Yoshihiro Tajiri
Encyclopedia
, 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.
, but after watching countless wrestling matches from Mexico
, he entered the Animal Hamaguchi Wrestling gym and soon won its test match tournament. He debuted professionally in 1994 for IWA Japan. Tajiri wrestled for IWA Japan during the early 1990s before, at the suggestion of Victor Quiñones
, departing for Mexico in the mid-1990s, and wrestling for CMLL
for several years.
In 1997, he left CMLL and joined the hardcore wrestling
promotion
Big Japan Pro Wrestling
in Tokyo
. Tajiri also made a brief appearance on WWF Monday Night Raw
in July 1997 (wrestling under the name Tajiri Yoshihiro) against Taka Michinoku, whom the WWF was pushing as its rising star in the Light Heavyweight division
at the time. He also wrestled under the single name 'Tajiri' against Brian Christopher on Raw in October of the same year, then against Taka again later in the month.
While wrestling in Mexico
in late 1998, Tajiri was spotted by Extreme Championship Wrestling
owner Paul Heyman
, who invited him to wrestle for ECW in the United States
. He debuted in December 1998, picking up a victory over Antifaz Del Norte. The match was well received by the fans in attendance at the ECW Arena, who gave many standing ovations during the match. In early 1999, Tajiri began to emulate The Great Muta
, who was one of Tajiri's wrestling heroes growing up. While in ECW, Tajiri feuded with Super Crazy
, Little Guido
, and Jerry Lynn
. He formed an alliance with Steve Corino
and Jack Victory
as well. Tajiri later formed a tag team
with Mikey Whipwreck
, known as The Unholy Alliance, and managed by The Sinister Minister. Tajiri remained loyal to ECW until the company folded in April 2001. He participated in ECW's final two shows; on January 12, where he picked up a victory over Super Crazy
, and January 13, 2001, where he lost to Super Crazy.
During his tenure with the company, Tajiri held the ECW World Television Championship
and ECW World Tag Team Championship. He defeated his rival Super Crazy for the TV title and won a one-night tournament with Mikey Whipwreck for the vacant tag titles.
. Tajiri debuted on the May 24, 2001 episode of SmackDown! as a face
and was given the gimmick of WWF Commissioner William Regal's
assistant. After Regal turned heel
by joining The Alliance, Tajiri feuded
with him throughout late-2001. In the same time period, he began an on-screen relationship with Torrie Wilson
and defeated Chris Kanyon
for the WCW United States Championship
. He lost the belt to Rhyno
soon afterwards at Unforgiven in September. He also beat X-Pac for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
on an episode of Raw is War and lost it at SummerSlam 2001
Tajiri won his first WWF Cruiserweight Championship in October 22 2001 on Raw. The title became the WWF Cruiserweight Championship when the WWF defeated The Alliance at Survivor Series 2001 on November 18 and replaced the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. WWF was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment, and the roster was divided into two "brands": Raw
and SmackDown!. Tajiri, along with Torrie Wilson, was drafted to SmackDown!, therefore making WWE Cruiserweight Championship a Smackdown exclusive title. Tajiri went on to lose the title to Billy Kidman on a episode on Smackdown! He would go on to beat Kidman at Backlash
once again and won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship again only 19 days after losing it.He turned heel by forcing Wilson to dress like a geisha
against her will and Tajiri would go on to lose the WWE Cruiserweight Championship to The Hurricane in a triple threat match between the two and Billiy Kidman. Wilson eventually abandoned him during a WWE Crusierweight Championship match against The Hurricane, she did this by stripping on top of a table during the match that caused Tajiri to be counted out and later joined forces with Tajiri's rival, Maven
.
Later on, as a special guest referee, Tajiri would begin his second face run after being betrayed by a heel Jamie Noble
after Noble caught Tajiri touching his girlfriend, Nidia
.
Five days prior to Judgment Day, Chavo tore his biceps, forcing Eddie Guerrero
to look for another partner. He chose Tajiri. They won the WE Tag Team Championship, Guerrero's second and Tajiri's first at Judgment Day by defeating Team Angle in a ladder match. The following week, Guerrero and Tajiri managed to retain their title by cheating. In addition, they also defeated Roddy Piper
and his protegè Sean O'Haire
in Madison Square Garden. After Guerrero and Tajiri lost the titles to Team Angle on the July 3 edition of SmackDown!, Guerrero turned on Tajiri, slamming him through the windshield of his low-rider truck. The next Smackdown! Guerrero said he did it because during the match Tajiri had accidentally hit his low-rider.
He turned heel by spitting black mist in Nidia's eyes and "blinding" her (Nidia and Noble were both faces by this time.) Noble and Tajiri started a new feud, which quickly ended after Noble betrayed his blind girlfriend and turned heel again. Tajiri continued his heel run by spitting green mist in the eyes of Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio, after unsuccessfully challenging him for the title.He formed a short-lived stable with Akio
and Sakoda
known as "Kyo Dai". Kyo Dai was originally planned to have been portrayed as a group of Japanese gangsters by WWE writers, but Tajiri refused this proposal, fearing it might anger the real Japanese Yakuza
if they saw the gimmick as an insult. Tajiri would eventually beat Rey Mysterio for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship only to lose it to him again 98 days later.
