1 | This page lists the wrestlers and other talent who worked for Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, in order of debut. For a list of current wrestlers by faction, see [[Characters/NewJapanProWrestlingStables here.]] |
2 | |
3 | ---- |
4 | |
5 | [[foldercontrol]] |
6 | |
7 | [[folder: Debuted in the Inoki Reign Era (1972- 1988)]] |
8 | |
9 | !!! AKIRA (野上 彰, Nogami Akira, 1984-2004, 2007-2010, 2012) |
10 | * FacialMarkings: Wears kabuki-style makeup. |
11 | * FinishingMove: Musasabi Press and STF |
12 | * JackOfAllStats |
13 | * PowerStable: Legend |
14 | * OnlyOneName: Referred to by his first name most of the time and in all cap0s when romanized. |
15 | * RedBaron: "Movie Star", "Ring no Musasabi" ("The Squirrel of the Ring"). |
16 | * ShoutOut: His Thirtieth Anniversary Show in 2014 featured a story about how AKIRA had died in an accident and he had to reclaim his body from death. It was supposedly based on the 1978 film ''Film/HeavenCanWait'', which is Nogami's favourite film, but the event overall echoed more ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' than anything. |
17 | |
18 | !!! Wrestling/AndreTheGiant (André René Roussimoff, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986) |
19 | |
20 | !!! Don Arakawa (あらかわ まこと, Arakawa Makoto, 1972-1989, 2007, 2009) |
21 | * FinishingMove: Backslide and Chickenwing Facelock |
22 | * [[IKnowKungFaux I Know Hyoukin Pro-Wrestling]]: His unique "wrestling style" that would get laughs from the crowd. |
23 | * RedBaron: “Rikidouzan of the opening match” due to his strong resemblance to Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}} |
24 | * PluckyComicRelief: Played this role and the fans loved him for it. |
25 | |
26 | !!! Black Tiger I (Mark Hussey, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989) |
27 | * ArchEnemy: The original [[Wrestling/SatoruSayama Tiger Mask]]. |
28 | * ColorCharacter |
29 | * CoolMask |
30 | * EvilBrit |
31 | * EvilCounterpart: To Tiger Mask |
32 | * FinishingMove: Black Tiger Bomb |
33 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel |
34 | * LegacyCharacter[=/=]UrExample: The original wrestler to become Black Tiger. |
35 | |
36 | !!! Wrestling/BobBacklund (Robert Lee "Bob" Backlund, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2001) |
37 | |
38 | !!! Wrestling/BamBamBigelow (Scott Charles Bigelow, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) |
39 | |
40 | !!! Wrestling/MasahiroChono (蝶野 正洋, Chono Masahiro, 1984-1987, 1988-2010) |
41 | |
42 | !!! Wrestling/RikiChoshu (吉田光雄, Mitsuo Yoshida, 1974-1983, 1987-1998, 2000-2003) |
43 | |
44 | !!! The Cobra[=/=]George Takano (ジョージ高野, George Takano, 1976-1990, 2002, 2003) |
45 | * AnimalMotifs: Snakes as the Cobra. |
46 | * CoolMask: As the Cobra |
47 | * FinishingMove: Takano Otoshi (Crucifix Powerbomb) |
48 | * WrestlingFamily: His brother Shunji Takano |
49 | |
50 | !!! [[Wrestling/DynamiteKid The Dynamite Kid]] (Tom Billington, 1980-1984) |
51 | |
52 | !!! Wrestling/TatsumiFujinami (藤波 辰爾, Fujinami Tatsumi, 1972-2006, 2008, 2020, 2022) |
53 | |
54 | !!! Wrestling/YoshiakiFujiwara (藤原 喜明, Fujiwara Yoshiaki, 1972-1984, 1986-1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2022) |
55 | |
56 | !!! Ivan Gomes (Ivan Simao da Cunha Gomes, 1975) |
57 | |
58 | -->''"By his weight and size I thought [Gomes] would be out of shape. When he stepped inside the ring and took off his robe, my father got impressed. He looked like [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]]."'' |
59 | --->--Carlson Gracie, vale tudo fighter |
60 | |
61 | * GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: He was billed as the Brazilian vale tudo champion, but Japanese audiences did not know what vale tudo was, and many thought it was some exotic school of martial arts or something. |
62 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Jiu-Jitsu]]: Trained with famous judoka and jiu-jitsu teachers before the rising of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He also knew boxing. |
63 | * UrExample: According to Wrestling/YoshiakiFujiwara and Wrestling/SatoruSayama, it was Gomes who introduced the heel hook to NJPW. Where he learned it, or why catch wrestlers like Wrestling/KarlGotch who presumably knew it did not introduce it beforehand, are unknown matters. |
64 | |
65 | !!! Wrestling/KarlGotch (Karel Charles Istaz, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982) |
66 | |
67 | !!! Tatsutoshi Goto (後藤 達俊, Goto Tatsutoshi, 1982-2006, 2007, 2008) |
68 | * BashBrothers[=/=]TagTeam: With Michiyoshi Ohara as part of the Mad Dogs. |
69 | * {{Heel}}: Very rarely played the good guy. |
70 | * PowerStable: Heisei Ishingun, nWo Japan, Team 2000 and the Crazy Dogs. |
71 | * SuplexFinisher: Goto's devastating Backdrop Suplex. |
72 | |
73 | !!! Chavo Guerrero, Sr. (Salvador Guerrero Llanes, 1978, 1980) |
74 | * FinishingMove: Gory Special and Moonsault. |
75 | * RedBaron: “Little Big Man” |
76 | * [[WearingAFlagOnYourHead Wearing a Flag on Your Tights]]: Wore the three colors that make up the Mexican flag. |
77 | * WrestlingFamily: One of many members of the famous Guerrero family. |
78 | |
79 | !!! Animal Hamaguchi (濱口平吾, Hamaguchi Heigo, 1980-1984, 1990) |
80 | * AlliterativeName: His real name. |
81 | * FinishingMove: Spinning Samoan Drop. |
82 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Amateur Wrestling]] |
83 | * LeotardOfPower |
84 | * RedBaron: "Tosho" ("The Brave Leader"), "Kirikomi Taicho" ("The Sharp-Slicing Commander"). |
85 | * {{Retired|Badass}} BadassTeacher: Opened his own wrestling dojo and trained many wrestlers including Satoshi Kojima, Wrestling/YoshihiroTajiri , Shinjiro Otani and Sho Funaki. He also trains freestyle wrestlers. |
86 | * WrestlingFamily: His daughter Kyoko who is an Olympic freestyle wrestler. |
87 | |
88 | !!! Wrestling/StanHansen (John Stanley Hansen II, 1977-1981, 1990, 2012) |
89 | |
90 | !!! Hiroshi Hase (馳 浩, Hase Hiroshi, 1987-1996) |
91 | * BloodIsTheNewBlack: He made the Great Muta bleed so much in one of their matches, Muta is used as a unit of measuring blood in wrestling matches. |
92 | * FinishingMove: Golden Arm Bomber and Northern Lights Suplex. |
93 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Amateur Wrestling]]: And sambo. |
94 | * LivingLegend: Trained in the art of sambo in the Soviet Union, successfully graduated from the junior heavyweight to heavyweight class, [[RealLife survived a near-death experience after getting dropped on his head in a match]] and successfully defeated Wrestling/RickRude for the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-in-h.html "WCW International" World Heavyweight Championship]]. |
95 | * PowerStable: BATT |
96 | * RedBaron: "Hokuto no Ryusei" ("The Falling Star from Hokuto"), "Tatakau Kokkaigiin" ("The Fighting Congressist"), "Tatakau Ai no Dendoshi" ("The Fighting Missionary of Love"). |
97 | * SuplexFinisher: Northern Lights Suplex |
98 | |
99 | !!! Wrestling/ShinyaHashimoto (橋本 真也, Hashimoto Shin'ya, 1984-1987, 1988-2000) |
100 | |
101 | !!! Kantaro Hoshino (星野勘太郎, Hoshino Takeo, 1973-2009) |
102 | * BashBrothers: With Kotetsu Yamamoto as the Yamaha Brothers. |
103 | * PowerStable: Hoshino's Makai Club. |
104 | * RetiredBadass: His role as a manager and the leader of the Makai Club. |
105 | !!! Wrestling/HulkHogan (Terry Gene Bollea, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1993, 1994, 2003) |
106 | |
107 | !!! The Hollywood Blonds |
108 | !!! Buddy Roberts (Dale Hey, 1975, 1978, 1979) |
109 | !!! Jerry Brown (Gerald Brown, 1975, 1978, 1979) |
110 | * CoolShades |
111 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel |
112 | * [[LegacyCharacter Legacy]] TagTeam: They were the first team to be named the Hollywood Blonds. |
113 | * RummageSaleReject: Their ugly shirts they wear to the ring count for this. |
114 | |
115 | !!! Norio Honaga (保永 昇男 Honaga Norio, 1979-1984, 1987-2003) |
116 | * ArchEnemy: Wrestling/JushinThunderLiger. |
117 | * CombatReferee: His job after he retired. |
118 | * SuplexFinisher: German Suplex |
119 | |
120 | !!! Takayuki Iizuka[=/=]Takashi Iizuka (飯塚 孝之, Iizuka Takayuki, 1986-2019) |
121 | * ArchEnemy: Wrestling/HiroyoshiTenzan and Wrestling/Yuji Nagata. |
122 | * AxCrazy: After he betrayed Tenzan and joined G.B.H., he started to lose his mind |
123 | * BaldOfEvil: Shaved his head after his heel turn in the 2000s. |
124 | * BeardOfEvil: He had a beard to begin with, but after he turned bad, it grew to being long a and stringy one. |
125 | * ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Tenzan, Makabe (& Honma) in G.B.H., Yano and Chaos, and, on his retirement no less, Tenzan again. He isn't called "The Great Traitor" for nothing. |
126 | * FingerPokeOfDoom: The iron fingers as a heel which is more or less his unofficial finisher. |
127 | * GarbageWrestler: As a heel, he adopted a more vicious fighting style. Brawing into the crowd, Iizuka weilded his iron fingers weapon, chairs, electric cable or string to choke his opponents and anything he can think of to inflict pain. |
128 | * IKnowKarate: Trained in Sambo in the Soviet Union along with Hiroshi Hase and once wrestled as Sambo Iizuka. |
129 | * LaterInstallmentWeirdness: Way later, he debuted in 1986. |
130 | * PowerStable: G.B.H., Wrestling/{{CHAOS}} and Wrestling/SuzukiGun. |
131 | * RedBaron: "The Great Traitor" (after his Face–Heel Turn), "Blizzard of Treason", "Tekketsu no Shokeijin" ("The Blood and Iron Executioner"), "Kamokuna Toshi" ("The Taciturn Fighting Will"), "Crazy Boss", "Mr. Sleeper Hold", "Kyouran no Iron Finger" ("Frenzy Iron Finger"), "Ogesana Kyojin" ("The Bald Madman"}, "The Bald Malice". |
132 | * RedemptionRejection: Tenzan tried numerous times to appeal to Iizuka's better half during the latter's retirement match. It didn't work and Suzuki-gun jumped on Tenzan as the show closed. |
133 | * RunningGag: He has an odd tendency to attack NJPW commentator Shinpei Nogami and rip his shirt. |
134 | * SuplexFinisher: Blizzard Suplex and his iron fingers weapon. |
135 | * TookALevelInJerkass: Before 2008, he was a fairly consistent mid-card face, then he turned on his tag team partner Tenzan and ended up changing everything about him. Now he’s a hardcore wrestling thug who attacks Shinpei Nogami because he's a fan of Wrestling/YujiNagata. |
