Yujiro Kushida
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese professional wrestler
. He currently competes in New Japan Pro Wrestling
as KUSHIDA. He won the ZST
Genesis Lightweight Tournament and AJPW's U-30 Tag Team Tournament in 2008 with T28
in a fight against Kenji Mizuno in January 2003. He won the ZST Genesis Light Weight Tournament in 2004.
Kushida was offered to continue on in the MMA field, but his dream was to become a professional wrestler and he went out to do just that. Soon after he would embark to Mexico and begin training as wrestler. He would return to Japan and on February 10th, 2006 was signed under Hustle to be under Tajiri & Hiroshi Nagao. Tajiri
eventually took Kushida under his wing completely as his apprentice. He debuted as a pro wrestler on September 7, 2006 with Tajiri to take on Red Onigumo & Blue Onigumo. Kushida quickly earned the title “Hustle Supernova” and became one of their top up and comers.
In 2007, Kushida competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling
, Apache Pro-Wrestling, Dradition Pro-Wrestling, Hustle) and various independent shows.
to participate in the U-30 Tag Team Tournament, a one night tournament that featured AJPW's top young wrestlers. The team defeated CJ Otis and Mototsugu Shimizu in the first round, Kaji Yamato and Taishi Takizawa in the second round and the team of Daichi Kakimoto and Manabu Soya
in the finals to win the U30 Tag Team tournament. The team would go on to compete in AJPW's 2008 Junior Tag League, the team ended up tied for last place with only four points for two victories and three losses.
Kushida and Tajiri competed in Osaka Festival 2008 and reached the semi final of the tournament but were knocked out by Daisuke Harada
and Zeus.. Kushida also competed in the Mondo 21 Cup 13 Man Battle Royal. On 12 June, Kushida won his first three-way dance against Kuishinbo Kamen
and Kanjyouro Matsuyama. After teaming up with Billy Ken Kid and defeating Takoyakida and Tigers Mask, Kushida went on a winning streak at Osaka Pro Wrestling
in both singles and tag team matches which is still intact today.
in a match that was a turning point in his career as he lost and was forced to leave Japan. Kushida went on to compete in wrestling promotions in Canada, Mexico and America, most notably in Chikara and Border City Wrestling
. Kushida participated in a steel cage match for BSE Suicide Six Pack Title and was defeated by Tyson Dux
. On November 3, 2010 while competing for Canadian Wrestling's Elite, he received a CWE Championship match against the then champion AJ Sanchez but lost. Kushida won his last match in Canada defeating Michael Von Payton at Capital City Championship Combat in March 13, 2010. In October 2010, Kushida made two appearances for American promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling
(OVW).
for the main event of Smash.2. He lost to Prince Devitt
on Smash.3 main event. Kushida went up against Isami Kodaka in a world tryout match on Smash.4. He then went on to lose his next three matches. He ended his losing streak when he teamed up with Tajiri and Akira Shoji against Ohara, Jessica Love and Kageman Guro on Smash.8. At Smash.9, Kushida went up against Mike Mondo for the OVW Heavyweight Championship
but lost. Kushida's run with Smash ended on March 31, 2011, at Smash.15, where he was defeated by Ohara in the main event of the evening.
which began on May 30, 2010. He participated in seven matches winning four out of the seven matches giving him a total of eight points, just coming shy of the semi finals. Kushida also participated in the new tag team tournament called Super J Tag Tournament, Kushida partnered with Gedo. The pair first went up against Kota Ibushi and Austin Creed
, Kushida pinned Austin to advance to the semi final. However the pair lost to Ryusuke Taguchi
and Prince Devitt in the semi final so were out of the tournament. Kushida then went on to team up with Hiroshi Tanahashi
and Tajiri to compete in J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament 2010, the team beat Chaos
and Masato Tanaka
to progress to the finals where they were eventually beaten by Hirooki Goto
, Prince Devitt, and Ryusuke Taguchi
. Kushida participated in Super J Tag League teaming up with Akira in block B, the pair won two matches and lost two matches amassing a total of four points, missing out on the final by two points.