In December 2003, Tajiri released his autobiography, Tajiri: The Japanese Buzzsaw, in Japan. The book chronicles his wrestling career, from the Mexican and Japanese circuits to ECW and WWF/WWE. Written entirely in Japanese, it was the first book published by WWE in a non-English language.
In 2004 he had two chances to earn a WWE Title Shot
. The first chance was in the 2004 Royal Rumble
, where the winner would get a championship match at WrestleMania XX
, but was eliminated by Rhyno. His second chance was in a battle royal on Smackdown!, in which the winner would face then-champion Brock Lesnar
at the No Way Out
pay-per-view. However, he lost once again after he was eliminated by the Big Show
.
Following WrestleMania XX, Tajiri was drafted to Raw, where he turned face once again and feuded with the group of Eric Bischoff
, Jonathan Coachman
, and Lance Cade
. He would later feud with the Evolution
stable for a good portion of 2004. Also that year, he formed a tag team with Rhyno
. This team dissolved quietly after a failed attempt at winning the Tag Team Championship from La Résistance at Unforgiven
. On February 4, 2005, in Saitama Super Arena
), Tajiri teamed with William Regal to defeat La Résistance for the World Tag Team Championship on an episode of Raw emanating from Japan. After several defenses against La Resistance (among others), their reign ended on May 1 at Backlash
, when they were eliminated from a tag team turmoil match by La Résistance.
Tajiri lost a 3-Way Dance (that also featured Little Guido) to Super Crazy at ECW One Night Stand 2005
on June 12. Later that year, he formed a short-lived team with Eugene
. In December 2005, Tajiri left WWE, stating he wanted to try to become a journalist and spend more time with his wife and family in Japan. His final televised WWE match was a loss to Gregory Helms
on Heat
. After the match, he received a standing ovation as a farewell. Tajiri returned for a one-night appearance at WWE's ECW One Night Stand 2006
pay-per-view, teaming with Super Crazy to take on the Full Blooded Italians
(F.B.I.) in a losing effort.
On February 12, 2008, Tajiri made an appearance at a WWE house show in Tokyo, where he accompanied William Regal
to the ring for a match against Ric Flair
, which Regal lost. Tajiri also appeared at the WWE WrestleMania
Revenge Tours shows in England
.
In a 2011 interview, Tajiri was asked if he would ever think about returning to the WWE. Tajiri responded by saying, "It's a possibility, It's like a fire building up inside me and, as far as returning to the WWE, it's definitely on my mind."
TAJIRI participated in Dradition Pro Wrestling's Dragon Cup in 2007, he beat Hiro Saito
to advance to the semi finals where he was eliminated by Tatsumi Fujinami
. TAJIRI along with KUSHIDA entered Osaka Tag Festival 2008 and reached the semi final of the tournament but were knocked out by Daisuke Harada
and Zeus. In 2007 at Toryumon Mexico he entered the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament and was eliminated in the first round after the match with Ultimo Dragon ended in a double DQ. In 2008 he made his first and only appearance for Inoki Genome Federation
and was beaten by Booker T. From 2009 to 2010 he competed for FREEDOMS for a few matches. TAJIRI made three appearances for different Canadian promotions in 2010
Tajiri has been a title contender in All Japan Pro Wrestling
throughout 2007, including a feud with AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Minoru Suzuki
. This feud started on March 30, 2007 at the final Champion Carnival 2007 event, following Tajiri's defeat over Suzuki via countout; Tajiri tied Suzuki's foot to the guard rail, and stole the Triple Crown championship belts following the match. Because of Tajiri's refusal to return the titles, Suzuki created paper belts to temporarily represent his championship. Tajiri opposed Suzuki again on April 22, 2007 in a tag team match, in which Tajiri taunted Suzuki repeatedly throughout the match. At the conclusion of the match, Suzuki (after losing the match because of the Tarantula) chased Tajiri around the Korakuen Hall, only for Tajiri to jump the guard rail and steal the paper belts. Days later, Tajiri returned the titles in exchange for a title match on April 30, 2007, where he was unsuccessful. Tajiri also teamed with The Great Muta
to defeat Kohei Suwama
and Scott Steiner
.
