflected upon in the design of his wrestling mask.-Career:...
against Toru Yano, Milano, and five members of the Makai Club. Taguchi continued to participate in WRESTLE LAND through 2006 and 2007. On September 24, 2006, Taguchi made his first attempt at a major singles junior title by challenging Tiger Mask for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship and secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers. It started in 1945 and still exists today. The title was unified with the National Boxing/Wrestling Association's...
, losing in 13 minutes.
2007
At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome event on January 4, 2007, Taguchi teamed with El Samurai and All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestling
is 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 :...
's Masanobu Fuchi
Masanobu Fuchi
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling as a full-time wrestler, as well as a director. Fuchi holds the record for the longest AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship reign and has competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling longer than any wrestler on the...
to defeat Kikutaro
Mitsunobu Kikuzawa
, better known by his wrestling persona and formerly Ebessan, is a freelance Japanese professional wrestler primarily competing for Kensuke Office and Osaka Pro Wrestling...
, Nobutaka Araya and Akira Raijin, pinning Kikutaro after the Dodon. Four days later on January 7, 2007, Taguchi suffered a right eye injury in a tag team match with Tiger Mask against Jushin Liger and Milano Collection AT, forcing him out of action for two months. He had been scheduled to compete in a four-man tournament to decide the number one contender to 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....
, but was removed as a result of the injury; Taguchi returned on March 3, 2007. On March 11, 2007, Taguchi was introduced as the first member of El Samurai's new Samurai Gym faction, and was later joined by Yujiro
Yujiro Takahashi
, also known by his shortened ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former IWGP Tag Team and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with former partner Tetsuya Naitō, with whom he teamed as No...
on March 18, 2007. On April 13, 2007, Taguchi challenged Minoru for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in his first shot at the title, albeit unsuccessfully. Minoru also stole the Samurai Gym signboard after the match, carrying it as a trophy for the next several months.
Taguchi entered the 14th annual Best of the Super Juniors tournament in June 2007, having his strongest showing to date, winning five out of six group stage matches by defeating Tetsuya Naito, Koji Kanemoto, El Samurai, Dragon Gate
Dragon Gate
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion formerly known as Toryumon Japan. Most of Dragon Gate's wrestlers are graduates from Último Dragón's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion is based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers, flashy technical grappling,...
's BxB Hulk, and junior champion Minoru, finishing in first place for his block with 10 points. Taguchi lost in the semifinals however, to eventual winner Milano Collection AT. As a reward of sorts for beating Minoru in the tournament, Taguchi was granted a second shot at the Junior Heavyweight title on July 6, 2007, defeating Minoru once more to win his first singles championship, and retrieving the Samurai Gym signboard. He made his first defense of the title on September 24, 2007, defeating Tiger Mask. He defended the championship once again on October 7, 2007 at independent promotion Pro Wrestling KAGEKI's tenth anniversary show, defeating the company's founder Azteca; the following day, Taguchi again defended the title, defeating Minoru once more. On October 28, 2007, Taguchi defended the title for the third time in one month, defeating 5-time champion Koji Kanemoto in Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, Kanemoto's hometown. Taguchi lost the title in his fifth defense on December 8, 2007, falling to Wataru Inoue.
2008–present
On January 4, 2008 at Wrestle Kingdom II in Tokyo Dome, Taguchi teamed with Takashi IizukaTakayuki Iizuka
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Early years :Takayuki Iizuka made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling in November 1986, wrestling against Akira Nogami. In June 1989, Iizuka and Hiroshi Hase went to the Soviet...
, Koji Kanemoto and Tiger Mask to face the "Alliance" of Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX
Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX
Pro Wrestling Zero1 , formerly known as Pro Wrestling Zero-One and Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max, is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 2001. It was affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance from 2001 until late 2004 and again from 2011 onwards...
's Masato Tanaka
Masato Tanaka
Masato Tanaka is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling in Japan and in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the United States where he was a one-time world champion, having won the ECW World Heavyweight Championship once...
and Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Tatsuhito Takaiwa is a Zainichi-Korean professional wrestler. Takaiwa is one of the more well-traveled junior heavyweights in Japan, having wrestled for New Japan, and Zero-One, as well as making special appearances in All Japan and NOAH....
, and DRADITION's Katsushi Takemura and Yutaka Yoshie
Yutaka Yoshie
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working as a freelancer in Japan, performing for promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1...
; the Alliance won the encounter, Yoshie pinning Taguchi. Taguchi faced Wataru Inoue in a rematch for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on January 27, 2008, losing to Inoue once more. On February 1, 2008, it was announced that El Samurai would be leaving NJPW due to his contract expiring, effectively ending Samurai Gym. In March and April 2008, Taguchi represented NJPW in several interpromotional matches with the newly renamed Pro Wrestling ZERO1; on March 30, 2008 at New Dimension, Taguchi and Koji Kanemoto defeated ZERO1's Masato Tanaka and Tatsuhito Takaiwa. On the following New Japan Brave tour, Taguchi defeated Takaiwa in a singles match. He then teamed with Kanemoto and Manabu Nakanishi in three tag team matches in late April, he and Nakanishi defeating ZERO1's Takao Ōmori
Takao Omori
is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler, currently competing for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has formerly competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1.-All Japan Pro Wrestling :...
and Osamu Namiguchi, he and Kanemoto again defeating Tanaka and Takaiwa, and he and Kanemoto losing to Tanaka and Shinjiro Otani.
On April 29, 2008, Taguchi faced his former partner and generation rival, Hirooki Goto, who had since graduated to the heavyweight division. The match, which took place in Goto's hometown of Kuwana
Kuwana, Mie
is a city located in the northern end of Mie Prefecture, Japan. It is known as a major sightseeing city in the prefecture. Located at the mouth of the three rivers dividing Mie and Aichi prefectures, the city has functioned as a regional center of fishing, industry, business, and culture.As of...
, was won by Goto in just under 15 minutes. In June of that year, Taguchi once again entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, finishing in first place for his six-man block with eight points, losing only to Tatsuhito Takaiwa in a rematch of their April meeting, and defeating the man who won the Junior title from him, Wataru Inoue. Taguchi advanced to the semifinals as a result, losing to Koji Kanemoto.
On July 5, 2009, at Circuit 2009 New Japan Soul Taguchi and Prince Devitt
Fergal Devitt
Fergal Devitt is an Irish professional wrestler currently contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently in his second reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion...
defeated The Motor City Machineguns of Alex Shelley
Alex Shelley
Patrick Martin , is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Alex Shelley. He wrestles for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he currently teams with Chris Sabin as The Motor City Machine Guns. He previously gained fame on the independent circuit, working most notably for...
and Chris Sabin
Chris Sabin
Joshua Harter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Sabin. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he currently teams with Alex Shelley as The Motor City Machine Guns.After being trained by Scott D'Amore, Sabin debuted in 2000 for...
to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On January 4, 2010, at Wrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome Taguchi and Devitt successfully defended the titles against Averno and Último Guerrero
Último Guerrero
Último Guerrero is a Mexican currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where he is also part of the booking committee and former CMLL World Heavyweight Championship...
. On April 21 Taguchi and Devitt were stripped of the titles, after they had not defended them for 30 days. On May 8 the two entered a tournament in an attempt to regain the Championship, but were defeated in the finals by the team of El Samurai and Koji Kanemoto. On June 28, 2010, Taguchi, teaming up with Devitt and Hirooki Goto entered the J Sports Crown 6 Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament. Two days later the trio defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, TAJIRI
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
and KUSHIDA
Yujiro Kushida
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He currently competes in New Japan Pro Wrestling as KUSHIDA. He won the ZST Genesis Lightweight Tournament and AJPW's U-30 Tag Team Tournament in 2008 with T28-Early years:...
in the finals to win the tournament. On July 19, Taguchi and Devitt defeated Koji Kanemoto and El Samurai to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the second time as a team. On October 11 Taguchi and Devitt lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi). On January 22, 2011, Taguchi defeated Máscara Dorada
Mascara Dorada
Máscara Dorada is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado . Máscara Dorada's real name has not been officially documented, a tradition in Mexican Lucha Libre where masked wrestler's real names often are not a matter of public record...
for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship
CMLL World Welterweight Championship
The CMLL World Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The official definition of a Welterweight in Mexico is a person between and but is not strictly adhered to these days...
at a Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
and New Japan Pro Wrestling co–promoted event, titled Fantasticamania 2011
Fantasticamania 2011
Fantasticamania 2011 was the name of two professional wrestling major shows produced that took place on January 22 and January 23, 2011 in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan...
