Kensuke Sasaki
Ring name(s)	Benkei Sasaki KENSKEE Kensuke Sasaki Kensuki Sasaki Masked Volcano Power Warrior
Billed height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Billed weight	115 kg (250 lb)[1]
Born	(1966-08-04) August 4, 1966 (age 45) Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Debut	February 16, 1986

Kensuke Sasaki (佐々木 健介, Sasaki Kensuke^?, born August 4, 1966) is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for various promotions through his own agency, Diamond Ring. He is the first of two men ever to hold all 3 of puroresu's major heavyweight titles (the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the AJPW Triple Crown Championship, and the GHC Heavyweight Championship), the other being Yoshihiro Takayama.

Professional wrestling career[link]

Early years (1986–1988)[link]

Kensuke Sasaki debuted in Riki Chōshū's Japan Pro Wrestling (a satellite of All Japan Pro Wrestling) in February 1986. Sasaki follow Chōshū as he returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1987. During that time, he teamed up with the likes of Osamu Matsuda and Kenichi Oya.

International Excursion (1988–1990)[link]

In 1988, Sasaki embarked on an excursion to North America, where he first started wrestling in Puerto Rico in World Wrestling Council, where he held his very first championship, the WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship, with Mr. Pogo twice between January 14, 1989 and April 1, 1989.

In January 1989, he started splitting his time wrestling in the WWC in Puerto Rico, with Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion in Canada, where he wrestled under the name Benkei Sasaki. He would also be trained in the Dungeon by Hart. During his time in Calgary, he won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship in August 1989, with All Japan loyalist Sumo Hara (Tatsumi "Koki" Kitahara).

He would also wrestle for Otto Wanz's Catch Wrestling Association in tours of Austria and Germany.

In December 1989, Stampede Wrestling closed its doors, and Sasaki returned to Puerto Rico full-time in the WWC, until he was called back to New Japan.

New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling (1990–2002)[link]

Sasaki returned to New Japan in March 1990, and formed a popular tag team with Hiroshi Hase. The pair would have two reigns as IWGP Tag Team Champions, and had memorable matches with the Steiner Brothers. Two more tag title reigns followed when in late 1992, Sasaki assumed the name "Power Warrior" and teamed with Road Warrior Hawk. As the Hell Raisers, they dominated the tag team scene in New Japan. On November 18, 1992, he also started wrestling periodically for World Championship Wrestling, and would wrestle there on and off until December 30, 1996.

In an incident in the New Japan Dojo in 1995, he was blamed for the death of a trainee, Hiromitsu Gompei. According to the book, Ring of Hell, he suplexed and worked over the trainee, who he thought was not making enough effort.^[2] No charges were ever brought against him, however several sources^[who?] have confirmed that Sasaki feels no remorse over the incident, regarding it as "just one of those things." Scott Norton and Bam Bam Bigelow confirmed the incident in their respective shoot interviews.^{[citation needed]}

Sasaki dropped the Power Warrior persona in 1995 (as he only revives the persona on special occasions, such as teaming with Hawk and Animal in six-man tag team matches) and began climbing the ranks in singles competition. He won his first major title, the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship on November 13, 1995, defeating Sting at a New Japan Pro Wrestling Event. This was the title's first title change outside of the United States. Sasaki lost it one month later to One Man Gang at Starrcade.

August 1997 skyrocketed Sasaki's rise to superstardom. On August 3, he won the G1 Climax tournament by defeating Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the final. A week later, he captured the IWGP Tag Team titles with Kazuo Yamazaki. Finally at the end of the month, he captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship by defeating long reigning champion Shinya Hashimoto, winning three major honors in a one month span. Sasaki solidified his dominance in the heavyweight division by defeating both Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh in his first two title defenses, thus defeating The Three Musketeers in three straight title matches. In April 1998, he lost the title to Tatsumi Fujinami. In March 1999, he won another IWGP Tag Team Championship with Shiro Koshinaka.

