Kenta Kobayashi (小林 健太, Kobayashi Kenta; born March 12, 1981), known mononymously as Kenta (stylised in all caps), is a…
Kenta Kobayashi (小林 健太, Kobayashi Kenta; born March 12, 1981), known mononymously as Kenta (stylised in all caps), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the leader of White Raven Sqwad and a former two-time GHC Heavyweight Champion. Kobayashi started his career in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), before moving to Pro Wrestling Noah; through Noah's involvement in the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance (GPWA), a global organization of cooperative promotions that allow their competitors to travel abroad to other companies, he has wrestled extensively in American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). In Noah, he was a two-time GHC Heavyweight Champion, three-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion, three-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, and one-time GHC Tag Team Champion. He was also the winner of the 2012 Global League and the 2013 Global Tag League tournaments. He is also well known for his tenure in American promotion WWE where he worked under the name Hideo Itami (ヒデオ・イタミ) in the company's developmental territory NXT and later in their cruiserweight exclusive brand 205 Live. In 2019, he departed from WWE, and in May, appeared for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), announcing his participation in that year's G1 Climax and aligned with former tag partner Katsuyori Shibata. He turned on Shibata and joined the Bullet Club, and has since held the Strong Openweight Championship twice and the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, NEVER Openweight Championship and the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship once each. He silently departed from NJPW in January 2025 and returned to Pro Wrestling Noah the following month.
Famous Japanese People: Wrestler
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Kaori Yoneyama (米山 香織, Yoneyama Kaori; born February 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler, working as a…
Kaori Yoneyama (米山 香織, Yoneyama Kaori; born February 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler, working as a freelancer on the Japanese independent circuit. Yoneyama started her career in 1999, working with the JWP Joshi Puroresu promotion. During the following years, she became a one-time JWP Openweight Champion, a one-time JWP Junior Champion, a five-time JWP Tag Team Champion, a one-time Pure-J Openweight Champion and a three-time Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Champion. Notable titles she has held outside of JWP include All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling's AJW Championship and AJW Tag Team Championship, Ice Ribbon's International Ribbon Tag Team Championship, Big Japan Pro Wrestling's BJW Women's Championship, and NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling's High Speed Championship. In July 2011, Yoneyama announced that she would be ending her twelve-year career the following December. After a retirement tour, which took Yoneyama not only across the Japanese independent circuit, but also to the United States, she announced during her retirement ceremony that she had changed her mind and decided to continue her career. In January 2013, Yoneyama quit JWP to become a freelancer, working for promotions such as Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling, Oz Academy, Union Pro Wrestling and World Wonder Ring Stardom.
Daisuke Sekimoto (関本 大介, Sekimoto Daisuke) (born February 9, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler, He is currently…
Daisuke Sekimoto (関本 大介, Sekimoto Daisuke) (born February 9, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler, He is currently signed to Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) in the Strong BJ division. where he is a three-time BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion, former one-time BJW Heavyweight Champion former thirteen-time BJW Tag Team Champion and former six-time Yokohama Shopping Street 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max. while also being a former one-time NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight Champion and a two-time Zero1 World Heavyweight Champion and Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), where former one-time wXw Unified World Wrestling Champion. Other major promotions with DDT Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Pro-Wrestling and Kaientai Dojo, winning singles championships include the where former one-time Gaora TV Champion, former one-time KO-D Openweight Champion and former one-time Strongest-K Champion. Also a successful tag team wrestler, he has held the AJPW World Tag Team Championship three times, the All Asia Tag Team Championship two time and the KO-D Tag Team Championship two times with his most successful tag team combination being with Yuji Okabayashi.
Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yūjirō; born January 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to…
Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yūjirō; born January 13, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of House of Torture. Takahashi entered New Japan in November 2003 with an extensive amateur background, advancing through the dojo and debuting on July 26, 2004, under his full name. He later shortened his name to Yujiro (裕次郎, Yūjirō). From 2007 to 2008, he was a member of the stable Samurai Gym with El Samurai and Ryusuke Taguchi, which ended when Samurai left the company. In 2010, he joined Chaos, where he was a one-time IWGP Tag Team and Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with Tetsuya Naito, with whom he teamed as No Limit. In 2014, Takahashi defected to Bullet Club, becoming the first non-gaijin member to join the stable. As a member of Bullet Club and House of Torture, he is a one-time NEVER Openweight Champion and a four-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion. During his time in Chaos, he had a "ladies' man" gimmick, which was carried on in Bullet Club. He is referred to as the "Tokyo Pimp" and is often accompanied to the ring by go-go dancer, the "Tokyo Latina" Pieter.
