Gran Naniwa
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese professional wrestler
. Naniwa was known for his comedic gimmick, in which he performed mannerisms of crab
s. This was also reflected upon in the design of his wrestling mask
.
, immediately making an impact as one of the most popular faces
within the company. His first major attempt at becoming a top performer saw him compete in the 1995 Super J Cup. Naniwa managed to get to the quarterfinals, but he was later eliminated by Jushin Liger
, who later went on to win the Super J Cup. In the late 1990s, Naniwa competed in the United States for Extreme Championship Wrestling
(ECW), where he wrestled Gran Hamada
in January 1998 at the ECW House Party event. After this, Naniwa took a brief hiatus for a few years but made his return in 2006, again under his Gran Naniwa ring name, competing in a match for New Japan Pro Wrestling's now defunct WRESTLE LAND "brand".
at the age of 33, although many wrestling news outlets mistakenly stated that Naniwa was 34.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. Naniwa was known for his comedic gimmick, in which he performed mannerisms of crab
Crab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
s. This was also reflected upon in the design of his wrestling mask
Wrestling mask
A Wrestling mask is a fabric based mask that some professional wrestlers wear as part of their in-ring persona or gimmick. Professional wrestlers have been using masks as far back as 1915 and they are still widely used today, especially in Lucha Libre in Mexico.-History:In 1915 a North American...
.
Career
Naniwa debuted professionally in 1993 in Michinoku Pro WrestlingMichinoku Pro Wrestling
Michinoku Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded by The Great Sasuke in 1993. Michinoku Pro was the first independent wrestling promotion in Japan to not base its operations in Tokyo, but rather in Morioka, Iwate...
, immediately making an impact as one of the most popular faces
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
within the company. His first major attempt at becoming a top performer saw him compete in the 1995 Super J Cup. Naniwa managed to get to the quarterfinals, but he was later eliminated by Jushin Liger
Jushin Liger
, better known as and later, is a Japanese professional wrestler who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling.He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior...
, who later went on to win the Super J Cup. In the late 1990s, Naniwa competed in the United States for Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
(ECW), where he wrestled Gran Hamada
Gran Hamada
, better known by his ring name , is Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. He has wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, Michinoku Pro, and All Japan Pro Wrestling, and was the founder of Universal Lucha Libre...
in January 1998 at the ECW House Party event. After this, Naniwa took a brief hiatus for a few years but made his return in 2006, again under his Gran Naniwa ring name, competing in a match for New Japan Pro Wrestling's now defunct WRESTLE LAND "brand".
Death
Naniwa died on October 6, 2010 due to a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 33, although many wrestling news outlets mistakenly stated that Naniwa was 34.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Clutch de Naniwa (Modified arm wrench inside cradle)
- Driver de Naniwa (Sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- Spinning gutwrench powerbomb
- Signature moves
- Crab Walk (Naniwa walks sideways on the top rope before hitting an elbow drop)
- Double underhook DDT
- Emerald flowsion
- Frankensteiner