During the summer of 2009, TAJIRI invaded New Japan Pro Wrestling
, where he started a feud with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi
, by attacking and green misting him after his title defense against Takashi Sugiura
. On August 13 TAJIRI pinned the IWGP Heavyweight Champion in a non-title match during the G1 Climax
tournament, after using the green mist. Hustle folded in October 2009, after which TAJIRI began wrestling for NJPW full time. He would score two more pinfall victories over the now former IWGP Heavyweight Champion in multiple man tag team matches, but in the end lost the feud, when Tanahashi pinned him cleanly in a singles match on December 5. Afterwards, TAJIRI set his sights on the Blue Justice Army, led by Yuji Nagata
. On January 4, 2010, at Wrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome TAJIRI teamed up with fellow ECW alumnus Masato Tanaka
and together they defeated the Blue Justice Army of Nagata and Akebono
, when TAJIRI pinned Nagata after the green mist and a Buzzsaw kick. On February 14 Nagata defeated TAJIRI in a singles match in under five minutes to seemingly end the feud.
and Monster K
, who aim to destroy the sport). However, he was hypnotised by Yinling
into joining the Monster Army. In 2006 TAJIRI took Yujiro Kushida
under his wing and trained him while at Hustle and participated in multiple tag team matchs and tag team tournaments, they also had several matchs against one another. He also participated in HUSTLE GP, Hustles only tournament, but was knocked out of the tournaments first round by Wataru Sakata
. On his last appearance for Hustle TAJIRI defeated Muscle Sakai in a two out of three falls match which TAJIRI won two to one.
Tajiri was then placed in charge of SMASH
, a new promotion taking the place of Hustle. The promotion held its first show on March 26, 2010. On June 19 TAJIRI returned to New Japan, turning face and saving former rival Hiroshi Tanahashi from Toru Yano
and Takashi Iizuka
and helping Tanahashi shave Yano's head following their Hair vs. Hair match. On June 28 TAJIRI, Tanahashi and KUSHIDA entered the J Sports Crown 6 Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament, where they made it all the way to the finals on June 30, before being defeated by Prince Devitt
, Ryusuke Taguchi
and Hirooki Goto
. In October and November 2010, TAJIRI teamed with Tanahashi in New Japan's 2010 G1 Climax Tag League. After a strong start in the tournament, TAJIRI and Tanahashi were defeated by the IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson
) on November 6, the last day of group stages, and slipped to third place in their block, narrowly missing the semifinals of the tournament.
During 2010, TAJIRI, along with other SMASH talent made crossover appearances in Finnish
promotion Fight Club Finland (FCF). At SMASH.3 on May 29, 2010, TAJIRI defeated Valentine to win the FCF Finnish Heavyweight Championship for the first time. He would drop the title to StarBuck
on July 24 at SMASH.6, before regaining it from him on November 22, 2010, at SMASH.10. He would lose the title to Michael Kovac on January 29, 2011, at SMASH.13. On September 8 at SMASH.21, TAJIRI beat AKIRA
in the semifinals of the SMASH Championship
tournament. On October 28, TAJIRI was defeated in the finals of the tournament by StarBuck.
1Title reign not recognized by CMLL
2Won during the Invasion storyline.
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...
, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
and World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. He is currently competing in SMASH
Smash (professional wrestling)
Smash is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in December 2009 following the folding of Hustle. In the fall of 2009 Hustle ran into financial problems that led to several show cancellations. After a planned restructuring and restarting of the promotion failed, a number of officials...
as TAJIRI.
Early years (1994–1998)
Tajiri had originally wanted to become a kickboxer and trained in kickboxingKickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, but after watching countless wrestling matches from Mexico
Mexico
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...
, he entered the Animal Hamaguchi Wrestling gym and soon won its test match tournament. He debuted professionally in 1994 for IWA Japan. Tajiri wrestled for IWA Japan during the early 1990s before, at the suggestion of Victor Quiñones
Victor Quiñones
Victor Quiñones was a Puerto Rican professional wrestling promoter, the founder and owner of International Wrestling Association. Quiñones was primarily a manager for The Headhunters and Mr...
, departing for Mexico in the mid-1990s, and wrestling for CMLL
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...
for several years.
In 1997, he left CMLL and joined the hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
Big Japan Pro Wrestling
Big Japan Pro Wrestling
Big Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch style contests.-History:...
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...
. Tajiri also made a brief appearance on WWF Monday Night Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
in July 1997 (wrestling under the name Tajiri Yoshihiro) against Taka Michinoku, whom the WWF was pushing as its rising star in the Light Heavyweight division
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
The World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship. The title was challenged by light heavyweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.- History :...
at the time. He also wrestled under the single name 'Tajiri' against Brian Christopher on Raw in October of the same year, then against Taka again later in the month.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1998–2001)
Mexico
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...
in late 1998, Tajiri was spotted by Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
owner Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman is an American entertainment producer, best known for his career in professional wrestling as a promoter, manager, commentator and journalist. He is also an occasional actor in film....
, who invited him to wrestle for ECW in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He debuted in December 1998, picking up a victory over Antifaz Del Norte. The match was well received by the fans in attendance at the ECW Arena, who gave many standing ovations during the match. In early 1999, Tajiri began to emulate The Great Muta
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Taiwan...
, who was one of Tajiri's wrestling heroes growing up. While in ECW, Tajiri feuded with Super Crazy
Super Crazy
Francisco Islas Rueda is a Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador, best known by his ring name Super Crazy. Islas is most known for his three year run in the original ECW...
, Little Guido
James Maritato
James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...