Kenji Ishijima (石島健至, Ishijima Kenji; born January 3, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known under the…
Kenji Ishijima (石島健至, Ishijima Kenji; born January 3, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known under the ring name Guts Ishijima (ガッツ石島, Gattsu Ishijima). He is currently working as a freelancer and is best known for having founded the Japanese promotions Guts World Pro-Wrestling and Total Triumph Team Pro-Wrestling (TTT).
Shachihoko Boy (しゃちほこBOY, Shachihoko Bōi) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for the Japanese…
Shachihoko Boy (しゃちほこBOY, Shachihoko Bōi) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate where he is a former Open the Twin Gate Champion and Open the Triangle Gate Champion. Shachihoko Boy's real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in the Lucha Libre where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.
Tomomitsu Matsunaga (松永智充, Matsunaga Tomomitsu; born November 13, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler working for…
Tomomitsu Matsunaga (松永智充, Matsunaga Tomomitsu; born November 13, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler working for DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), a Japanese promotion where he is a former Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion.
Terumasa Ishihara (石原 輝政, Ishihara Terumasa; born July 15, 1980), better known by his ring name B×B Hulk (B×Bハルク, Bī Bī…
Terumasa Ishihara (石原 輝政, Ishihara Terumasa; born July 15, 1980), better known by his ring name B×B Hulk (B×Bハルク, Bī Bī Haruku) ( BEE-BEE-hulk), is a Japanese professional wrestler. As of 2005, he is currently working for Dragon Gate. He was also known for his longstanding rivalry with Shingo Takagi.
Hiroaki Sato (佐藤 弘明, Satō Hiroaki; born July 8, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist…
Hiroaki Sato (佐藤 弘明, Satō Hiroaki; born July 8, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, better known by the ring name Hikaru Sato (佐藤 光留, Satō Hikaru). Sato started his MMA career in February 2000, fighting for Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling. During the next eight years, Sato fought, on average, five times a year, compiling a record of 18 wins, 19 losses and four draws, which included fights against the likes of Keiichiro Yamamiya, Nathan Marquardt, Ryo Chonan and Yushin Okami. In May 2008, Sato transitioned into the world of professional wrestling, when he was signed by the Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) promotion. He has since had ten MMA fights. In November 2010, Sato first became a triple crown trios champion with Michael Nakazawa and Tomomitsu Matsunaga and then also won DDT's top singles title, the KO-D Openweight Championship. Sato remained affiliated with DDT until January 2014. He is currently working for the All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, where he is a former two-time World Junior Heavyweight Champion and four-time All Asia Tag Team Champion, while also being a five-time winner of the Jr. Tag Battle of Glory tournament.
Momoe Oe (大江 百重, Ōe Momoe; born July 7, 1980), better known by her maiden name Momoe Nakanishi (中西 百重, Nakanishi…
Momoe Oe (大江 百重, Ōe Momoe; born July 7, 1980), better known by her maiden name Momoe Nakanishi (中西 百重, Nakanishi Momoe), is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. She made her debut for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) in July 1996 at the age of sixteen and during the next seven years, won all of the promotion's top titles, including the WWWA World Single Championship and the WWWA World Tag Team Championship. In 2003, Nakanishi quit AJW to become a freelancer and went on to win the AtoZ World Championship later that same year and the NEO Single and NWA Women's Pacific Championships in 2004. Nakanishi retired from professional wrestling on January 7, 2005, at the age of just twenty-four. She now works as a trainer at the U.W.F. Snakepit gym.
Rena Takase (高瀬 玲奈, Takase Rena; born February 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring…
Rena Takase (高瀬 玲奈, Takase Rena; born February 26, 1981) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Leon. Trained by Hyper Visual Fighting Arsion, Takase made her debut for the promotion in March 2000, working under her real name. After a change in management, Arsion was renamed Major Girl's Fighting AtoZ in 2003, and Takase received a new ring name, Leo-na (玲央奈, Reiōna). After quitting AtoZ in 2005, Takase became a freelancer, now working under a mask and the new ring name Toujyuki Leon (闘獣牙Leon, Tōjūki Leon). After two years of working for several independent promotions, including JDStar, M's Style and Oz Academy, Takase made JWP Joshi Puroresu her new home promotion in January 2007. In January 2010, Takase's ring name was shortened to just Leon and the following year, she won JWP's top title, the JWP Openweight Championship, while also becoming the leader of the Shishi no Ana stable. Takase remained with JWP until the promotion's folding in April 2017.
Masayuki Kono (河野 真幸, Kōno Masayuki; born April 12, 1980 in Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese professional wrestler…
Masayuki Kono (河野 真幸, Kōno Masayuki; born April 12, 1980 in Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is working as a freelancer. He is best known for his time in Wrestle-1, where he is a former two-time Wrestle-1 Champion.
Mai Ichii (市井 舞, Ichii Mai; born (1980-03-21)March 21, 1980) is a Japanese wrestler, mixed martial artist and kickboxer.
Tsutomu Hirayanagi (平柳 努, Hirayanagi Tsutomu; born March 9, 1980), better known by his ring name Genba Hirayanagi…
Tsutomu Hirayanagi (平柳 努, Hirayanagi Tsutomu; born March 9, 1980), better known by his ring name Genba Hirayanagi (平柳玄藩, Hirayanagi Genba), is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known for working for Pro Wrestling Noah.
Hideki Suzuki (鈴木 秀樹, Suzuki Hideki; born February 18, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler and catch wrestler. He…
Hideki Suzuki (鈴木 秀樹, Suzuki Hideki; born February 18, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler and catch wrestler. He is signed to All Japan Pro Wrestling. Trained by Billy Robinson, Suzuki started his career with the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) promotion in 2008. In 2014, he left IGF to become a freelancer, starting to work for promotions such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1) and Wrestle-1 (W-1). He is a former two-time BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion, a former one-time Zero1 World Heavyweight, NWA United National Heavyweight, Wrestle-1 Champion and NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion. In 2017, Fighting TV Samurai named Suzuki the MVP in Japanese independent wrestling. In 2021, Suzuki signed with WWE, where he performed on the NXT brand under the ring name Hachiman as a member of Diamond Mine, and also worked as a coach at the WWE Performance Center.
Shinsuke Nakamura (Japanese: 中邑 真輔, Hepburn: Nakamura Shinsuke; born February 24, 1980) is a Japanese professional…
Shinsuke Nakamura (Japanese: 中邑 真輔, Hepburn: Nakamura Shinsuke; born February 24, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. As of January 2016, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand and is one-half of Bakusai with Kyoki. Nakamura is also known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former 3-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, with his first reign coming at the age of 23 years and 9 months; making Nakamura the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion at the time. His other accomplishments within the company include winning the 2011 G1 Climax and the 2014 New Japan Cup, and being the final IWGP Third Belt Champion, the final NWF Heavyweight Champion, and the longest reigning IWGP Intercontinental Champion for his first reign (he formerly held the record for most reigns at five). He is also a founding member and the original leader of the stable Chaos. Prior to his main roster debut in WWE, Nakamura competed in the company's NXT brand, where he became a two-time NXT Champion. In January 2018, Nakamura won the 2018 Men's Royal Rumble match and lost at WrestleMania 34 and later won the WWE United States Championship three times. He won the Intercontinental Championship for the first time in 2019 at Extreme Rules, making him the second wrestler (behind Chris Jericho) to hold both WWE and IWGP Intercontinental Championships. Nakamura is also a former WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion with Cesaro. From July 2021 to October of the same year, Nakamura dubbed himself King Nakamura due to being in possession of the King of the Ring crown, although he never won the tournament, instead defeating reigning King of the Ring Baron Corbin in a "Battle for the Crown" match. Overall, Nakamura is a five-time world champion and a seven-time intercontinental champion in professional wrestling.
Kazuhiro Tamura (田村和宏, Tamura Kazuhiro; born February 5, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working…
Kazuhiro Tamura (田村和宏, Tamura Kazuhiro; born February 5, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for freelancer and Pro Wrestling Heat Up where he is the owner of the company and the former Heat Up Universal Champion. Tamura also works for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) where he is a former Gaora TV Champion. Tamura is also known for the time at Style-E Pro Wrestling, holding the Style-E Openweight Championship three times and won the E-1 Climax 2010.
