Taichi Ishikari
Encyclopedia
Maki Taichiro is a Japanese
professional wrestler
, better known by his ring name Taichi Ishikari or simply Taichi, currently performing in New Japan Pro Wrestling
. Throughout his career he has competed in various promotions
including All Japan Pro Wrestling
, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
, HUSTLE and Ultimate Pro Wrestling.
. He would pick up his first singles victory over heavyweight prospect Masayuki Kono about six months into his career on May 12, 2003. He got a huge opportunity by representing All Japan in the 4th Stage Super J Cup hosted by Osaka Pro Wrestling
in 2004, but came up short after losing to Osaka Pro ace Takehiro Murahama in the first round. Teaming with Toshiaki Kawada
in the Autumn Festival Tag Tournament, he earned both victories in their finals matches to win his first tournament. He was All Japan's first junior heavyweight prospect in a long while, being a very quick and fiery youngster who was coming along well. Ishikari began 2005 by challenging for the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
against champion TAKA Michinoku in a losing effort, then continued wrestling in the lower mid-card.
in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
's 2004 World X Cup
, competing in both a battle royal and a ladder match. He was rumored to be a part of 2008's Team Japan, but the spot was filled by Puma
.
and ended his affiliation with All Japan to become a freelance wrestler. Ishikari bounced around trying to find a new permanent home, competing for HUSTLE and the short lived Kings Road promotion. In mid 2006 Ishikari started to appear on New Japan Pro Wrestling
shows and his activity with the company then increased in 2006 and 2007 and finally in 2009 he became an official member of the NJPW roster. He would find himself a tag team partner in Milano Collection A.T. and together they would challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
, held by Prince Devitt
and Ryusuke Taguchi
, but were unable to win the titles.
(CMLL) to seek a new direction in his career. The plan is for him to remain with CMLL for at least five months. Taichi made his CMLL debut on February 19, 2010 in Arena México
, Mexico City
where he teamed up with Naito
and Ray Mendoza, Jr.
to defeat John Strongman
, Mr. Niebla
and Máximo
in two straight falls. On May 7, 2010 Taichi and Okumura teamed up with former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi
to defeat El Hijo del Fantasma, La Máscara
and Héctor Garza
to win the CMLL World Trios Championship
in the main event of the weekly Friday night Super Viernes show. La Ola Amarilla
's reign as Trios champions only lasted two weeks as they were defeated by La Máscara, La Sombra
and Máscara Dorada
on May 21, 2010. Through the trios matches Taichi has developed a rivalry with La Máscara who challenged Taichi to a Lucha de Apuesta match where Taichi would put his hair on the line against La Máscara's mask
. Taichi later announced that he accepted the challenge, making it the main event of CMLL's 2010 Sin Salida
show. On June 6, 2010 Máximo defeated Taichi two falls to one and had his hair shaved off after the match. Afterwards Taichi returned to New Japan, before returning to CMLL for a two month stint in early October 2010.
as part of Kojima Army, which would later also come to include MVP, NOSAWA Rongai
and Taka Michinoku. On April 8, 2011, Taichi defeated Madoka in the finals of a two day long tournament to earn a spot in the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. On May 3, Taichi and Taka Michinoku turned on Kojima and revealed the returning Minoru Suzuki
as their new leader. After losing his first six round robin stage matches in the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors, Taichi came back to win his last two matches and finish eighth out of the nine wrestlers in his block.
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
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...
, better known by his ring name Taichi Ishikari or simply Taichi, currently performing 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...
. Throughout his career he has competed in various promotions
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
including 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 :...
, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
, HUSTLE and Ultimate Pro Wrestling.
Early life
Wanting to be a pro-wrestler since high school he competed in Amateur Wrestling while in high school, and was ranked second in the 63 kg class in the 1997 Hokkaido high school championship conference.All Japan Pro Wrestling (2002–2005)
In December 2002 Ishikari made his debut for All Japan Pro WrestlingAll 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 :...
. He would pick up his first singles victory over heavyweight prospect Masayuki Kono about six months into his career on May 12, 2003. He got a huge opportunity by representing All Japan in the 4th Stage Super J Cup hosted by Osaka Pro Wrestling
Osaka Pro Wrestling
Osaka Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 1998 by Super Delfin.-Current champions:-External links:**...
in 2004, but came up short after losing to Osaka Pro ace Takehiro Murahama in the first round. Teaming with Toshiaki Kawada
Toshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....
in the Autumn Festival Tag Tournament, he earned both victories in their finals matches to win his first tournament. He was All Japan's first junior heavyweight prospect in a long while, being a very quick and fiery youngster who was coming along well. Ishikari began 2005 by challenging 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...
against champion TAKA Michinoku in a losing effort, then continued wrestling in the lower mid-card.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004)
On May 26, 2004, Taichi Ishikari appeared as a member of Team JapanTeam 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...
in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total 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
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:...
, competing in both a battle royal and a ladder match. He was rumored to be a part of 2008's Team Japan, but the spot was filled by Puma
T.J. Perkins
T.J. Perkins is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to Ring of Honor , while also working on the independent circuit under his real name, under his initials TJP or under a mask as Puma ....
.
Freelance and New Japan Pro Wrestling (2005–2010)
In early February 2005 Ishikari followed his mentor, Toshiaki KawadaToshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....
and ended his affiliation with All Japan to become a freelance wrestler. Ishikari bounced around trying to find a new permanent home, competing for HUSTLE and the short lived Kings Road promotion. In mid 2006 Ishikari started to appear on 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...
shows and his activity with the company then increased in 2006 and 2007 and finally in 2009 he became an official member of the NJPW roster. He would find himself a tag team partner in Milano Collection A.T. and together they would challenge 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....
, held by 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
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....
, but were unable to win the titles.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2010)
After Milano Collection A.T. announced his retirement in January 2010, New Japan announced that Taichi would be leaving for Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(CMLL) to seek a new direction in his career. The plan is for him to remain with CMLL for at least five months. Taichi made his CMLL debut on February 19, 2010 in Arena México
Arena México
Arena México is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico located in the Colonia Doctores neighboorhood in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or Lucha libre, shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The building is called the "cathedral of lucha...
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
where he teamed up with Naito
Tetsuya Naitō
is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former IWGP Tag Team and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with former partner Yujiro Takahashi, with whom he teamed as No Limit....
and Ray Mendoza, Jr.
Villano V
Raymundo Díaz Mendoza Jr. is a Mexican professional wrestler who has performed under the name Villano V until he was unmasked on March 20, 2009, after which he became known as "Ray Mendoza, Jr.". Mendoza and is part of the Mendoza family, a well known Mexican wrestling family that includes all...
to defeat John Strongman
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, Mr. Niebla
Mr. Niebla
Mr. Niebla is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado . Mr. Niebla's real name is unknown, as is the tradition in Lucha Libre for masked wrestlers. Mr. Niebla is Spanish for "Mr. Fog". Mr. Niebla is mostly known for working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre from the early 1990s until 2007 and again from...
and Máximo
Maximo (wrestler)
José Christian Alvarado Ruiz is a Mexican Luchador or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Máximo , who has worked for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre for many years...
in two straight falls. On May 7, 2010 Taichi and Okumura teamed up with former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hiroshi Tanahashi
is a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion in his fifth reign.-Early life:...
to defeat El Hijo del Fantasma, La Máscara
La Mascara (wrestler)
La Mascara is a Mexican professional wrestler active as a tecnico in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, where he is the current NWA World Historic Welterweight Champion. Also one of his uncle is Brazo de Plata. His cousins are Psycho Clown and Máximo. La Mascara is the son of Brazo de Oro, and the...
and Héctor Garza
Héctor Garza
Héctor Solano Segura is a Mexican professional wrestler, known by his ring name Héctor Garza, who is currently working for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración and Perros del Mal Producciones...
to win the CMLL World Trios Championship
CMLL World Trios Championship
The CMLL World Trios Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico. The title has existed since 1993 and is contested for by teams of three wrestlers...
in the main event of the weekly Friday night Super Viernes show. La Ola Amarilla
La Ola Amarilla
La Ola Amarilla is a professional wrestling group, also known as a stable in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The group is exclusively for Japanese-born wrestlers, often wrestlers touring CMLL through a talent-sharing agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling...
's reign as Trios champions only lasted two weeks as they were defeated by La Máscara, La Sombra
La Sombra (wrestler)
La Sombra is a Mexican luchador enmascarado . La Sombra's real real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans...
and Máscara Dorada
Mascara Dorada
Máscara Dorada is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado . Máscara Dorada's real name has not been officially documented, a tradition in Mexican Lucha Libre where masked wrestler's real names often are not a matter of public record...
on May 21, 2010. Through the trios matches Taichi has developed a rivalry with La Máscara who challenged Taichi to a Lucha de Apuesta match where Taichi would put his hair on the line against La Máscara's 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...
. Taichi later announced that he accepted the challenge, making it the main event of CMLL's 2010 Sin Salida
Sin Salida (2010)
Sin Salida was a professional wrestling major event produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that took place on June 6, 2010 in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico. The event was centered around the storyline between CMLL wrestlers and a group called Los Invasores, a group portraying an "invading...
show. On June 6, 2010 Máximo defeated Taichi two falls to one and had his hair shaved off after the match. Afterwards Taichi returned to New Japan, before returning to CMLL for a two month stint in early October 2010.
Return to New Japan Pro Wrestling (2010–present)
On December 11, 2010, Taichi returned from his latest stint in CMLL and aligned himself with IWGP Heavyweight Champion Satoshi KojimaSatoshi 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...
as part of Kojima Army, which would later also come to include MVP, NOSAWA Rongai
Kazushige 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:...
and Taka Michinoku. On April 8, 2011, Taichi defeated Madoka in the finals of a two day long tournament to earn a spot in the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. On May 3, Taichi and Taka Michinoku turned on Kojima and revealed the returning Minoru Suzuki
Minoru Suzuki
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Suzuki was the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world. During the 1990s he was known as one of the best fighters in the Pancrase promotion and was the second King of Pancrase world champion...
as their new leader. After losing his first six round robin stage matches in the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors, Taichi came back to win his last two matches and finish eighth out of the nine wrestlers in his block.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Black Mephisto (Over the shoulder back-to-belly piledriver)
- Bridging German suplex
- Signature moves
- Missile dropkick
Championships and accomplishments
- Consejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
- CMLL World Trios ChampionshipCMLL World Trios ChampionshipThe CMLL World Trios Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico. The title has existed since 1993 and is contested for by teams of three wrestlers...
(1 time) – with OkumuraShigeo OkumuraShigeo 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...
and Hiroshi TanahashiHiroshi Tanahashiis a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion in his fifth reign.-Early life:...
- 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...
- Road to the Super Jr. 2days Tournament (2011)
Lucha de Apuesta record
| Wager | Winner | Loser | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair | Máximo Maximo (wrestler) José Christian Alvarado Ruiz is a Mexican Luchador or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Máximo , who has worked for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre for many years... |
Taichi | Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
At the 2010 Sin Salida Sin Salida (2010) Sin Salida was a professional wrestling major event produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that took place on June 6, 2010 in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico. The event was centered around the storyline between CMLL wrestlers and a group called Los Invasores, a group portraying an "invading... |