, and Jerry Lynn
Jerry Lynn
Jeremy "Jerry" Lynn is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
. He formed an alliance with Steve Corino
Steve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
and Jack Victory
Jack Victory
Kenneth "Ken" Rinehurst is an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, Jack Victory. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1998 and 2001.-Career:Rinehurst debuted in 1985 in the Universal Wrestling Federation...
as well. Tajiri later formed a 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...
with Mikey Whipwreck
Mikey Whipwreck
John Watson , better known by his ring name Mikey Whipwreck, is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling where he became the third ECW Triple Crown Champion....
, known as The Unholy Alliance, and managed by The Sinister Minister. Tajiri remained loyal to ECW until the company folded in April 2001. He participated in ECW's final two shows; on January 12, where he picked up a victory over Super Crazy
Super Crazy
Francisco Islas Rueda is a Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador, best known by his ring name Super Crazy. Islas is most known for his three year run in the original ECW...
, and January 13, 2001, where he lost to Super Crazy.
During his tenure with the company, Tajiri held the ECW World Television Championship
ECW World Television Championship
The ECW World Television Championship was a professional wrestling television championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling . It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992 but was established under ECW in 1994...
and ECW World Tag Team Championship. He defeated his rival Super Crazy for the TV title and won a one-night tournament with Mikey Whipwreck for the vacant tag titles.
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2001–2005)
Soon after the closure of ECW, Tajiri was hired by the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. Tajiri debuted on the May 24, 2001 episode of SmackDown! as a face
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
and was given the gimmick of WWF Commissioner William Regal's
Darren Matthews
Darren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
assistant. After Regal turned heel
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...
by joining The Alliance, Tajiri feuded
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with him throughout late-2001. In the same time period, he began an on-screen relationship with Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson
Torrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness...
and defeated Chris Kanyon
Chris Kanyon
Christopher Klucsarits was an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, under the ring names Chris Kanyon and Mortis.-Early career:After college, he began training under Pete McKay Gonzalez, Ismael Gerena and Bobby...
for the WCW United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
. He lost the belt to Rhyno
Terry Gerin
Terrance "Terry" Gerin is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by the ring name Rhino . He is best known for his career in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
soon afterwards at Unforgiven in September. He also beat X-Pac for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
The World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship. The title was challenged by light heavyweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.- History :...
on an episode of Raw is War and lost it at SummerSlam 2001
Tajiri won his first WWF Cruiserweight Championship in October 22 2001 on Raw. The title became the WWF Cruiserweight Championship when the WWF defeated The Alliance at Survivor Series 2001 on November 18 and replaced the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. WWF was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment, and the roster was divided into two "brands": Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
and SmackDown!. Tajiri, along with Torrie Wilson, was drafted to SmackDown!, therefore making WWE Cruiserweight Championship a Smackdown exclusive title. Tajiri went on to lose the title to Billy Kidman on a episode on Smackdown! He would go on to beat Kidman at Backlash
Backlash
A "backlash" is a popular negative reaction to something which has gained popularity, prominence, or influence. Although it can sometimes represent a categorical rejection of the idea, aesthetic, product, or fad in question, it is usually a reflection of a collective resentment of that thing's...
once again and won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship again only 19 days after losing it.He turned heel by forcing Wilson to dress like a geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
against her will and Tajiri would go on to lose the WWE Cruiserweight Championship to The Hurricane in a triple threat match between the two and Billiy Kidman. Wilson eventually abandoned him during a WWE Crusierweight Championship match against The Hurricane, she did this by stripping on top of a table during the match that caused Tajiri to be counted out and later joined forces with Tajiri's rival, Maven
Maven Huffman
Maven Klint Huffman is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between October 2001 and July 5, 2005 under the name Maven. In 2008 he became a guest expert on the Home Shopping Network.-Early life:Maven was born to an African-American...
.
Later on, as a special guest referee, Tajiri would begin his second face run after being betrayed by a heel Jamie Noble
Jamie Noble
James Howard Gibson better known by his WWE ring name Jamie Noble, is an American former professional wrestler currently working for WWE as a trainer. He is best known for his work from 2002 to 2009 when a severe back injury forced him to retire from competition...
after Noble caught Tajiri touching his girlfriend, Nidia
Nidia Guenard
Nidia Guenard better known simply Nidia is a former professional wrestler who worked for World Wrestling Entertainment...
.
Five days prior to Judgment Day, Chavo tore his biceps, forcing Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero
Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
to look for another partner. He chose Tajiri. They won the WE Tag Team Championship, Guerrero's second and Tajiri's first at Judgment Day by defeating Team Angle in a ladder match. The following week, Guerrero and Tajiri managed to retain their title by cheating. In addition, they also defeated Roddy Piper
Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs , better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler and film actor who is currently signed to WWE. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his work with WWE...
and his protegè Sean O'Haire
Sean O'Haire
Sean Christopher Haire is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sean O'Haire.-World Championship Wrestling:...
in Madison Square Garden. After Guerrero and Tajiri lost the titles to Team Angle on the July 3 edition of SmackDown!, Guerrero turned on Tajiri, slamming him through the windshield of his low-rider truck. The next Smackdown! Guerrero said he did it because during the match Tajiri had accidentally hit his low-rider.