Hiroshi Nagao (長尾 浩志, Nagao Hiroshi; December 26, 1979) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who worked for New…
Hiroshi Nagao (長尾 浩志, Nagao Hiroshi; December 26, 1979) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and Hustle. Throughout Nagao's career, he competed mainly on the mid-card.
Kazuya Yuasa (湯浅 和也, Yuasa Kazuya) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known for his ring names Gaina (stylized…
Kazuya Yuasa (湯浅 和也, Yuasa Kazuya) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known for his ring names Gaina (stylized in all capital letters) and Shisao (シーサー王, Shīsāō). He has worked in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, Osaka Pro Wrestling and Okinawa Pro Wrestling, having titles in all the three promotions.
Katsuyori Shibata (柴田勝頼, Shibata Katsuyori; born November 17, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler, commentator…
Katsuyori Shibata (柴田勝頼, Shibata Katsuyori; born November 17, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler, commentator, trainer, and former mixed martial artist. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Opps. He is a former one-time AEW World Trios Champion. He also makes appearances for AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former one-time ROH Pure Champion. Known for his stiff offense, Shibata spent most of his career with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as both a wrestler and trainer. In NJPW, he became a three-time NEVER Openweight Champion, one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion (with Hirooki Goto), and one-time winner of the New Japan Cup (in 2017). He is also a former holder of Revolution Pro Wrestling's RPW British Heavyweight Championship. From 2018 to 2023, he served as the head coach of NJPW's dojo in Los Angeles.
Kyosuke Sasaki (佐々木 恭介, Sasaki Kyōsuke; born October 17, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed…
Kyosuke Sasaki (佐々木 恭介, Sasaki Kyōsuke; born October 17, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. Sasaki previously competed for Fighting Network Rings, Pancrase and Pride Fighting Championship. As a professional wrestler, he made his in-ring debut in 2003 in the first event of Kiyoshi Tamura's U-Style promotion, in a bout against Yasuhito Namekawa. As of 2015, he is affiliated with Kyushu Pro-Wrestling where he wrestles under the ring name Hitamaru Sasaki (佐々木日田丸, Sasaki Hitamaru).
Miho Wakizawa (脇沢美穂, Wakizawa Miho) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her time in the Japanese…
Miho Wakizawa (脇沢美穂, Wakizawa Miho) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her time in the Japanese promotions World Wonder Ring Stardom and All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling.
Naomichi Marufuji (丸藤正道, Marufuji Naomichi; born September 26, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler, wrestling…
Naomichi Marufuji (丸藤正道, Marufuji Naomichi; born September 26, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler, wrestling executive, and restaurateur. He is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where is the vice-president of CyberFight, the parent company of Noah (a role he has held since 2020). Known as the Genius of the Ark (方舟の天才, Hakobune no Tensai), Marufuji is the current GHC National Champion in his first reign and former four-time GHC Heavyweight Champion, as well as the first of two men to win Junior Heavyweight Championships in all three major Japanese promotions (Minoru Tanaka is the other). Marufuji is widely referred to as one of the most influential professional wrestlers of the modern era, inspiring many international and national wrestlers such as Seth Rollins, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, and others; his notes as an influential wrestler have garnered him the nickname "The Mastermind Behind Modern Wrestling". Marufuji made his wrestling debut in 1998 as part of All Japan Pro Wrestling and its dojo; after the 2000 Exodus, he joined his only surviving trainer and mentor, Mitsuharu Misawa, to join Pro Wrestling Noah, a promotion he has worked for consistently since its founding. He, along with Takashi Sugiura, are the only two members of the Noah roster who have remained in the company since its founding. After a successful run as a junior heavyweight wrestler in his early Noah run, he advanced to the heavyweight division, quickly winning the GHC Heavyweight Championship in an upset win against Jun Akiyama. He lost the title of Misawa later on, yet stayed as both as heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestler. In May 2026, he won the GHC National Championship, becoming the first and only wrestler to win every single title in both the heavyweight and junior heavyweight divisions in Pro Wrestling Noah.
Ryo Saito (斎藤 了, Saitō Ryō) (born August 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestling personality and semi-retired…
Ryo Saito (斎藤 了, Saitō Ryō) (born August 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestling personality and semi-retired professional wrestler primarily working in Dragongate, where he is their general manager. He is a former member of numerous stables within Dragongate as both a heel and a face, including Jimmyz (where he adopted "Jimmy" as a nickname), Real Hazard and Blood WARRIORS; he served as the second leader of Do FIXER (replacing Magnum TOKYO) from 2004 until its dissolution in February 2007. His name is sometimes abbreviated as SaiRyo, so as not to confuse him with Yoshiyuki Saito, who primarily wrestles as Super Shisa.
Mitsuhisa Sunabe (砂辺 光久, Sunabe Mitsuhisa; born August 4, 1979) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He is the former…
Mitsuhisa Sunabe (砂辺 光久, Sunabe Mitsuhisa; born August 4, 1979) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He is the former and inaugural Pancrase Strawweight champion, Pancrase Light Flyweight champion and Pancrase Flyweight champion. He is regarded by Fight Matrix as the third-best men's strawweight mixed martial artist of all time.
Hirooki Goto (後藤洋央紀, Gotō Hirōki; born June 25, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to…
Hirooki Goto (後藤洋央紀, Gotō Hirōki; born June 25, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is also one-half of Bishamon alongside Yoshi-Hashi. Goto holds the record of being one-third of the longest reigning NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions with his Chaos stablemates, Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi. He is also a three-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, a five-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, a one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, a five-time NEVER Openweight Champion, a one-time winner of the G1 Climax (2008), a five-time winner of the World Tag League (2012, 2014, 2021, 2022, and 2023), and a record three-time winner of the New Japan Cup (2009, 2010, and 2012).
Munenori Sawa (澤 宗紀, Sawa Munenori; born April 20, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. Sawa was trained by and…
Munenori Sawa (澤 宗紀, Sawa Munenori; born April 20, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. Sawa was trained by and spent his entire career in the Battlarts promotion, adopting the promotion's "Bati Bati" wrestling style, known for its stiff strikes and submission-based shoot wrestling, but would often also incorporate comedy into his matches, especially when performing as Lingerie Mutoh (ランジェリー武藤, Ranjerī Mutō), his comedic take on Keiji Mutoh. Besides Battlarts, Sawa also worked for various other promotions in Japan, Germany and the United States, most notably Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1), where he became an NWA Intercontinental Tag Team and NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2011 Tenkaichi Jr. tournament, and where he wrestled his initial retirement match on November 9, 2011, four days after the folding of Battlarts. Since his initial retirement from professional wrestling, Sawa has wrestled grappling matches for ZST and has wrestled as Ippanjin Munenori Sawa (一般人・澤 宗紀, Ippanjin Sawa Munenori; lit. "Ordinary Person Munenori Sawa"). He has wrestled more since 2024, mainly under his Ippanjin persona, which parodies mainstream Japanese politics.
Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New…
Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He also makes appearances for DDT Pro Wrestling (DDT), where he is the current DDT Universal Champion in his first reign. Pursuing several sports in high school, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (168 lb) class amateur wrestling in college before entering the NJPW Dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight division. Taguchi's best known gimmick is akin to a disco dancer, often sporting a short afro and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team matches. This earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".
Yumiko Abe (阿部 由美子, Abe Yumiko; born April 4, 1979), better known by her ring name Yumi Ohka (桜花 由美, Ōka Yumi), is a…
Yumiko Abe (阿部 由美子, Abe Yumiko; born April 4, 1979), better known by her ring name Yumi Ohka (桜花 由美, Ōka Yumi), is a Japanese professional wrestler. Originally trained by the now defunct JDStar promotion, Ohka now works for Oz Academy and Pro Wrestling Wave. She is a former two-time Wave Single Champion, while also being a former Oz Academy Tag Team Champion and Wave Tag Team Champion. She is the managing director of Zabun Co., Ltd., which owns Pro Wrestling Wave.
Makoto Oishi (大石 真翔, Ōishi Makoto; born February 16, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler working for Dramatic…
Makoto Oishi (大石 真翔, Ōishi Makoto; born February 16, 1979) is a Japanese professional wrestler working for Dramatic Dream Team (DDT). Oishi started his career in Kaientai Dojo, where he became a Strongest-K Tag Team, Independent World Junior Heavyweight and UWA World Middleweight Champion, at one time holding all three titles simultaneously. In 2010, Oishi left Kaientai Dojo to become a freelancer, before making DDT his new home promotion in September 2011.
Yuki Miyazaki (宮崎有妃, Miyazaki Yuki) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenures with the…
Yuki Miyazaki (宮崎有妃, Miyazaki Yuki) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenures with the Japanese professional wrestling promotions Pro Wrestling Wave, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling (NEO) and JWP Joshi Puroresu (JWP) and All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling.
Jun Ogawauchi (小川内 潤, Ogawauchi Jun; born January 11, 1979), also known as JUN, is a Japanese professional wrestler and…
Jun Ogawauchi (小川内 潤, Ogawauchi Jun; born January 11, 1979), also known as JUN, is a Japanese professional wrestler and former Japanese professional wrestling ring announcer, working for the Pro Wrestling Secret Base. Ogawauchi's greatest fame came as the fifth member of the Crazy Max stable in Toryumon.
Nanae Takahashi (高橋 奈苗, Takahashi Nanae; ring name: 高橋奈七永) (born December 23, 1978) is a retired Japanese professional…
Nanae Takahashi (高橋 奈苗, Takahashi Nanae; ring name: 高橋奈七永) (born December 23, 1978) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, founder of Seadlinnng and co-founder of World Wonder Ring Stardom. She was signed to Dream Star Fighting Marigold, where she held her final match at Marigold Shine Forever. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Sun, and is a two-time women's world champion in major professional wrestling promotions.
Naoki Tanizaki (谷嵜 直樹, Tanizaki Naoki; ring name: 谷嵜 なおき) (born December 1, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler.…
Naoki Tanizaki (谷嵜 直樹, Tanizaki Naoki; ring name: 谷嵜 なおき) (born December 1, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is known for his work in Dragon Gate. He previously went under the ring name Mr. Kyu Kyu Naoki Tanizaki Toyonaka Dolphin (Mr.キューキュー“谷嵜なおき”豊中ドルフィン, Mr. Kyū Kyū Tanizaki Naoki Toyonaka Dorufin).
Kengo Mashimo (真霜拳號, Mashimo Kengo; born November 25, 1978 in Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese professional…
Kengo Mashimo (真霜拳號, Mashimo Kengo; born November 25, 1978 in Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Active Advance Pro Wrestling (2AW). His style is a combination of submission wrestling and hard martial arts style strikes.
Choun Shiryu (趙雲子龍, Chō'un Shiryū) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best…
Choun Shiryu (趙雲子龍, Chō'un Shiryū) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for his time in the Japanese promotions DDT Pro-Wrestling and Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling. His ring name is based on the Chinese military general Zhao Yun who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China.
Takeshi Morishima (森嶋 猛, Morishima Takeshi) (born October 15, 1978) is a Japanese former professional wrestler.…
Takeshi Morishima (森嶋 猛, Morishima Takeshi) (born October 15, 1978) is a Japanese former professional wrestler. Morishima is best known for his work with Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time GHC Heavyweight Champion. He has also performed for Ring of Honor (ROH) in the United States in the past where he was a one-time ROH World Champion.
Hiromasa Horiguchi (堀口博正, Horiguchi Hiromasa; born September 15, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better…
Hiromasa Horiguchi (堀口博正, Horiguchi Hiromasa; born September 15, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Genki Horiguchi (堀口元気, Horiguchi Genki). He is currently a full-time wrestler for Dragon Gate. He has also competed in Wrestling Society X and Ring of Honor. When Horiguchi's hairline began receding, the fans began to chant H-A-G-E (hage (禿) being Japanese for "baldness") at him. He managed to use this to gain a sort of cult popularity, and his catchphrase, "Who has called me hage?", is one of the best known in Japan. Hiromi Horiguchi, a wrestler currently working for Toryumon Mexico, was thought for some time to be Genki's brother, but the relationship was only a gimmick.
Masato Shibata (柴田 正人, Shibata Masato; born September 13, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler primarily working…
Masato Shibata (柴田 正人, Shibata Masato; born September 13, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler primarily working for DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), where he competes as part of the Damnation T.A unit under the ring name MJ Paul (MJポー, Emu Jē Pō). He was previously known under the name Mad Paulie (マッド・ポーリー, Maddo Pōrī).
Yasuhiro Suzuki (鈴木 康弘, Suzuki Yasuhiro; born June 18, 1978), better known by the ring name Kotaro Suzuki (鈴木 鼓太郎…
Yasuhiro Suzuki (鈴木 康弘, Suzuki Yasuhiro; born June 18, 1978), better known by the ring name Kotaro Suzuki (鈴木 鼓太郎, Suzuki Kotarō), is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Gleat. He is best known for working for the Pro Wrestling Noah and All Japan Pro Wrestling promotions, where he was a four-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion for Noah and a one-time World Junior Heavyweight Champion for AJPW.
Hirotaka Yokoi (横井宏考) (born June 8, 1978) is a Japanese former mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. A…
Hirotaka Yokoi (横井宏考) (born June 8, 1978) is a Japanese former mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. A professional MMA competitor from 2000 until 2007, Yokoi fought for PRIDE, Shooto, RINGS, and DEEP, while in professional wrestling he wrestled mainly for Pro Wrestling Zero1.
Toru Yano (矢野 通, Yano Tōru; born May 18, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling…
Toru Yano (矢野 通, Yano Tōru; born May 18, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He was one-third of the inaugural NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions. He is also a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and two-time GHC Tag Team Champion, and was the KOPW 2020 and the KOPW 2021 Provisional Champion. He is mainly known as a comic relief wrestler, often cheating in an attempt to secure quick wins in his matches. Though often positioned below NJPW's top wrestlers, Yano has gained a reputation as a spoiler, occasionally scoring upset wins over bigger names and feuding with other elite wrestlers.
Ryuji Hijikata (土方 隆司, Hijikata Ryūji) (born May 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known under the…
Ryuji Hijikata (土方 隆司, Hijikata Ryūji) (born May 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known under the ring name Toshizo (歳三, Toshizō). Hijikata is best known for his tenure in Battlarts and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Neko Nitta (新田猫子, Nitta Neko) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and is best known for her tenure with the…
Neko Nitta (新田猫子, Nitta Neko) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotion Ice Ribbon where she is a former Triangle Ribbon Champion.
Sakura Hirota (広田さくら, Hirota sakura) is a Japanese politician and professional wrestler. She is currently a freelancer…
Sakura Hirota (広田さくら, Hirota sakura) is a Japanese politician and professional wrestler. She is currently a freelancer who is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Gaea, Pro Wrestling Wave and Oz Academy. Hirota's later career is characterized by being a comedy wrestler who oft appears as a doppelgänger of other wrestlers, dressing up as and portraying their mannerisms in an exaggerated, poorly executed way for comedic effect. Hirota sometimes even ironically imitates her own opponent, examples include: Saki Akai and Asuka. She tentatively retired on June 2, 2025, due to her pursuing a career in politics; in the process, she left Pro Wrestling Wave. However she resumed full time activity in August 2025 as a result of having lost her local House of Councillors election. She became representative of the Katsushika Ward Assembly in Tokyo as of 2026, a result of winning the assembly election in November 2025.
Taku Iwasa (born November 15, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for his work in Dragon Gate.
Shiori Asahi (旭 志織, Asahi Shiori; born February 17, 1978) is a Japanese wrestler, currently working for Active Advance…
Shiori Asahi (旭 志織, Asahi Shiori; born February 17, 1978) is a Japanese wrestler, currently working for Active Advance Pro Wrestling (2AW). He also appears sporadically for Big Japan Pro Wrestling and 666.
Takuya Wada (和田 拓也, Wada Takuya; born February 14, 1978) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler.…
Takuya Wada (和田 拓也, Wada Takuya; born February 14, 1978) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. He competed in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions.
Shuji Kondo (近藤修司, Kondō Shūji; born January 21, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler. Prior to becoming a pro…
Shuji Kondo (近藤修司, Kondō Shūji; born January 21, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler. Prior to becoming a pro wrestler, he played rugby. After starting his career in Toryumon, Kondo eventually joined All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he became one of the promotion's top junior heavyweights, winning the World Junior Heavyweight Championship three times and the All Asia Tag Team Championship once. Upon leaving AJPW in 2013, Kondo joined Wrestle-1, where he became half of the inaugural Wrestle-1 Tag Team Champions. Kondo also worked as the vice president, booker and trainer for Wrestle-1 until its closure in 2020. He now works as a freelancer in promotions like Pro Wrestling Basara and DragonGate.
Yoshihiro Sakai (坂井良宏, Sakai Yoshihiro; born November 5, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his…
Yoshihiro Sakai (坂井良宏, Sakai Yoshihiro; born November 5, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Super Sasadango Machine (スーパー・ササダンゴ・マシン, Sūpā Sasadango Mashin) who works for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT).