Takuya Sugi
Encyclopedia
Takuya Sugi is a Japan
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 from Shizuoka. He currently wrestles as a freelancer in the Japanese independent circuit; he uses many aliases, most commonly Yoshitsune and El Blazer. He is mainly known for his high-flying abilities.

Career

He has worked for many Japanese federations: immediately after graduating in the 11th Toryumon school class term, he debuted in 2003 in Toryumon Mexico and later in Toryumon X with the gimmick of Mini CIMA (ミニCIMA), a little version of the Japanese wrestler CIMA
Nobuhiko Oshima
, better known by his ring name Cima , is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Dragon Gate and its international expansion Dragon Gate USA...

, teaming up with SUWAcito and Small Dandy Fuji
Masaki Okimoto
is a Japanese professional wrestler from Neyagawa, Japan; he's a current member of the El Dorado roster, under the alias of Jumping Kid Okimoto, of the Michinoku Pro Wrestling roster as Rasse and of the HUSTLE roster as HUSTLE Kamen Ranger Blue...

, forming the Mini CMAX stable.
In 2004 he joined Michinoku Pro Wrestling
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...

, originally as Michinoku Ranger Gold during the Michinoku Pro Futuritabi Tag Team Tournament 2004, later changing his name and gimmick to Shanao (遮那王), gaining a major success by feuding with Kagetora.
In late 2005 Sugi changed his stage name to Yoshitsune (義経), like the famous samurai Yoshitsune Minamoto.
Yoshitsune gained a title shot for the Tohoku Jr. Heavyweight Title, losing to TAKA Michinoku, and another title match for the Tohoku Tag titles, teaming up with Rasse
Masaki Okimoto
is a Japanese professional wrestler from Neyagawa, Japan; he's a current member of the El Dorado roster, under the alias of Jumping Kid Okimoto, of the Michinoku Pro Wrestling roster as Rasse and of the HUSTLE roster as HUSTLE Kamen Ranger Blue...

, losing to Great Sasuke
Masanori Murakawa
, , is a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known by his stage name The Great Sasuke, as well as a former Iwate Prefectural Assembly legislator. He has wrestled in Japan and in the United States in various wrestling promotions...

 & Dick Togo.
Yoshitsune qualified to the 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...

 Mask League Tournament 2007 (also known as Fukumen League), where he achieved the most important victory of his career by defeating Jushin Thunder Liger in the quarter finals and was later eliminated in the semifinals by Atlantis
Atlantis (wrestler)
Atlantis is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre where he performs as a Technico . Atlantis has held a large number of professional wrestling championships over the years, both in Mexico and in Japan...

. After this strong push, he finally captured the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship
Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship
The Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship contested in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, where it is the primary singles title, and is strictly for junior heavyweights...

, on November 9, 2007, by defeating GAINA
Gaina
Gaina or Gainan is a gotra of Jats found in District Ajmer and Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. Gaina Jats are also found in Marwar region of Rajasthan. They were rulers of some republics in Didwana area in Nagaur. Probably a group of Johiya Jats was known as Gaina...

; on January 14 he captured the Tohoku Tag Team Championship
Tohoku Tag Team Championship
The Tohoku Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested in Michinoku Pro Wrestling.The current champions are Takeshi Minamino & Maguro Ooma who defeated Kesen Numajiro & Kinya Oyanagi for the belts on November 15, 2009....

 too, teaming with Great Sasuke and defeating Rasse
Masaki Okimoto
is a Japanese professional wrestler from Neyagawa, Japan; he's a current member of the El Dorado roster, under the alias of Jumping Kid Okimoto, of the Michinoku Pro Wrestling roster as Rasse and of the HUSTLE roster as HUSTLE Kamen Ranger Blue...

 and Kagetora.
He also appeared as Yoshitsune in some shows of Big Mouth LOUD
Big Mouth Loud
Big Mouth LOUD was a professional wrestling promotion based in Japan. Big Mouth LOUD was based on the style of New Japan Pro Wrestling, but was not officially tied to New Japan...

 and several others Japanese independent promotions, including the LOCK UP NJPW brand.

He worked for Dragondoor
Dragondoor
DragonDoor, also known as d2p, was a professional wrestling federation started under Último Dragón's "Toryumon" banner, and was announced on April 27, 2005...

 as Little Dragon (リトル・ドラゴン), a character of the same lineage of Último Dragón, Dragon Kid
Dragon Kid
Dragon Kid is a Japanese professional wrestler who wrestles for Dragon Gate.-Professional wrestling career:...

 and Darkness Dragon, who wrestled in a blue outfit, but his character remained in low-carding and never won a single match, until the promotion failed.

He wrestled also in HUSTLE, where he debuted in 2004, as HUSTLE Kamen Ranger Red, leading the Kamen Rangers in their feud against the Monster Army; Kamen Rangers disappeared from HUSTLE after the show HUSTLEmania'06 and it is not currently known if their character will be used again in the future.

In 2006 Sugi joined the newborn El Dorado
El Dorado Wrestling
El Dorado was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion that was seen as the evolution of dragondoor. Most of El Dorado's wrestlers were graduates from Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion was based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers,...

, wrestling as El Blazer (エルブレイザー), a legendary bird-like creature in a blue outfit; he was proposed as one of the original characters of the promotion. He originally used an outfit with blue feathers, later abandoned because of the fact they were often lost during the matches.
Sugi wrestled as El Blazer also in GPWA
Global Professional Wrestling Alliance
The Global Professional Wrestling Alliance is a cooperative group of professional wrestling promotions and wrestlers from around the world. Formed in 2006, the group was founded by the professional wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa, the founder of Pro Wrestling Noah...

, and in the Indy Summit 2006 as one of the El Dorado
El Dorado Wrestling
El Dorado was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion that was seen as the evolution of dragondoor. Most of El Dorado's wrestlers were graduates from Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion was based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers,...

 representatives.
In February 2007, Takuya Sugi officially quit El Dorado
El Dorado Wrestling
El Dorado was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion that was seen as the evolution of dragondoor. Most of El Dorado's wrestlers were graduates from Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion was based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers,...

 as a full time roster member, thus becoming a freelancer, and he continues using the El Blazer gimmick as his main freelancing character.
Soon after becoming a freelancer, Sugi continued appearing randomly in several Japanese promotions as El Blazer, including IGF
Inoki Genome Federation
Inoki Genome Federation is a professional wrestling promotion in Japan founded by Antonio Inoki in 2007.The IGF is now also the official National Wrestling Alliance territory of Japan, since Antonio Inoki is the person who holds those rights and transferred them to IGF from New Japan Pro...

, finally joining ZERO-1 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...

 as a member of the 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...

 stable, called "Sword".

On August 20, 2006, Sugi debuted a new character, called AHII, in AJPW
All 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 :...

, the result of a cooperation between Sanrio Company Ltd.
Sanrio
is a Japanese company that designs, licenses and produces products focusing on the kawaii segment of Japanese popular culture. Their products include stationery, school supplies, gifts and accessories that are sold worldwide and at specialty brand retail stores in Japan...

 and the AJPW
All 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 :...

; on August 27 he wrestled his first match in AJPW, defeating Voodoo Mask and continued to work sporadically for the company during the next months, until February 2007, when the character was apparently dropped.
AHII is a comedy character, whose gimmick resembles Curry Man, the character interpreted by Christopher Daniels
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...

, since AHII is inspired to the Mexican "Habanero" pepper.

Starting from June 3, 2007, Sugi appears in Kensuke Office as Catfish Man (なまずマン, pronounced Namazu Man).

On July 16, 2007, Sugi debuted a new gimmick in ZERO-1 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...

 during the "Fire Festival" tour: the character, named The★ZEST, is sponsored by the homonymous Japanese pachinko
Pachinko
is a type of game originating in Japan, and used as both a form of recreational arcade game and much more frequently as a gambling device, filling a niche in gambling in Japan comparable to that of the slot machine in Western gambling. A pachinko machine resembles a vertical pinball machine, but...

 company and has already been used in 2006, but was interpreted by KAMIKAZE.

On July 24, The★ZEST captured the WWA Junior Lightweight Championship by defeating Osamu Namiguchi.
On April 6, 2008 The★ZEST would lose the title in a match vs NOIZ; curiosly NOIZ was Takuya Sugi and, for this match only, The★ZEST was someone else.

Another gimmick he used in 2007 is UWAI # 32, a robot character only used in UWAI Station.

In February 2008 he appeared in AJPW
All 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 :...

 as a one night stand character, called Rabbit Boy. Later the same year he would appear in the same company as Super Milo in a one night stand performance.

Sugi made his America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

n debut (as El Blazer) for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is a professional wrestling promotion that is run by wrestlers themselves as it was created by Southern California wrestlers Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar...

 on May 17, 2008. He teamed with KAGETORA on PWG's second annual DDT4 tournament, defeating Scott Lost and Joey Ryan in the first round, but losing to the PWG World Tag Team Champions
PWG World Tag Team Championship
The PWG World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the tag team division of the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla promotion...

 Kevin Steen and El Generico
Kevin Steen and El Generico
Kevin Steen and El Generico are a professional wrestling tag team performing on the independent circuit.-Pro Wrestling Guerrilla:On July 29, 2007, at Giant Size Annual #4, Generico and Steen defeated PAC and Roderick Strong to become the PWG World Tag Team Champions for the first time...

 in a title match in the next.

Sugi making his a debut in AAA a six man tag match in lucha libre
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...

 styles. His name was announced as Sugi. He won his debut match by being a rudo
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...

 and starting a feud with Extreme Tiger
Extreme Tiger
Extreme Tiger is a Mexican professional wrestler currently competing in Asistencia Asesoría y Administración , where he is currently the 2011 Rey de Reyes.-Professional wrestling career:...

 right a way by pinning him in the match. This could lead to a future AAA Cruiserweight Championship
AAA Cruiserweight Championship
The AAA World Cruiserweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the Mexican lucha libre promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración . The championship cannot be competed for by anyone who is over the Cruiserweight division weight limit of and below...

 shot for Sugi.

Sugi Is Currently in Pro Wrestling NOAH
Pro Wrestling NOAH
is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...


In wrestling

  • Finishing moves
  • As Yoshitsune
  • Koromogawa (Twisting crucifix pin)
  • Shura (Shooting star senton) – innovated; used as a finisher for high profile matches only
  • 450° splash
  • Shooting star press
  • Yoshitsune Tornado (Slingshot split–legged corkscrew moonsault)

  • As El Blazer
  • Blaze Press (Running shooting star press, sometimes preceded by a jumping onto the back of an opponent on their hands and knees)
  • Blazing–Rana (Springboard dragonrana pin)
  • El Phantom (Springboard small package)
  • Lightning Strike (Imploding 450° splash)

  • As Sugi San / SUGI
  • 450° splash
  • Corkscrew dragonrana pin
  • Shooting star press
  • Springboard dragonrana pin

  • As The★ZEST
  • Hot Passion Soul (Corkscrew 450° splash, sometimes while leaping from the shoulders of a tag team partner)
  • Springboard corkscrew moonsault

  • As Catfish Man
  • Firecatfish Press (450° splash)
  • Leg trap sunset flip powerbomb
  • Shooting star press

  • As NOIZ
  • Miracle Rocket G5 (Moonsault
    Moonsault
    A moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...

     over–rotated into a senton)

  • As HUSTLE Kamen Ranger Red
  • Red Flame of Justice (Corkscrew 450° splash)
  • Red Shooting Star of Justice (Shooting star press)
  • Hustling–Rana (Hurricanrana pin)

  • As AHII
  • Sky High Rana (Springboard hurricanrana pin)
  • Shooting star press
  • Springboard corkscrew moonsault

  • As Little Dragon
  • Dragon Cyclone Press (Imploding 450° splash)
  • Ultra Dragonrana (Corkscrew dragonrana pin)

  • As Shanao
  • Corkscrew moonsault
  • Corkscrew imploding somersault leg drop
  • Kuramahachiryuu (Corkscrew shooting star press) – used as a finisher for high profile matches only
  • Shanao–Rana (Springboard hurricanrana pin)
  • Shooting star press

  • As Michinoku Ranger Gold
  • Golden–Rana (Electric chair sunset flip powerbomb pin)
  • Split–legged springboard leg drop

  • As Mini CIMA
  • Triangle Jump Mad Splash (Double springboard frog splash)

  • Signature moves
  • 741 (Over the top rope tiger feint kick)
  • Cartwheel
    Cartwheel (gymnastics)
    In gymnastics, a cartwheel is a sideways rotary movement performed by bringing the hands to the ground while the body inverts and the legs travel over the body, coming down to a standing position.-Terminology:...

     into an over the top rope moonsault
    Moonsault
    A moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...

     plancha
  • Cyclone Elbow (Springboard moonsault transitioned into a back elbow smash)
  • Fake Dive (Sugi runs towards the ropes, faking a suicide dive, then performs a no–handed handspring)
  • Gojoh Oohashi (Diving no–handed cartwheel evasion
    Aerial cartwheel
    An aerial cartwheel is an acrobatic move in which a cartwheel is executed without touching hands to the floor. During execution of a standard cartwheel, the performer's body is supported by the hands while transitioning through the inverted orientation, whereas an aerial cartwheel performer is...

     followed by a superkick or a 741, as a counter to an attacking opponent)
  • Hurricanrana pin, sometimes as a powerbomb
    Powerbomb
    A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...

     counter
  • Iconoclasm
  • Multiple revolution headscissors twisted into either a headscissors takedown or an implant DDT
  • Reverse frankensteiner
  • Ropewalk springboard dropkick
  • Springboard diving elbow drop

  • Nickname
    Nickname
    A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....

    s
  • "The Blue Legend" (as El Blazer)
  • "The Legend of Eternity" (as El Blazer)
  • "HUSTLE Justice" (as Kamen HUSTLE Ranger Red)
  • "HUSTLE Emissary from the Stars" (as Kamen Ranger Red)
  • "The Mardi Gras Ninja" (as Yoshitsune)
  • "The Legend of Hiraizumi" (as Yoshitsune)

Championships and accomplishments

  • Michinoku Pro Wrestling
    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...

  • Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship
    Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship
    The Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship contested in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, where it is the primary singles title, and is strictly for junior heavyweights...

     (1 time)
  • Tohoku Tag Team Championship
    Tohoku Tag Team Championship
    The Tohoku Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested in Michinoku Pro Wrestling.The current champions are Takeshi Minamino & Maguro Ooma who defeated Kesen Numajiro & Kinya Oyanagi for the belts on November 15, 2009....

     (1 time) – with Great Sasuke
  • Futaritabi Tag Team League (2005) – with KAGETORA
    Fumiyuki Hashimoto
    , known by his stage name Kagetora , is a Japanese professional wrestler who works for Dragon Gate. He wrestles in independent wrestling leagues all around Japan and has wrestled in the United States for Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla...


  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    Pro 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 #355 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500
    Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    Pro 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...

     in 2007

  • Pro Wrestling ZERO-1
  • WWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (Disputed Branch)
    WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship
    The WWA World Light Heavyweight Championship is a singles professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling based promotion World Wrestling Association since 1989. In the 1990s the title was taken to Japan when reigning champion Gran Hamada returned to his home...

     (2 times, current)

  • Toryumon X
  • Yamaha Cup Tag Tournament (2004) – with SUWAcito
    Fumiyuki Hashimoto
    , known by his stage name Kagetora , is a Japanese professional wrestler who works for Dragon Gate. He wrestles in independent wrestling leagues all around Japan and has wrestled in the United States for Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla...


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK