(AJPW) 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.

History

The Giant Baba Era (1972-1999)

The promotion was founded by Shohei "Giant" Baba and the Momota brothers, the sons of Rikidōzan. Baba, a former professional baseball pitcher, joined the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) in 1960. In October 1972, he left the JWA and formed his own group, All Japan. Their first card was on October 21, 1972 at Machida City Gym in Tokyo, Japan. Baba established the Pacific Wrestling Federation (PWF) as the governing body for all future titles in All Japan. In the beginning the PWF recognized a world heavyweight championship and several "regional championships" given as billing to foreign stars depending from which region they came from, but after All Japan joined the National Wrestling Alliance, the PWF world title was downgraded to a regional championship. The first PWF Chairman, who presented the belts to the winners in title bouts, was Lord James Blears. As a loyal member of the NWA, All Japan enjoyed the ability to bring in foreigners, and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was frequently defended.

When the NWA collapsed in the late 1980s, Baba distanced himself from other promoters at home and abroad, and began a system of promoting talent (both Japanese and foreign) who competed exclusively for his promotion. With the unification of the titles in All Japan into the Triple Crown and the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship, as well as the promotion of talent including Jumbo Tsuruta, Genichiro Tenryu, Akira Taue, Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi, the promotion was able to carve a loyal fanbase that lasted during the 1990s. Interpromotional matches were rare, and wrestlers who arrived from other promotions (such as Hiroshi Hase, Shigeo Okumura and Yoshihiro Takayama) were not given pushes.

Massive exodus (1999-2000)

With the death of Shohei "Giant" Baba on January 31, 1999, top star Mitsuharu Misawa immediately inherited the position of company president. On May 28, 2000, Misawa was removed from his position by a majority vote of the executive board. At a regular All Japan board meeting on June 13, 2000, Misawa, Mitsuo Momota (co-vice president, member of directory), Kenta Kobashi (member of directory), Akira Taue (member of directory, chairman), Kenichi Oyagi (member of directory) and Yoshihiro Momota (member of directory) resigned from their board positions. A day later, Motoko Baba released a two-page written statement, which claimed that Misawa "took no responsibility and abandoned his duty." In addition, she hinted that Toshiaki Kawada and Masanobu Fuchi would be the only two native wrestlers to stay with All Japan, as "Kawada and Fuchi have sworn to carry out Baba-san's last wish: to keep All Japan Pro Wrestling alive"; this was confirmed a day later when Kawada and Fuchi both renewed their contracts with All Japan, along with referee Kyohei Wada.

On June 16, 2000, 24 out of the 26 contracted native wrestlers for All Japan were led by Misawa for a press conference, where it was announced that they would be leaving the promotion; more than 100 reporters and photographers attended, and Misawa expressed his wish for the promotion to debut in August, with the Differ Ariake being the site of the unnamed promotion's debut. When asked what his reason for leaving All Japan is, Misawa claimed that it was so he could do things in a "modern style." A day later, Misawa announced the promotion's name: Pro Wrestling Noah, which was inspired by the Biblical story where Noah built an ark and put two of every kind of animal in the world in the ark before God destroyed the world.

On June 19, 2000, it was confirmed (at a press conference at All-Japan's dojo held by Toshiaki Kawada and Masanobu Fuchi) that NTV has decided to discontinue broadcasting All Japan after 27 years. However, NTV maintained their 15% stock in All Japan (as Motoko Baba held the remaining 85%), and would prevent All Japan from being put on another network. On June 20, twelve All Japan office employees resigned from their positions with the promotion, with intentions to follow Misawa to Noah. NTV also announced that they will carry weekly tapings of Misawa's Noah promotion, with the title of the program being called "Colosseo." Noah took All Japan's 30-minute timeslot on Sundays at midnight. Misawa was interviewed in Tokyo on June 21, where he announced that he and the other wrestlers leaving to form Noah would compete on four of the sixteen shows in All Japan's Summer Action Series 2000 tour, which began on July 1. NTV also aired the final All Japan TV show on the network, which aired for 45 minutes and featured footage from Jumbo Tsuruta's funeral, the Noah wrestlers' press conference from June 16, Kawada's press conference from June 19, highlights of the first ever Kawada vs. Misawa Triple Crown match from October 21, 1992 and Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue vs. Yoshihiro Takayama and Takao Ōmori for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship from All Japan's Nippon Budokan show from June 9.

On June 28, 2000, Misawa formally announced at a press conference that Pro Wrestling Noah will debut with two consecutive shows (titled "Departure") in Differ Ariake on August 5 and 6 in Tokyo. On July 2 in the Korakuen Hall, Motoko Baba announced the unfathomable return (as Baba publicly swore that he would never be allowed back in All Japan, following a departure in 1990 to form the Super World of Sports) of Genichiro Tenryu, as he would team with Kawada to face Maunnakea Mossman and Stan Hansen on July 23 (at the final tour show). On July 20, 2000, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Takeshi Morishima, Naomichi Marufuji, Kentaro Shiga, Takeshi Rikio, Mitsuo Momota, Rusher Kimura, Haruka Eigen, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Kenta Kobayashi, Takao Ōmori, Yoshihiro Takayama, Jun Izumida, Masao Inoue, Yoshinari Ogawa, Akira Taue, Jun Akiyama and Mitsuharu Misawa competed in their last matches for All Japan Pro Wrestling at the sold-out Hakata Star Lane in Fukuoka. After the show, "Dr. Death" Steve Williams came out and shook Misawa's hand, and requested one last singles match between the two. However, Misawa returned to the bus immediately after his match, not staying for the last two matches of the show. Every one of All Japan's titles were vacated due to the departure of the aforementioned wrestlers and title holders. Mrs. Baba appointed Hansen as the new Chairman of All Japan's Pacific Wrestling Federation title governing body, replacing Lord James Blears.

All Japan vs. New Japan (2000-2002)

On August 10, 2000, All Japan mainstay Masanobu Fuchi walked into the New Japan Pro Wrestling ring and declared that his intention was to "break down the walls" between All Japan and New Japan. In response, New Japan foreman Riki Chōshū rushed into the ring and exchanged a firm handshake with Fuchi, signaling the beginning of the cross-promotional alliance. On September 16, 2000, Toshiaki Kawada followed Fuchi's path and vowed to crush New Japan ace Kensuke Sasaki, as he defeated Sasaki in the Tokyo Dome on October 9, 2000; the event sold out the building. In 2001, Keiji Mutoh and Shinjiro Otani created the interpromotional stable BATT (Bad Ass Translate Trading), which included All Japan's Taiyō Kea, Michinoku Pro's Jinsei Shinzaki and Hiroshi Hase. During this time, Mutoh challenged and defeated Tenryu for All Japan's Triple Crown Championship, as well as capturing All Japan's Double Cup Tag Title with Taiyō Kea. The alliance between the promotions lasted until January 11, 2002.

Pro Wrestling Love Era (2002-present)

On January 11, 2002, following the end of a year long cross-promotional angle with New Japan Pro Wrestling, Keiji Mutoh shocked the Japanese wrestling world by defecting to All-Japan as a full-time competitor, taking Satoshi Kojima and Kendo Kashin with him. On September 30, 2002, during an All Japan 30th Anniversary party at the famed Tokyo City Hotel, Mrs. Baba officially announced Mutoh's appointment as the new president of All Japan, transferring all of the Baba family stock to him. Mutoh has upheld some traditional aspects of the Baba-run All Japan, as the Champion's Carnival and Real World Tag League are still held annually.

Some interpromotional activities that would not have happened under Shohei Baba's watch have taken place, including the previously unfathomable IWGP Heavyweight Champion vs. AJPW Triple Crown Champion bout on a New Japan Pro Wrestling event on February 20, 2005; Satoshi Kojima (who was the AJPW Triple Crown Champion) defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which made Kojima the only wrestler to ever hold both titles simultaneously (Keiji Mutoh would later accomplish the feat in 2008. However, he would held the IWGP Championship as Keiji Mutoh, and the Triple Crown Championship as his alter-ego The Great Muta) In addition, Keiji Mutoh and Satoshi Kojima are both New Japan Pro Wrestling alumni, but have played a consistent role in the main event picture of All Japan Pro Wrestling since their arrival to the promotion. Furthermore, Keiji Mutoh competed at a Pro Wrestling Noah event on July 10, 2004, teaming with fellow AJPW wrestler Taiyō Kea to face Mitsuharu Misawa and Yoshinari Ogawa. On July 18, 2004, Mitsuharu Misawa returned to All Japan and defeated Satoshi Kojima at Battle Banquet. Misawa returned to All Japan again on October 31, 2004 for the Keiji Mutoh: Love and Bump pay-per-view event, where he (along with Keiji Mutoh) defeated Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki in what was billed as a "Special Dream Tag Match".

On July 10, 2007, Hiroshi Hase was appointed as the new Chairman of the PWF, following Hansen's voluntary resignation. Hase is the third chairman in PWF's history.

Roster and current champions

Tournaments

AJPW also holds annual tournaments to decide the top wrestler or tag team in the promotion: ;Titles previously promoted by the company include:

Titles that are now part of the AJPW Triple Crown Championship

:*NWA International Heavyweight Championship :*NWA United National Championship :*PWF World Heavyweight Championship

Titles that are now part of the AJPW Double Cup Tag Team Championship

:*NWA International Tag Team Championship :*PWF World Tag Team Championship

Others

:*NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship (replaced with AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship) :*AJPW All Asia Heavyweight Championship :*PWF United States Heavyweight Championship

References

External links

Official site in Japanese

All Japan Pro-Wrestling Title Histories

Puroresu.com summary

Puroresu Representin': All-Japan Pro Wrestling

AJPW history, stats, results, & more

Category:1972 establishments Category:All Japan Pro Wrestling

Name	Toshiaki Kawada
Names	Black MephistoHustle KKio KawadaMonster KMr. ToshiakiToshiaki Kawada
Height
Weight	Kawada was then sent to North America for a year in November 1985, where he gained experience as a pro wrestler in Fred Behrend's Texas All-Star Wrestling (San Antonio, Texas), Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling (in Calgary) and Frank Valois' International Wrestling (in Montreal); Kawada was billed as "Kio Kawada from Seoul, South Korea" in Stampede Wrestling for a very short time around June 1986. He was under adverse circumstances, and rarely has he talked about his days in American/Canadian wrestling.
Name	Kawada, Toshiaki
Date of birth	December 8, 1963
Place of birth	Shimotsuga District, Tochigi, Japan

Category:1963 births Category:Japanese professional wrestlers Category:Living people Category:People from Tochigi Prefecture

Name	René Goguen
Names	Dina SharpGedonRené BonaparteRené E. Duprée Steiner had made remarks two weeks earlier comparing France to hell and Grenier and Duprée were offended. La Résistance went on to feud with Scott Steiner and Test, who was forced to be Steiner's tag team partner by Stacy Keibler. La Résistance ended up defeating Steiner and Test at Judgment Day on May 18, 2003 in the team's pay-per-view debut.
Name	Goguen, Rene
Date of birth	1983-12-15
Place of birth	Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Acadian people Category:Canadian professional wrestlers

Category:People from Moncton Category:Sportspeople from New Brunswick Category:People from Shediac, New Brunswick

Name	Masakatsu Funaki
Caption	Funaki in 2010
Birth date	March 13, 1969
Birth place	Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Height
Weight
Weight class	Middleweight
Style	Catch wrestling
Mma win	38
Mma kowin	4
Mma subwin	33
Mma loss	12
Mma draw	1
Mma nc	1

, is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, as well as the UWF. He is currently performing at All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is one half of the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Champions, along with Keiji Mutoh. He is also the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations and non-rehearsed shoot wrestling promotions (following five years after the inception of Shooto but predating America's Ultimate Fighting Championship). Funaki was also Pancrase's biggest star; Josh Barnett described him as the "symbol of Japan", Frank Shamrock labeled Funaki "the golden boy" of Pancrase, and Guy Mezger called Funaki "hands down the smartest and most skilled fighter in Pancrase next to Ken Shamrock".

Not only the organization's co-founder, Funaki was also one of Pancrase's most successful fighters to date, scoring submission victories over numerous MMA champions such as Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Guy Mezger, Yuki Kondo, Minoru Suzuki and Bas Rutten through the course of his 50-fight career. He is the only fighter in mixed martial arts to hold wins over both Shamrock brothers and Bas Rutten, and was the first man to win the King of Pancrase title twice.

Funaki is widely considered to be one of the greatest Japanese fighters in mixed martial arts history according to Sherdog.com Sherdog.com ranked him as the #1 mixed martial artist in the world for the years 1996 and 1997, and also had him ranked as a top 4 pound for pound fighter from 1993 to 1998.

Early life

The son of a movie theater owner, Funaki was exposed to martial arts films at an early age. He idolized Bruce Lee above all others, but also eagerly devoured the films of Sammo Hung and Sonny Chiba. Though his father would ultimately abandon a young Funaki and his family, the exposure to such films left an indelible mark on him, one that would forever influence the course of his life.

Pro wrestling career

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1985-1989)

Instead of entering high school, he applied to the New Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo. He was in the same class as Puroresu legends Keiichi Yamada (better known as Jushin Liger), Shinya Hashimoto, Minoru Suzuki, and Masahiro Chono. The Canadian grappler Chris Benoit, who went on to fame in the WWE, was also a classmate of his.

The New Japan Dojo had a reputation for being particularly harsh on its trainees, both mentally and physically, with the intent of only graduating the very best of each class. However, Funaki stunned the New Japan trainers with his athleticism, timing and natural talent for submission grappling. Along with the former Olympic alternate Minoru Suzuki, Funaki formed a strong bond with the dojo's head grappling instructor, Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Funaki debuted as a Jr. Heavyweight at the tender age of 15; it was a record for the youngest debut in NJPW.

After debuting for New Japan with a time-limit draw against fellow New Japan Dojo graduate Chris Benoit, Funaki was not given much of a chance to shine, as the Jr. Heavyweight division was in a transition period. And as such, the owner, Antonio Inoki, decided to shift the focus towards his heavyweight division which dominated the cards. He did, however have many stellar matches with Naoki Sano & Keiichi Yamada (who would later become Jushin Liger) & was the first person to take the Shooting Star Press from Yamada.

When New Japan top draw Akira Maeda became so frustrated with backstage politics that he shoot kicked Riki Choshu and broke his eye socket, he was fired and left to form Newborn UWF. Funaki, seeing a opportunity to shine and showcase what he could do, wanted to follow. And Maeda negotiated the acquisition of his, along with friend Suzuki and mentor Yoshiaki Fujiwara's contracts for an undisclosed amount of money.

Newborn UWF and Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi (1989-1993)

With his flashy moves and movie star good looks, Funaki became a top draw and an excellent nemesis to Akira Maeda, and their matches had many fast paced strikes & exciting slams. When Newborn UWF folded in December 1990, Funaki decided to sign with mentor Fujiwara's new "Fujiwara Gumi" promotion.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) career

Pancrase (1993-2000)

Funaki's MMA career began when he founded Pancrase along with Minoru Suzuki. Pancrase became immensely popular and paved the way for other mixed martial arts organizations to make their way in Japan, including Pride Fighting Championships. Funaki went on to become one of the greatest fighters in Pancrase history, defeating other MMA legends such as Bas Rutten, Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Minoru Suzuki, and Guy Mezger.

Funaki is known as a master of catch wrestling. Funaki was so skilled that he often took other Pancrase fighters, including Bas Rutten, Frank Shamrock and Ken Shamrock, under his wing in order to increase his competition. Frank Shamrock said, "Funaki was like a mad scientist. He took the idea of submissions to an even higher level than the rest of the Japanese contingent. He had this insatiable desire to learn more and push his body harder. And as an entertainer he understood the need to entertain."

This realization for the need to entertain often resulted in Funaki (along Minoru Suzuki) "carrying" some of their opponents during fights. In essence, in order to entertain the crowd, Funaki and Suzuki would occasionally give their opponents opportunities to create drama before finally finishing them off. Josh Barnett said, "when you're that good, you can have a guy thinking he's doing so much better than he expected and have no idea that they're just letting you last like a cat playing with a mouse." Frank Shamrock added, "I know for a fact those guys (Funaki and Suzuki) were light years ahead of everyone else, and they were so good that they would go towards entertainment before they finished a match."

However, this did backfire on Funaki on at least one occasion. In a match against Jason DeLucia, Funaki allowed Delucia to catch him in a kneebar in order to create drama and planned on using a rope escape once Delucia had the submission locked in. Unfortunately, Funaki mistakenly allowed himself to get too far from the ropes and was forced to tap out. This concern for entertainment helped the young sport of mixed martial arts to thrive and grow in Japan. Kazushi Sakuraba would similarly play around with inferior opponents years later.

Funaki retired from Pancrase after a win over Tony Petarra in September 1999 due to accumulated injuries and, according to fellow Pancrase fighter and friend Bas Rutten, being burnt out from the hectic Pancrase schedule.

Masakatsu Funaki vs. Rickson Gracie

Despite Funaki's body being very broken down from injuries, he returned for a fight against the legendary Rickson Gracie at Colosseum 2000 held at the Tokyo Dome. The show was almost canceled due to Rickson trying to change the rules to make knees and strikes to the head illegal, but the problems were overcome and the show continued. The event was broadcasted to 30 million TV Tokyo viewers. While there was no championship title at stake, Funaki had a lot on the line in his fight against Gracie; if Funaki were to beat the legendary Rickson Gracie he would become a "godlike" figure in Japan and enjoy immense popularity and fame.

Funaki walked to the ring in samurai attire with a samurai sword which garnered a roaring excitement from the Japanese announcers and crowd. Funaki scored the first takedown of the bout and subsequently broke Rickson's orbital bone, which temporarily blinded Rickson, but he blew out his knee in a scramble and was ultimately taken down and defeated by a rear-naked choke. Funaki refused to submit to the hold, passing out before the referee intervened. After the fight, Funaki stated that he thought he was going to die from the choke.

Funaki then retired from mixed martial arts competition. He had a retirement ceremony in Pancrase in late 2000 in which many of his past mentors and training partners emotionally and tearfully embraced the legendary Funaki.

K-1 and Dream (2007-2008)

On 12/31/2007, Funaki came out of retirement to fight fellow MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba at the K-1 Dynamite event at Kyocera Dome Osaka. Although both fighters were significantly past their primes, this matchup was intriguing because it was a bout between arguably the two greatest Japanese fighters in mixed martial arts history.

After exchanging professional wrestling-inspired entrances, the submission specialists traded strikes. Funaki's arsenal of punches and kicks appeared to be quicker and more powerful, but Sakuraba was able to sneak in a double-leg take down after Funaki committed heavily to a missed right cross. On the ground, Funaki closed guard around Sakuraba before opening it up to spin for a knee-bar. For a moment, Funaki appeared to secure Sakuraba's leg only to be thwarted by a combination of Sakuraba's submission acumen and their position against the ring ropes, which blocked Funaki from rolling with the hold. Sakuraba then maneuvered to Funaki's back, only for the Pancrase founder to roll back into the guard position. Breaking away from the grappling contest, Sakuraba stood up and began to assault the still-prone Funaki's legs with a series of kicks. Funaki answered with a kick of his own, blackening Sakuraba's eye and cutting his face. Sakuraba returned himself to the ground, where Funaki immediately attempted to sweep him. However, Sakuraba blocked the attempt and secured a double wristlock, eventually forcing Funaki to submit.

Funaki signed a contract with FEG's MMA promotion, DREAM. On April 28, 2008, Funaki participated in DREAM's first ever Middle-weight Grand Prix. Funaki was matched against another legendary Japanese fighter Kiyoshi Tamura at the opening round of the DREAM.2 Middleweight Grandprix 2008 in Saitama, Japan. After a hard opening exchange between the two, Funaki was staggered by a punch and pulled guard on Tamura, from where he was pounded to an eventual TKO at 0:57 of Round 1. This was his first (T)KO stoppage loss since September 14, 1998, when he was knocked out with a body blow by Semmy Schilt. Funaki was eliminated from the Middle-weight Grand Prix.

After losing twice in a row since Funaki's comeback to the MMA ring, Funaki was determined to prove that he was still a worthy competitor of the sport and participated again in the DREAM.6 Middleweight Grandprix 2008 Final round event that took place on September 23, 2008 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Funaki was matched with one of his former Pancrase students, fan favorite "Minowaman" Ikuhisa Minowa. Prior to the bout, Funaki suggested that if this fight was going be equivalent to a ritual suicide, there was none he found more worthy than Minowa to assist him in carrying it out.

At the opening seconds of the first round of the match, Funaki came at his former charge with a series of kicks, practically forcing Minowa to catch one of the kicks. The former two-time King of Pancrase capitalized immediately, leaping directly into a heel-hook. Minowa escaped the hold, but Funaki maintained control of his leg and immediately attacked with a heel-hook from the cross-body position, forcing his protege to tap at 52 seconds of the first round.

Return to pro wrestling

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2009-present)

In August 2007, Funaki and Keiji Mutoh discussed the possibility of Funaki returning to regular professional wrestling in Mutoh's company, All Japan Pro Wrestling. On August 31, 2009, Funaki signed a one year contract with All Japan, following a tag team victory with Mutoh against Minoru Suzuki and Masahiro Chono.

On January 3, 2010, Funaki and Mutoh won the All Japan Double Cup tag team title from Suzuki and Taiyo Kea. On March 21, Funaki defeated Suzuki in a cage match at All Japan's Sumo Hall show.

Accolades

In 2006, he was elected to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. According to Sherdog.com's ratings, he was one of the top four mixed martial artists in the world from 1993 to 1998 (being the top-rated mixed martial artist in 1996) and is currently rated as the second most successful Japanese fighter of all-time behind Kazushi Sakuraba.

Appearances

Anime

(1994) : Fei Long

(2001) ShootFighter Tekken: Seiko "Oton" Miyazawa

Movies

(2000) : Tankai

(2001) Electric Dragon 80.000 V: Narrator

(2001) Shadow Fury: Takeru

(2003) Shin karate baka ichidai 2: Kung Fu Fighter

(2004) : Kumasaka

(2004) Rikidōzan: Masahiko Kimura

(2006) : Kazuma Kiryu

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling

*King of Pancrase (2 Times)

1996 King of Pancrase Championship Tournament Winner

1994 King of Pancrase Championship Tournament Semifinalist

Professional wrestling

All Japan Pro Wrestling

*World's Strongest Tag Team League (2009) – with Keiji Mutoh

*AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Keiji Mutoh

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI ranked him #115 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2010

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)

Mixed martial arts record

{| style='font-size: 85%; text-align: left;' class='wikitable sortable' width='99%' |- !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Result !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Record !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Opponent !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Method !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Event !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Date !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Round !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Time !style='border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3'|Location |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|39-13-1 |align='left'| Ikuhisa Minowa |align='left'|Submission (Heel Hook) |align='left'|Dream 6 - Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Final |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|0:52 |align='left'| Saitama, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|38-13-1 |align='left'| Kiyoshi Tamura |align='left'|TKO (Punches) |align='left'|Dream 2 - Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 Opening Round |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|0:57 |align='left'| Saitama, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|38-12-1 |align='left'| Kazushi Sakuraba |align='left'|Submission (Kimura) |align='left'|K-1 - Premium 2007 Dynamite!! |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|6:25 |align='left'| Osaka, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|38-11-1 |align='left'| Rickson Gracie |align='left'|Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke) |align='left'|C2K - Colosseum 2000 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|12:49 |align='left'| Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|38-10-1 |align='left'| Tony Petarra |align='left'|Submission (Punches) |align='left'|Pancrase - 1999 Anniversary Show |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:16 |align='left'| Urayasu, Chiba, Japan |- |-align=center |style='background: #c5d2ea'|zDraw |align='center'|37-10-1 |align='left'| Ebenezer Fontes Braga |align='left'|Draw |align='left'|Pancrase - Breakthrough 4 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|15:00 |align='left'| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|37-10 |align='left'| John Renken |align='left'|Submission (Punches) |align='left'|Pancrase - Advance 12 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|5:50 |align='left'| Urayasu, Chiba, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|36-10 |align='left'| Kiuma Kunioku |align='left'|Decision (Lost Points) |align='left'|Pancrase - Advance 10 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|15:00 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|36-9 |align='left'| Semmy Schilt |align='left'|KO (Punch to the Body) |align='left'|Pancrase - 1998 Anniversary Show |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|7:13 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|36-8 |align='left'| Osami Shibuya |align='left'|Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) |align='left'|Pancrase - 1998 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|6:07 |align='left'| Aomori, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|35-8 |align='left'| Guy Mezger |align='left'|Decision (Unanimous) |align='left'|Pancrase - Advance 5 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|30:00 |align='left'| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|35-7 |align='left'| Semmy Schilt |align='left'|Decision (Lost Points) |align='left'|Pancrase - Advance 4 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|15:00 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|34-7 |align='left'| Takaku Fuke |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Advance 2 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:36 |align='left'| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|33-7 |align='left'| Yuki Kondo |align='left'|Submission (Triangle/Kimura) |align='left'|Pancrase - Alive 11 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:20 |align='left'| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|32-7 |align='left'| Jason Godsey |align='left'|Submission (Calf Slicer) |align='left'|Pancrase - Alive 10 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|7:12 |align='left'| Kobe, Hyogo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|31-7 |align='left'| Guy Mezger |align='left'|Submission (Triangle/Armbar) |align='left'|Pancrase - 1997 Anniversary Show |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|3:58 |align='left'| Urayasu, Chiba, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|30-7 |align='left'| Osami Shibuya |align='left'|Submission (Guillotine Choke) |align='left'|Pancrase - 1997 Neo-Blood Tournament, Round 1 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:34 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|29-7 |align='left'| Wes Gassaway |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Alive 7 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:05 |align='left'| Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|28-7 |align='left'| Yuki Kondo |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Alive 4 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:34 |align='left'| Urayasu, Chiba, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|28-6 |align='left'| Paul Lazenby |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Alive 3 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|4:36 |align='left'| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|27-6 |align='left'| Semmy Schilt |align='left'|Submission (Toe Hold) |align='left'|Pancrase - Alive 2 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|5:47 |align='left'| Urayasu, Chiba, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|26-6 |align='left'| Jason Delucia |align='left'|TKO |align='left'|Pancrase - Truth 10 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:34 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|25-6 |align='left'| Yuki Kondo |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Truth 9 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:43 |align='left'| Fukuoka, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|24-6 |align='left'| Bas Rutten |align='left'|TKO (Lost Points) |align='left'|Pancrase - 1996 Anniversary Show |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|17:05 |align='left'| Urayasu, Chiba, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|24-5 |align='left'| Takafumi Ito |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - 1996 Neo-Blood Tournament, Round 2 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:01 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|23-5 |align='left'| Vernon White |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Truth 6 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:34 |align='left'| Fukuoka, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|22-5 |align='left'| August Smisl |align='left'|Submission (Rear Naked Choke) |align='left'|Pancrase - Truth 5 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:01 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|21-5 |align='left'| Katsuomi Inagaki |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Truth 2 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:14 |align='left'| Kobe, Hyogo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|20-5 |align='left'| Ryushi Yanagisawa |align='left'|TKO (Armlock) |align='left'|Pancrase - Truth 1 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|8:42 |align='left'| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|19-5 |align='left'| Takaku Fuke |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 7 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|0:31 |align='left'| Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|18-5 |align='left'| Frank Shamrock |align='left'|Submission (Toehold) |align='left'|Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 6 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|10:31 |align='left'| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|18-4 |align='left'| Guy Mezger |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - 1995 Anniversary Show |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|6:46 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|17-4 |align='left'| Leon Dijk |align='left'|Submission (Achilles Lock) |align='left'|Pancrase - 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:01 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|16-4 |align='left'| Gregory Smit |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 5 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|7:30 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|15-4 |align='left'| Alex Cook |align='left'|Submission (Heelhook) |align='left'|Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 4 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|7:14 |align='left'| Urayasu, Chiba, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|14-4 |align='left'| Manabu Yamada |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 3 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|4:43 |align='left'| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|14-3 |align='left'| Frank Shamrock |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 2 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|5:11 |align='left'| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|13-3 |align='left'| Jason Delucia |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 1 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|9:04 |align='left'| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|12-3 |align='left'| Ken Shamrock |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - King of Pancrase Tournament Second Round |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|5:50 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|12-2 |align='left'| Vernon White |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - King of Pancrase Tournament Opening Round |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|5:37 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|11-2 |align='left'| Todd Bjornethun |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - King of Pancrase Tournament Opening Round |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:20 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|10-2 |align='left'| Minoru Suzuki |align='left'|Technical Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Road To The Championship 5 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:51 |align='left'| Newark, New Jersey, USA |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|9-2 |align='left'| Ken Shamrock |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Road To The Championship 4 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:30 |align='left'| Osaka, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|8-2 |align='left'| Scott Sollivan |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Road To The Championship 3 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|0:56 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|7-2 |align='left'| Jason Delucia |align='left'|Submission (Kneebar) |align='left'|Pancrase - Road To The Championship 2 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:01 |align='left'| Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|7-1 |align='left'| Gregory Smit |align='left'|Submission (Rear Naked Choke) |align='left'|Pancrase - Road To The Championship 1 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:58 |align='left'| Tokyo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|6-1 |align='left'| Takaku Fuke |align='left'|Submission |align='left'|Pancrase - Pancrash! 3 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|6:55 |align='left'| Osaka, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|5-1 |align='left'| Vernon White |align='left'|KO |align='left'|Pancrase - Pancrash! 2 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:13 |align='left'| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|4-1 |align='left'| Bas Rutten |align='left'|Submission (Toehold) |align='left'|Pancrase - Pancrash! 1 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|2:58 |align='left'| Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|3-1 |align='left'| Kazuo Takahashi |align='left'|TKO |align='left'|Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 4 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|3:09 |align='left'| Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|2-1 |align='left'| Cees Bezems |align='left'|Submission (Keylock) |align='left'|Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 3 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:42 |align='left'| Kobe, Hyogo, Japan |- |-align=center |Win |align='center'|1-1 |align='left'| Ryushi Yanagisawa |align='left'|Submission (Kneebar) |align='left'|Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 2 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|1:35 |align='left'| Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |- |-align=center |Loss |align='center'|0-1 |align='left'| Ken Shamrock |align='left'|Submission (Choke) |align='left'|Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 1 |align='left'| |align='center'|1 |align='center'|6:15 |align='left'| Urayasu, Chiba, Japan |- |}

External links

Biopic article on Masa Funaki

www.boutreviewusa.com - 12/31/2007 - Dynamite!!: 'Sakuraba vs. Funaki......'

References

Category:Japanese professional wrestlers Category:Japanese mixed martial artists Category:Middleweight mixed martial artists Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:People from Aomori Prefecture

Name	Masahiro Chono
Names	Masahiro ChonoMister Black Jack
Height
Weight
Birth date	September 17, 1963
Birth place	Seattle, Washington
Resides	Mitaka, Tokyo
Trainer	Stu HartLou Thesz
Debut	October 5, 1984

, (born September 17, 1963) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a former NWA World Champion and IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Professional wrestling career

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1984–2010)

Early years (1984–1990)

Chōno debuted in 1984 against Keiji Mutoh at a New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) event in Saitama, Japan. In 1987, he defeated Shinya Hashimoto to win the Young Lions Cup.

Between 1987 and 1988, Chono went on an excursion to North America, starting in the United States, where he wrestled in NWA territories in the Kansas City and Alabama areas.

Freelance (2010–present)

In March 2010, Chono wrestled two matches since leaving New Japan, during a Samurai Festival. For the special occasion, Chono portrayed Nobunaga Oda. On both days, he wrestled AKIRA, who portrayed Mitsuhide Akechi. On the first day, he won, but lost the next day.

On July 31, 2010, Chono announced he is heading to All-Japan and wrestle in the Taiwan tour in November.

On August 15, 2010, Chono returned to New Japan to serve as the special ring announcer for the G1 Climax final match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Satoshi Kojima.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

*Kenka Kick (Running arched big boot)

*Multiple STF variations

**FTS (Over rotated stepover toehold into a sleeper hold) – innovated

**Into a facelock, sometimes while crossing the opponent's legs together

**Into a sleeper hold – innovated

*Shining Black (Single leg running front dropkick to a kneeling opponent's head)

Signature moves

*Cradle piledriver

*Diving shoulder block

*Double underhook

*Octopus stretch

*Manhattan Drop (Inverted atomic drop)

*Samoan drop

With Hiroyoshi Tenzan

*Cho-Ten Torpedo (Double diving shoulder block)

*CTC – Cho-Ten Crash (Running high knee lift / Back elbow strike combination)

*Shining Assault (Shining Kenka Kick (Chono) / Lariat (Tenzan) combination)

Nicknames

"Mr. G1"

Entrance themes

*New Japan Pro Wrestling

**"Fantastic City" (1988–1992)

**"Fantastic City '92" (1992–1994)

**"Main Eventer" (never used)

**"Crash" (1994–1996)

**"nWo Crash" (1996–1999)

**"Team 2000 Crash" (1999–present)

**"Hard Crush" (never used)

*World Championship Wrestling

**"Pacific Zone" (1991–1992)

**"1,000 Suns" (1995–1996, 2000)

**"Tear It Up" by J.Hart and H.Helm (1996–1997)

Championships and accomplishments

Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling

*AGPW North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bob Brown

Central States Wrestling / World Wrestling Alliance

*NWA Central States Television Championship (1 time)

*WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Continental Wrestling Federation

*CWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mike Davis

Hawai'i Championship Wrestling

HCW Kamehameha Heritage Championship (1 time)

New Japan Pro Wrestling

*IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*IWGP Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with Keiji Mutoh (2), Hiroyoshi Tenzan (5)

*NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

G1 Climax (1991, 1992, 1994, 2002, 2005)

*G1 Climax Tag League (2006) – with Shinsuke Nakamura

Super Grade Tag League (1995) – with Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Super Grade Tag League (1997) – with Keiji Mutoh

Japan/China Friendship Tournament Winner (1990)

Young Lion Cup (1987)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI ranked him #28 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1997

*PWI ranked him #70 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003

Tokyo Sports Grand Prix

Fighting Spirit Award (1991, 2002)

Performance Award (1992)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

*Best Heel (1995)

*Worst Worked Match of the Year (1992) vs. Rick Rude at Halloween Havoc

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)

References

External links

Biography

Biographical information

Aristrist clothing

Category:1963 births Category:People from Seattle, Washington Category:Sportspeople from Tokyo Category:Japanese professional wrestlers Category:Japanese Roman Catholics Category:Living people

Name	Keiji Mutoh
Names	Keiji Mutoh

Category:1962 births Category:All Japan Pro Wrestling Category:Japanese professional wrestlers Category:Living people Category:Professional wrestling executives Category:People from Yamanashi Prefecture

Name	Kaz Hayashi
Names	El Gringo He is also the head booker for the company's junior division.
Name	Hayashi, Kaz
Date of birth	May 18, 1973
Place of birth	Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

Category:1973 births Category:Sportspeople from Tokyo Category:Japanese professional wrestlers Category:Living people

Names	Shuji KondoCondotti ShujiDotti Shuji
Height
Weight
Birth date	January 28, 1981
Birth place	Fuji, Shizuoka
Debut	May 18, 2001

is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Prior to becoming a pro wrestler, he played rugby.

Career

Toryumon/Dragon Gate

Kondo was part of the T2P class in Toryumon. At first he was a face in the Toryumon Seikegun.

He would turn heel and join the Italian Connection, changing his name to Condotti Shuji, after the shopping district. One of his stablemates in the ItaCon was "brother" YASSHI, who has remained a firm ally of his ever since.

In 2003, the ItaCon was divided over the face/heel issue, with Shuji leading the heel side. He would lead the turn, briefly rename to Dotti Shuji, and soon after revert to his real name. He and YASSHI formed a group called Hagure Gundam (Stray Army in English) with fellow ItaCon member Shogo Takagi, and Torou Owashi. When Hagure Gundam was joined by Masaaki Mochizuki, it renamed to Aagan Iisou. Mochi would later be kicked out of the stable after he and Kondo feuded over who was leader, and Takuya Sugawara was added to the group.

On December 31, 2004, all five members of Aagan Iisou - Kondo, YASSHI, Sugawara, Owashi, and Shogo - were fired from Dragon Gate for alleged behavioral problems.

dragondoor

Kondo was built up as the heel ace of the dragondoor promotion. All five members of Aagan Iisou were on the roster, but Kondo only aligned himself with YASSHI and Sugawara. The three of them, despite being booked as heels, got most of the popular fan support.

AJPW

He soon joined AJPW, where he and long-time associate "brother" YASSHI would ally themselves with TARU's Voodoo Murders stable and even hold the All-Asia Tag Team Titles for a short time. The Voodoo Murderers were previously in an intense feud against RO&D;, but defeated their long-time foes after D'Lo Brown and Buchanan turned on RO&D; and joined the Voodoo Murderers. Kondo also became the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion having won the title from junior ace Taka Michinoku. On February 17, 2007, Kondo lost the Jr. Heavyweight Title to Katsuhiko Nakajima, thus ending his 1-year, 4-month title reign.

El Dorado

Kondo is also one of the main players in dragondoor's successor, El Dorado. Unlike in dragondoor, Kondo was set up to be the face ace of the promotion. He and YASSHI split for the first time in years, with YASSHI briefly leading his own faction. Kondo started a faction called Sukiyaki, named after his famous love of meat dishes. When his friend and fellow Dragon Gate exile Naoki Tanisaki abruptly left El Dorado and returned to Dragon Gate, Kondo disbanded Sukiyaki. After defeating Magnitude Kishiwada on August 15, 2008 to win the Greatest Golden League, Kondo announced his departure from El Dorado.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

:*Gorilla Clutch (Inverted cloverleaf, sometimes with bodyscissors) :*King Kong Lariat (Running lariat)

Signature moves

:*Cat's Cradle (Cross-legged over the shoulder Boston crab) :*Crucifix powerbomb lift or an overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack flipped forward into a piledriver :*Hurricane Mixer (Lifting spear to an oncoming opponent spun into a modified 180° spinning side slam) :*Lanzarse (Running lifting spear dropped into a modified spinebuster) :*Military press dropped into a reverse piledriver :*Moonsault :*Original (Gorilla press powerslam) :*Original II (Standing iconoclasm) :*Release German suplex :*Suplex powerslam :*Whale Hunt (Half nelson lifted and dropped into a bridging Olympic slam)

With "brother" YASSHI

:*Big Boy (Powerbomb (Kondo) / Bad Boy (YASSHI) combination)

Championships and accomplishments

All Japan Pro Wrestling

:*AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with "brother" YASSHI :* AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

El Dorado Wrestling

:*TREASURE HUNTERS Tag Tournament (2006) - with Dick Togo :*Greatest Golden League (2008)

Tokyo Sports Grand Prix

:*Match of the Year (2008)- vs. Naomichi Marufuji on November 3, 2008 :*Tag Team Of The Year (2006)- with TARU, Suwama, & "brother" YASSHI

Toryumon

:*British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Universal Wrestling Association

:*UWA World Trios Championship (2 times) - with Milano Collection A.T. & YOSSINO (1) and Touru Owashi & "brother" YASSHI (1)

References

Kondo, Shuji Category:Living people Category:1981 births Category:People from Shizuoka Prefecture

Name	Minoru Suzuki
Caption	Suzuki in April 2008.
Birth date	June 17, 1968
Birth place	Yokohama, Kanagawa
Nationality	Japanese
Height
Weight
Style	Catch wrestling
Team	Pancrase Mission
Rank	Olympian Alternate Freestyle Wrestler
Mma win	28
Mma kowin	2
Mma subwin	19
Mma loss	19
Mma draw	0

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. Suzuki returned to regular puroresu in 2003, where he has become a perennial top contender for all major Japanese heavyweight championships. He is currently performing at All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former two-time AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion.

Suzuki is well noted for his excellence in freestyle wrestling and catch wrestling. He was an Olympic alternate freestyle wrestler for Japan and former Japanese freestyle wrestling national champion. As good as his wrestling credentials are, Suzuki is even more respected for his excellence in the art of catch wrestling and submissions. Suzuki has been praised many times by elite fighters such as Josh Barnett, Bas Rutten and Ken Shamrock for his outstanding grappling and submission skills.

Career

Pancrase

Suzuki trained at the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo and made his pro wrestling debut in 1988, but soon after left with catch wrestling mentor Yoshiaki Fujiwara for the newborn UWF. He joined Fujiwara's Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi but then left the organization to form Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world, in 1993 with Masakatsu Funaki.

Despite his significant size disadvantage against most competitors, Suzuki became one of the most successful fighters in Pancrase with his amazing submission skills and top wrestling ability. Suzuki began his MMA career going 7-0, including a huge upset win over Pancrase's #1 fighter Ken Shamrock in early 1994. He did not lose a match until he lost to Bas Rutten via Liver shot KO due to a knee to the body. In 1995, he won the King of Pancrase (now KOP Open-Weight) title to become the second ever King of Pancrase. Suzuki twice defeated Ken Shamrock and is the only man to hold two wins over Shamrock in the Pancrase era.

Over time, Suzuki's body became damaged and worn down from various injuries and resulted in his skills diminishing. He then decided to focus on the business and training side of Pancrase. He collaborated with the Tekken series of fighting video games as a motion actor. His last non-worked fight for Pancrase was against a professional wrestler, Jushin Liger, whom Suzuki had known as Keiichi Yamada in his first NJPW stint. At the time he competed in grappling matches almost exclusively. Suzuki witnessed the transition Pancrase made from the so-called "hybrid wrestling" style to that of regular MMA and was instrumental in paving the way for mixed martial arts in Japan.

Suzuki is also erroneously credited on his mixed martial arts record by various MMA websites with a loss to Maurice Smith on the event Pancrase- Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 3. Suzuki did lose the bout with Smith, but the bout was a kickboxing match with kickboxing rules and kickboxing gloves and was not a mixed martial arts match.

Return to professional wrestling

show.]] In 2003, Suzuki and Yusuke Fuke announced their plan to return to puroresu and invade promotions under the stable name Pancrase MISSION. Suzuki began competing for New Japan Pro Wrestling as a freelancer, where he aligned himself with Yoshihiro Takayama and won the IWGP Tag Team Titles from Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Osamu Nishimura on February 1, 2004. They were stripped of the titles later in the year, following Takayama's mounting injuries. In 2005, Suzuki began competing in Pro Wrestling Noah, and would receive a GHC Heavyweight Championship shot against then Champion Kenta Kobashi, but he was defeated. After this, he found an unlikely ally in Naomichi Marufuji, whose style was Lucha Libre (rather than shoot-style). Nonetheless, Suzuki taught Marufuji some of what he knew and they clicked, winning the GHC Tag Team Titles from 2 Cold Scorpio and Doug Williams on June 18, 2005. After losing the belts to Muhammad Yone and Takeshi Morishima in October, Suzuki challenged for the GHC Heavyweight Championship shot against champion Jun Akiyama on March 5, 2006, but he was once again unsuccessful.

All Japan Pro Wrestling

On March 10, 2006, Suzuki made a surprise appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling, attacking then Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima after he had just defended his title against The Great Muta. Pundits at once considered Suzuki to have issued a challenge for the Triple Crown. Suzuki participated in the 2006 Champion's Carnival, and made it to the semifinals before being defeated by Taiyō Kea. On September 3, Suzuki challenged Kea, who had won the Triple Crown from Kojima in July. He was successful in his bid to become the new Triple Crown Champion, and will end up having successful defenses against RO'Z, Yuji Nagata, Kojima, Tajiri and Keiji Mutoh. Suzuki has formed a grouping called "Minoru Gundan" consisting of himself, Nosawa Rongai, and MAZADA. In May 2007 he went on a tour of Mexico's CMLL with Takayama and experienced Lucha Libre battles. He lost the Triple Crown Championship to Kensuke Sasaki on August 26, 2007 at AJPW's PRO WRESTLING LOVE in RYOGOKU pay-per-view event.

At the All Japan FAN APPRECIATION DAY event on December 16, 2007, the Mexico Amigos teamed with "Ray Suzuki" and defeated Ryuji Hijikata, Kikutaro, T28 & Ryuji Yamaguchi. After the match, Ray Suzuki reveled himself as Minoru Suzuki and vowed that El NOSAWA Mendoza would throw his Amigos tights away and return as NOSAWA Rongai, and then kidnapped him to start early training.

On March 1, 2008, Minoru Suzuki made an appearance at the Dory Funk, Jr. retirement show, providing commentary for the Triple Crown Championship main event (between Kensuke Sasaki and Satoshi Kojima), as well as pledging to participate in the upcoming Champion's Carnival. From April 5 to 9, Suzuki competed in Block B of All Japan's annual Champion's Carnival, finishing the league with 2 wins (over Kensuke Sasaki and Suwama) and 2 losses (to Osamu Nishimura and Joe Doering), as well as teaming with TAKEMURA to defeat Toshiaki Kawada and Nobutaka Araya on Day 2 (April 6) of the Carnival. During the Hold Out tour, Suzuki confronted a losing-streak Taiyō Kea about joining the stable GURENTAI (alongside NOSAWA, MAZADA and TAKEMURA), which resulted in Kea joining and focusing on winning the tag titles with Suzuki. On June 28, 2008, Suzuki and Kea won the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship from Joe Doering and Keiji Mutoh. On September 28, 2008 he attacked The Great Muta after Muta had successfully defeated Suwama for the Triple Crown Championship, setting up a match between the two in which he lost on November 3, 2008.

On January 3, 2009, Suzuki and stable mate NOSAWA Rongai won the restored AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship, over the course of a 2-day tournament. Later in the year, Suzuki won the 2009 Champion's Carnival beating Kaz Hayashi in the Finals. He would end up challenging the then Triple Crown Champion, Yoshihiro Takayama, on May 30, 2009, albeit in a losing effort. On September 23, 2009, Suzuki and NOSAWA lost the All Asia Tag Team Championship at the hands of Akebono and Ryota Hama. On January 3, 2010, Suzuki and Kea lost the Unified World Tag Team Championship at the hands of Masakatsu Funaki and Keiji Mutoh.

On March 21, 2010, Suzuki lost to long-time rival Masakatsu Funaki in All Japan's First Cage Match. Suzuki then entered the Champion Carnival and won it for the second straight year, being the third man to do so by beating Funaki in the Final - weeks removed from their Cage Match. After the final, Suzuki buried the hatchet with Funaki by shaking his hand, thus ending the decade-long rivalry. Suzuki then declared his GURENTAI stable on hiatus. As a result of his Champion Carnival victory, Suzuki earned a Triple Crown championship match versus Ryota Hama on May 2. In the match, Suzuki defeated Hama to claim his second Triple Crown championship. He would go on to lose the title to Suwama on August 29, 2010.

On December 12, 2010, Suzuki returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling, attacking old rival Yuji Nagata. On January 4, 2011, at Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome, Suzuki faced Nagata in a losing effort.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

*Saka Otoshi (Inverted facelock takeover followed into a rear naked choke)

*Sleeper hold

*Gotch Piledriver (Cradle piledriver)

Signature moves

*Hard slaps to the opponent's face

*Octopus hold, sometimes to a seated opponent

*Running low-angle dropkick to an opponent seated in the corner

Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling

All Japan Pro Wrestling

*AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Nosawa Rongai

*AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

*AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Taiyō Kea

*Champion's Carnival (2009, 2010)

*Kokomi Sakura Cup (2010)

New Japan Pro Wrestling

*IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Yoshihiro Takayama

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI ranked him #14 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2007

Pro Wrestling Noah

*GHC Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Naomichi Marufuji

Tokyo Sports Grand Prix

Best Tag Team (2004) - with Yoshihiro Takayama

Best Tag Team (2008) - with Taiyō Kea

Best Technique (2004)

Most Valuable Player (2006)

Mixed martial arts

Pancrase

*King of Pancrase Openweight Championship (1 time)

Mixed martial arts record

References

Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Yokohama Category:Japanese mixed martial artists Category:Japanese professional wrestlers

Name	Mil Máscaras
Names	Mil Máscaras (A Thousand Masks / Man of a Thousand Masks)
Height
Weight
Birth date	July 15, 1942
Birth place	San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Trainer	Diablo Velasco
Debut	April 1965

Aaron Rodríguez Arellano (born in San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico on July 15, 1942), best known as Mil Máscaras (A Thousand Masks), is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores.

Professional wrestling career

, in 2009.]] Mil Máscaras made his professional wrestling debut in April 1965 in Guadalajara. Máscaras became popular in Mexico for being one of the best conditioned luchadores in the heavyweight division, which was dominated by foreigners at the time. It was also his size which permitted him to wrestle in the US and Japan under the heavyweight division. Máscaras was one of the first masked luchadores outside of Mexico to play a non-heel role. He rarely resorted to rule breaking, instead relying on his repertoire of moves and counter-moves. Máscaras was also one of the first wrestlers to introduce the high-flying moves of lucha libre, such as the plancha and tope suicida, to Japanese fans. This brought him international fame as one of the first high-flyers, something he was not considered in Mexico where he fell under the mat-power category.

A year after his wrestling debut, Mil Máscaras starred in his first film, a self-titled picture. As with many luchadores, his character is that of a superhero. He has since starred in several films spanning five decades, the best known is Las Momias de Guanajuato (a reference to the actual mummies of Guanajuato).

Máscaras made his international wrestling debut in 1968 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, getting involved in great rivalries against the likes of Ernie Ladd, John Tolos, Black Gordman, and Goliath. In Mexico City, he unmasked El Halcon in a triangular tournament that included Alfonso Dantés in the 1970s.

Máscaras performed for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) during the '70s. In his Japanese debut on February 19, 1971, he defeated Kantaro Hoshino in Tokyo. It was during this time that he had his best known international feud with American masked wrestler The Destroyer. During the '70s, Máscaras also had feuds with Mexican wrestlers such as TNT, El Canek, El Halcon, and Angel Blanco. These feuds took place mostly in Mexico and the US, and were broadcast on Spanish language stations in the U.S. Mascaras was also the heavyweight champion of the IWA wrestling promotion, which was founded by Eddie Einhorn, and still holds the title to this day.

Mil Máscaras appeared in World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now called WWE). He performed at Madison Square Garden several times after a ban on masked wrestlers was lifted for him, making him the first masked wrestler in the Garden, he defeated the Spoiler (who was not permitted to wear his mask). During this time, he feuded with "Superstar" Billy Graham over the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship.

Mascaras also wrestled in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where his most notable match was a match with Cactus Jack at on February 6, 1990 in the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas.

On September 10, 1991, at the age of 49, Máscaras won his final title, the WWA (Mexico) World Heavyweight Championship. He held the title until 1994 and assumed a state of semi-retirement after his final reign.

Máscaras' first American pay-per-view appearance was competing in WWF's 1997 Royal Rumble match. He eliminated himself, diving off the top rope out of the ring onto Pierroth, Jr., whom he himself had just eliminated. Such a move is common in lucha libre but it is technically a mistake in the Royal Rumble as it leads to elimination.

On December 5, 2002, Mascaras defeated Manny Fernandez at the inaugural show for Legacy Wrestling Enterprises in Fort Worth, TX.

Film career

Máscaras also achieved fame outside of the ring, starring in a series of seventeen luchador action films from 1966 through 1990 (he also has appeared in several other films made more recently). His first starring role was in the self-titled film "Mil Máscaras" which was shot in black and white and gave Máscaras a comic book style origin story. According to the film, an infant Máscaras was found clutching his dead mother's arms in a war-torn area of Europe during World War II. A group of scientists adopts Máscaras as a boy, and subjects him to an intensive regimen of physical and mental training as he matures. When Máscaras reaches adulthood, he has developed into a super-human, achieving both mental and physical perfection. The scientists then send him out into the world to help downtrodden people everywhere, to fight criminals and to right wrongs.

In 1970, Máscaras starred alongside Blue Demon and El Santo in Las Momias de Guanajuato (The Mummies of Guanajuato). Las Momias de Guanajuato became the highest grossing Mexican luchador film of all time, pitting the three masked luchadores against a group of reanimated mummies. Mascaras also starred as a member of a squadron of masked superheroes known as "Los Campeones Justicieros" (The Champions of Justice). Membership in the Champions included such legendary Mexican wrestling figures as Blue Demon, Tinieblas, El Rayo de Jalisco, El Médico Asesino, El Fantasma Blanco, and Superzan.

In 2007 Máscaras starred in Mil Mascaras vs. the Aztec Mummy (also known as Mil Mascaras: Resurrection), the first lucha film featuring any of the so-called "Big Three" stars of the genre (Máscaras, Blue Demon, Santo) to be produced in English. The film screened at festivals around the world garnering awards and award nominations along with positive critical reviews.

The film Mil Máscaras: Héroe, which is a hybrid of live action sequences and Japanese manga-style animation, is currently in production.

Criticism

Multiple wrestlers have publicly complained of Mascaras' unwillingness to sell moves and put opponents over. One of the most vocal critics is Mick Foley who, in his book , complained about Máscaras' refusal to sell moves in their match. In his book, A Lion's Tale, Chris Jericho describes the stories of Máscaras' large ego and states that, if anything, "The tales were toning it down." In a 2007 shoot interview, "Superstar" Billy Graham confirmed that during his series of matches with Mascaras, Mascaras was unwilling to sell properly.

Legacy

Máscaras is arguably the best known masked luchador in the world, as are legends El Santo and Blue Demon. His barrel-chested physique, colorful attire and flamboyant personality, made him an instant hit in the ring as well as on the silver screen. Living up to his name, Máscaras is known for entering the ring wearing a different mask, which he removes to reveal his familiar mask. In Japan, he throws the mask he takes off to the audience, something he does not do in Mexico. Máscaras' technical efficiency, combined with his luchador-style aerial maneuvers, made him very popular with wrestling fans around the world. In 1975, Máscaras was voted "The Most Popular Wrestler of the Year" by the US magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Satoru Sayama, the original Tiger Mask, has described Máscaras' impact on Japanese professional wrestling, "If it weren't for Mil Mascaras, there would be no Jushin Liger, no Último Dragón or the Great Sasuke today,". Mascaras' success in the US also paved the way for other luchadores such as Rey Mysterio, Jr., who has become one of the most popular luchadores in US wrestling. Now well into his 60s, Máscaras continues to perform sporadically. In 2001, he was inducted into the Southern California Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In 2006, Máscaras was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club, a fraternal organization of both retired and active wrestlers. The Destroyer, one of Máscaras legendary rivals, presented him with an award at the event. The Destroyer also commented on Máscaras' wrestling style, "He was the best competitor that I ever wrestled. He never gave you anything -- it's true -- but I didn't give him anything either. You talk about a shoot or a half-shoot, and that's the kind of match that it was."

Personal life

Mascaras has never been unmasked in the ring, and like most masked luchadores, he goes to great lengths to conceal his true appearance and personal life. Máscaras has two brothers who wrestled, Dos Caras and El Sicodélico. He has two sons and two daughters with his first wife, who died in 1975, and two daughters with his second wife, whom he married in 1995. His nephew appears on WWE Smackdown as Alberto Del Rio.

Mascaras is an avid golfer and plays in many charity golf tournaments around the world, including annually at the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament

Filmography

;1966

Mil Máscaras (first appearance and origin of Mil Máscaras)—the only B&W; film in the series

Los Canallas (The Scoundrels)—in color

;1968

Las Vampiras (The Vampire Girls) (co-starring John Carradine)

Enigma de Muerte (Enigma of Death) (co-starring John Carradine)

;1970

Los Campeones Justicieros (The Champions of Justice) (co-starring Blue Demon, Tinieblas, El Médico Asesino, and La Sombra Vengadora)

Las Momias de Guanajuato (The Mummies of Guanajuato) (co-starring Santo and Blue Demon)

;1972

El Robo de las Momias de Guanajuato (The Theft of the Mummies of Guanajuato) (co-starring The Blue Angel and El Rayo De Jalisco)

Vuelven los Campeones Justicieros (The Champions of Justice Return) (co-starring Blue Demon, El Fantasma Blanco, El Rayo de Jalisco, and El Avispón Escarlata)

Una Rosa Sobre el Ring (A Rose in The Ring) (co-starring Crox Alvarado as "The Black Mask")

;1973

Leyendas Macabras de la Colonia (Macabre Legends of The Colony) (co-starring Tinieblas and El Fantasma Blanco)

Los Vampiros de Coyoacán (The Vampires of Coyoacán) (co-starring Superzan)

Las Momias de San Ángel (The Mummies of San Ángel) (co-starring Tinieblas and El Fantasma Blanco)

El Poder Negro (Black Power) (co-starring Sergio Oliva)

;1977

Misterio en las Bermudas (Mystery in Bermuda) (co-starring Santo and Blue Demon)

;1983

El Hijo de Santo en la Frontera Sin Ley (Son of Santo in The Lawless Frontier)

;1988

La Verdad de la Lucha (The Truth About Wrestling)

;1990

La Llave Mortal (The Deadly Wrestling Hold)

;2007

Mil Mascaras vs. the Aztec Mummy (also known as "Mil Mascaras: Resurrection")

;2007

Academy of Doom (formerly called "Wrestling Women vs. the Brainiac")

;2008/2009

Mil Máscaras: Héroe (Mil Máscaras, Hero) (live-action/animation hybrid)

;2010 (scheduled release)

Mil Mascaras: Aztec Revenge (sequel to Aztec Mummy)

In wrestling

Finishing moves

*Cross chop - Innovated

Diving crossbody

Signature moves

*Bearhug

*Monkey flip

*Slingshot crossbody

*Suicide dive

*Surfboard

Championships and accomplishments

Alianza Latinoamericana de Lucha Libre

:*ALLL World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

All Japan Pro Wrestling

:*PWF United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Cauliflower Alley Club

:*Other inductee (2006)

Commission de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F.

:*Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

International Wrestling Association (Georgia)

:*IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

NWA Big Time Wrestling – World Class Wrestling Association

:*NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario :*NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario :*WCWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jeff Jarrett

NWA Hollywood Wrestling

:*NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (3 times) :*NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Alfonso Dantés (1) and Ray Mendoza (1)

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum

*(Class of 2010)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

:*PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1975) :*PWI ranked him # 94 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. :*PWI ranked him # 128 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1993.

World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)

:*WWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

World Wrestling Association (Mexico)

:*WWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

:*Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

National Wrestling Alliance

:*NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2009)

Lucha de Apuesta record

{|class="wikitable" width=100% |- !style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=5%|Wager !style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=20%|Winner !style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=20%|Loser !style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=20%|Location !style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=15%|Date !style="background: #e3e3e3;" width=20%|Notes |----- align="center" |Hair || Mil Máscaras || Benny Galant || Mexico City, Mexico || ||   |----- align="center" |Hair || Mil Máscaras || Black Gordman || Los Angeles, California || ||   |----- align="center" |Hair || Mil Máscaras || Bull Ramos || Los Angeles, California || ||   |----- align="center" |Mask || Mil Máscaras || Barón Escarlata || Unknown || ||   |----- align="center" |Mask || Mil Máscaras || Frankenstein || Tijuana, Baja California || 1974 || |----- align="center" |Hair || Mil Máscaras || Alfonso Dantés || Mexico City, Mexico || || |----- align="center" |Mask || Mil Máscaras || El Halcón || Mexico City, Mexico || || |----- align="center" |Mask || Mil Máscaras || El Halcón || Japan || || |----- align="center" |Hair || Mil Máscaras || Popitekus || Tijuana, Baja California || ||   |----- align="center" |Hair || Mil Máscaras || Principe Battu || Dallas, Texas || ||   |----- align="center" |Mask || Mil Máscaras || Gran Markus, Jr. || Naucalpan, Mexico State || || |----- align="center" |Mask || Mil Máscaras || Venom || Reynosa || ||   |----- align="center" |Mask || Mil Máscaras || El Yuma || Reynosa || ||   |}

References

;General sources - Championship Information ;General sources - Career ;Specific

External links

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Profile

Official "Mil Mascaras Vs the Astecm Mummy Page

PopMatters Review of Mil Mascaras vs. The Aztec Mummy

Santoandfriends.com

Profile at InternationalHero

Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:Mexican film actors Category:Mexican professional wrestlers Category:People from San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí

Name	Johnny Ace
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	John Marshall Alexander, Jr.
Alias	Johnny Ace
Born	June 09, 1929Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	December 25, 1954Houston, Texas U.S.
Genre	R&B;
Years active	1949–1954
Label	Duke Records

Johnny Ace (June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954), born John Marshall Alexander, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, was one of the stars of American rhythm and blues singing.

Career

Alexander's father was a preacher in Tennessee. After serving in the navy during the Korean War, Alexander joined Adolph Duncan's Band as a pianist. He then joined the B. B. King band. Soon King departed for Los Angeles and Bobby Bland joined the army. Alexander took over vocal duties and renamed the band The Beale Streeters, also taking over King's WDIA radio show.

Becoming "Johnny Ace", he signed to Duke Records (originally a Memphis label associated with WDIA) in 1952. Urbane 'heart-ballad' "My Song," his first recording, topped the R&B; charts for nine weeks in September. ("My Song" was covered in 1968 by Aretha Franklin, on the flipside of "See Saw".)

Ace began heavy touring, often with Willa Mae "Big Mama" Thornton. In the next two years, he had eight hits in a row, including "Cross My Heart," "Please Forgive Me," "The Clock," "Yes, Baby," "Saving My Heart for You," and "Never Let Me Go." In December, 1954 he was named the Most Programmed Artist Of 1954 after a national DJ poll organized by U.S. trade weekly Cash Box.

Ace's recordings sold very well for those times. Early in 1955, Duke Records announced that the three 1954 Johnny Ace recordings, along with Thornton's "Hound Dog", had sold more than 1,750,000 records.

Death

After touring for a year, Ace had been performing at the City Auditorium in Houston, Texas on Christmas 1954. During a break between sets, he was playing with a .22 cal revolver. Members of his band said he did this often, sometimes shooting at roadside signs from their car.

It was widely reported that Ace killed himself playing Russian roulette. Big Mama Thornton's bass player Curtis Tillman, however, who witnessed the event, said, "I will tell you exactly what happened! Johnny Ace had been drinking and he had this little pistol he was waving around the table and someone said ‘Be careful with that thing…’ and he said ‘It’s okay! Gun’s not loaded…see?’ and pointed it at himself with a smile on his face and ‘Bang!’ – sad, sad thing. Big Mama ran outta that dressing room yelling ‘Johnny Ace just killed hisself!"

Thornton said in a written statement (included in the book The Late Great Johnny Ace) that Ace had been playing with the gun, but not playing Russian roulette. According to Thornton, Ace pointed the gun at his girlfriend and another woman who were sitting nearby, but did not fire. He then pointed the gun toward himself. The gun went off, shooting him in the side of the head.

Ace's funeral was on January 2, 1955, at Memphis' Clayborn Temple AME church. It was attended by an estimated 5000 people.

"Pledging My Love" became a posthumous R&B; #1 hit for ten weeks beginning February 12, 1955. As Billboard bluntly put it, Ace's death "created one of the biggest demands for a record that has occurred since the death of Hank Williams just over two years ago." His single sides were compiled and released as The Johnny Ace Memorial Album.

Edit: According to Nick Tosches' book Unsung Heroes of Rock 'n' Roll, Johnny Ace actually shot himself with a .32 pistol, not a .22, and it happened only a little more than an hour after he had bought a brand new 1955 Oldsmobile.

ISBN 0-684-18149-5 (Paperback)(c) 1984 pg. 136 Chapter - "Number One With a Bullet"

Tributes

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez performed "Never Let Me Go" on the Rolling Thunder Revue Tour late in 1975.

Elvis Presley covered "Pledging My Love" on his last studio session in 1976. The song appeared on the Moody Blue album in 1977 at the time of his death.

Paul Simon wrote and performed the song "The Late Great Johnny Ace", in which a boy, upon hearing of the death of Ace, orders a photograph of the deceased singer, describing: "It came all the way from Texas / With a sad and simple face / And they signed it on the bottom / From the Late Great Johnny Ace."

David Allen Coe covered "Pledging My Love", introducing the song with his own recollections of hearing the news of Ace's death.

Johnny Ace is also namechecked by Root Boy Slim in "House Band in Hell" as well as by Dash Rip Rock in the song "Johnny Ace".

Ace's song "Pledging My Love" appears in the 1973 Martin Scorsese film Mean Streets and John Carpenter's 1983 movie Christine, based on Stephen King's novel. The song also appears in the Abel Ferrara film Bad Lieutenant.

The Fontane Sisters' song "Eddie My Love" was originally titled "Johnny My Love" and was written in Johnny's memory.

the Swiss Singer Polo Hofer and the Schmetterband wrote the Song ``Johnny Ace`` in 1985 - it was released on the album Giggerig.

Discography

Singles

Original singles issued by Duke Records

"My Song" / "Follow the Rule" (1952)

"Cross My Heart" / "Angel" (1953)

"The Clock" / "Aces Wild" (1953)

"Midnight Hours Journey" / "Trouble and Me" (1954)

"Saving My Love For You" / "Yes, Baby" (duet with Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton) (1954)

"Please Forgive Me" / "You've Been Gone So Long" (1954)

"Never Let Me Go" / "Burley Cutie" [Instrumental] (1954)

"Pledging My Love" / "Anymore" (on 78rpm) / "No Money" (on 45rpm) (1955) #1 on U.S. R&B; Chart for 10 weeks, peaked at #17 on U.S. Pop Chart

"Anymore" / "How Can You Be So Mean" (1955)

"So Lonely" / "I'm So Crazy, Baby" (1956)

"Don't You Know" / "I Still Love You So" (1956)

Albums

Studio albums and compilations containing only/mostly Johnny Ace material

Johnny Ace Memorial Album Duke (1955)

Johnny Ace: Pledging My Love Universal Special Products (1986)

Johnny Ace: The Complete Duke Recordings Geffen (2004)

Blues & Rhythm Series: The Chronological Johnny Ace 1951-1954 Classics (2005)

Johnny Ace: Essential Masters Burning Fire (digital download) (2008)

Notes and references

Rolling Stone, Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. New York: 1995. ISBN 0-684-81044-1

Dafydd Rees and Luke Crampton. Rock Movers and Shakers. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 1991. ISBN 0-87436-661-5

Rock On: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock n' Roll: The Solid Gold Years: 1974, 1982: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, Harper & Row: New York, New York; ISBN 0-06-181642-6: p001.

*

External links

Hip-O biography

Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:Flair Records artists Category:Apex Records artists Category:Duke Records artists Category:Suicides by firearm in Texas Category:Musicians who committed suicide Category:People from Memphis, Tennessee Category:Rhythm and blues pianists Category:Musicians from Tennessee Category:1929 births Category:1954 deaths

Name	Joe Doering
Names	Joe Doering (born April 16, 1982)
----- align	"center"
Mask || joe doering || zodiac || kobe, hyōgo, japan || || hair vs. mask match	PuroCentral/>
Name	Doering, Joe
Alternative names	Doering, Joseph; Doering, Vaughn; Von Doering, Hans; Brewer, Drake
Short description	professional wrestler
Date of birth	April 16, 1982
Place of birth	Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian professional wrestlers Category:People from Windsor, Ontario Category:Sportspeople from Ontario

Name	Akira Taue
Names	Akira Taue Tamakirin
Height
Weight
Birth date	May 08, 1961
Birth place	Chichibu, Saitama, Japan
Debut	January 2, 1988

(born May 8, 1961) is a Japanese professional wrestler, and the current President of Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former AJPW Triple Crown champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had 14 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Sumo wrestling career

Before becoming a professional wrestler, Akira Taue competed as a sumo wrestler, debuting in January 1980 and coached by former ozeki Daikirin (his shikona was Tamakirin, based on his stablemaster's). He fought in the second highest juryo division for seven tournaments before retiring from sumo in July 1987.

Professional wrestling career

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1988-2000)

He debuted in a tag team match for All Japan Pro Wrestling on January 2, 1988, teaming with the legendary Giant Baba. As with Genichiro Tenryu, Hiroshi Wajima and Arashi before him, his debut was much hyped. Throughout the years he became one of AJPW's top stars, by winning titles such as the AJPW Triple Crown Championship and the 1996 Champion's Carnival.

However, he became better known for tag team wrestling. He won his first championship, the All Asia Tag Team Championship, with Shinichi Nakano on June 5, 1990. He won the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship for the first time on March 4, 1992, teaming with Jumbo Tsuruta. He formed a tag team with Toshiaki Kawada, called The Holy Demon Army, a team which ended up holding the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship 6 times. The team split when Taue left AJPW for Mitsuharu Misawa's new Pro Wrestling Noah promotion in August 2000, while Kawada decided to stay.

Pro Wrestling Noah (2000-present)

In Noah Taue continued tag team wrestling, teaming mostly with Takuma Sano. On November 5, 2005, Taue was able to defeat Takeshi Rikio with his Ore ga Taue finisher to capture the GHC Heavyweight Championship, which he held into the new year before losing it to Jun Akiyama on January 22, 2006.

On June 27, 2009, following the June 13 death of Mitsuharu Misawa, Akira Taue was appointed as the new president of Pro Wrestling Noah.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

*Multiple chokeslam variations

**Chichibu Cement (Vertical suplex) – innovated

**I Am The Taue / Nodowa Otoshi / Ruby Frosion (Standing, sometimes from the top rope or of the apron)

**Ore ga Taue (Belly to back) – innovated

*Tsukuba Makiwari (Choke suplex)

Signature moves

*Dynamic Bomb (Sitout powerbomb)

*Dynamic Kick (Running big boot)

*Dynamic Suplex (Trapping suplex)

*German suplex

*Backdrop suplex

*Enzuigiri

*Implant DDT

Championships and accomplishments

All Japan Pro Wrestling

*AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shinichi Nakano

*AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with Jumbo Tsuruta (1) and Toshiaki Kawada (6)

*Champion's Carnival (1996)

*World's Strongest Tag Team League (1996, 1997) – with Toshiaki Kawada

January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal Winner (1992)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI ranked him #115 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003

Pro Wrestling Noah

*GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Tokyo Sports Grand Prix

Tag Team of the Year (1997)- with Toshiaki Kawada

Fighting Spirit (1992, 1996)

Match of the Year (1995)- with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi on June 9, 1995

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

*5 Star Match (1990) with Jumbo Tsuruta and Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi on October 19

*5 Star Match (1991) with Jumbo Tsuruta and Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi on April 20

*5 Star Match (1992) with Jumbo Tsuruta and Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi on May 22

*5 Star Match (1993) with Toshiaki Kawada and Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama on July 2

*5 Star Match (1993) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi on December 3

*5 Star Match (1994) with Toshiaki Kawada and Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Giant Baba on February 13

*5 Star Match (1994) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi on May 21

*5 Star Match (1995) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi on January 24

*5 Star Match (1995) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on April 15

*5 Star Match (1995) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi on June 9

*5 Star Match (1995) with Tamon Honda and Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Satoru Asako on June 30

*5 Star Match (1996) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama on May 23

*5 Star Match (1996) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama on December 6

5 Star Match (1997) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama on December 5

References

External links

Profile at Online World of Wrestling

Profile at Green Destiny

Category:1961 births Category:Japanese professional wrestlers Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Living people Category:Professional wrestling executives