On February 25, 2011, it was announced that Kushida, with Tajiri's blessing, would be leaving Smash and becoming a full time member of the New Japan roster, beginning on April 1. On March 19 Kushida unsuccessfully challenged Prince Devitt for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
. On May 26, Kushida entered the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. After winning five out of his eight round robin stage matches, he finished fourth out of the nine wrestlers in his block, narrowly missing the semifinals of the tournament.. Kushida then went on to compete in J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament 2011 with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Máscara Dorada
, however the trio were beaten in the second round by Jushin Thunder Liger, Karl Anderson
and Giant Bernard
On August 27, 2011, he participated in the Destroyer Cup, a Special Battle Royale at All Together. 3 days later, he teamed with Togi Makabe to face Suzuli & Taichi. He lost after a Cradle Piledriver of Suzuki and got pinned by Taichi.
On September 19, Kushida was set to challenge Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but a week earlier, Ibushi was forced to pull out of the match and vacate the title, after dislocating his left shoulder. Kushida was then booked in a decision match against former champion Prince Devitt to determine a new champion. On September 19, Kushida was defeated by Prince Devitt in a match for the vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. On November 12, Kushida and Tiger Mask IV
unsuccessfully challenged Davey Richards
and Rocky Romero
for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
.
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...
. He currently competes 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...
as KUSHIDA. He won the ZST
ZST
ZST is a Japan-based promoting and sanctioning organization of mixed martial arts, and it also holds amateur MMA events. ZST adopts unique rules in the MMA industry. Much like RINGS, strikes to head on the ground are prohibited...
Genesis Lightweight Tournament and AJPW's U-30 Tag Team Tournament in 2008 with T28
Tetsuya Bushi
Tetsuya Shimizu is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked under the ring names T28, TETSUYA, Tetsuya Bushi and currently works as the masked BUSHI for All Japan Pro Wrestling . Together with Super Crazy Bushi won AJPW's 2010 Junior Tag League and has previously won AJPW's U-30 Tag Team...
Early years
Yujiro Kushida trained at Takada training hall to be a professional wrestler since he was in junior high school. He debuted at ZSTZST
ZST is a Japan-based promoting and sanctioning organization of mixed martial arts, and it also holds amateur MMA events. ZST adopts unique rules in the MMA industry. Much like RINGS, strikes to head on the ground are prohibited...
in a fight against Kenji Mizuno in January 2003. He won the ZST Genesis Light Weight Tournament in 2004.
Kushida was offered to continue on in the MMA field, but his dream was to become a professional wrestler and he went out to do just that. Soon after he would embark to Mexico and begin training as wrestler. He would return to Japan and on February 10th, 2006 was signed under Hustle to be under Tajiri & Hiroshi Nagao. 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 :...
eventually took Kushida under his wing completely as his apprentice. He debuted as a pro wrestler on September 7, 2006 with Tajiri to take on Red Onigumo & Blue Onigumo. Kushida quickly earned the title “Hustle Supernova” and became one of their top up and comers.
In 2007, Kushida competed 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 :...
, Apache Pro-Wrestling, Dradition Pro-Wrestling, Hustle) and various independent shows.
All Japan Pro Wrestling and Osaka Pro Wrestling (2008)
In February, 2008 Kushida teamed up with T28Tetsuya Bushi
Tetsuya Shimizu is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked under the ring names T28, TETSUYA, Tetsuya Bushi and currently works as the masked BUSHI for All Japan Pro Wrestling . Together with Super Crazy Bushi won AJPW's 2010 Junior Tag League and has previously won AJPW's U-30 Tag Team...
to participate in the U-30 Tag Team Tournament, a one night tournament that featured AJPW's top young wrestlers. The team defeated CJ Otis and Mototsugu Shimizu in the first round, Kaji Yamato and Taishi Takizawa in the second round and the team of Daichi Kakimoto and Manabu Soya
Manabu Soya
Manabu Soya is a Japanese professional wrestler loyal to All Japan Pro Wrestling. Currently he is living in Canada training at the Can-Am Wrestling School under Scott D'Amore and a regular for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Maximum Pro Wrestling.-2007 :Soya debuted in MUGA as Osamu Nishimura's pupil,...
in the finals to win the U30 Tag Team tournament. The team would go on to compete in AJPW's 2008 Junior Tag League, the team ended up tied for last place with only four points for two victories and three losses.
Kushida and Tajiri competed in Osaka Festival 2008 and reached the semi final of the tournament but were knocked out by Daisuke Harada
Daisuke Harada
is a Japanese professional wrestler, who mainly works for Osaka Pro Wrestling, where he is part of the tag team Momo no Seishun Tag with Atsushi Kotoge...
and Zeus.. Kushida also competed in the Mondo 21 Cup 13 Man Battle Royal. On 12 June, Kushida won his first three-way dance against Kuishinbo Kamen
Kuishinbo Kamen
Akinori Tsukioka is a Japanese professional wrestler better known as Kuishinbo Kamen. He is very distinguishable by his clown outfit.-Career:...
and Kanjyouro Matsuyama. After teaming up with Billy Ken Kid and defeating Takoyakida and Tigers Mask, Kushida went on a winning streak at 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 both singles and tag team matches which is still intact today.
Canada, Mexico and America (2009–2010)
In March 2009, Kushida faced Rey OharaHajime Ohara
Hajime Ohara is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Smash. Ohara worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico for several years as part of his training mixing the Lucha Libre style of Mexico with the Japanese Puroresu style of wrestling.-Mexico:Hajime Ohara trained for...
in a match that was a turning point in his career as he lost and was forced to leave Japan. Kushida went on to compete in wrestling promotions in Canada, Mexico and America, most notably in Chikara and Border City Wrestling
Border City Wrestling
Border City Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion once based in Windsor, Ontario. It was the base promotion for several Total Nonstop Action Wrestling wrestlers, including all of the former Team Canada, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley. Many BCW employees were trained by Scott...
. Kushida participated in a steel cage match for BSE Suicide Six Pack Title and was defeated by Tyson Dux
Tyson Dux
Tyson Moody is a Canadian professional wrestler, known by his ring name Tyson Dux , and is currently wrestling for various independent promotions. He is the nephew of martial artist Frank Dux-Career:...
. On November 3, 2010 while competing for Canadian Wrestling's Elite, he received a CWE Championship match against the then champion AJ Sanchez but lost. Kushida won his last match in Canada defeating Michael Von Payton at Capital City Championship Combat in March 13, 2010. In October 2010, Kushida made two appearances for American promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
(OVW).
Smash (2010–2011)
Kushida was the main event for Smash.1 were he defeated Hajime Ohara, he then went on to pair up with Lin Bairon to defeat Ohara and SyuriSyuri
is a Japanese professional wrestler, shoot boxer and kickboxer, better known simply as . She is currently working for Smash and is also known for her time in the promotion's predecessor, Hustle, where she worked as KG .-Early life:Kondo was born to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother on...
for the main event of Smash.2. He lost to 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...
on Smash.3 main event. Kushida went up against Isami Kodaka in a world tryout match on Smash.4. He then went on to lose his next three matches. He ended his losing streak when he teamed up with Tajiri and Akira Shoji against Ohara, Jessica Love and Kageman Guro on Smash.8. At Smash.9, Kushida went up against Mike Mondo for the OVW Heavyweight Championship
OVW Heavyweight Championship
The OVW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship owned by the Ohio Valley Wrestling promotion. The title was introduced on August 17, 1997 at an OVW live event, then known as the NWA-OVW Heavyweight Championship due to OVW's relationship with the National...
but lost. Kushida's run with Smash ended on March 31, 2011, at Smash.15, where he was defeated by Ohara in the main event of the evening.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (2010–present)
Kushida participated in the annual tournament 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...
which began on May 30, 2010. He participated in seven matches winning four out of the seven matches giving him a total of eight points, just coming shy of the semi finals. Kushida also participated in the new tag team tournament called Super J Tag Tournament, Kushida partnered with Gedo. The pair first went up against Kota Ibushi and Austin Creed
Austin Creed
Austin Watson is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Consequences Creed. He is signed to WWE, and works in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling as Xavier Woods...
, Kushida pinned Austin to advance to the semi final. However the pair lost to 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....
and Prince Devitt in the semi final so were out of the tournament. Kushida then went on to team up with 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:...
and Tajiri to compete in J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament 2010, the team beat Chaos
Chaos (professional wrestling)
CHAOS is a Japanese professional wrestling stable formed by Shinsuke Nakamura and Toru Yano in New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Formation:In April 2009, Toru Yano turned on Togi Makabe, costing Makabe the match against Shinsuke Nakamura. As Nakamura continued the attack on Makabe, Tomoaki Honma tried to...
and Masato Tanaka
Masato Tanaka
Masato Tanaka is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling in Japan and in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the United States where he was a one-time world champion, having won the ECW World Heavyweight Championship once...
to progress to the finals where they were eventually beaten by Hirooki Goto
Hirooki Goto
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He has wrestled primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling since his debut.-Career:Goto attended Kokushikan University, where he took part in freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling. Upon graduating, Goto qualified to join New Japan Pro Wrestling, but left the...
, Prince Devitt, 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....
. Kushida participated in Super J Tag League teaming up with Akira in block B, the pair won two matches and lost two matches amassing a total of four points, missing out on the final by two points.
On February 25, 2011, it was announced that Kushida, with Tajiri's blessing, would be leaving Smash and becoming a full time member of the New Japan roster, beginning on April 1. On March 19 Kushida unsuccessfully challenged Prince Devitt 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....
. On May 26, Kushida entered the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. After winning five out of his eight round robin stage matches, he finished fourth out of the nine wrestlers in his block, narrowly missing the semifinals of the tournament.. Kushida then went on to compete in J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament 2011 with Hiroshi Tanahashi 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...
, however the trio were beaten in the second round by Jushin Thunder Liger, Karl Anderson
Karl Anderson
Chad Allegra is an American professional wrestler better known by his stage name Karl "Machine Gun" Anderson currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently one half of the IWGP and GHC Tag Team Champions with partner Giant Bernard.-Personal life:Allegra grew up in Asheville,...
and Giant Bernard
On August 27, 2011, he participated in the Destroyer Cup, a Special Battle Royale at All Together. 3 days later, he teamed with Togi Makabe to face Suzuli & Taichi. He lost after a Cradle Piledriver of Suzuki and got pinned by Taichi.
On September 19, Kushida was set to challenge Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but a week earlier, Ibushi was forced to pull out of the match and vacate the title, after dislocating his left shoulder. Kushida was then booked in a decision match against former champion Prince Devitt to determine a new champion. On September 19, Kushida was defeated by Prince Devitt in a match for the vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. On November 12, Kushida and Tiger Mask IV
Tiger Mask IV
Yoshihiro Yamazaki , best known by his ring name Tiger Mask , is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Yamazaki is the fourth wrestler to portray the Tiger Mask image / persona; having used it since 1995...
unsuccessfully challenged Davey Richards
Davey Richards
Wesley David Richards is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Davey Richards.Richards is currently under contract with Ring of Honor, where he is the current ROH World Champion, but also wrestles for several companies on the independent circuit, including Pro Wrestling...
and Rocky Romero
Rocky Romero
John R. Rivera is a Cuban American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Rocky Romero and as the fourth incarnation of Black Tiger. As Romero he was one half of the tag team The Havana Pitbulls , along with Ricky Reyes...
for 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 wrestling
- Finishing moves
- 9469 / Kushida Lock (Crossface with a knee to the opponent's back)
- Hurricanrana - Hustle
- Midnight Express (Corkscrew moonsault)
- Signature moves
- Diving crossbody
- Handspring back elbow – adopted from TAJIRIYoshihiro 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 :...
- High speed roundhouse kickRoundhouse kickA roundhouse kick is a kick in which the attacker swings his leg around in a semicircular motion, striking with the front of the leg or foot. This type of kick is utilized in many different martial arts and is popular in both non-contact and full-contact martial arts competitions...
to the head of a seated, kneeling or rising opponent – adopted from TAJIRI - MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
, sometimes while standing - Running double knee strike to a cornered opponent
- Superkick
- Tilt-a-whirl headscissors transitioned into a DDTDDT (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- Hustle Supernova
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- TajiriYoshihiro 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 :...
- Tajiri
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "JumpJump (Van Halen song)"Jump" is a song by the American rock group Van Halen. It is the only single the group released in their career to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was released in 1984 as the second track on the album 1984...
" by Van HalenVan HalenVan Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
- "Jump
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestlingis 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 :...
- AJPW U-30 Tag Team Tournament – with T28Tetsuya BushiTetsuya Shimizu is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked under the ring names T28, TETSUYA, Tetsuya Bushi and currently works as the masked BUSHI for All Japan Pro Wrestling . Together with Super Crazy Bushi won AJPW's 2010 Junior Tag League and has previously won AJPW's U-30 Tag Team...
- ZSTZSTZST is a Japan-based promoting and sanctioning organization of mixed martial arts, and it also holds amateur MMA events. ZST adopts unique rules in the MMA industry. Much like RINGS, strikes to head on the ground are prohibited...
- ZST Genesis Light Weight Tournament (1 time)