He turned heel by spitting black mist in Nidia's eyes and "blinding" her (Nidia and Noble were both faces by this time.) Noble and Tajiri started a new feud, which quickly ended after Noble betrayed his blind girlfriend and turned heel again. Tajiri continued his heel run by spitting green mist in the eyes of Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio, after unsuccessfully challenging him for the title.He formed a short-lived stable with Akio
James Yun
James Carson Yun is an American professional wrestler and actor, best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Jimmy Wang Yang, in World Championship Wrestling as one-third of the Jung Dragons as Yang, and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and the independent circuit...
and Sakoda
Ryan Sakoda
Ryan Sakoda is a Japanese American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment and current work for Ultimate Pro Wrestling as a part-time trainer for the wrestlers, as well as working in the independents as Ryan Sakoda.-Professional wrestling...
known as "Kyo Dai". Kyo Dai was originally planned to have been portrayed as a group of Japanese gangsters by WWE writers, but Tajiri refused this proposal, fearing it might anger the real Japanese Yakuza
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
if they saw the gimmick as an insult. Tajiri would eventually beat Rey Mysterio for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship only to lose it to him again 98 days later.
In 2004 he had two chances to earn a WWE Title Shot
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
. The first chance was in the 2004 Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble (2004)
Royal Rumble was the seventeenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on January 25, 2004 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, where the winner would get a championship match at WrestleMania XX
WrestleMania XX
WrestleMania XX was the twentieth WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on March 14, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York....
, but was eliminated by Rhyno. His second chance was in a battle royal on Smackdown!, in which the winner would face then-champion Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist, actor and a former professional and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is ranked the No.5 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog...
at the No Way Out
No Way Out (2004)
No Way Out was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on February 15, 2004 at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California...
pay-per-view. However, he lost once again after he was eliminated by the Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
.
Following WrestleMania XX, Tajiri was drafted to Raw, where he turned face once again and feuded with the group of Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff is an American entrepreneur, and professional wrestling booker and on-screen personality currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, Jonathan Coachman
Jonathan Coachman
Jonathan William Coachman , also known as "The Coach", is a former professional wrestling color commentator and authority figure. He is also a former college basketball player, and football play-by-play announcer...
, and Lance Cade
Lance Cade
Lance Kurtis McNaught was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment where he performed under the ring names Garrison Cade and Lance Cade....
. He would later feud with the Evolution
Evolution (professional wrestling)
Evolution was a villainous professional wrestling stable on WWE's Raw brand between 2003 and 2005. At the height of its existence, the group consisted of Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Batista and briefly Eugene....
stable for a good portion of 2004. Also that year, he formed a tag team with Rhyno
Terry Gerin
Terrance "Terry" Gerin is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by the ring name Rhino . He is best known for his career in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
. This team dissolved quietly after a failed attempt at winning the Tag Team Championship from La Résistance at Unforgiven
Unforgiven (2004)
Unforgiven was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on September 12, 2004 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. It was the sixth annual Unforgiven event. The show's seven matches showcased prominent WWE wrestlers, who acted...
. On February 4, 2005, in Saitama Super Arena
Saitama Super Arena
is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan. Its spectator capacity is 37,000 at maximum settings.This main arena capacity is between 19,000-22,500 when events such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, ice hockey, gymnastics, boxing, mixed martial arts and...
), Tajiri teamed with William Regal to defeat La Résistance for the World Tag Team Championship on an episode of Raw emanating from Japan. After several defenses against La Resistance (among others), their reign ended on May 1 at Backlash
Backlash (2005)
Backlash was the seventh annual Backlash professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on May 1, 2005 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. The show's six matches showcased prominent WWE wrestlers, who acted out...
, when they were eliminated from a tag team turmoil match by La Résistance.
Tajiri lost a 3-Way Dance (that also featured Little Guido) to Super Crazy at ECW One Night Stand 2005
ECW One Night Stand (2005)
ECW One Night Stand was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It was held on June 12, 2005 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York. The main event was a tag team match between The Dudley Boyz and the team of Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman...
on June 12. Later that year, he formed a short-lived team with Eugene
Nick Dinsmore
Nicholas "Nick" Dinsmore , better known by his ring names Eugene and U-Gene, is an American professional wrestler...
. In December 2005, Tajiri left WWE, stating he wanted to try to become a journalist and spend more time with his wife and family in Japan. His final televised WWE match was a loss to Gregory Helms
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
on Heat
WWE HEAT
WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
. After the match, he received a standing ovation as a farewell. Tajiri returned for a one-night appearance at WWE's ECW One Night Stand 2006
ECW One Night Stand (2006)
ECW One Night Stand was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It was held on June 11, 2006 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York....
pay-per-view, teaming with Super Crazy to take on the Full Blooded Italians
Full Blooded Italians
The Full Blooded Italians is a professional wrestling stable and tag team that wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s and for World Wrestling Entertainment during the mid-2000s.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...
(F.B.I.) in a losing effort.
On February 12, 2008, Tajiri made an appearance at a WWE house show in Tokyo, where he accompanied William Regal
Darren Matthews
Darren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
to the ring for a match against Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
, which Regal lost. Tajiri also appeared at the WWE WrestleMania
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut...
Revenge Tours shows in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
In a 2011 interview, Tajiri was asked if he would ever think about returning to the WWE. Tajiri responded by saying, "It's a possibility, It's like a fire building up inside me and, as far as returning to the WWE, it's definitely on my mind."
Return to Japan (2006–present)
TAJIRI returned to Big Japan Pro Wrestling in 2006 to team up with Great Kojika to defeat Hiroyuki Kondo and Katsumasa Inoue .TAJIRI participated in Dradition Pro Wrestling's Dragon Cup in 2007, he beat Hiro Saito
Hiro Saito
Hiroyuki Saito is a professional wrestler best known by the shortened name of .-Career:Hiro debuted in 1978 in New Japan Pro Wrestling. In May 1985, he defeated The Cobra to win the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship only to lose back to him 2 months later...
to advance to the semi finals where he was eliminated by Tatsumi Fujinami
Tatsumi Fujinami
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as "The Dragon." He is the one who is credited for inventing the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex...
. TAJIRI along with KUSHIDA entered Osaka Tag Festival 2008 and reached the semi final of the tournament but were knocked out by Daisuke Harada
Daisuke Harada
is a Japanese professional wrestler, who mainly works for Osaka Pro Wrestling, where he is part of the tag team Momo no Seishun Tag with Atsushi Kotoge...
and Zeus. In 2007 at Toryumon Mexico he entered the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament and was eliminated in the first round after the match with Ultimo Dragon ended in a double DQ. In 2008 he made his first and only appearance for Inoki Genome Federation
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...
and was beaten by Booker T. From 2009 to 2010 he competed for FREEDOMS for a few matches. TAJIRI made three appearances for different Canadian promotions in 2010
Tajiri has been a title contender in All Japan Pro Wrestling
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 :...
throughout 2007, including a feud with AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Minoru Suzuki
Minoru Suzuki
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Suzuki was the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world. During the 1990s he was known as one of the best fighters in the Pancrase promotion and was the second King of Pancrase world champion...
. This feud started on March 30, 2007 at the final Champion Carnival 2007 event, following Tajiri's defeat over Suzuki via countout; Tajiri tied Suzuki's foot to the guard rail, and stole the Triple Crown championship belts following the match. Because of Tajiri's refusal to return the titles, Suzuki created paper belts to temporarily represent his championship. Tajiri opposed Suzuki again on April 22, 2007 in a tag team match, in which Tajiri taunted Suzuki repeatedly throughout the match. At the conclusion of the match, Suzuki (after losing the match because of the Tarantula) chased Tajiri around the Korakuen Hall, only for Tajiri to jump the guard rail and steal the paper belts. Days later, Tajiri returned the titles in exchange for a title match on April 30, 2007, where he was unsuccessful. Tajiri also teamed with The Great Muta
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Taiwan...
to defeat Kohei Suwama
Kohei Suwama
is a Japanese professional wrestler also known simply as . He is best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling as part of the Voodoo Murders stable, where he is a former two-time All Japan Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion....
and Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner
Scott Carl Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Scott Steiner. Steiner is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling alongside his older brother Rick as the Steiner Brothers and as a member of the New World Order...
.
During the summer of 2009, TAJIRI invaded 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...
, where he started a feud with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion 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:...
, by attacking and green misting him after his title defense against Takashi Sugiura
Takashi Sugiura
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Sugiura, an accomplished amateur wrestler, joined NOAH's dojo in 2000, making his professional debut on December 23, 2000, and thus becoming the first wrestler to make his pro wrestling debut in NOAH. He has also...
. On August 13 TAJIRI pinned the IWGP Heavyweight Champion in a non-title match during the G1 Climax
G1 Climax
The G1 Climax professional wrestling tournament is a weeklong event held each August by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. The G1 draws standing room only crowds each night, record receipt gates and generates front-page coverage on the sports sections of several of the daily newspapers in Tokyo...
tournament, after using the green mist. Hustle folded in October 2009, after which TAJIRI began wrestling for NJPW full time. He would score two more pinfall victories over the now former IWGP Heavyweight Champion in multiple man tag team matches, but in the end lost the feud, when Tanahashi pinned him cleanly in a singles match on December 5. Afterwards, TAJIRI set his sights on the Blue Justice Army, led by Yuji Nagata
Yuji Nagata
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He was known for his perennial tweener status, currently a solid fan favorite, and his stiff, shoot style wrestling technique....
. On January 4, 2010, at Wrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome TAJIRI teamed up with fellow ECW alumnus 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 together they defeated the Blue Justice Army of Nagata and Akebono
Akebono Taro
is a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990...
