Minoru Fujita
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese professional wrestler
contracted to Pro Wrestling Zero1, where he is a former AWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
, having won a tournament final against Takuya Sugawara
.
as a protegé of its top junior heavyweight, Yoshihiro Tajiri
. When Tajiri, who was Big Japan junior heavyweight champion, quit the company and gave up the title, Fujita had a decision match against Katsumi Usuda from the Battlarts
promotion but ended up losing.
Fujita spent his time leaving Big Japan to venture into other Japanese independents, meeting Ikuto Hidaka
of Battlarts along the way and making memorable tag team matches with him. The combination, however, despite their combined talent, could not have a future due to their separate schedules; Fujita tried a move to Michinoku Pro Wrestling
in 2000, but despite the higher exposure, it did little for him financially and did not raise his stock as a viable junior heavyweight contender.
He thus headed for Mexico
and Puerto Rico
, where he won his first major title, the International Wrestling Association
junior heavyweight title. Returning to Japan in 2002, he entered New Japan Pro Wrestling
(to which he had been once before, in a Best of the Super Junior tournament), to challenge the heavyweight division, but nothing came out of it. He then headed to Taka Michinoku
's Kaientai Dojo
promotion, but despite being promoted as a tough-to beat heel, he was never able to win titles there.
A change of pace came in 2004 when he joined Pro Wrestling Zero-One, where old friend Hidaka awaited. The two began teaming more frequently and this time they clicked, collecting several tag team titles along the way. Their greatest victory came in March 2006, when they defeated Pro Wrestling Noah
stars Yoshinobu Kanemaru
and Takashi Sugiura
to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
. Since then Fujita has been a rising star in Japan and has finally shed the "underachiever" tag he was saddled with by foreign observers of puroresu.
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...
contracted to Pro Wrestling Zero1, where he is a former AWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
AWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
The Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1 and sanctioned by the Wrestling Superstars Live promotion, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight The Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship is a...
, having won a tournament final against Takuya Sugawara
Takuya Sugawara
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently wrestling for Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX and Dragon Gate.-Toryumon/Dragon Gate:He debuted in the 9th term of T2P as Henry III Sugawara, a Prince character. He joined with and eventually with Anthony W. Mori and Phillip J. Fukumasa, forming the Royal...
.
Career
Fujita started in Big Japan Pro WrestlingBig Japan Pro Wrestling
Big Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch style contests.-History:...
as a protegé of its top junior heavyweight, Yoshihiro Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
. When Tajiri, who was Big Japan junior heavyweight champion, quit the company and gave up the title, Fujita had a decision match against Katsumi Usuda from the Battlarts
BattlARTS
was a professional wrestling promotion based in Koshigaya, Saitama, Japan. The promotion was formed in 1996 by Japanese wrestler Yuki Ishikawa and featured all of the wrestlers from the Fujiwara Gumi promotion, who had abandoned the promotion in favor of Battlarts...
promotion but ended up losing.
Fujita spent his time leaving Big Japan to venture into other Japanese independents, meeting Ikuto Hidaka
Ikuto Hidaka
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Pro Wrestling Zero1. Hidaka was the regular partner of Minoru Fujita, with whom he has held the Zero1-Max International Lightweight Tag Team and Intercontinental Tag Team Titles, making them the only team to do so...
of Battlarts along the way and making memorable tag team matches with him. The combination, however, despite their combined talent, could not have a future due to their separate schedules; Fujita tried a move to Michinoku Pro Wrestling
Michinoku 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...
in 2000, but despite the higher exposure, it did little for him financially and did not raise his stock as a viable junior heavyweight contender.
He thus headed for Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, where he won his first major title, the International Wrestling Association
International Wrestling Association
The International Wrestling Association is a wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, started in Japan in 1994 by promoter Victor Quiñones. The Hispanic division was created in 1999. The company was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance until 2001, but again became a member in 2007...
junior heavyweight title. Returning to Japan in 2002, he entered New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
(to which he had been once before, in a Best of the Super Junior tournament), to challenge the heavyweight division, but nothing came out of it. He then headed to Taka Michinoku
Takao Yoshida
, better known by his ring name TAKA Michinoku , is a professional wrestler who has wrestled all over the world as well he was a former Mixed Martial Artist...
's Kaientai Dojo
Kaientai Dojo
Kaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....
promotion, but despite being promoted as a tough-to beat heel, he was never able to win titles there.
A change of pace came in 2004 when he joined Pro Wrestling Zero-One, where old friend Hidaka awaited. The two began teaming more frequently and this time they clicked, collecting several tag team titles along the way. Their greatest victory came in March 2006, when they defeated Pro Wrestling Noah
Pro Wrestling Noah
is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
stars Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Kanemaru holds the records for the most reigns for both of Noah's Jr...
and Takashi Sugiura
Takashi Sugiura
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Sugiura, an accomplished amateur wrestler, joined NOAH's dojo in 2000, making his professional debut on December 23, 2000, and thus becoming the first wrestler to make his pro wrestling debut in NOAH. He has also...
to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
The Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight wrestlers. It was created on July 16, 2003 when Kenta and Naomichi Marufuji defeated Jushin Liger...
. Since then Fujita has been a rising star in Japan and has finally shed the "underachiever" tag he was saddled with by foreign observers of puroresu.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Boneyard (Modified bow and arrow stretch)
- Fujita Driver (Sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- Fujita Driver II (Scoop brainbuster)
- Sasuke Segway (Hammerlock lifting DDT)
- Signature moves
- DropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
- Enzuigiri
- Facewash
- Multiple suplexSuplexA suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
variations
-
-
- Dragon
- German
- Northern lights
- Running elbow smash to a cornered opponent
- Suicide dive
-
Championships and accomplishments
- Dramatic Dream TeamDramatic Dream TeamDramatic Dream Team, better known by its initials DDT or its logo reading D2T, is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 1997 by Sanshiro Takagi...
- DDT KO-D Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with HARASHIMAHarashimaHarashima is a wrestler for Dramatic Dream Team and is in the faction Disaster-Box with Toru Owashi. He is a 4-time KO-D Openweight Champion and five time KO-D Tag Team Champion, currently holding the latter with Minoru Fujita, who is performing under his old Hero! gimmick.-Career:Harashima...
- UWA World Trios ChampionshipUWA World Trios ChampionshipThe UWA World Trios Championship is a tag team professional wrestling championship created by the Mexican Universal Wrestling Association and defended there until the UWA closed in 1995....
(2 times) – with MAZADA and NOSAWA RongaiKazushige Nosawa, better known by his ring names NOSAWA and NOSAWA Rongai, is a Japanese freelance professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in All Japan Pro Wrestling and various independent promotions.-Career:...
- International Wrestling AssociationInternational Wrestling AssociationThe International Wrestling Association is a wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, started in Japan in 1994 by promoter Victor Quiñones. The Hispanic division was created in 1999. The company was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance until 2001, but again became a member in 2007...
- IWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipIWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe IWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship was a title for wrestlers that weigh 225 pounds and under that was being defended in the International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico.-Title history:...
(1 time)
- Pro Wrestling NoahPro Wrestling Noahis a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
- GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipGHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipThe Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight wrestlers. It was created on July 16, 2003 when Kenta and Naomichi Marufuji defeated Jushin Liger...
(1 time) – with Ikuto HidakaIkuto Hidakais a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Pro Wrestling Zero1. Hidaka was the regular partner of Minoru Fujita, with whom he has held the Zero1-Max International Lightweight Tag Team and Intercontinental Tag Team Titles, making them the only team to do so...
- Pro Wrestling Zero1
- AWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipAWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1 and sanctioned by the Wrestling Superstars Live promotion, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight The Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship is a...
(1 time) - NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ikuto Hidaka
- NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ikuto Hidaka
- WDB Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Saki Maemura