Nobukazu Hirai
Encyclopedia
Nobukazu Hirai is a Japan
ese professional wrestler
currently competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling
as Super Hate. He is the son of Japanese wrestler: Mitsu Hirai
and debuted for Super World Sports on April 25, 1991. During his time in SWS, Hirai was never pushed as he spent the time paying his dues and gaining experience. Hirai would remain with SWS until it folded in June 1992.
. In WAR, Hirai continued to remain in the midcard for most of the early-to mid 1990s. While working in WAR, Hirai also made appearances in New Japan Pro Wrestling
. In March 1994, Hirai took part in New Japan's Young Lion Cup defeating Tatsuhito Takaiwa
in the first round but would unable to win the tournament with Satoshi Kojima
eventually emerging as the winner. In May 1994, Hirai participated in a few live events for the WWF during their Japanese tour as he took on wrestlers such as Doink the Clown
, Headshrinker Samu, and the Smokin' Gunns. He also took part in a Royal Rumble.
By 1997, Hirai began to move up the card. On July 25, 1997, Hirai teamed with Mitsuharu Kitao
and Tommy Dreamer
in a match for the vacated WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
but lost to Koki Kitahara, Nobutaka Araya, and Lance Storm
. On October 27, Hirai would finally win his first title when he teamed with Kitao and Masaaki Mochizuki
to defeat Kitahara, Araya, and Storm to win the WAR Six-Man Tag Team Titles. In November 1997, Hirai took part in a tournament to crown the first J-1 World Heavyweight Champion but lost in the first round to Nobutaka Araya. On July 1, 1998, Kitao would retire from wrestling and the WAR Six Man Tag Titles were vacated. Hirai would continue to wrestle in WAR until it closed in 2000 after Tenryu returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling
.
. In July 2003, the team took part in the All-Asian Tag League tournament for the vacated AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
but they finished in last place with 3 Points. On September 6, Hirai and Okumura challenged Kohei Sato
and Hirotaka Yokoi for the All-Asia Tag Team Titles but they came up short. In early 2004, Hirai would briefly change his name to Mitsu Hirai Jr. but the name change did little for his career. On January 8, 2004, Hirai and Okumura received another shot at the All-Asia Tag Titles against Great Kosuke
and Shiryu
but lost. In late 2004, Hirai would form a new team with Nobutaka Araya and the two entered the 2004 World's Strongest Tag League but they finished in last place of their block with 0 points. From 2005-2008, Hirai would spend his time in the low midcard and as a jobber as he wouldn't compete for titles and was left off tournaments.
In late 2008, Hirai would turn heel
and join the Voodoo Murders
. On November 3, at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 6, Hirai teamed with TARU
and brother YASSHI to defeat Suwama, Kaz Hayashi, and Ryuji Hijikata
with Hirai pinning Hayashi. Afterward, Hirai would change his name to Hate and would proceed to change his look by wearing facepaint and would use a fire extingusher as a weapon. Hate would team with TARU in the 2008 World's Strongest Tag League where they finished in 7th place with 4 points. In 2009, Hate would lose weight and drop to the junior heavyweight division. On October 25, Hate would challenge Kaz Hayashi for the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
but lost. In April 2010, Hate would team with Minoru in the 2010 Junior Tag League where they finished in 4th place with 2 points. In early 2011, Hate would become Super Hate and would enter the 2011 Junior Tag League teaming with MAZADA but the two finished in last place with 2 points.
On May 29, 2011, Hirai was involved in a backstage fight with TARU, which led to Hirai suffering a stroke after competing in a match. He would eventually undergo successful surgery. Following the incident, all Japanese members of the Voodoo Murders (TARU, Minoru, KONO, and MAZADA) were suspended indefinitely from All Japan, the Voodoo Murders stable was disbanded and Keiji Mutoh
resigned as the president of the promotion. Recently, Hirai woke up from the coma, but still remains in hospital, due to memory loss.
's 2004 World X-Cup Tournament
as a member of Team Japan
where they finished the tournament in last place with 2 points.
