Ayako Sato (佐藤綾子, Sato Ayako) (born January 4, 1986) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to World…Ayako Sato (佐藤綾子, Sato Ayako) (born January 4, 1986) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana, where she is a member of the CRYSIS stable. She is also known for her time in the Japanese promotions JWP Joshi Puroresu and Pure-J.
Daisuke Sasaki (佐々木 大輔, Sasaki Daisuke; born November 22, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to…Daisuke Sasaki (佐々木 大輔, Sasaki Daisuke; born November 22, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), where he is the leader of Damnation T.A. and the current O-40 Champion in his first reign and a current KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion in his 9th reign with Hideki Okatani and Illusion. He is also a former three-time KO-D Openweight Champion, one-time DDT Extreme Champion, six-time KO-D Tag Team Champion, nine-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion, three-time Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion and former three-time DDT Universal Champion. Sasaki has also made several appearances for in United States and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), working in the promotion's junior heavyweight division.
Hiroyo Matsumoto (松本 浩代, Matsumoto Hiroyo; born November 6, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently…Hiroyo Matsumoto (松本 浩代, Matsumoto Hiroyo; born November 6, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working as a freelancer. Emi Sakura gave her the nickname of Lady Destroyer (破壊する女, Hakai Suru Onna) because Matsumoto broke a wall in the Ichigaya arena during her Ice Ribbon debut. She is best known with other wrestling promotions such as Oz Academy and Seadlinnng. She graduated from Hiratsuka Konan High School in the Kanagawa Prefecture.
Atsushi Kotoge (小峠 篤司, Kotōge Atsushi) (born October 18, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to…Atsushi Kotoge (小峠 篤司, Kotōge Atsushi) (born October 18, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former one-time GHC Tag Team Champion, three-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion and record eleven-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his time in Osaka Pro Wrestling, where he was part of the tag team Momo no Seishun Tag (桃の青春タッグ, Momo no Seishun Taggu; "Peach of Youth Tag") with Daisuke Harada. Kotoge and Harada are former three-time Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions and have also worked together for various other promotions across Japan and for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania–based Chikara in the United States.
Yūki Ōno (大野 勇樹, Ōno Yūki; born April 10, 1985 in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan) is a Japanese wrestler who most notably…Yūki Ōno (大野 勇樹, Ōno Yūki; born April 10, 1985 in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan) is a Japanese wrestler who most notably worked for Dragon Gate.
Yumehito Imanari (今成夢人, Imanari Yumehito) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for the CyberFight…Yumehito Imanari (今成夢人, Imanari Yumehito) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for the CyberFight wrestling promotion. He has made appearances in Ganbare Pro-Wrestling (GanPro) under his real name, and in DDT Pro-Wrestling as part of the Pheromones stable under the name Yumehito "Fantastic" Imanari (今成"ファンタスティック"夢人, Imanari "Fantasutikku" Yumehito).
Tatsuhiko Kimura (木村達彦, Kimura Tatsuhiko; born August 31, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by the…Tatsuhiko Kimura (木村達彦, Kimura Tatsuhiko; born August 31, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by the ring name Tatsuhiko Yoshino (吉野達彦, Yoshino Tatsuhiko), currently signed to Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) in the Strong J division, where he is a former BJW Junior Heavyweight Champion. He was trained by Guts Ishijima and debuted for Ishijima's Guts World Pro-Wrestling (Guts World) in 2004. After a hiatus from professional wrestling starting in 2006, he returned to Guts World in 2009, where he became an important wrestler in the promotion, winning the GWC Championship and GWC Tag Team Championship once. He official signed with BJW in 2017.
Yohei Nakajima (中島洋平, Nakajima Yōhei; born August 22, 1985), is a Japanese professional wrestler, who performs under…Yohei Nakajima (中島洋平, Nakajima Yōhei; born August 22, 1985), is a Japanese professional wrestler, who performs under the masked identity Black Menso-re (ブラックめんそーれ, Burakku Mensōre). He was previously known as the similar masked character Menso～re Oyaji (めんそ～れ親父, Menso～re Oyaji), under which he performed for several independent promotions, most notably Okinawa Pro Wrestling. As Black Menso-re, he appeared for All Japan Pro Wrestling between 2014 and 2024, and became a four-time Gaora TV Champion. In 2024 he joined Pro-Wrestling NOAH, and previously worked as another masked character Cristóbal (クリストバル, Kurisutobaru) as the partner to fellow NOAH wrestler Alejandro before being revealed as Black Menso-re on October 28, 2024.
Masashi Takeda (竹田 誠志, Takeda Masashi; born August 13, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial…Masashi Takeda (竹田 誠志, Takeda Masashi; born August 13, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, primarily working for Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) in the Deathmatch division. Takeda also competes as a freelancer for Freedoms and occasionally, All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).
Akira Tozawa (戸澤 陽, Tozawa Akira, born July 22, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler. As of 2016, he is signed to…Akira Tozawa (戸澤 陽, Tozawa Akira, born July 22, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler. As of 2016, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under his real name and is one-half of the Alpha Academy with Otis. He is a former one-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion and 16-time WWE 24/7 Champion. Prior to working for the WWE, he had a 12-year run in Dragon Gate where he is a former Open the Brave Gate, Open the Twin Gate, Open the Triangle Gate and Open the Owarai Gate champion and the winner of the 2011 and 2012 Summer Adventure Tag League. He is also known for his year-long excursion to the United States, during which he performed for promotions such as Chikara, Dragon Gate USA, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.
Maki Narumiya (成宮 真希, Narumiya Maki; born April 7, 1985) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. A former dancer…Maki Narumiya (成宮 真希, Narumiya Maki; born April 7, 1985) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. A former dancer, Narumiya was trained in professional wrestling by Emi Sakura and made her debut for the Ice Ribbon promotion in March 2011. During her four years in the promotion, she became a one-time ICE×60 Champion and two-time International Ribbon Tag Team Champion. In April 2015, Narumiya transferred over to the Reina Joshi Puroresu promotion, where she already was a one-time holder of both the CMLL-Reina International and CMLL-Reina International Junior Championships. She retired from professional wrestling in March 2016.
Keisuke Ishii (石井慧介, Ishii Keisuke; born February 6, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and signed to…Keisuke Ishii (石井慧介, Ishii Keisuke; born February 6, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT). Ishii also competes for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Yusuke Hino (日野 裕介, Hino Yūsuke; born January 27, 1985), better known by the ring name Yuji Hino (火野 裕士, Hino Yūji), is…Yusuke Hino (日野 裕介, Hino Yūsuke; born January 27, 1985), better known by the ring name Yuji Hino (火野 裕士, Hino Yūji), is a Japanese professional wrestler, He is currently competing as a freelancer on the Japanese independent circuit. One of the most well-travelled heavyweights in Japan, Hino was trained by Taka Michinoku and made his debut for his Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) promotion in November 2003, becoming a four-time Strongest-K Champion and a four-time Strongest-K Tag Team Champion, before leaving the promotion in October 2015. He has also wrestled extensively for DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) and Wrestle-1 (W-1), where he is a former one-time KO-D Openweight Champion, a two-time KO-D Tag Team Champion and a two-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion, as well as a former Wrestle-1 Champion and Wrestle-1 Tag Team Champion.
Tsutomu Oosugi (大杉勉, Ōsugi Tsutomu; born January 10, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He currently wrestles…Tsutomu Oosugi (大杉勉, Ōsugi Tsutomu; born January 10, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He currently wrestles as a freelancer in the Japanese independent circuit and as a regular in both Michinoku Pro Wrestling (Michinoku Pro) and Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW). His ring name is written in katakana as Tsutomu Oosugi (ツトム・オースギ).
Asami Kawasaki (川崎亜沙美, Kawasaki Asami; born 18 October 1984 in Kishiwada, Osaka) is a Japanese professional wrestler…Asami Kawasaki (川崎亜沙美, Kawasaki Asami; born 18 October 1984 in Kishiwada, Osaka) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actress. She debuted as a pro wrestler in 2003 while also attending an acting school run by Yoshimoto Kōgyō. Wrestling for a time for JDStar, she retired from the ring in 2006, but returned again in 2009. She currently wrestles freelance. In 2012, she was cast as the second daughter of the heroine in the popular Asadora Carnation on NHK. The character is based on the fashion designer Junko Koshino.
Shinya Ishikawa (石川晋也, Ishikawa Shin'ya) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler best known for his tenure with the…Shinya Ishikawa (石川晋也, Ishikawa Shin'ya) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler best known for his tenure with the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW).
Hajime Ohara (Japanese: 大原 甫, Ōhara Hajime; ring name: 大原はじめ, born July 24, 1984) is a Japanese professional wrestler.…Hajime Ohara (Japanese: 大原 甫, Ōhara Hajime; ring name: 大原はじめ, born July 24, 1984) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a one time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion and a six-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. Ohara also previous working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in Mexico for several years as part of his training, mixing the lucha libre style of Mexico with the Japanese Puroresu style of wrestling. In Japan, Ohara is best known for his work in the Hustle, Smash and Wrestling New Classic (WNC).
Ayumi Kurihara (栗原 亜弓, Kurihara Ayumi; ring name: 栗原 あゆみ) (born July 13, 1984) is a retired joshi puroresu wrestler…Ayumi Kurihara (栗原 亜弓, Kurihara Ayumi; ring name: 栗原 あゆみ) (born July 13, 1984) is a retired joshi puroresu wrestler best known for her tenures with Pro Wrestling Wave and NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling.
Chiharu Watanabe (渡辺 千春, Watanabe Chiharu) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known for his ring name Kanjyuro…Chiharu Watanabe (渡辺 千春, Watanabe Chiharu) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known for his ring name Kanjyuro Matsuyama (松山 勘十郎, Matsuyama Kanjūrō). He has worked in Toryumon and Michinoku Pro Wrestling, but is more famous for his long career in Osaka Pro Wrestling. Along with Kikutaro and Stalker Ichikawa, he is considered one of the greatest three comedy wrestlers in Japan.
Yusaku Obata (小幡優作, Obata Yusaku, born February 13, 1984) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently a freelancer.…Yusaku Obata (小幡優作, Obata Yusaku, born February 13, 1984) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently a freelancer. He's best known for his time in Pro Wrestling Zero1 (ZERO1), where is a former World Heavyweight Champion, a former two-time NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, a former NWA United National Heavyweight Champion, the winner of the 2013 and 2016 Furinkazan and the 2016 Fire Festival. He is also known for his work in Apache Pro Wrestling Army, where he was a former WEW Tag Team Champion alongside HIROKI. Obata was originally trained by Kaientai Dojo and left the promotion in 2006. After leaving K-Dojo, Obata had much better success after signing with ZERO1 in 2012.
Tequila Saya (テキーラさや, Tekira Saya) (born January 19, 1984) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for…Tequila Saya (テキーラさや, Tekira Saya) (born January 19, 1984) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Ice Ribbon and Oz Academy.
Kyosuke Mikami (三上 恭佑, Mikami Kyōsuke; born December 29, 1983), better known by his ring name El Desperado (エル・デスペラード…Kyosuke Mikami (三上 恭佑, Mikami Kyōsuke; born December 29, 1983), better known by his ring name El Desperado (エル・デスペラード, Eru Desuperādo), is a Japanese luchador enmascarado (or masked professional wrestler). He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and is one-half of the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions with Místico in their first reign as a team and Desperado's fifth individual reign. He was a member of the Suzuki-gun stable from 2014 until its disbandment in 2022. Mikami was trained by the NJPW dojo and worked for NJPW for two years as a Young Lion. In 2012, he traveled to Mexico for a learning excursion, working for NJPW's Mexican affiliate Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) as the masked character Namajague, a Spanish translation of Namahage, a Japanese folk demon. While in CMLL, he won his first professional wrestling title alongside Okumura, the CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship, in March 2013. After being unmasked due to losing a match and briefly working without one, Mikami returned to NJPW in January 2014 and was repackaged under another mask as El Desperado. During his time with Suzuki-gun, he is a former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (alongside Yoshinobu Kanemaru).
Takuya Sugawara (菅原 拓也, Sugawara Takuya; born November 3, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler, He currently…Takuya Sugawara (菅原 拓也, Sugawara Takuya; born November 3, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler, He currently performs on the Pro Wrestling Zero1 and Japanese independent circuit.
Hiroshi Mihara (三原 弘嗣, Mihara Hiroshi; born October 20, 1983), better known by his ring name Hiroshi Yamato (大和ヒロシ…Hiroshi Mihara (三原 弘嗣, Mihara Hiroshi; born October 20, 1983), better known by his ring name Hiroshi Yamato (大和ヒロシ, Yamato Hiroshi), is a Japanese professional wrestler who works as a freelancer. Trained by the All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, he started his career in February 2007 working in Mexico for the International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) promotion, where he won the 2007 Rey del Ring tournament. Yamato returned to Japan and his home promotion in February 2008 and during the next five years went on to become a one-time World Junior Heavyweight and All Asia Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2012 Junior Hyper League. In June 2013, Yamato left All Japan in a mass exodus to join the new Wrestle-1 promotion. In January 2016, Yamato won the Wrestle-1 Cruiser Division Championship. Yamato also worked as a trainer and sales manager for Wrestle-1 until his departure from the promotion in 2018.
Daisuke Masaoka (正岡大介, Masaoka Daisuke) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Freedoms…Daisuke Masaoka (正岡大介, Masaoka Daisuke) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Freedoms, mainly competing in the deathmatch branch. He is also known for his tenures with other promotion from the Japanese independent scene such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling and DDT Pro-Wrestling.
Wakakirin Shinichi (若麒麟 真一, Wakakirin Shin'ichi), born September 21, 1983, as Shinichi Suzukawa (鈴川真一, Suzukawa…Wakakirin Shinichi (若麒麟 真一, Wakakirin Shin'ichi), born September 21, 1983, as Shinichi Suzukawa (鈴川真一, Suzukawa Shin'ichi), is a former sumo wrestler from Hyōgo prefecture in Japan. His highest rank was maegashira 9. He was thrown out of the sport in February 2009 after being arrested for cannabis possession. In 2010 he became a professional wrestler.
Masayuki Okamoto (岡本 将之, Okamoto Masayuki; born 18 September 1983) is a former sumo wrestler and current professional…Masayuki Okamoto (岡本 将之, Okamoto Masayuki; born 18 September 1983) is a former sumo wrestler and current professional wrestler from Chōyō, Kumamoto, Japan. In sumo, he used the shikona Kirinowaka Tarō (霧の若 太郎, Kirinowaka Tarō), while in professional wrestling he is known by the ring name Shogun Okamoto (将軍岡本, Shōgun Okamoto).
Tsukasa Fujimoto (藤本 つかさ, Fujimoto Tsukasa; born July 30, 1983) is a Japanese joshi professional wrestler and actress.…Tsukasa Fujimoto (藤本 つかさ, Fujimoto Tsukasa; born July 30, 1983) is a Japanese joshi professional wrestler and actress. She is signed for Ice Ribbon as a wrestler and as the co-head trainer of their training facility. She is a record seven-time ICE×∞ Champion, six-time International Ribbon Tag Team Champion and a two-time Internet Wrestling 19 (IW19) Champion, making her Ice Ribbon's third Triple Crown Champion. Fujimoto holds several records in Ice Ribbon, including most reigns as both the ICE×60/ICE×∞ and IW19 Champion, being the last IW19 Champion by unifying the title with the ICE×60 Championship in July 2013, having the longest reign and most successful title defenses as the ICE×60/ICE×∞ Champion and being the only wrestler in history to have held all four of the promotion's titles. Fujimoto has also made appearances for JWP Joshi Puroresu, where she is a former one-time holder of the Daily Sports Women's Tag Team and JWP Tag Team Championships, Pro Wrestling Wave, where she is a former one-time Wave Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2012 Dual Shock Wave tournament, and Reina Joshi Puroresu, where she is a former one-time Reina World Women's Champion and a two-time Reina World Tag Team Champion. Fujimoto is the handpicked successor to Manami Toyota, who handed her the nickname of "Flying Angel" and her Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex finishing maneuver upon her November 2017 retirement from professional wrestling. Fujimoto also defeated Toyota in her final match.
Yuzuki Aikawa (愛川 ゆず季, Aikawa Yuzuki; born May 16, 1983) is a Japanese gravure idol and retired professional wrestler.…Yuzuki Aikawa (愛川 ゆず季, Aikawa Yuzuki; born May 16, 1983) is a Japanese gravure idol and retired professional wrestler. Starting her modeling career in 2003, Aikawa went on to become one of Japan's top gravure idols, earning the nickname "The Gravure Queen of the Next Generation" by appearing in various men's magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs and video games. In 2010, Aikawa transitioned into professional wrestling, joining the newly founded World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, becoming its public face and the inaugural holder of the Wonder of Stardom and Goddesses of Stardom Championships. Aikawa's first year in professional wrestling ended with the Tokyo Sports magazine naming her the 2011 female wrestler of the year. A year later, having successfully defended the Wonder of Stardom Championship throughout the year, while also winning the inaugural 5Star Grand Prix, Aikawa became the first wrestler to win the award two times in a row. Aikawa also produced six of her own independent wrestling events under the banner of Yuzupon Matsuri, in the vein of her trainer Fuka Kakimoto's old Fuka Matsuri events. Aikawa retired from professional wrestling on April 29, 2013. She was never defeated for either of her championships, being stripped of the Goddesses of Stardom Championship in October 2012, after her partner Yoko Bito was injured, and relinquishing the Wonder of Stardom Championship a month prior to her final match.
Yujiro Kushida (櫛田 雄二郎, Kushida Yūjirō; born May 12, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial…Yujiro Kushida (櫛田 雄二郎, Kushida Yūjirō; born May 12, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, better known by his mononymous ring name Kushida (stylized as KUSHIDA). He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and also makes appearances for Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he is a member of Contra Unit. He is best known for his tenures with NJPW, where he is a former six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (twice with Time Splitters teammate Alex Shelley and twice with Kevin Knight). He was the winner of the 2015 and 2017 Best of the Super Juniors tournaments, the 2016 Super J-Cup, and the 2017 Pro Wrestling World Cup, a tournament co-promoted by NJPW with What Culture Pro Wrestling (WCPW) and Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro). Kushida previously made appearances for NJPW's American partner Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former ROH World Television Champion. In 2019, Kushida signed with WWE, who assigned him to perform on the 205 Live and NXT brands. In WWE, he is a former one-time NXT Cruiserweight Champion. In 2022, he departed from WWE and returned to NJPW; he signed with TNA (then known as Impact Wrestling) in December of that same year. Kushida began training for a mixed martial arts (MMA) career at Nobuhiko Takada's Takada Dojo while in junior high school. He made his professional MMA debut in 2003 for the ZST promotion, winning the following year's ZST Genesis Lightweight Tournament. In 2005, he retired from MMA, ending his career with an undefeated record.
Taiji Ishimori (石森 太二, Ishimori Taiji; born February 10, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New…Taiji Ishimori (石森 太二, Ishimori Taiji; born February 10, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of Unbound Co. and former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions with Robbie X. He is also a former three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and is also a one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion alongside former Bullet Club teammates Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa. Ishimori is best known for his 12-year stint with Pro Wrestling Noah, where he became one of the most decorated junior heavyweights in the promotion's history, holding the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship three times, while also setting the record for the longest reign with the championship at 405 days during his first reign. Ishimori also held the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship a record six times, and won the promotion's Nippon TV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League a record four times. He is also known for his work in Impact Wrestling, where he is a one-time Impact X Division Champion.
Masahiro Takanashi (高梨 将弘, Takanashi Masahiro; born January 22, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler, also known…Masahiro Takanashi (高梨 将弘, Takanashi Masahiro; born January 22, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler, also known by the ring name Masa Takanashi (マサ高梨). Takanashi was trained by Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) and has worked for the promotion since his debut in September 2003, becoming a one-time KO-D Openweight Champion, a two-time KO-D Tag Team Champion, a seven-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion, a two-time DDT Extreme Champion, an 18-time Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion and a one-time UWA World Trios Champion. Takanashi is also known for his work in women's wrestling promotion Ice Ribbon, where he performed under the ring name Ribbon Takanashi (リボン高梨, Ribon Takanashi) and became a one-time International Ribbon Tag Team and Triangle Ribbon Champion.
Shin Takagi (鷹木 信, Takagi Shin; born November 21, 1982), known by the ring name Shingo Takagi (鷹木信悟, Takagi Shingo), is…Shin Takagi (鷹木 信, Takagi Shin; born November 21, 1982), known by the ring name Shingo Takagi (鷹木信悟, Takagi Shingo), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Unbound Co. stable and a former one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. He is also former five-time NEVER Openweight Champion and is a former member of the Los Ingobernables de Japón stable. Takagi first became known for his work with Dragongate, where he competed from his debut in 2004 up until 2018. Known during his tenure as the "Pumping Hawk", he was recognized as the promotion's top heel for many years and incantations, and went on to become one of the most decorated wrestlers in the company's history, winning the Open the Dream Gate Championship, the top championship in the promotion, four times in eight years. He was also known as the leader of the New Hazard, Real Hazard, KAMIKAZE, -akatsuki-, VerserK and ANTIAS stables in Dragongate, and for his long-lasting rivalry with BxB Hulk, with whom he faced off against in several prominent events. He had his last contracted Dragongate match on October 7, 2018, where he would lose to BxB Hulk. During his time in Dragongate, he also spent an extended amount of time with American promotions such as Full Impact Pro, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Ring of Honor (ROH); In ROH, he became a ROH World Tag Team Champion alongside then-stablemate Naruki Doi in 2007. On October 8, 2018, Takagi made his surprise debut in NJPW as the foreshadowed sixth member ("pareja") of the Los Ingobernables de Japón stable as "The Dragon" (not to be confused with fellow NJPW wrestler Tatsumi Fujinami, who was also known as "The Dragon"). Originally performing in the Junior Heavyweight division, he went on to be undefeated as a singles competitor and overall unpinned and unsubmitted until the BOSJ 2019 final. He also held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship once with fellow Ingobernables member Bushi from January to March 2019. Takagi moved to the Heavyweight division in June 2019, debuting at G1 Climax 29. From February to August 2020, Takagi held both the NEVER Openweight Championship and the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship (with Bushi and Evil), making him the first person to hold both NEVER titles at the same time. After losing the NEVER Title in August, he regained it in November for a second time. He won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall in 2021. Takagi has been praised for his wrestling abilities in both NJPW and Dragongate, to which has garnered him numerous accolades. He was recognized and voted as the "Rookie of the Year" in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards in 2005. In 2021, he notably placed 9th on the Pro Wrestling Illustrated "PWI 500" list, received the MVP Award at the Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards, and was ranked as the "Most Outstanding Wrestler" and Japanese wrestling's most valuable player by the readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Yuji Okabayashi (岡林 裕二, Okabayashi Yūji; born October 31, 1982) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler. He is…Yuji Okabayashi (岡林 裕二, Okabayashi Yūji; born October 31, 1982) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler. He is currently signed to Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) in the Strong BJ division, but is on an indefinite absence. Known as "The Golem", he has been working in BJW since his debut in June 2008, and is best known as part of a tag team with Daisuke Sekimoto, with whom he has held the BJW Tag Team Championship, All Japan Pro Wrestling's (AJPW) World Tag Team and All Asia Tag Team Championships and DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT)'s KO-D Tag Team Championship. As a singles wrestler, he is notably a four-time BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion.
Hamuko Hoshi (星 ハム子, Hoshi Hamuko; born October 19, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for…Hamuko Hoshi (星 ハム子, Hoshi Hamuko; born October 19, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Ice Ribbon promotion. She is also a former two-time ICE×∞ Champion and a four-time International Ribbon Tag Team Champion. She also makes regular appearances for the World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana promotion.
Kazma Sakamoto (born 1 October 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He originally started his career working for…Kazma Sakamoto (born 1 October 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He originally started his career working for Kaientai Dojo in Japan, where he became a one-time Strongest-K Champion and a three-time Strongest-K Tag Team Champion alongside Ryota Chikuzen, Kengo Mashimo and Miyawaki. He spent two years working for WWE, as well as for its development brands, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) and NXT. After his release from WWE, he returned to Japan working as a freelancer for Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo), Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1) and Wrestle-1 (W-1), the latter of which he signed for in 2015. A year later, his contract with Wrestle-1 expired, and he returned to freelancing work, later appearing for Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah), Dragon Gate (DG) and Gleat.
Taro Nohashi (野橋 太郎, Nohashi Tarō; ring name: のはし たろう) (born August 10, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He…Taro Nohashi (野橋 太郎, Nohashi Tarō; ring name: のはし たろう) (born August 10, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He currently wrestles in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, where he is a former one-time Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion. He is also a former two-time Tohoku Tag Team Champion and one-time UWA World Tag Team Champion.
Tetsuya Naito (内藤哲也, Naitō Tetsuya; born June 22, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is working as a…Tetsuya Naito (内藤哲也, Naitō Tetsuya; born June 22, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is working as a freelancer, primarily for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the leader of Los Tranquilos de Japon and the current GHC Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is best known for his 21-year run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) from 2004 to 2025, and is largely regarded as one of the greatest and most popular wrestlers in the company's history. Naito began training for a professional wrestling career in 2000, initially under Animal Hamaguchi before joining NJPW in 2004, where he underwent further training and progressively rose to main event status. Although NJPW aimed to establish him as a top star by 2014, his clean cut babyface persona caused significant fan backlash, leading to his planned main event match at Wrestle Kingdom, NJPW's biggest event, to be demoted. This, and a stay in the Mexican stable Los Ingobernables through NJPW's partnership with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), would lead Naito to reinvent himself as an antihero leading his own stable, Los Ingobernables de Japon. Despite its villainous tendencies, this new gimmick immediately led him to new heights of popularity, and he would win the company's top prize, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship five times, while finally main-eventing Wrestle Kingdom five separate times. He departed NJPW in 2025 and proceed to continue to work as a freelancer on the independent scene and for Pro Wrestling Noah, where formed the spin-off stable Los Tranquilos de Japon. In NJPW, Naito is also the winner of the 2013, 2017 and 2023 editions of the G1 Climax, NJPW's premier singles tournament, and of the 2016 New Japan Cup. Other accomplishments include being the first person to hold the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at the same time, a feat he accomplished twice, and being together with partner Yujiro Takahashi as No Limit the first team to have held both the company's heavyweight and junior heavyweight tag titles. He was awarded Tokyo Sports's MVP Award, the publication's highest honor, in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2023.
Yuko Miyamoto (宮本 裕向, Miyamoto Yūkō; born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He originally started his…Yuko Miyamoto (宮本 裕向, Miyamoto Yūkō; born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He originally started his career in Wrestling Marvelous Future in August 2003, but later left the promotion and in 2004, signed with Wrestling of Darkness 666 (Triple Six). Miyamoto has since appeared in Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) and All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). Miyamoto is a former one-time DDT Extreme Champion, two-time BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight and a two-time Dove Pro Heavyweight Champion and a one-time CZW Ultraviolent Underground Champion. He is also known as one half of the tag team Yankee Nichokenju (ヤンキー二丁拳銃, Yankī Nichōkenjū; "Yankee Pistols Akimbo") with Isami Kodaka, where they are one-time KO-D Tag Team Champions, three-time BJW Tag Team Champions, one-time Wave Tag Team Champions, two-time All Asia Tag Team Champions and have also won the Dai Nihon Saikyo Tag League three times. In 2016, Miyamto formed a tag team with Harashima, named Smile Yankees (スマイル・ヤンキース, Sumairu yankīsu), where they were one-time KO-D Tag Team Champions.
Kenichi Sakai (坂井 謙一, Sakai Kenichi), (born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to…Kenichi Sakai (坂井 謙一, Sakai Kenichi), (born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to Michinoku Pro Wrestling where he competes under the ring name Ken45° and is one half of the reigning Tohoku Tag Team Champions and UWA World Tag Team Champions with Kengo.
Masaki Okimoto (沖本 摩幸, Okimoto Masaki) (born May 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler from Neyagawa, Japan…Masaki Okimoto (沖本 摩幸, Okimoto Masaki) (born May 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler from Neyagawa, Japan; he's a current member of the Michinoku Pro Wrestling roster as Rasse (ラッセ). He mainly uses a high-flying style.
Kota Ibushi (飯伏幸太, Ibushi Kōta; born May 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler and martial artist. He is signed…Kota Ibushi (飯伏幸太, Ibushi Kōta; born May 21, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler and martial artist. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is currently inactive due to a broken femur, suffered during the October 11, 2025 AEW Collision taping. Ibushi began his career with DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) in 2004. Over the next 11 years, he became a three-time KO-D Openweight Champion, five-time KO-D Tag Team Champion, and two-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion. Two of his KO-D Tag Team title reigns were with Kenny Omega as the Golden☆Lovers, and their combined total of 351 days is still a DDT record. In 2009, Ibushi started working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and eventually signed with them in 2013. In NJPW, he is a one-time NEVER Openweight Champion, three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and a one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. He resigned from both DDT and NJPW in February 2016 and has performed in several different organizations as a freelancer, including both DDT and NJPW. He also participated in WWE's 2016 Cruiserweight Classic tournament. After continuing to perform as a freelancer for NJPW after 2016 (including as Tiger Mask W from 2016 to 2017), Ibushi signed a new full-time contract with NJPW in 2019, winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship for the first and only time in his career in 2021. he later unified it with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to become the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He is also a former IWGP Tag Team Champion. He has won several tournaments for NJPW, including the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors, the 2015 New Japan Cup, and the 2019 and 2020 editions of the G1 Climax; he is the only wrestler to have won all three tournaments. He is also one of only four wrestlers to win two consecutive G1 Climax tournaments, alongside Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Kazuchika Okada, as well as the only wrestler to reach the final stage of four consecutive G1 Climax tournaments.
Fumiyuki Hashimoto (橋本 史之, Hashimoto Fumiyuki) (born April 21, 1982), known by his ring name Kagetora (formerly…Fumiyuki Hashimoto (橋本 史之, Hashimoto Fumiyuki) (born April 21, 1982), known by his ring name Kagetora (formerly stylized in all capitals), is a Japanese professional wrestler who works for Dragon Gate. He wrestles in independent wrestling leagues all around Japan and has wrestled in the United States for Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. He has wrestled many famous wrestlers including Jinsei Shinzaki.
Mitsuhide Hirasawa (平澤 光秀, Hirasawa Mitsuhide; born 27 March 1982) is a Japanese former professional wrestler. He is…Mitsuhide Hirasawa (平澤 光秀, Hirasawa Mitsuhide; born 27 March 1982) is a Japanese former professional wrestler. He is best known for his two stints with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and a brief stint with World Wrestling Council (WWC). Hirasawa wrestled as a jobber, under the mask superhero, Captain New Japan (キャプテン・ニュージャパン, Kyaputen Nyū Japan). He has also worked under another mask as Bone Soldier, and unmasked under his real name, as well as the ring name Hideo Saito (ヒデオ・サイトー, Hideo Saitō). He is also known for his brief tenure with New Japan's stables Chaos and Bullet Club, but was kicked out for his poor performance.
Yoshihito Sasaki (佐々木義人, Sasaki Yoshihito) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his time with…Yoshihito Sasaki (佐々木義人, Sasaki Yoshihito) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his time with the Japanese professional wrestling promotions Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) and Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1).
Simi Taitoko Fale (born 8 January 1982) is a Tongan professional wrestler and former rugby union player. He is signed…Simi Taitoko Fale (born 8 January 1982) is a Tongan professional wrestler and former rugby union player. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where performs under the ring name as Don Fale (ドン・ファレ, Don Fare) and is a member of House of Torture. Best known by his longtime ring name Bad Luck Fale (バッドラック・ファレ, Baddorakku Fare), he is a former three-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion, a one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and a one-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion. His surname translates to "house" in Tongan, which suits his wrestling persona as an immovable force. Fale is one of the founding members of Bullet Club, an originally all-foreigner stable that saw great success in the company. Fale remained the only founding member to have never left the group until 15 June 2025, when he joined House of Torture. Fale also operates a wrestling school called Fale Dojo, which has helped provide a bridge for non-Japanese wrestlers to perform for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Hiroki Tanabe (田辺 裕喜, Tanabe Hiroki; born December 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by his…Hiroki Tanabe (田辺 裕喜, Tanabe Hiroki; born December 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by his ring name Hi69 (pronounced as Hiroki). He is currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah. Since debuting in 2000, Tanabe has frequently worked for Kaientai Dojo, Michinoku Pro Wrestling, Apache Pro Wrestling and Freedoms.
Kanako Urai (浦井 佳奈子, Urai Kanako; born September 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. She has been signed to…Kanako Urai (浦井 佳奈子, Urai Kanako; born September 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. She has been signed to WWE since August 2015, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Asuka (アスカ or 明日華; ). Previously known as Kana (華名), she started her professional wrestling career in 2004. Urai started her professional wrestling career in 2004 in the AtoZ promotion, where she remained until retiring in 2006. She returned to the ring in 2007, starting to work as a freelancer for promotions such as JWP Joshi Puroresu, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Wave, Reina Joshi Puroresu, Smash, and Wrestling New Classic. Her achievements during this time include winning the JWP Openweight Championship, Smash Diva Championship, and Wave Tag Team Championship. In 2015, Urai signed a developmental deal with WWE, being assigned to NXT under the ring name Asuka, making her the first Japanese female wrestler signed with the company in over 20 years. She won the NXT Women's Championship in 2016 (with her reign of 510 days being the longest in that title's history), and was moved to WWE's main roster in 2017. In 2018, she was the inaugural winner of the Women's Royal Rumble match. She is also a former one-time SmackDown Women's Champion, five-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champion (with Kairi Sane thrice and Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss once each; the first woman to win this title with three different partners), and the 2020 Women's Money in the Bank ladder match winner. Following her first Raw Women's Championship win, Asuka became the third Women's Triple Crown Champion and the second Women's Grand Slam Champion. She would go on to become a three-time Raw Women's Champion, with the title renamed as WWE Women's Championship during her third reign. After her Elimination Chamber match win in 2023, she became the first woman in WWE to win the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and Elimination Chamber matches. Urai has also worked as a freelance graphic designer and video game journalist, and through her work with Microsoft, she has been sponsored by the company, wearing an Xbox 360 logo on her gear. Since 2019, she has her own YouTube channel, KanaChanTV, which focuses on gaming and lifestyle content.
Hiroka Yaginuma (born September 23, 1981) is a Japanese born professional wrestler. She is best known for her work in…Hiroka Yaginuma (born September 23, 1981) is a Japanese born professional wrestler. She is best known for her work in the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Yaginuma has worked under the ring names Hiroka Yaginuma and "Raven Hiroka" but is now billed simply as Hiroka. She is a former holder of the CMLL World Women's Championship. Yaginuma is married to Mexican Mini-Estrella Pequeño Damián 666 who also works for CMLL.
Masato Onodera (小野寺 正人, Onodera Masato; born September 10, 1981), better known by the ring name Yamato (stylized in all…Masato Onodera (小野寺 正人, Onodera Masato; born September 10, 1981), better known by the ring name Yamato (stylized in all capital letters), is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist currently signed to Dragongate, where he is a record six-time Open the Dream Gate Champion.