Sasaki won his second IWGP Heavyweight Championship from Genichiro Tenryu while wrestling with a 39 °C (102.2 °F) fever.^[3] He won the G1 Climax for the second time in August 2000 with a victory over last year's winner Manabu Nakanishi in the final, now holding both of New Japan's two heavyweight singles crowns. On October 9, 2000, Sasaki surrendered the IWGP title after he lost to Toshiaki Kawada in a non-title match at an All Japan vs. New Japan event called Do Judge. In a tournament final, Sasaki regained the title, defeating Kawada, at the January 4, 2001, Tokyo Dome show. In March 2001, Sasaki lost the IWGP Heavyweight Title to Scott Norton and in late 2002 he resigned from the promotion after a falling out with company management.

Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling (2003–2004)[link]

In the beginning of 2003, Sasaki joined his mentor, Riki Chōshū, in his new Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. He became the only WMG Heavyweight Champion; however, tensions between him and Chōshū over financial issues caused Sasaki to withdraw and the company to die a slow death.^[1]

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2004–2005)[link]

When World Japan failed, Sasaki returned to New Japan in 2004, but this time as a "traitor heel."^[1] After heated feuds with Yuji Nagata and others, Sasaki enjoyed two more IWGP Heavyweight Title reigns and established himself as one of New Japan's most successful wrestlers ever. He played to the fans, and told them he would do anything to get back in their good graces. After receiving their forgiveness, he once again left the promotion, this time on good terms, however the behind-the-scenes animosity between Sasaki and Chōshū proved otherwise.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2005–2008)[link]

After leaving New Japan, Sasaki went over to All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2005. Sasaki won that year's Champion's Carnival, and lost to Kenta Kobashi at Noah's Destiny 2005 show on July 18, 2005 in the Tokyo Dome in an incredible 22 minute classic.

Kensuke Sasaki and Road Warrior Animal teamed up on September 1 at the Differ Ariake and they defeated "brother" YASSHI and Shuji Kondo. Sasaki wore face paint as Power Warrior, the same name he used when teamed with Road Warrior Hawk in the 90's and both men were billed as the Hell Warriors. Animal was billed as Animal Warrior in a similar move to Hawk being billed as Hawk Warrior when he teamed with Sasaki. (Hawk, Animal, and Sasaki were billed as The Road Warriors in six-man tag team matches in 1996.)

On August 26, 2007, Sasaki defeated Minoru Suzuki to become the AJPW Triple Crown Champion. Sasaki made his first defense against Toshiaki Kawada on October 18, 2007, and would go on to team with Kawada after Nakajima suffered an injury on October 18 in the 2007 Real World Tag League. Sasaki and Kawada would lose a Finals Decision match against Satoshi Kojima and Suwama on December 9; both teams were tied, and opponents were needed for Keiji Muto and Joe Doering in the final of the League.

Sasaki successfully defended the Triple Crown Championship against Satoshi Kojima (on March 1, 2008). Sasaki participated in the 2008 Champion's Carnival over five straight shows in the Korakuen Hall from April 5 to April 9, scoring 4 points after 1 win (over Joe Doering), 1 loss (to Minoru Suzuki) and 2 draws (with Suwama and Osamu Nishimura). Sasaki lost the Triple Crown Championship to Carnival Winner Suwama on April 29, 2008.

Pro Wrestling Noah (2008–present)[link]

After losing the AJPW Triple Crown titles, he jumped to Pro Wrestling Noah and announced he would make it his full-time home promotion, while still operating the Kensuke Office. On September 6, 2008, he defeated Takeshi Morishima for the GHC Heavyweight Title, becoming the first person to hold the Heavyweight title in all three major Japanese promotions. On March 1, 2009, he lost the GHC Heavyweight title to Jun Akiyama. On September 21, 2009, he teamed with Morishima to win the GHC Tag Team titles from Akitoshi Saito and Bison Smith. They lost the titles on December 6, 2009, to Takeshi Rikio and Muhammad Yone.

Sasaki teamed up with regular tag partner Takeshi Morishima to participate in the Global Tag League of 2010, which ran from January 9 to January 24. Sasaki and Morishima finished the league with a total of four points, losing out to A-Block winners Yoshihiro Takayama and Takuma Sano. Sasaki also participated in Pro-Wrestling NOAH's Global League Tournament of 2010 from March 28 to May 2. During the league, he defeated Jun Akiyama in a highly acclaimed contest. Sasaki finished with a total of seven points, losing out to eventual winner Yoshihiro Takayama.

Mixed martial arts career[link]

Between 2001 and 2003, Sasaki took a couple hiatuses from pro wrestling and focused on Mixed Martial Arts. He has two fights under his belt, winning both by submission in the first round beating Dan Chase in 2001 and future UFC fighter Christian Wellisch in 2003.^[4]

During this period, he would alter his look, cutting his signature mullet (he would occasionally dye his hair different colors), wearing ring gear bearing the word, "Volcano," and adapting moves he learned in MMA training to expand his pro wrestling moveset.^[1]

Diamond Ring[link]

Afterwards, he became a freelancer and established his own agency, Kensuke Office. The agency is run by Sasaki's wife (former Joshi wrestler), Akira Hokuto, and currently represents Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kento Miyahara, Takashi Yoshioka and Takashi Okita. Under the Kensuke Office agency, Sasaki and pupil Katsuhiko Nakajima toured other promotions, particularly All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah.

In September 2006, Kensuke Office was announced as a member of the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance. Beginning in 2007, Kensuke Office has organised its own shows, and some of the talent featured on the shows include Minoru Suzuki, Jun Akiyama, Genichiro Tenryu, Yoshihiro Takayama, Kikutaro, Takeshi Morishima, KENTA and Catfish Man. In January 2012, Kensuke Office was renamed Diamond Ring. Currently, Diamond Ring serves as developmental territory of Pro Wrestling NOAH, featuring several of its superstars.

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • King Buster (Release three-quarter nelson suplex)
  • Northern Lights Bomb^[1] – adopted from his wife, Akira Hokuto
  • Power Special / Strangle Hold Gamma (Step-over head-hold ambar)^[5]
  • Volcano Eruption (Kneeling half nelson driver) – Used on rare occasions

• Signature moves
  • Backhand chop
  • Boston crab
  • Standing inverted figure four leglock
  • Frankensteiner
  • Ipponzeoi (Rolling over the shoulder arm drag)^[5]
  • Lariat
  • Multiple suplex variations
    • Dragon
    • German
    • Tiger
  • One-handed bulldog
  • Scoop powerslam
  • STK – Space Tornado Kensuke (Head vice STO)
  • Tornado Bomb (Leg trap one shoulder powerbomb)

• With Road Warrior Hawk or Road Warrior Animal
  • Doomsday Device

• Managers
  • Sonny Onoo^[6]
  • Akira Hokuto (real-life spouse)

• Entrance themes
  • "Hurricanes Bam" (1987–1988)
  • "Power" (1990–1995)
  • "Take The Dream" (1996–1997)
  • "Take The Dream - Senko" (1997–1998)
  • "Take The Dream - Infinity" (1998–2001)
  • "Take The Dream - The World" (2001–present)
  • "Hellraiser" by Ozzy Osbourne - as Power Warrior

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Katsuhiko Nakajima
  • AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Champion's Carnival (2005)
  • January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (2007) ^[7]
  • SAMURAI! TV Cup Triple Arrow Tournament (2007) - with Katsuhiko Nakajima & Seiya Sanada ^[8]

• Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
  • Suzuki Cup (2007) - with Ultimo Dragon and Marco Corleone ^[8]

• Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling
  • World Magma the Greatest Championship (1 time)
  • WJ Strongest Tournament (2003) ^[8]

• Hawai'i Championship Wrestling
  • HCW Kamehameha Heritage Championship (1 time)
  • HCW Kekaulike Heritage Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kenjiro Katahira

• Michinoku Pro Wrestling
  • Tohoku Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Katsuhiko Nakajima

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
  • IWGP Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with Hiroshi Hase (2), Hawk Warrior (2), Riki Chōshū (1), Kazuo Yamazaki (1) and Shiro Koshinaka (1)
  • G1 Climax (1997,^[9] 2000)
  • Japan/U.S All Star Tournament (1996) ^[8]
  • G1 Climax Special Tag Team Tournament (1997) - with Kazuo Yamazaki ^[8]
  • SKY PerfecTV! Cup (2001) ^[10]
  • MVP Award (2000)^[11]
  • Singles Best Bout (2000) vs. Toshiaki Kawada on October 9^[11]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #23 of the best 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1998^[12]
  • PWI ranked him #27 of the 100 best tag teams during the PWI Years with Hiroshi Hase in 2003^[13]
  • PWI ranked him #103 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003^[14]

• Pro Wrestling Noah
  • GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • GHC Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Takeshi Morishima
  • One Night Six Man Tag Tournament (2012) – with Kento Miyahara and Takeshi Morishima

• Stampede Wrestling
  • Stampede International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Sumo Hara

• Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
  • Match of the Year (2000)- vs. Toshiaki Kawada on October 9^[15]
  • Match of the Year (2005)- vs. Kenta Kobashi on July 18^[15]
  • Outstanding Performance Prize (2008)^[15]
  • Wrestler of the Year (2004)^[15]

• Toryumon Mexico
  • UWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) - with Animal Warrior^[16]

• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)¹

• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mr. Pogo

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Match of the Year (1991) with Hiroshi Hase vs. Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner at the WCW/New Japan Supershow

¹The championship was won in Tokyo, Japan as part of an interpromotional card between New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling.

Personal life[link]

Kensuke Sasaki married Akira Hokuto on October 1, 1995, after proposing to her on their first date.^[17] Together, they have two sons: Kennosuke (born November 1998) and Shinnosuke (born March 2003).^[18]

Also, Kensuke has a strong bond with his protégé Katsuhiko Nakajima, whom he considers a member of the family.

MMA record[link]

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round, Time	Notes
Win	2-0	Christian Wellisch	Submission (Guillotine Choke)	X-1[disambiguation needed ]	2003-09-06	1 2:35
Win	1-0	Dan Chase	Submission (Armbar)	GC 5 - Rumble in the Rockies	2001-08-19	1 0:36

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• Kensuke Office
• Strong Style Spirit
• The Official New Japan website

Takeshi Morishima
Ring name(s)	Takeshi Morishima
Billed height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Billed weight	130 kg (290 lb)[1]
Born	(1978-10-15) October 15, 1978 (age 33)[1] Edogawa, Tokyo[1]
Trained by	AJPW dojo[2] Akira Taue[2] Mitsuharu Misawa[2]
Debut	March 22, 1998 against Kentaro Shiga[1]

Takeshi Morishima (森嶋 猛 Morishima Takeshi^?) (October 15, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently performing for Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and has performed for Ring of Honor in the United States in the past. He is a former Ring of Honor World Champion and the current GHC Heavyweight Champion in his second reign. Morishima currently holds a position on Pro Wrestling Noah's board of directors.^[3]

Professional wrestling career[link]

Morishima regularly performs for Pro Wrestling Noah. He frequently teamed with Takeshi Rikio as Wild II,^[4] and the duo have previously held the GHC Tag Team Championship.^[5] Morshima has also wrestled in the United States and United Kingdom. He competed in Harley Race's World League Wrestling promotion in 2003, defending the WLW Heavyweight Championship, which he had won from Ron Harris while Harris toured Japan.^[6] Morishima returned to the United States in February 2007, wrestling four matches with Ring of Honor. He lost to Samoa Joe on February 16, 2007 before defeating Homicide in a match for the ROH World Championship on the subsequent evening, thus becoming the first non-American to hold the title.^[7][8] On February 23, 2007, Morishima defeated B.J. Whitmer in his first title defense, and on the next night he and Nigel McGuinness defeated Samoa Joe and Homicide.^[7] On March 4, 2007, he successfully defended the ROH Championship in Japan, defeating Kenta in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.^[7] Morishima could not return to the United States until almost a month and a half later when he and Chris Hero took on Nigel McGuinness and Doug Williams, and the next night when he successfully defended the belt against McGuinness for the first time.^[7]

On April 21, Morishima was honored at the 42nd annual Cauliflower Alley Club banquet, being presented with the "Future Legend" award.^[9][10] Back in ROH, Morishima went on a string of successful title defenses, defeating the likes of Austin Aries, Shingo, Jay Briscoe, and Roderick Strong.^[7] Morishima also competed twice on ROH's first pay-per-view Respect Is Earned, defeating BJ Whitmer to retain the ROH Championship, and later teaming with Bryan Danielson to defeat Nigel McGuinness and Kenta.^[7] At the second pay-per-view, Driven, Morishima again competed twice, retaining the title against Jimmy Rave and later Adam Pearce.^[7] On July 16, 2007, Morishima wrestled in the main event of Ring of Honor's debut show in Japan and defeated Nigel McGuinness to retain the ROH Championship.^[11] Morishima lost the title to McGuinness at Undeniable on October 6.^[7]

On March 2, 2008, Morishima defeated Mitsuharu Misawa at the Budokan Hall Event of Pro Wrestling Noah's Second Navigation Tour to become the 12th GHC Heavyweight Champion.^[7] Morishima has stated that while he plans on returning to ROH in the future, he has no intentions in regaining the ROH Championship, as he will be fully focused on Noah's heavyweight scene. On June 14, 2008, Morishima made his very first defense of the GHC Heavyweight Title against Takashi Sugiura. Morishima prevailed after hitting a backdrop driver. Morishima's second defense happened on July 18, 2008 against former his tag team partner Takeshi Rikio. After about 13 and a half minutes, Morishima defeated Rikio with a backdrop suplex. On September 6, 2008 at the Tokyo Nippon Budokan, Morishima lost to Kensuke Sasaki, who gained a pin at the 22-minute mark with the Northern Lights Bomb. In August 2008 Morishima had a dark match tryout against Charlie Haas for WWE before a live Raw in Chicago, defeating Haas in 3 minutes with a missile dropkick.^[7] He then beat Jamie Noble the following night in another dark match, this time for Friday Night SmackDown.^[7] On December 7, 2008 Morishima faced Jun Akiyama for the number one contender's spot for the GHC Heavyweight Championship. He lost to Akiyama, then traveled back to the United States to face Bryan Danielson one last time for ROH's Final Battle 2008. He lost the "Fight Without Honor" to Danielson.^[7] On September 21, 2009 in Nagoya, Japan, Morishima and Sasaki defeated Akitoshi Saito and Bison Smith for the GHC Tag Titles.^[12] However at on December 6, at the last show of Winter Navigation '09, Morishima and Sasaki lost the titles to Takeshi Rikio and Mohammed Yone.^[12]

Through Noah's working relationship with Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), Morishima has made several trips to Mexico. On March 19, 2010 Morishima teamed up with Taiji Ishimori to defeat La Hermandad 187 ("The Brotherhood of 187"; Nicho el Millonario and Joe Lider) to win the AAA World Tag Team Championship, representing the AAA heel faction La Legión Extranjera ("The Foreign Legion").^[13] On May 23, 2010 Morishima and Ishimori lost the AAA World Tag Team Championship to the team of Atsushi Aoki and Go Shiozaki during Pro Wrestling Noah's NOAH Navigation With Breeze - Day 1 show in Niigata, Niigata, Japan.^[14]

Morishima was recently on this TV Drama in Japan, "Hesitation I Come" during his time off due to a foot injury. However on November 23 during (NOAH Winter Navigation 2010 - Day 4) Morishima returned to Noah teaming with Kensuke Sasaki and defeating Shuhei Taniguchi & Takashi Sugiura. On January 22, 2012, Morishima defeated Go Shiozaki to win the GHC Heavyweight Championship for the second time.^[15]

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves

• Amaze Impact (Reverse chokeslam facebuster)^[2]
• Backdrop Driver (High-angle belly to back suplex)^[2][7]
• Lariat^[2][7]

• Signature moves

• Cartwheel into a hip attack to a cornered opponent or a stinger splash^[16]
• Cobra clutch backbreaker^[12]
• Forearm club^[12]
• Scud Missile (Front missile dropkick)^[12]
• Spinning side slam^[7]
• Suicide dive^[12]

• Managers

• Tony Atlas^[7]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• 3 Count Wrestling
  • 3CW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[17]
• Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
  • AAA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Taiji Ishimori^[13]
• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Future Legend Award (2007)^[7]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked #10 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2007^[18]
• Pro Wrestling Noah
  • GHC Heavyweight Championship (2 times, current)^[7]
  • GHC Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Takeshi Rikio (1), Kensuke Sasaki (1) and Mohammed Yone (2)^[19]
  • Global League Tournament (2011)
  • One Day Heavyweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2008) – with Mitsuharu Misawa and Mohammed Yone^[20]
  • One Night Six Man Tag Tournament (2012) – with Kensuke Sasaki and Kento Miyahara
• Ring of Honor
  • ROH World Championship (1 time)^[7]
• Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
  • Fighting Spirit Award (2007)^[18]
• World League Wrestling
  • WLW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[19]
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Best Brawler (2007)
  • Match of the Year (2007) vs. Bryan Danielson at ROH Manhattan Mayhem II on August 25
  • Most Improved (2006)

References[link]

Kazuyuki Fujita (藤田 和之, Fujita Kazuyuki^?) (born October 16, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and a former amateur wrestler. He has fought in mixed martial arts promotions including PRIDE, K-1 and currently fighting in Sengoku.

He is known as the last one to keep the tradition of Antonio Inoki's fighting spirit. Fujita's theme song is "Honno No Fighter" (炎のファイター, Honō No Faitā^?, Burning Fighter) Orchestra Version, originally the song for Inoki. During his prime, Fujita was also famous for having one of the strongest chins and strongest necks in mixed martial arts. In MMA, he holds wins over Ken Shamrock, Gilbert Yvel, Mark Kerr, James Thompson and Bob Sapp.

Career[link]

Wrestling[link]

Fujita practiced freestyle wrestling in high school. He participated in the FILA World Championships as a junior in 1988, placing sixth, and in the Espoir division in 1989, placing eleventh. In 1993, Fujita placed fifth at the Asian Championships at the senior level, and in 1993 and 1994, he represented Japan as a senior in the World Cup, a dual meet tournament. He was also a national champion in Japan in Greco-Roman wrestling. He was such a great amateur wrestler, "Iron Head" missed making the Japanese Olympic team by 1 point in the Olympic qualifiers.

Professional Wrestling (1996-2005)[link]

Fujita joined New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1993, but he still competed in amateur wrestling. Because of this his professional debut was delayed three years until 1996. His debut match was against Yuji Nagata. Fujita steadily worked his way up the card, and in 1999 he started working against professional wrestlers who came from a Vale Tudo mixed martial arts background.

In April 2001 he returned to NJPW, and quickly won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship defeating Scott Norton at Strong Style 2001 on April 9.^[1] He reigned as the champion until he was forced to vacate the title due to injury in January 2002.

Fujita returned to New Japan in the summer of 2002. At NJPW Cross Road on August 29, Fujita entered a tournament for the vacated NWF Heavyweight Championship but lost to eventual winner: Yoshihiro Takayama.^[2] On October 14, Fujita challenged Yuji Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship but came up short.^[2]

Fujita immediately won the vacated title by defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi. He lost the championship to Kensuke Sasaki on October 9, 2004.

In 2005 he joined the Team JAPAN faction, and on July 18, 2005 he won the championship for the third time against Hiroyoshi Tenzan. In August 2005, Fujita entered the 2005 G1 Climax where he won all his matches in the round robin portion, then defeated Toshiaki Kawada but lost to Masahiro Chono in the finals. He lost the IWGP Championship to Brock Lesnar on October 8, 2005 at Toukon Souzou New Chapter in a three way match including Masahiro Chono. Lesnar pinned Chono to win the title. In late 2005 he withdrew from a rematch with Lesnar, scheduled for January 4, 2006. Fujita was represented by Inoki Office, an agency originally started by Antonio Inoki, and had not been under a contract with NJPW.

Mixed martial arts (2000-2009)[link]

In January 2000 he put his professional wrestling career on hiatus and began training for mixed martial arts competition. His trainer was his professional wrestling mentor and mixed martial arts legend, Antonio Inoki. He entered the PRIDE organization, and quickly gained success. On January 30 at Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round, Fujita entered Pride's 2000 Openweight Grand Prix where he defeated Hans Nijman by submission. On April 1, Fujita fought at Extreme Shootout - The Underground where he KOed Dan Chase and then submitted Will Childs. On May 1, Fujita competed at Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals. In the quarter finals, Fujita scored his first big victory of his career by defeating Mark Kerr, who at the time was considered to be one of the best heavyweights in mixed martial arts. During the fight, Fujita took incredible damage to his head yet was unfazed. Kerr delivered so much punishment that he gassed out and Fujita took advantage of Kerr's fatigue by scoring points with strikes and winning a decision. Fujita's win over Kerr was considered to be a gigantic upset and was the first loss in Kerr's career snapping a 13 fight unbeaten streak. Fujita's next fight was against former UFC Heavyweight Champion: Mark Coleman in the semi finals of the Grand Prix but Fujita would lose by TKO due to corner stoppage as he was unable to continue due to injuries.

Fujita next fought MMA superstar Ken Shamrock at Pride 10. Fujita, like in the Kerr fight, took another incredible beating yet was not knocked out. Shamrock then began to experience heart attack symptoms and had his corner throw in the towel, resulting in another massive win for Fujita and his career. PRIDE FC color commentator Eddie Bravo proclaimed during Fujita's fight with Shamrock, "that guy can take a baseball bat to the side of the head!".

He followed up his titanic wins over Kerr and Shamrock with a win over dangerous striker Gilbert Yvel at Pride 12. Fujita became known for a relentless style and his exceptionally strong neck often protected him from being knocked-out by strikes to the head. As Fujita himself noted, "I am not so great a puncher, not so great a kicker. I don't really have anything all that great, but in today's vale tudo, the strongest is the one that can take a beating."^[3]

In May 2001 at Pride 14, Fujita defeated fellow pro wrestler: Yoshihiro Takayama by submission in his first PRIDE main event. On August 19 at the K-1 Andy Hug 2001 GP Final, Fujita fought K-1 legend and future MMA legend: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in Cro Cop's MMA debut. Fujita would lose the fight after suffering a cut resulting in a TKO loss.

Fujita returned to fight a year later where he defeated pro wrestler and former sumo wrestler: Tadao Yasuda on August 8 at UFO - Legend. On December 31 at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002, Fujita fought Mirko Cro Cop in a rematch but Fujita would lose again this time by unanimous decision.

On May 2, 2003, Fujita defeated another pro wrestler in Manabu Nakanishi by TKO. On June 8 at PRIDE 26, he fought PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko. Fujita rocked Emelianenko with a counter right hand, but despite his best attempts to remain on the offensive Emelianenko recovered and defeated Fujita with a rear naked choke submission. On December 31, Fujita defeated American boxer: Imamu Mayfield by submission at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003.

On May 22, 2004 he defeated Bob Sapp in an MMA fight at K-1 MMA ROMANEX. Sapp was the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and the championship was vacated after his loss to Fujita. On December 31 at K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite!!, Fujita defeated Egyptian Greco roman wrestler and Olympic gold medalist: Karam Gaber by knockout.

On May 5, 2006 at PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute, he returned to MMA by competing in PRIDE's 2006 Openweight Grand Prix making him the only fighter in PRIDE's history to have competed in both openweight grand prixs. In the first round, Fujita defeated James Thompson by knockout. Thompson dominated Fujita for most of the fight, until Fujita rallied with a flurry of punches that knocked out Thompson. In July 2006 at PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute, Fujita fought PRIDE Middleweight champion: Wanderlei Silva in the quarterfinals and lost by TKO. At PRIDE Shockwave 2006 on December 31, Fujita defeated Eldar Kurtanidze by submission due to strikes.

Fujita's next fight was against UFC fighter: Jeff Monson in the main event of Pride 34. The fight was historic as it would be the final fight in PRIDE's history. Fujita would lose by submission.

After PRIDE was sold to Zuffa, Fujita joined the new promotion: World Victory Road. He debuted on March 5, 2008 at Sengoku 1 where he defeated Peter Graham by submission. Fujita next fight was against Travis Wiuff at Sengoku 3 where he lost by TKO.

On August 2, 2009, Fujita was defeated by Blagoi Ivanov at World Victory Road's ninth event, Sengoku 9.

On December 31, 2009 at Dynamite!! 2009, Fujita took on Alistair Overeem and was knocked out via knee to the head in the first round. This was the first time Fujita has been knocked unconscious.

Championships and accomplishments[link]

Mixed Martial Arts

• Fight Matrix
  • 2000 Rookie of the Year ^[4]

• PRIDE Fighting Championships
  • 2000 PRIDE Openweight Grand Prix Semi-Finalist
  • Fought the last fight in PRIDE History

Pro Wrestling

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • Singles Best Bout (2005) vs. Masahiro Chono on August 14^[5]