, in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. At the second Fantastica Mania 2011 show the following day, Taguchi and Devitt regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship from Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi. On April 3, Taguchi made his first defense of the CMLL World Welterweight Championship, defeating Japanese independent performer Madoka. In May 2011, Taguchi took part in New Japan's first ever tour of the United States, during which he and Devitt successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against the Strong Style Thugz (Homicide and Low Ki
Low Ki
Brandon Silvestry is an American professional wrestler. He is best known under his ring names Low Ki, Senshi in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and Kaval in World Wrestling Entertainment. He is a former one-time PWG World Champion and a former ROH Champion...
) on May 15 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors, Taguchi debuted a new finishing move, the Milano–saku Dodon's Throne, and used it to win five out of his eight round robin stage matches to finish second in his block and advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On June 10, Taguchi defeated his own tag team partner and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt to advance to the finals of the tournament, where he was defeated by Kota Ibushi. On June 18, Taguchi lost the CMLL World Welterweight Championship back to Máscara Dorada. On June 23, Taguchi, Devitt and Hirooki Goto won their second J Sports Crown 6 Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament in a row by defeating the team of Giant Bernard, Jushin Liger and Karl Anderson
Karl Anderson
Chad Allegra is an American professional wrestler better known by his stage name Karl "Machine Gun" Anderson currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently one half of the IWGP and GHC Tag Team Champions with partner Giant Bernard.-Personal life:Allegra grew up in Asheville,...
in the finals of the three day long tournament. On August 1, Taguchi unsuccessfully challenged Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. On August 14, Taguchi and Devitt successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Ibushi and Kenny Omega. On September 11, Apollo 55 defeated Taichi
Taichi Ishikari
Maki Taichiro is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Taichi Ishikari or simply Taichi, currently performing in New Japan Pro Wrestling...
and Taka Michinoku to make their seventh successful IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship defense, breaking the record for most defenses during a single reign. On October 10, Taguchi and Devitt lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards
Davey Richards
Wesley David Richards is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Davey Richards.Richards is currently under contract with Ring of Honor, where he is the current ROH World Champion, but also wrestles for several companies on the independent circuit, including Pro Wrestling...
and Rocky Romero
Rocky Romero
John R. Rivera is a Cuban American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Rocky Romero and as the fourth incarnation of Black Tiger. As Romero he was one half of the tag team The Havana Pitbulls , along with Ricky Reyes...
).
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Dodon (Chickenwing facebuster)
- Enban Chuudoku (180° frog splash)
- Milano–saku Dodon's Throne (Elevated double chickenwing dropped into a double knee gutbuster) – 2011–present
- Shika Koroshi (Back to back double underhook piledriver)
- Signature moves
- Bridging German suplex
- Front dropkick, sometimes from top rope
- Slingshot crossbody
- With Prince DevittFergal DevittFergal Devitt is an Irish professional wrestler currently contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently in his second reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion...
- Apollo 55 (Powerbomb (Taguchi) / Double knee backbreaker (Devitt) combination)
- Blackhole Vacation (Elevated double chickenwing by Taguchi dropped into a double knee gutbuster by Devitt)
- Black Sunday (Chickenwing facebuster (Taguchi) / Single underhook DDT (Devitt) combination)
Championships and accomplishments
- Consejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
- CMLL World Welterweight ChampionshipCMLL World Welterweight ChampionshipThe CMLL World Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The official definition of a Welterweight in Mexico is a person between and but is not strictly adhered to these days...
(1 time)
- 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 timeIWGP 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....
) - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipThe IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team 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 August 8, 1998 at a NJPW live event...
(4 times) – with El SamuraiOsamu Matsudais a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his stage name El Samurai.-Early years :...
(1) and Prince DevittFergal DevittFergal Devitt is an Irish professional wrestler currently contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently in his second reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion...
(3) - Young Lion Cup (2004)
- Young Lion Toukon Tournament (2004)
- J Sports Crown 6 Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament (2010, 2011) – with Prince Devitt and Hirooki GotoHirooki Gotois a Japanese professional wrestler. He has wrestled primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling since his debut.-Career:Goto attended Kokushikan University, where he took part in freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling. Upon graduating, Goto qualified to join New Japan Pro Wrestling, but left the...
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #135 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011
- Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
- Best Bout (2010) with Prince Devitt vs. Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi (NJPW, October 11)
- Toryumon Mexico
- Yamaha Cup (2005) – with Hiromi Horiguchi