, when TAJIRI pinned Nagata after the green mist and a Buzzsaw kick. On February 14 Nagata defeated TAJIRI in a singles match in under five minutes to seemingly end the feud.
Hustle and Smash (2006–present)
Since parting ways with WWE, Tajiri has resurfaced on the wrestling scene in his homeland, competing primarily for Hustle and All-Japan Pro Wrestling as TAJIRI. In the Hustle promotion, he was originally aligned with the babyface Hustle Army, a group who defends the sport of professional wrestling against the Monster Army (led by Monster GeneralGenichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
and Monster K
Toshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....
, who aim to destroy the sport). However, he was hypnotised by Yinling
Yinling
Yinling Yinling Yinling (垠凌, real name: 顔 垠凌, Hanyu pinyin: Yán Yínlíng, or in Japanese, (born February 15, 1978) is a Japan-based Taiwanese swimsuit model, race queen, singer and former wrestler. She is called also "Yinling of Joytoy (インリン・オブ・ジョイトイ)," when she appears on television.-Early...
into joining the Monster Army. In 2006 TAJIRI took Yujiro 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:...
under his wing and trained him while at Hustle and participated in multiple tag team matchs and tag team tournaments, they also had several matchs against one another. He also participated in HUSTLE GP, Hustles only tournament, but was knocked out of the tournaments first round by 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...
. On his last appearance for Hustle TAJIRI defeated Muscle Sakai in a two out of three falls match which TAJIRI won two to one.
Tajiri was then placed in charge of SMASH
Smash (professional wrestling)
Smash is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in December 2009 following the folding of Hustle. In the fall of 2009 Hustle ran into financial problems that led to several show cancellations. After a planned restructuring and restarting of the promotion failed, a number of officials...
, a new promotion taking the place of Hustle. The promotion held its first show on March 26, 2010. On June 19 TAJIRI returned to New Japan, turning face and saving former rival Hiroshi Tanahashi from 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 :...
and Takashi Iizuka
Takayuki 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...
and helping Tanahashi shave Yano's head following their Hair vs. Hair match. On June 28 TAJIRI, Tanahashi and KUSHIDA entered the J Sports Crown 6 Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament, where they made it all the way to the finals on June 30, before being defeated by 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...
, Ryusuke Taguchi
Ryusuke Taguchi
is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion....
and 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...
. In October and November 2010, TAJIRI teamed with Tanahashi in New Japan's 2010 G1 Climax Tag League. After a strong start in the tournament, TAJIRI and Tanahashi were defeated by the IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard 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,...
) on November 6, the last day of group stages, and slipped to third place in their block, narrowly missing the semifinals of the tournament.
During 2010, TAJIRI, along with other SMASH talent made crossover appearances in Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
promotion Fight Club Finland (FCF). At SMASH.3 on May 29, 2010, TAJIRI defeated Valentine to win the FCF Finnish Heavyweight Championship for the first time. He would drop the title to StarBuck
Michael Majalahti
Michael Majalahti is a Canadian-Finnish professional wrestler, singer and artist, better known by the stage name "The Canadian Rebel" StarBuck. His bands include , and...
on July 24 at SMASH.6, before regaining it from him on November 22, 2010, at SMASH.10. He would lose the title to Michael Kovac on January 29, 2011, at SMASH.13. On September 8 at SMASH.21, TAJIRI beat AKIRA
Akira Nogami
is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working for Yoshihiro Tajiri's Smash promotion as AKIRA.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
in the semifinals of the SMASH Championship
Smash Championship
The Smash Championship is a professional wrestling championship, owned and promoted by the Japanese promotion in Smash. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various...
tournament. On October 28, TAJIRI was defeated in the finals of the tournament by StarBuck.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- BrainbusterBrainbusterA brainbuster is a professional wrestling throw in which a wrestler puts his/her opponent in a front facelock, hooks his/her pants, and lifts him/her up as if he/she was executing a vertical suplex. The wrestler then falls onto his/her back so that the opponent lands on his/her head while remaining...
– ECWExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001... - Buzzsaw Kick (High speed roundhouse kickRoundhouse kickA roundhouse kick is a kick in which the attacker swings his leg around in a semicircular motion, striking with the front of the leg or foot. This type of kick is utilized in many different martial arts and is popular in both non-contact and full-contact martial arts competitions...
to the head of a seated, kneeling or rising opponent)
- Brainbuster
- Signature moves
- Baseball slideSlide (baseball)In baseball, a slide is when a player, acting as a baserunner, drops his body to the ground once he is very close to the base he is approaching and slides along the ground to reach the base....
to an opponent who is trapped in the Tree of woe - Bridging dragon suplex
- Bridging German suplex
- Diving double foot stomp, usually to an opponent on a table
- Flip-over DDT, as a powerbombPowerbombA 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 - Handspring back elbow
- MoonsaultMoonsaultA 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,...
, sometimes while springboarding to the outside - Multiple kickKickIn combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
variations- RoundhouseRoundhouse kickA roundhouse kick is a kick in which the attacker swings his leg around in a semicircular motion, striking with the front of the leg or foot. This type of kick is utilized in many different martial arts and is popular in both non-contact and full-contact martial arts competitions...
- Shoot
- Super
- Spinning Heel
- Roundhouse
- Octopus stretch
- Poison Mist (Asian mist)
- Tarantula (Rope hung Boston crab) – innovated
- Shining Wizard
- Baseball slide
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- CyrusDon CallisDon Callis is a Canadian former professional wrestler and manager, known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation as The Jackyl, and Extreme Championship Wrestling as color commentator Cyrus.-Early life:...
- William RegalDarren MatthewsDarren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
- The Sinister Minister
- Torrie WilsonTorrie WilsonTorrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness...
- Jack VictoryJack VictoryKenneth "Ken" Rinehurst is an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, Jack Victory. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1998 and 2001.-Career:Rinehurst debuted in 1985 in the Universal Wrestling Federation...
- AkioJames YunJames Carson Yun is an American professional wrestler and actor, best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Jimmy Wang Yang, in World Championship Wrestling as one-third of the Jung Dragons as Yang, and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and the independent circuit...
- SakodaRyan SakodaRyan Sakoda is a Japanese American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment and current work for Ultimate Pro Wrestling as a part-time trainer for the wrestlers, as well as working in the independents as Ryan Sakoda.-Professional wrestling...
- Steve CorinoSteve CorinoSteven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
- Cyrus
- NicknameNicknameA 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 Japanese Buzzsaw"
- "Hustle Buzzsaw"
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "Smack My Bitch UpSmack My Bitch Up"Smack My Bitch Up" is a song by The Prodigy, released as the band's twelfth single on 17 November 1997. It was the third and final single from the album The Fat of the Land....
" by The ProdigyThe ProdigyThe Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
(ECW) - "T.I.W." by Harry Slash & The SlashtonesHarry Slash & The SlashtonesThe Slashtones are an American musical group, formed in 1993 by New York native Harry Slash under the name "Harry & The Slashtones"...
- "Asiattacker" by Jim JohnstonJim Johnston (composer)James Alan "Jim" Johnston is an American music composer who has been working for WWE since 1985. His work is often accredited to the names Jim Johnston, James A...
(WWF/E) - "Imperial City" by Jesus Mercedes from Extreme Music Library (WWE, Hustle, NJPW)
- "Smack My Bitch Up
Championships and accomplishments
- Big Japan Pro WrestlingBig Japan Pro WrestlingBig Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch style contests.-History:...
- BJW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- BJW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Ryuji Yamakawa
- Combat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
- CZW World Heavyweight ChampionshipCZW World Heavyweight ChampionshipThe CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . It was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event.The championship is generally contested...
(1 time)
- CZW World Heavyweight Championship
- 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 Light Heavyweight ChampionshipCMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship-External links:* at Wrestling-titles.com...
(1 time)1
- CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
- Extreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
- ECW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mikey WhipwreckMikey WhipwreckJohn Watson , better known by his ring name Mikey Whipwreck, is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling where he became the third ECW Triple Crown Champion....
- ECW World Television ChampionshipECW World Television ChampionshipThe ECW World Television Championship was a professional wrestling television championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling . It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992 but was established under ECW in 1994...
(1 time)
- ECW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mikey Whipwreck
- Fight Club Finland
- FCF Finnish Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- International Wrestling AssociationInternational Wrestling AssociationThe International Wrestling Association is a wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, started in Japan in 1994 by promoter Victor Quiñones. The Hispanic division was created in 1999. The company was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance until 2001, but again became a member in 2007...
- IWA Hardcore ChampionshipIWA Hardcore ChampionshipIWA Hardcore Championship is a title contested under Hardcore Wrestling rules in the International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico. On October 4, 2008, the title was unified with the IWA Puerto Rican Heavyweight Championship.-Title history:...
(1 time)
- IWA Hardcore Championship
- 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 #23 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2002
- Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
- Special Award (2001)
- World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with William RegalDarren MatthewsDarren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
- WCW Cruiserweight ChampionshipWWE Cruiserweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Entertainment Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and was originally a World Championship Wrestling title. It was challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 215 lbs...
(1 time)2 - WCW United States ChampionshipWWE United States ChampionshipThe WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
(1 time)2 - WWE Tag Team ChampionshipWWE Tag Team ChampionshipThe WWE Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship in WWE. It was established as a second title for tag teams in WWE in 2002 to complement the original World Tag Team Championship...
(1 time) – with Eddie GuerreroEddie GuerreroEduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions... - WWF/E Cruiserweight ChampionshipWWE Cruiserweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Entertainment Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and was originally a World Championship Wrestling title. It was challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 215 lbs...
(3 times) - WWF Light Heavyweight ChampionshipWWF Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship. The title was challenged by light heavyweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.- History :...
(1 time)
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with William Regal
1Title reign not recognized by CMLL
2Won during the Invasion storyline.