Wataru Sakata
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
professional wrestler and mixed martial artist
. He has a professional MMA record of 11-13-0 as of December 31, 2003.
He started his career in Akira Maeda
's Fighting Network RINGS
in 1994 after being trained by Animal Hamaguchi. He made the transition to mixed martial arts in the late 1990s along with the rest of the promotion. His tenure in RINGS was not very successful. In fact, the zenith of his notoriety came when he was beaten senseless in the backstage area by Maeda during a post match interview after losing a bout too quickly for Maeda's liking.
When RINGS collapsed in 2002, Sakata participated in PRIDE Fighting Championships fights and joined Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE as a freelancer. He gradually began wrestling more.
He joined the off-beat wrestling "opera" federation HUSTLE
in 2008 and became the top face
in the promotion. His biggest victory came when he defeated and seemingly "destroyed" cyborg wrestler The Esperanza
.
Sakata was married to model
Eiko Koike
on August 29, 2007. They have one child together.
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 and mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. He has a professional MMA record of 11-13-0 as of December 31, 2003.
He started his career in Akira Maeda
Akira Maeda
is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport. He helped develop the shoot-style of professional wrestling during the late 1980s....
's Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network RINGS
Fighting Network Rings, trademarked as RINGS, is a Japanese combat sport promotion that has lived three distinct periods; puroresu promotion from its inauguration to 1995, mixed martial arts promotion from 1995 to its 2002 disestablishment, and the revived mixed martial arts promotion from 2008 to...
in 1994 after being trained by Animal Hamaguchi. He made the transition to mixed martial arts in the late 1990s along with the rest of the promotion. His tenure in RINGS was not very successful. In fact, the zenith of his notoriety came when he was beaten senseless in the backstage area by Maeda during a post match interview after losing a bout too quickly for Maeda's liking.
When RINGS collapsed in 2002, Sakata participated in PRIDE Fighting Championships fights and joined Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE as a freelancer. He gradually began wrestling more.
He joined the off-beat wrestling "opera" federation HUSTLE
HUSTLE
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion managed by Nobuhiko Takada. Hustle can be described as an industry experiment to market the sports entertainment style of professional wrestling in Japan.-History:...
in 2008 and became the top face
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...
in the promotion. His biggest victory came when he defeated and seemingly "destroyed" cyborg wrestler The Esperanza
Nobuhiko Takada
Nobuhiko Takada is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. He is best known for helping to popularize shoot-style professional wrestling, as one of the biggest stars of the Universal Wrestling Federation and Union of Wrestling Force International in the '80s and '90s. He...
.
Sakata was married to model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
Eiko Koike
Eiko Koike
is a Japanese idol. Outside of Japan, her best-known work is the film 2LDK. She has worked as a ringside commentator and spokesperson for Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships from 2000 to 2006....
on August 29, 2007. They have one child together.
Championships and accomplishments
- Hustle
- Hustle Super Tag Team ChampionshipHustle Super Tag Team ChampionshipThe Hustle Super Tag Team Championship was the tag team championship in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Hustle.-Title history:-External links:*...
(1 time) - with Ryouji SaiRyouji Saiis a Japanese professional wrestler contracted to Pro Wrestling Zero1, where he is a former two-time World Heavyweight Champion.-Career:...