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...
currently competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
as Super Hate. He is the son of Japanese wrestler: Mitsu Hirai
Super World Sports (1991-1992)
Hirai originally trained in the SWS dojo under wrestling legend: Genichiro TenryuGenichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
and debuted for Super World Sports on April 25, 1991. During his time in SWS, Hirai was never pushed as he spent the time paying his dues and gaining experience. Hirai would remain with SWS until it folded in June 1992.
WAR (1992-2000)
After SWS folded, Hirai joined Tenryu's new promotion: WARWAR (wrestling promotion)
Wrestle and Romance, and later Wrestle Association R, was a professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. The promotion had very few regular contracted workers, instead most of the workers were...
. In WAR, Hirai continued to remain in the midcard for most of the early-to mid 1990s. While working in WAR, Hirai also made appearances in 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...
. In March 1994, Hirai took part in New Japan's Young Lion Cup defeating Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Tatsuhito Takaiwa is a Zainichi-Korean professional wrestler. Takaiwa is one of the more well-traveled junior heavyweights in Japan, having wrestled for New Japan, and Zero-One, as well as making special appearances in All Japan and NOAH....
in the first round but would unable to win the tournament with Satoshi Kojima
Satoshi Kojima
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling. As a singles wrestler, he was the first wrestler to hold NJPW's IWGP Heavyweight Championship and All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown Championship simultaneously...
eventually emerging as the winner. In May 1994, Hirai participated in a few live events for the WWF during their Japanese tour as he took on wrestlers such as Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown is a professional wrestling gimmick, originally used by Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1995. Since Osborne's departure from the WWF, the character has been played by several wrestlers, primarily on the independent circuit, as well as in sporadic special...
, Headshrinker Samu, and the Smokin' Gunns. He also took part in a Royal Rumble.
By 1997, Hirai began to move up the card. On July 25, 1997, Hirai teamed with Mitsuharu Kitao
Koji Kitao
Kōji Kitao is a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler, born in Mie, Japan. He was sumo's 60th Yokozuna, and the only yokozuna in sumo history not to win a top division tournament championship...
and Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
in a match for the vacated WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
The WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship is a tag team title previously contested for in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Wrestle Association R ....
but lost to Koki Kitahara, Nobutaka Araya, and Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
. On October 27, Hirai would finally win his first title when he teamed with Kitao and Masaaki Mochizuki
Masaaki Mochizuki
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Dragon Gate, where he is the current Open the Dream Gate Champion in his second reign and the leader of the Junction Three stable...
to defeat Kitahara, Araya, and Storm to win the WAR Six-Man Tag Team Titles. In November 1997, Hirai took part in a tournament to crown the first J-1 World Heavyweight Champion but lost in the first round to Nobutaka Araya. On July 1, 1998, Kitao would retire from wrestling and the WAR Six Man Tag Titles were vacated. Hirai would continue to wrestle in WAR until it closed in 2000 after Tenryu returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (2001-present)
In 2001, Hirai joined All Japan where he continued to remain in the midcard despite the NOAH exodus. In January 2002, Hirai took part in the Giant Baba Cup where he finished in 3rd place in his block with 11 points. In 2003, Hirai formed a tag team with Shigeo OkumuraShigeo Okumura
Shigeo Okumura is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and is currently billed simply as Okumura. Okumura originally worked for Tokyo Pro Wrestling and later on All Japan Pro Wrestling in Japan but...
. In July 2003, the team took part in the All-Asian Tag League tournament for the vacated AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling . It was created on November 16, 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association when King Kong Czaya & Tiger Jokinder defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan &...
but they finished in last place with 3 Points. On September 6, Hirai and Okumura challenged Kohei Sato
Kohei Sato
is a Japanese professional wrestler contracted with Pro Wrestling ZERO1. Sato is also a former mixed martial artist.-In wrestling:*Finishing moves*Briging German suplex*Cross Armbreaker*Pole Star *Signature moves...
and Hirotaka Yokoi for the All-Asia Tag Team Titles but they came up short. In early 2004, Hirai would briefly change his name to Mitsu Hirai Jr. but the name change did little for his career. On January 8, 2004, Hirai and Okumura received another shot at the All-Asia Tag Titles against Great Kosuke
Satoshi Kojima
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling. As a singles wrestler, he was the first wrestler to hold NJPW's IWGP Heavyweight Championship and All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown Championship simultaneously...
and Shiryu
Kaz Hayashi
Kazuhiro "Kaz" Hayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is working for All Japan Pro Wrestling. He is also the head booker for the company's junior division.-Career:...
but lost. In late 2004, Hirai would form a new team with Nobutaka Araya and the two entered the 2004 World's Strongest Tag League but they finished in last place of their block with 0 points. From 2005-2008, Hirai would spend his time in the low midcard and as a jobber as he wouldn't compete for titles and was left off tournaments.
In late 2008, Hirai would turn heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
and join the Voodoo Murders
Voodoo Murders
VOODOO-MURDERS was the main heel group in All Japan Pro Wrestling. They are famous for their violent actions and lack of respect for their opponents...
. On November 3, at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 6, Hirai teamed with TARU
Yoshikazu Taru
Yoshikazu Taru is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name TARU. He works for All Japan Pro Wrestling and El Dorado Wrestling.-Professional wrestling career:...
and brother YASSHI to defeat Suwama, Kaz Hayashi, and Ryuji Hijikata
Ryuji Hijikata
is a Japanese professional wrestler. Born May 17, 1978. Started wrestling in 1998 for Yuki Isikawa's BattlARTS promotion and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he was a former AJPW World Jr...
with Hirai pinning Hayashi. Afterward, Hirai would change his name to Hate and would proceed to change his look by wearing facepaint and would use a fire extingusher as a weapon. Hate would team with TARU in the 2008 World's Strongest Tag League where they finished in 7th place with 4 points. In 2009, Hate would lose weight and drop to the junior heavyweight division. On October 25, Hate would challenge Kaz Hayashi for the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight The All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling...
but lost. In April 2010, Hate would team with Minoru in the 2010 Junior Tag League where they finished in 4th place with 2 points. In early 2011, Hate would become Super Hate and would enter the 2011 Junior Tag League teaming with MAZADA but the two finished in last place with 2 points.
On May 29, 2011, Hirai was involved in a backstage fight with TARU, which led to Hirai suffering a stroke after competing in a match. He would eventually undergo successful surgery. Following the incident, all Japanese members of the Voodoo Murders (TARU, Minoru, KONO, and MAZADA) were suspended indefinitely from All Japan, the Voodoo Murders stable was disbanded and Keiji Mutoh
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Taiwan...
resigned as the president of the promotion. Recently, Hirai woke up from the coma, but still remains in hospital, due to memory loss.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004)
Hirai competed in Total Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
's 2004 World X-Cup Tournament
TNA 2004 World X Cup Tournament
The TNA 2004 World X Cup Tournament was an X Division tournament that was hosted by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. It was the successor to America's X Cup Tournament.-History:...
as a member of Team Japan
Team Japan
Team Japan is a wrestling faction that was brought together as a part of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's World X Cup Tournament.-2004:Team Japan started as six-man team as team captain Nosawa from All Japan Pro Wrestling teamed with Osaka Pro Wrestling's Ebessan and Kamen competed in...
where they finished the tournament in last place with 2 points.
In wrestling
- Signature moves
- Diving elbow drop
- Hirai End (Side slam)
- Lariat
- WAR Special (Seated double chickenwing)
Championships and accomplishments
- Wrestle Association "R"WAR (wrestling promotion)Wrestle and Romance, and later Wrestle Association R, was a professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. The promotion had very few regular contracted workers, instead most of the workers were...
- WAR World Six-Man Tag Team ChampionshipWAR World Six-Man Tag Team ChampionshipThe WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship is a tag team title previously contested for in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Wrestle Association R ....
(1 time) - with Mitsuharu Kitao and Masaaki MochizukiMasaaki Mochizukiis a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Dragon Gate, where he is the current Open the Dream Gate Champion in his second reign and the leader of the Junction Three stable...
- WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship