Osamu Matsuda
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
professional wrestler who is best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling
, and is better known by his stage name
El Samurai.
dojo. He debuted in July 1986 and spent a few years working at the bottom of the card, wrestling with the likes of Kensuke Sasaki
, Kenichi Oya
, and Takayuki Iizuka
. In March 1991 he went on a learning excursion to Mexico
, and while working for the UWA
promotion, adopted a mask and the El Samurai stage name.
.
tournament, in which he lost to Jushin Liger
. Two months later, he defeated Liger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
. He would lose the title to Ultimo Dragon in November 1992.
In April 1994, El Samurai took part in the Super J Cup tournament; he defeated Masayoshi Motegi
in the first round, before losing to The Great Sasuke in the quarterfinals. In December 1995, he entered into the second Super J Cup tournament, but he didn't fare as well as the year before, as he lost to Dos Caras
in the first round. In August 1996, he took part in a tournament to determine the first J-Crown
champion. At the time, El Samurai was the WWF World Light Heavyweight Champion. He defeated Gran Hamada
in the first round, before losing to eventual winner The Great Sasuke in the quarterfinals.
In 1997 El Samurai adopted a new costume and won the Best of the Super Junior tournament, defeating Koji Kanemoto
in the final match, during which his mask was torn completely off his face. The match was later given five stars by Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer
. Only a month later he defeated Liger, winning the unified J-Crown which at that time consisted of 7 junior heavyweight championships, due to Liger losing one of the eight titles (the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship
) before then. In March 2001, he and Liger won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
.
In April 2004 El Samurai unmasked willingly for the first time since adopting the character, going by his real name, Osamu Matsuda, for a match against Osamu Nishimura
, but it was for one night only. Up until at the end of January 2005, he was unmasked again in a MUGA-style match against Shinsuke Nakamura
. Though El Samurai has not been a top contender in the NJPW Junior Heavyweight division for a few years, he still continues to be a veteran in it, recently winning a second IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag team title, this time with rookie Ryusuke Taguchi
.
On February 1st, 2008 New Japan agreed to let El Samurai leave the company after his contract expired. He had been hit by injuries, which caused him not to be seen much in the ring in late 2007 & early 2008. His departure comes as some surprise as he leaves as one of New Japan's longest serving mainstays.
& Shuji Kondo
by fending off NOSAWA Rongai & MAZADA. On May 8, 2010, El Samurai returned to New Japan to take part in the tournament contested for the vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. El Samurai and his partner, former rival Koji Kanemoto, advanced to the finals of the tournament, where they defeated the team of Prince Devitt
and Ryusuke Taguchi to win the titles. Just over two months later, on July 19, Kanemoto and El Samurai lost the Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Devitt and Taguchi.
1Although he did win the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship twice, neither of his reigns are officially recognized by World Wrestling Entertainment. No reign prior to December 1997 is officially recognized by the WWE.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
professional wrestler who is best known for his work 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...
, and is better known by his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
El Samurai.
Early years (1986-1992)
Osamu Matsuda graduated from high school in 1985, and joined the New Japan Pro WrestlingNew 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...
dojo. He debuted in July 1986 and spent a few years working at the bottom of the card, wrestling with the likes of Kensuke Sasaki
Kensuke Sasaki
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for various promotions through his own agency, Kensuke Office. He is the first of two men ever to hold all 3 of puroresu's major heavyweight titles , the other being Yoshihiro Takayama.-Early years :Kensuke Sasaki...
, Kenichi Oya
Hisakatsu Oya
Kenichi Oya is a semi-retired Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Hisakatsu Oya. Although he started out for New Japan Pro Wrestling, he is well-known for his stint in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling....
, and Takayuki Iizuka
Takayuki Iizuka
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Early years :Takayuki Iizuka made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling in November 1986, wrestling against Akira Nogami. In June 1989, Iizuka and Hiroshi Hase went to the Soviet...
. In March 1991 he went on a learning excursion to 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 while working for the UWA
Universal Wrestling Association
The Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
promotion, adopted a mask and the El Samurai stage name.
.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (1992-2008)
El Samurai returned to NJPW in March 1992. A month later, he made it to the finals of the Best of the Super JuniorsBest of the Super Juniors
This article is about the professional wrestling tournament. For the South Korean boy band, see Super Junior.The Best of the Super Juniors is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling , typically in May or June...
tournament, in which he lost to 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...
. Two months later, he defeated Liger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
. He would lose the title to Ultimo Dragon in November 1992.
In April 1994, El Samurai took part in the Super J Cup tournament; he defeated Masayoshi Motegi
Masayoshi Motegi
Masayoshi Motegi is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is known for his background in karate and the innovation of the Rolling German suplex...
in the first round, before losing to The Great Sasuke in the quarterfinals. In December 1995, he entered into the second Super J Cup tournament, but he didn't fare as well as the year before, as he lost to Dos Caras
Dos Caras
José Luis Rodríguez is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado who wrestles under the ring name Dos Caras . Dos Caras' most active years were in the 1970s and 80s, and achieved his greatest success in Mexico's Universal Wrestling Alliance winning the UWA World Heavyweight Championship three times...
in the first round. In August 1996, he took part in a tournament to determine the first J-Crown
J-Crown
-Title history:-External links:*...
champion. At the time, El Samurai was the WWF World Light Heavyweight Champion. He defeated 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 the first round, before losing to eventual winner The Great Sasuke in the quarterfinals.
In 1997 El Samurai adopted a new costume and won the Best of the Super Junior tournament, defeating Koji Kanemoto
Koji Kanemoto
is a professional wrestler. He is of Zainichi Korean descent.-Career:Kanemoto practiced Judo during his high school days and won a few championships as a professional before being recruited by the New Japan Dojo. He debuted in November 1990, wrestling against Michiyoshi Ohara. In March 1992, he...
in the final match, during which his mask was torn completely off his face. The match was later given five stars by Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer
Dave Meltzer
David A. Meltzer is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Sports Illustrated senior writer Frank Deford has praised Meltzer's work, saying that "Meltzer, I believe, is the most accomplished reporter in sports journalism." Meltzer has written for the Oakland Tribune, the Los Angeles...
. Only a month later he defeated Liger, winning the unified J-Crown which at that time consisted of 7 junior heavyweight championships, due to Liger losing one of the eight titles (the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship
WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship
The WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship was a title contested for in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Wrestle Association R , which closed in 2000. It was part of New Japan Pro Wrestling's short-lived J-Crown Championship in 1996 and 1997. The title was revived in April...
) before then. In March 2001, he and Liger won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on August 8, 1998 at a NJPW live event...
.
In April 2004 El Samurai unmasked willingly for the first time since adopting the character, going by his real name, Osamu Matsuda, for a match against Osamu Nishimura
Osamu Nishimura
Osamu Nishimura is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Nishimura formerly worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling and MUGA World Pro Wrestling.-Early years :...
, but it was for one night only. Up until at the end of January 2005, he was unmasked again in a MUGA-style match against Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.-Super Rookie :...
. Though El Samurai has not been a top contender in the NJPW Junior Heavyweight division for a few years, he still continues to be a veteran in it, recently winning a second IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag team title, this time with rookie Ryusuke Taguchi
Ryusuke Taguchi
is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion....
.
On February 1st, 2008 New Japan agreed to let El Samurai leave the company after his contract expired. He had been hit by injuries, which caused him not to be seen much in the ring in late 2007 & early 2008. His departure comes as some surprise as he leaves as one of New Japan's longest serving mainstays.
Freelance (2008-present)
On February 17, El Samurai appeared in All Japan Pro Wrestling, aiding Kaz HayashiKaz 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:...
& Shuji Kondo
Shuji Kondo
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Prior to becoming a pro wrestler, he played rugby.-Toryumon/Dragon Gate:Kondo was part of the T2P class in Toryumon. At first he was a face in the Toryumon Seikegun....
by fending off NOSAWA Rongai & MAZADA. On May 8, 2010, El Samurai returned to New Japan to take part in the tournament contested for the vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. El Samurai and his partner, former rival Koji Kanemoto, advanced to the finals of the tournament, where they defeated the team of Prince Devitt
Fergal Devitt
Fergal Devitt is an Irish professional wrestler currently contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently in his second reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion...
and Ryusuke Taguchi to win the titles. Just over two months later, on July 19, Kanemoto and El Samurai lost the Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Devitt and Taguchi.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Double wrist–lock, sometimes with neckscissors
- Lifting inverted DDT
- Samurai Bomb (Kneeling one shoulder powerbomb)
- Samurai Clutch (Reverse side roll cradle)
- Samurai Clutch II (Forward Russian legsweep rolled into a cradle)
- Signature moves
- Cross armbar
- Diving elbow drop
- Diving headbutt
- Frankensteiner
- German suplex
- Inverted DDT
- Kneeling belly to belly piledriver
- Suicide dive
- Tornado DDT
- Entrance themes
- "The Unforgiven" by Robert TepperRobert TepperRobert Tepper is an American singer, best known for his hit song "No Easy Way Out" from the Rocky IV motion picture soundtrack.Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, Tepper moved to New York where he became a staff writer...
(1988-1992) - "Terrible Gift" (1992-present)
Championships and accomplishments
- Michinoku Pro WrestlingMichinoku Pro WrestlingMichinoku 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...
- British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipBritish Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship that although being created in England, it gained its biggest notoriety in Japan...
(1 time)
- Mobius
- El Mejor de Máscara Championship (1 time)
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis 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...
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipIWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
(2 times) - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipThe IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on August 8, 1998 at a NJPW live event...
(3 times) – with Jushin LigerJushin 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...
(1), Ryusuke TaguchiRyusuke Taguchiis a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion....
(1) and Koji KanemotoKoji Kanemotois a professional wrestler. He is of Zainichi Korean descent.-Career:Kanemoto practiced Judo during his high school days and won a few championships as a professional before being recruited by the New Japan Dojo. He debuted in November 1990, wrestling against Michiyoshi Ohara. In March 1992, he...
(1) - J-CrownJ-Crown-Title history:-External links:*...
(1 time) - NWA World Welterweight ChampionshipNWA World Welterweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship governed by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence, the title has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato Mundial Welter de...
(1 time) - UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight ChampionshipUWA World Junior Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship that was originally promoted by the Mexican lucha libre Professional wrestling) promotion Universal Wrestling Association...
(2 times) - WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight ChampionshipWWA World Junior Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe WWA World Light Heavyweight Championship is a singles professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling based promotion World Wrestling Association since 1989. In the 1990s the title was taken to Japan when reigning champion Gran Hamada returned to his home...
(2 times) - Best of the Super JuniorsBest of the Super JuniorsThis article is about the professional wrestling tournament. For the South Korean boy band, see Super Junior.The Best of the Super Juniors is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling , typically in May or June...
(1997) - One Night's Captain's Fall Tournament Winner (1994)- with Great Sasuke, Gran HamadaGran 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...
, & Shinjiro OhtaniShinjiro OhtaniShinjiro Otani is a Japanese professional wrestler contracted to Pro Wrestling ZERO1. Otani is also the acting President of the company.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :... - G1 Jr. Tag League (2001)- Jushin Liger
- DREAM* Win Jr. Tag Team Tournament Winner (2002)- with GedoGedoGedo is an administrative region , formerly part of the historic Upper Juba Region in southern Somalia. Its regional capital is Garbahaarreey. Gedo is a region created in 1980s and is bordered by the Ogaden in Ethiopia, the North Eastern Province in Kenya, and the Somali regions of Bakool, Bay,...
- Super J Tag Tournament (2010) – with Koji Kanemoto
- Universal Wrestling AssociationUniversal Wrestling AssociationThe Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
- UWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipUWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe UWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a now inactive title that was originall promoted by the Mexican lucha libre Professional wrestling) promotion. After the UWA closed in 1995 the title was defended on the Mexican and Puerto Rican independent circuit. The last known champion was Andy...
(2 times) - UWA World Middleweight ChampionshipUWA World Middleweight ChampionshipThe UWA World Middleweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship originally created and sanctioend by the Mexican lucha libre promotion Universal Wrestling Association from 1976 until the UWA closed in 1995...
(1 time) - WWF Light Heavyweight ChampionshipWWF Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship. The title was challenged by light heavyweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.- History :...
(2 times)1
- 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 International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jushin Liger
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- 5 Star Match (1997) vs. Koji KanemotoKoji Kanemotois a professional wrestler. He is of Zainichi Korean descent.-Career:Kanemoto practiced Judo during his high school days and won a few championships as a professional before being recruited by the New Japan Dojo. He debuted in November 1990, wrestling against Michiyoshi Ohara. In March 1992, he...
on June 5 - Most Improved Wrestler (1992)
- Xtreme Latin American Wrestling
- X-LAW International Championship (1 time, current)
1Although he did win the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship twice, neither of his reigns are officially recognized by World Wrestling Entertainment. No reign prior to December 1997 is officially recognized by the WWE.