136 | * WeUsedToBeFriends: With Tenzan, despite the latter's attempts to reconcile during Iizuka's retirement match. |
137 | |
138 | !!! Wrestling/AntonioInoki (born 猪木寛至, Inoki Kanji, 1972-) |
139 | |
140 | !!! Shoji Kai (北沢源幸, Kitazawa Motoyuki, 1972-1980) |
141 | * FinishingMove: Camel Clutch |
142 | * {{Jobber}}: A legendary one, in fact. |
143 | * UnderwearOfPower |
144 | |
145 | !!! Wrestling/KillerKhan (小沢 正志 Ozawa Masashi, 1973-1975, 1976, 1977, 1981-1984) |
146 | |
147 | !!! Osamu Kido (木戸 修, Kido Osamu, 1972, 1977-1984, 1985-2001, 2003) |
148 | * BoringButPractical[=/=]DullSurprise: Kido was a career mid-carder due to his effective yet unflashy wrestling style and inability to emote. |
149 | * FinishingMove: Kido Clutch and Fujiwara Armbar. |
150 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Shoot-Style]]: And was Wrestling/KarlGotch's closest student. |
151 | * RedBaron: "Ibushigin" ("Oxidized Silver") and the "Conscience of New Japan" |
152 | * TheUnfavorite: He would have been more successful if he had had more charisma. |
153 | * WrestlingFamily: Kido’s brother Tokio who retired from in-ring competition after a spine injury during a sparing match. When Tokio died in 1977, Kido dedicated the rest of his career to his brother who never had one. |
154 | * TheWorfEffect: For every win he had, a loss wasn’t too far behind. |
155 | |
156 | !!! Kengo Kimura (木村聖裔, Kimura Seiei, 1973-1977, 1980-2003) |
157 | * AlliterativeName |
158 | * BullyingADragon: A real life badass, it's said he once knocked out several American soldiers who were disrespecting Japanese people. |
159 | * FinishingMove: Inazuma Leg Lariat |
160 | * PowerStable: Heisei Ishingun |
161 | * RedBaron: "Inazuma Senshi" ("Lightning Soldier"), "Kikoshi" ("The Young Noble"). |
162 | * UnderwearOfPower |
163 | * UrExample: He was the first IWGP Tag Team Champion with Tatsumi Fujinami. |
164 | |
165 | !!! Kuniaki Kobayashi (小林邦昭, Kobayashi Kuniaki, 1973–1980, 1982-1984, 1987-) |
166 | * AlliterativeName |
167 | * ArchEnemy: Tiger Mask I. |
168 | * CombatCommentator |
169 | * FinishingMove: Rear Naked Choke and Fisherman Suplex. |
170 | * PowerStable: New Wolves, Ishin Gundan and Heisei Ishingun. |
171 | * RedBaron: "Tiger Hunter". |
172 | * RetiredBadass |
173 | |
174 | !!! Shiro Koshinaka (越中 詩郎, Koshinaka Shirō, 1985-2003, 2006-2008, 2009, 2016, 2022) |
175 | * AssKicksYou: Used hip attacks as his signature move. |
176 | * FinishingMove: Samurai Bomb, Samurai Driver '84 and Diving Hip Attack. |
177 | * PowerStable: Heisei Ishingun |
178 | * RedBaron: "Samurai" and variants ("Samurai Senshi", "Samurai Shiro" and such) |
179 | * UrExample: The very first IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and one of the first male wrestlers to use hip attacks (as a serious move, nothing less). |
180 | |
181 | !!! Wrestling/JushinThunderLiger (山田恵一, Yamada Keiichi, 1984-1986, 1987-) |
182 | |
183 | !!! Wrestling/AkiraMaeda (前田 日明, Maeda Akira 1978-1984, 1985-1988) |
184 | |
185 | !!! [[Wrestling/KeijiMutoh Keiji Mutoh/The Great Muta]] (武藤 敬司, Mutoh Keiji, 1984-1986, 1990–2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013) |
186 | |
187 | !!! [[Wrestling/ChrisBenoit Pegasus Kid[=/=]Wild Pegasus]] (Christopher Michael Benoit, 1986-1987, 1990-1997, 199, 2000) |
188 | |
189 | !!! Johnny Powers (Dennis Waters, 1973-1977, 1979-1980) |
190 | * ArchEnemy: Wrestling/AntonioInoki |
191 | * FinishingMove: Powerlock. |
192 | * RedBaron: The "Iron Man" |
193 | * UnderwearOfPower |
194 | |
195 | !!! Willem Ruska (1976-1980, 1994) |
196 | * AchillesHeel: Nobody wanted to be in the same ring as Ruska if he had his judogi on, but it was said he was surprisingly awkward in no-gi submissions, with catch wrestlers like Inoki, Fujiwara and Kido being supposedly able to hook him that way. Apparently, this was why Ivan Gomes demanded Ruska didn't wear the gi when they had their bout in Brazil. |
197 | * TheBully: Reportedly loved to pull pranks on other wrestlers, as nobody wanted to get into a fight with him with good reason. |
198 | * DissonantSerenity: After the Ruska/Gomes fiasco, a mob of offended Brazilians tried to enter the NJPW restroom. One of the foreign wrestlers, Pete Roberts, was scared shitless, while Ruska, despite having just been half-choked out in the ring, was completely biase. |
199 | * TheDreaded: Was considered one of the strongest grapplers in Japan during his time here. |
200 | * FishOutOfWater: He never actually learned wrestling, and his in-ring work was more based around his judo. Probably expected, given that he was more focused in the money aspect of pro wrestling. |
201 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Judo]]: A decorated judo champion. |
202 | * InstantExpert: He wanted to train at the Kodokan before his match with Inoki, but he was not allowed because they don't like pro wrestling there, so he instead went to an Olympic amateur wrestling gym. There he found Yoshiaki Yatsu, who would later join NJPW, and Ruska wrecked him badly. (Possibly subverted, though, given that Ruska had been training partners with Chris Dolman, an amateur wrestler, so he wasn't completely ignorant of the game.) |
203 | * ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: His victory over Brazilian vale tudo legend Ivan Gomes in a work gone shoot happened when the referee (also from NJPW) counted an apron count-out while Gomes was trying to choke him out. |
204 | * LightningBruiser: He was incredibly strong and fast, and could throw people like nothing. |
205 | * RedBaron: "Akaoni" ("Red Demon"). |
206 | |
207 | !!! Hiro Saito (斎藤 弘幸, Saito Hiroyuki, 1980-1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989-2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012) |
208 | * AssKicksYou: He was the first Japanese wrestler to use and popularize the Senton as a FinishingMove. |
209 | * FinishingMove: Senton, Diving Senton and German Suplex. |
210 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Judo]] |
211 | * RedBaron: "Mr. Senton", "Shin Kin Okami" ("The New Golden Wolf"). |
212 | * PowerStable: Team Wolf, nWo Japan and the Crazy Dogs. |
213 | * UnknownRival: Had a notorious gym rivalry with Wrestling/AkiraMaeda, who used to kick his ass when they sparred in the NJPW dojo. |
214 | |
215 | !!! Masa Saito (斎藤 昌典, Saitō Masanori, 1974-1978, 1983-1999) |
216 | * AfroAsskicker |
217 | * BashBrothers: With Wrestling/ShinyaHashimoto |
218 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Amateur Wrestling]]: He is a former Olympian. |
219 | * NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: See below under Red Baron. |
220 | * PowerStable: New Wolves and Ishin Gundan. |
221 | * RedBaron: "Mr. Torture", "Gokumon Oni" ("The Prison Gate Demon"). |
222 | * SuplexFinisher: Saito Suplex. |
223 | * UnderwearOfPower |
224 | * UrExample: Innovated the [[SuplexFinisher Saito Suplex]] |
225 | |
226 | !!! Seiji Sakaguchi (坂口征二, Sakaguchi Seiji, 1972-2007) |
227 | * BadassFamily: His son Yukio is a MMA figher and pro wrestler, and his other son Kenji is an actor. |
228 | * CoolTeacher: He founded the Sakaguchi Dojo, in which it taught judo, MMA, amateur wrestling and pro wrestling. |
229 | * FinishingMove: Atomic Drop, Backbreaker Rack and Neck Hanging Tree (Chokebomb). |
230 | * TheGiant: The tallest native wrestler in the history of the company. |
231 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Judo]]: A bronze medalist in world championships. |
232 | * RedBaron: "Sekaii no Arawashi" ("The World's Wild Eagle") |
233 | * UnderwearOfPower |
234 | |
235 | !!! El Samurai (松田 納, Matsuda Osamu, 1986-1991, 1992-2008) |
236 | * CoolMask |
237 | * GratuitousSpanish: "El Samurai" means "The Samurai" in Spanish. |
238 | * EverythingsBetterWithSamurai |
239 | * FinishingMove: Samurai Bomb, Samurai Clutch and Chickenwing Armlock. |
240 | |
241 | !!! Wrestling/NaokiSano (佐野直喜, Sano Naoki, 1984-1985, 1987, 1989-1990, 1995-1996, 2009, 2011) |
242 | |
243 | !!! Wrestling/KensukeSasaki (佐々木 健介, Sasaki Kensuke, 1987-1988, 1990-2002, 2004-2005) |
244 | |
245 | !!! Tiger Jeet Singh (Jag Jeet Singh Hans, 1972-1981) |
246 | * AnimalThemeNaming |
247 | %%* {{BFS}}: |
248 | * FinishingMove: Cobra Claw. |
249 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel |
250 | * GarbageWrestler |
251 | * WrestlingFamily: He is the father of Tiger Jeet Singh Jr. (WWE's Tiger Ali Singh) |
252 | |
253 | !!! Rick Steiner (Robert Rechsteiner, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2000, 2008) |
254 | * {{Animal Motif|s}}: Dogs as in Dog Faced Gremlin |
255 | * BashBrothers: He and his brother [[Wrestling/ScottSteiner Scott]]. |
256 | * BullyBulldog: He did have a very slight resemblance to a bulldog, and he invoked the trope with his wrestling style and taunts. |
257 | * CatchPhrase |
258 | -->"If you want some, come get some! And if you don't like me, bite me!" |
259 | * FinishingMove: Steiner Driver |
260 | * LeotardOfPower |
261 | * LightningBruiser: In his prime |
262 | * RedBaron: "The Dog Faced Gremlin" |
263 | * WrestlingFamily: Brother of Wrestling/ScottSteiner. |
264 | |
265 | !!! Super Strong Machine[=/=]Junji Hirata (平田 淳嗣, Hirata Junji, 1978-1982, 1984-1986, 1987-2018) |
266 | * BashBrothers: With Wrestling/ShinyaHashimoto. |
267 | * CoolMask: As Super Strong Machine. |
268 | * FinishingMove: Majin Fusha Gatame (Hammerlock Suplex) |
269 | * IHaveManyNames: Went by his own name, Super Strong Machine and Black Strong Machine. |
270 | * PowerStable: Seigigun |
271 | * RedBaron: "Kokoro Yasashiki Buraikan" ("The Kind-Hearted Ruffian"), "Aogigun no Meisanbo" ("The Strategist of Blue Justice Army"), "Machine from Machine". |
272 | * RingOldies: Hirata was still an active wrestler into his 50s. |
273 | |
274 | !!! Wrestling/NobuhikoTakada (髙田延彦, Takada Nobuhiko, 1984, 1986-1988, 1995-1996) |
275 | |
276 | !!! [[Wrestling/SatoruSayama Tiger Mask]] (佐山 聡, Sayama Satoru, 1976-1983) |
277 | |
278 | !!! Wrestling/UltimoDragon (浅井 嘉浩, Asai Yoshihiro, 1987, 1992-1996, 2004) |
279 | |
280 | !!! [[Wrestling/{{Vader}} Big Van Vader]] (Leon Allen White, 1987-1992, 1996) |
281 | |
282 | !!! [[Wrestling/VonErichFamily The Von Erichs]] |
283 | !!! Kerry Von Erich (Kerry Gene Adkisson, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988) |
284 | !!! Kevin Von Erich (Kevin Adkisson, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988) |
285 | |
286 | !!! Kotetsu Yamamoto (山本 勝 Yamamoto Masaru, 1972-1980, 1992, 1994, 2003, 2008) |
287 | * AboveTheInfluence: He once said in a tv program that he has never read or watched porn and never had an interest in it. |
288 | * TheApprentice: To Wrestling/{{Rikidozan}} and was considered his last disciple. He later became one to Wrestling/KarlGotch and Wrestling/AntonioInoki. |
289 | * AuthorAppeal: His teachings are called Kotetsu-ism by his students, which is just a mix of [[Wrestling/KarlGotch Gotch-ism]], [[Wrestling/AntonioInoki Inoki-ism]], and his own ideas. |
290 | * BadassTeacher: Was the main trainer of the New Japan Dojo since 1980 till his death. |
291 | * BashBrothers: With Kantaro Hoshino as the Yamaha Brothers. |
292 | * UsefulNotes/{{Bodybuilding}}: Was a bodybuilder at a local YMCA before he got into wrestling. |
293 | * CombatCommentator: Was notable for being the color commentator with Akira Fukuzawa in NJPW and was the first pro-wrestler to become a commentator in Japan. |
294 | * CombatReferee: Has refereed a few New Japan matches. |
295 | * FollowTheLeader: Along with Antonio Inoki and Karl Gotch, Yamamoto is said to be responsible for the fundamental of New Japan's "Strong Style". |
296 | * HeAlsoDid: Was also the General Manager of Planning and Advertising at NJPW, and was President and Representative Director of Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling Service. |
297 | * HiddenDepths: He bought the first dojo ring for New Japan when it was in its infancy, he got the funds from sueing the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance and winning the lawsuit and 2 million yen. He is credited with creating New Japan’s lion logo. |
298 | * MeanCharacterNiceActor: Outside the ring and dojo, he is said to be quite sociable and usually had lunch with the trainees and young lions to get to know them better. |
299 | * RedBaron: "Ningen Bakudan" ("Human Bomb"), "Oni Kōchi/Gunsō" ("Demon Coach/Sergeant"). |
300 | * RespectedByTheRespected: Is respected by almost everyone that has trained under him. |
301 | * RingOldies: Was a founding father of Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling. Was doing the same exercises and drills he instructs his trainees in while his 60s. |
302 | * SadistTeacher: Not unusual especially in Japanese pro wrestling, but he was described as being quite shinai-friendly. |
303 | * ShoutOut: He was named "Kotetsu" by Toyonobori after Aizu-no-Kotetsu, a knight-errant from the 19th century. |
304 | * TheStoic: Was very serious when it came to wrestling and never smiled in the dojo. |
305 | |
306 | !!! Kazuo Yamazaki (山崎 一夫, Yamazaki Kazuo, 1982-1984, 1985-1988, 1995-2000) |
307 | * BadassTeacher[=/=]CombatCommentator: Some of his roles after his retirement. |
308 | * CoolTeacher: Is described as a much more pleasant trainer than Kotetsu Yamamoto, who liked his shinai cane too much. |
309 | * FinishingMove: Cross Armbreaker, Cross Kneelock and Kick to the Head. |
310 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Shoot-Style]]: He brought it from Wrestling/UniversalWrestlingFederation. |
311 | * TheQuisling: Deserted from rival promotion UWF International seeking his opportunity to shine. He didn't get it, but helped to promote the shoot-style wrestling in the NJPW Dojo, where he was instructor for a time. |
312 | * RedBaron: "Ippikiokami" ("Lone Wolf") |
313 | * TookALevelInBadass: Almost winning the 1998 G1 Climax tournament, beating three former and future IWGP Heavyweight champions (Tatsumi Fujinami, Kensuke Sasaki, and Masahiro Chono) before losing to Wrestling/ShinyaHashimoto in the final round. |
314 | [[/folder]] |
315 | |
316 | [[folder: Debuted in the First Generation Era (1988-1994)]] |
317 | |
318 | !!! [[Wrestling/EddieGuerrero Black Tiger II]] (Eduardo Gori Guerrero Llanes, 1993-1996) |
319 | |
320 | !!! [[Wrestling/GiantGonzalez El Gigante]] (Jorge González 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995) |
321 | |
322 | !!! Gedo (高山 圭司, Takayama Keiji, 1989, 2001-) |
323 | * BashBrothers: With Jado until he turned on him in 2022. |
324 | * BeardOfEvil: Started growing a beard during his time with Chaos. By the time of his betrayal to Bullet Club, it was full grown. |
325 | * ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: With Jado, he left CTU prior to its dissolution for G.B.H., betrayed Makabe and Honma in favor of joining Chaos, then turned on Okada and Chaos to align themselves with the Bullet Club. When it came time to choose between Jay White and Tama Tonga as the leader of the Bullet Club, he sided with Jay, betraying his long time partner, Jado in the process. |
326 | * DirtyCoward: As crafty and talented in wrestling as he is, he's quick to cower and beg when he has to fend for himself (especially if it's against Okada). |
327 | * EyeObscuringHat: His entrance gear and casual clothing consists of first a bandanna, and currently a bucket hat that covers his eyes. |
328 | * FinishingMove: Gedo Clutch |
329 | * OhCrap: Is fond of shouting "[[ForeignCussWord Oh Shit!]]" when back into a corner. |
330 | * OlderSidekick: Gedo served as Okada’s manager and mouthpiece before betraying him and joining Jay White. |
331 | * PowerStable: Team 2000, CTU, G.B.H., Chaos and the Bullet Club |
332 | * RedBaron: "Complete Fighter", "Ōdō Hīru" ("Classic Heel"), "Raintaker", and "The Blacksmith |
333 | |
334 | !!! Tony Halme (Tony Christian Halme, 1990-1993) |
335 | * TheBrute |
336 | * FinishingMove: Torture Rack |
337 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel: From UsefulNotes/{{Finland}} |
338 | * RedBaron: "The Viking" |
339 | |
340 | !!! Wrestling/OwenHart (Owen James Hart, 1988, 1990, 1991) |
341 | |
342 | !!! Salman Hashimikov (Salman Alkhazurovich Hashimikov, 1989-1990) |
343 | * HuskyRusskie: Subverted, he is a Chechen born in Kazakhstan during the Soviet Union. |
344 | * FinishingMove: Waterwheel Drop (Reverse Double Leg Slam). |
345 | * LeotardOfPower |
346 | * RedBaron: "The Red Bull" |
347 | * SuplexFinisher: Used a wide variety of suplexes. |
348 | * UrExample: He was the first actual Russian to win a professional wrestling title in the capitalist countries before the UsefulNotes/ColdWar was over. |
349 | |
350 | !!! Wrestling/HerculesHernandez (Raymond Fernandez, 1993, 1994) |
351 | |
352 | !!! Jado (秋吉 昭二 , Akiyoshi Shōji, 1989, 2001-) |
353 | * BashBrothers: With Gedo until he turned on Jado in 2022. |
354 | * ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: With Gedo, he left CTU prior to its dissolution for G.B.H., betrayed Makabe and Honma in favor of joining Chaos, then turned on Okada and Chaos to align themselves with the Bullet Club. Subverted when it came time to choose between Jay White and Tama Tonga as the leader of the Bullet Club. He sided with Tama, being betrayed by his long time partner, Gedo in the process. |
355 | * OlderSidekick: Jado seconds the Sons of Tonga (the Guerillas of Destiny and Hikuleo). |
356 | * PowerStable: Team 2000, CTU, G.B.H., Chaos and the Bullet Club |
357 | * RedBaron: English commentator, Kevin Kelly called Jado the "Master Heater" after he joined the Bullet Club and now the name is canon. He also went by "Ōdō Hīru" ("Classic Heel"), "Wrestling Master", "Airhorn Hooligan", "Burēki no Kowareta Famiria" ("Brake Broken Familia") and "Kinboshi" ("Gold Star"). |
358 | * ShoutOut: Jado follows his knife edge chops with Woo! and [[FaceFault flops on his face after takings some hits]]. Both of these actions are paying homage to Wrestling/RicFlair. |
359 | * WoodenKatanasAreEvenBetter: He wields a Kendo Sticks as his weapons. |
360 | |
361 | !!! Wrestling/KojiKanemoto[=/=] Tiger Mask III (金本 浩二, Kanemoto Kōji, 1990-2013) |
362 | |
363 | !!! Wrestling/KendoKashin (石澤常光, Ishiziwa Tokimitsu, 1992-1996, 1997-2002, 2005-2006) |
364 | |
365 | !!! Wrestling/KojiKitao (北尾光司, 1990) |
366 | |
367 | !!! Wrestling/SatoshiKojima (小島 聡, Kojima Satoshi, 1991-2002, 2010-) |
368 | |
369 | !!! Wrestling/DeanMalenko (Dean Simon; 1992-1997, 1999) |
370 | |
371 | !!! Wrestling/YujiNagata (永田 裕志, Nagata Yuji, 1992-1997, 1998-) |
372 | |
373 | !!! Wrestling/ManabuNakanishi (中西 学, Nakanishi Manabu, 1992-1995, 1996-2020) |
374 | |
375 | !!! Osamu Nishimura (西村修, Nishimura Osamu, 1991-1994, 1998-2006) |
376 | * AlternateCompanyEquivalent: He is a similar character to Wrestling/MichinokuProWrestling's Jinsei Shinzaki: they are both spiritual wrestlers who pray or meditate during moves, both have had famous careers abroad, and both use traditional forms of wrestling (catch and lucha libre, respectively). |
377 | * TheApprentice: A proud Tatsumi Fujinami trainee. He credits Fujinami with creating the Muga he worships. And of course, he also venerates Wrestling/KarlGotch. |
378 | * BashBrothers: With Tatsumi Fujinami (as Team Muga, sometimes adding Katsushi Takemura as a third member), Manabu Nakanishi (as Gotch-ism) and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. |
379 | * BoringButPractical: His FinishingMove, the Abdominal Stretch. |
380 | * CatchPhrase: He used to have one, complete with GratuitousEnglish: "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please..." |
381 | * CombatPragmatist: Usually targets single limbs of his opponents with his submissions, as in the classic catch WrestlingPsychology. |
382 | * {{Determinator}}: He's a cancer survivor. |
383 | * GoodIsNotNice: Despite being the face, he refused to shake Creator/BasRutten's hand before their catch contest. In fact, he got angry during the match and elbowed Rutten in the neck, drawing a yellow card from the referee. |
384 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Catch Wrestling]]: Trained by Wrestling/KarlGotch, he uses a catch submission based offensive. He also learned yoga in Sri Lanka and Chinese medicine to improve his condition. |
385 | * InsistentTerminology: He constantly talks about the "Muga" (meaning "selflessness") to refer his particular vision of pro wrestling, based in traditional catch wrestling. |
386 | * OpposingCombatPhilosophies: He and Satoshi Kojima used to critize each other's wrestling styles, Nishimura's "Muga Puroresu" (a ground-based, catch wrestling style) and Kojima's "Lariat Puroresu" (a more AJPW-like, high-impact style). |
387 | * UnderwearOfPower |
388 | * RedBaron: "Mr. Muga", "Muga no Dendoshi" ("The Missionary of Muga"), "Tatakau Tetsugakusha" ("The Fighting Philosopher"), "Jiyujin" ("The Free Man"). |
389 | * TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential: He went to train with Jack Brisco to improve his figure four leglock. |
390 | |
391 | !!! Wrestling/ScottNorton (Scott Michael Norton, 1990-1993, 1996-2006, 2017, 2022) |
392 | |
393 | !!! Michiyoshi Ohara(小原道由, Ohara Michiyoshi, 1990-2004, 2006, 2007) |
394 | * BaldOfEvil |
395 | * BashBrothers[=/=]TagTeam: With Tatsutoshi Goto as part of the Mad Dogs. |
396 | * {{Heel}}: Very rarely played the good guy. |
397 | * PowerStable: Heisei Ishingun, nWo Japan, Team 2000, the Crazy Dogs, and the Makai Club. |
398 | |
399 | !!! Wrestling/ShinjiroOtani (大谷晋二郎, 1992-2001, 2013) |
400 | |
401 | !!! Wrestling/RickRude (Richard Erwin Rood, 1992, 1994) |
402 | |
403 | !!! [[Wrestling/TheRoadWarriors The Road Warriors[=/=]The Hell Raisers]] |
404 | !!! Road Warrior Animal (Joseph Aaron "Joe" Laurinaitis 1990, 1996) |
405 | !!! Road Warrior Hawk[=/=]Hawk Warrior (Michael James Hegstrand 1990, 1992-1996) |
406 | |
407 | !!! Wrestling/ScottSteiner (Scott Carl Rechsteiner 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2008) |
408 | |
409 | !!! Wrestling/{{Sting}} (Steve Borden, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) |
410 | |
411 | !!! Wrestling/MinoruSuzuki (鈴木 実, Suzuki Minoru, 1988-1989, 2003-2005, 2006-2007, 2010-) |
412 | |
413 | !!! Tatsuhito Takaiwa[=/=]Black Tiger V (高岩竜一, Takaiwa Tatsuhito, 1992-2001, 2005-2006, 2008-2009, 2012) |
414 | * ColorCharacter: As Black Tiger |
415 | * CoolMask: As Black Tiger |
416 | * FinishingMove: Death Valley Driver and Takaiwa Driller. |
417 | * LegacyCharacter: Was the fifth Black Tiger after Rocky Romero. |
418 | * PowerStable: Chaos as Black Tiger |
419 | * RedBaron: "Choryu" ("Super Dragon"). |
420 | * UrExample: He was the first IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with Shinjiro Otani. |
421 | |
422 | !!! Wrestling/HiroyoshiTenzan (山本 広吉, Yamamoto Hiroyoshi, 1991-1993, 1995-) |
423 | |
424 | !!! Dr. Wagner, Jr. (Juan Manuel González Barrón, 1988, 1997-2002) |
425 | * {{Catchphrase}}: "Bien, Bien, Bien!" |
426 | * CoolMask |
427 | * FinishingMove: Wagner Driver |
428 | * LegacyCharacter |
429 | * MaskedLuchador |
430 | * WrestlingFamily: He is the son of Dr. Wagner, brother of Silver King and the father of El Hijo de Dr. Wagner. |
431 | |
432 | [[/folder]] |
433 | |
434 | [[folder: Debuted in the Three Musketeers Era (1994-1999)]] |
435 | |
436 | !!! Wrestling/BuffBagwell (Marcus Alexander Bagwell, 1996-1997) |
437 | |
438 | !!! Big Titan (Richard "Rick" Bognar, 1998-1999) |
439 | * FinishingMove: Lariat and Powerbomb |
440 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel: The only non-Japanese member of nWo Japan to not come from WCW first. |
441 | * TheGiant: Standing at 6'6, he dwarfed most of the wrestlers he came up against in New Japan. |
442 | |
443 | !!! Black Cat (Victor Mar Manuel, 1994-2003) |
444 | * AnimalMotifs |
445 | * CoolMask: Wore one in 1995 |
446 | * FinishingMove: Powerbomb, German Suplex and Diving Senton |
447 | * MaskedLuchador |
448 | * RetiredBadass: Worked as a referee once he he ended his in ring career. |
449 | * SuplexFinisher: Bridging / Release German Suplex. |
450 | |
451 | !!! Wrestling/RicFlair (Richard Morgan Fliehr, 1995, 1996) |
452 | |
453 | !!! Don Frye (Donald "Don" Frye, 1997-2001, 2002, 2004) |
454 | * FinishingMove: Cross Armbreaker |
455 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel |
456 | * {{I Know|Karate}} [[UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts MMA]] |
457 | * PornStache |
458 | * PowerStable: BATT |
459 | * RedBaron: "The Predator", "Tamashii no Kobushi" ("Fist of Soul"). |
460 | |
461 | !!! Wrestling/KazuyukiFujita (藤田 和之, Fujita Kazuyuki, 1996-1999, 2001-2005) |
462 | |
463 | !!! Wrestling/ChrisJericho (Christopher Keith Irvine, 1997, 1998, 2017-2019) |
464 | |
465 | !!! Wrestling/MasahitoKakihara (垣原 賢人, Kakihara Masahito, 1995, 1996, 2001-2006) |
466 | |
467 | !!! Togi Makabe (真壁 伸也, Makabe Shin'ya, 1997-) |
468 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/togi_makabe.png]] |
469 | * BashBrothers: With Yano and Honma |
470 | * ChainedByFashion: Wears a long chain in vignettes. |
471 | * {{Expy}}: His character and wrestling style is influenced by Wrestling/BruiserBrody. |
472 | * FinishingMove: King Kong Kneedrop and Lariat. |
473 | * FlippingTheBird: Often lets two flip at once. |
474 | * GarbageWrestler: What, you thought he would never use that chain? |
475 | * NoSell: While he won't sandbag much, he's not known for really reacting or displaying a lasting effect of moves. |
476 | * PowerStable: G.B.H. |
477 | * RedBaron: "Unchained Gorilla", "Boso King Kong" ("The Rampaging King Kong"), "Ikari no Hoko" ("Howl of Rage"). |
478 | * SirSwearsalot: Fond of dropping f-bombs on his opponents. |
479 | |
480 | !!! Wrestling/TAKAMichinoku (吉田 貴男, Yoshida Takao 1994, 1996-1997 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007-) |
481 | |
482 | !!! [=nWo=] Sting/Super J (Jeff Farmer, 1997-2000, 2001-2002) |
483 | * BadassLongcoat: As [=nWo=] Sting |
484 | * BatterUp: As [=nWo=] Sting |
485 | * CoolMask: As Super J. |
486 | * CostumeCopycat: Of Sting |
487 | * DarkIsEvil: As [=nWo=] Sting, as opposed to the original's DarkIsNotEvil. |
488 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel: As [=nWo=] Sting. |
489 | * IHaveManyNames: [=nWo=] Sting, Fake Sting, Evil Sting, Sting #2, Super J. |
490 | * LegacyCharacter: Of Sting |
491 | * PowerStable: [=nWo=] Japan and Team 2000. |
492 | |
493 | !!! Wrestling/NaoyaOgawa (小川 直也, Ogawa Naoya, 1997-2000, 2001, 2002, 2004) |
494 | |
495 | !!! [[Wrestling/TheGreatSasuke The Great Sasuke]] (村川 政徳, Murakawa Masanori, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011) |
496 | |
497 | !!! SATO/Dick Togo (佐藤 茂樹, Sato Shigeki, 1996-1997, 2002-2011, 2020-) |
498 | * BadassInANiceSuit: Togo's non-wrestling gear as Evil's sidekick in the Bullet Club consists of a stylish three-piece suit, a hat and CoolShades. |
499 | * BashBrothers: With Taka Michinoku, Gedo, and Jado in his earlier years in the company. |
500 | * TheCorrupter: [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Despite being named Evil]], Kevin Kelly feels Dick Togo was the tipping point for Evil's betrayal of Naito and LIJ. |
501 | * FinishingMove: Diving Senton, though he doesn't get to use it these days because he eats pins for the House of Torture |
502 | * OlderSidekick: Serves as one to Evil in the Bullet Club/House of Torture. |
503 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub[=/=]House of Torture |
504 | * RedBaron: "The Spoiler" after joining Bullet Club. |
505 | * RazorFloss: As "The Spoiler", Togo chokes out wrestlers with a garrote wire. |
506 | * RingOldies: Still wrestling in his 50s. |
507 | |
508 | !!! [[Wrestling/YoshihiroTajiri TAJIRI]] (田尻 義博, Yoshihiro Tajiri, 1997, 2009-2010) |
509 | |
510 | !!! Wrestling/YoshihiroTakayama (高山 善廣, Takayama Yoshihiro, 1995-1996, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010-2017) |
511 | |
512 | !!! Wrestling/GenichiroTenryu (嶋田源一郎, Shimada Gen'ichiro, 1998-2000) |
513 | |
514 | !!! [[Wrestling/MikeRotunda M. [=Wallstreet=]]] (Lawrence Michael Rotunda, 1997-1999) |
515 | |
516 | !!! Tadao Yasuda (安田 忠夫, Yasuda Tadao, 1994-2005) |
517 | * BaldOfEvil[=/=]BeardOfEvil: As the leader of the Makai Club |
518 | * FinishingMove: Rear Naked Choke and Tiger Driver. |
519 | * GoodOldFisticuffs: His wrestling style. He even used sometimes a straight punch as a finisher. |
520 | * HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: A typical heel, he turned face in 2005, albeit very, very briefly. |
521 | * [[{{I Know Karate}} I Know Sumo]]: But retired from that sport before he came to New Japan. |
522 | * PowerStable: The Makai Club |
523 | * RedBaron: "Shakkin O" ("The King of Debts"), "Tatakau Jinsei Gekijo" ("The Fighting Human Theatre"). |
524 | * TheSlacker: Was famous for being late to events and no-showing sometimes. |
525 | * TrappedByGamblingDebts: Famously in real life. His tendency to rack up gambling debts was so disastrous that his wife left him, he became estranged from his family and even attempted suicide after his retirement, (though he denied it). |
526 | * WorkingOffTheDebt |
527 | |
528 | !!! Yutaka Yoshie (吉江 豊, Yoshie Yutaka, 1994-2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) |
529 | * {{Acrofatic}}: Though heavy, he jumps off the top rope easily and is very mobile. |
530 | * AlliterativeName |
531 | * BashBrothers: With Akebono (as The 850Ibs Connection). |
532 | * BigEater: Basically part of his gimmick. |
533 | * BigFun |
534 | * TheBigGuy |
535 | * CatchPhrase: "Ichi, ni, san, pon!" followed by a slap to his own belly. Naturally, it is a parody of Wrestling/AntonioInoki's salute. |
536 | * DancingIsSeriousBusiness: He used to dance with Akebono after the matches to entertain the fans. |
537 | * ExtremeOmnivore: You know you are one when it's rumored on-screen that you ate your own cell phone, your tie and your contract while waiting for lunch before a contract signing. |
538 | * FinishingMove: Diving Splash, Airbag Suplex and Canadian Hammer |
539 | * GenderBlenderName |
540 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Judo]]: Although many people (including in Japan) believe wrongly that he trained sumo, due to his physique. |
541 | * {{Keet}} |
542 | * LeotardOfPower |
543 | * RealMenWearPink |
544 | * RedBaron: "The Flying Pink Tank", "The Pink Warrior" |
545 | * StoutStrength |
546 | * SuplexFinisher: Release high-angle German suplex. |
547 | * TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential: He trained karate at the Yamaki Dojo in Los Angeles to improve his chops. |
548 | [[/folder]] |
549 | |
550 | [[folder: Debuted in the Inoki-ism Era (1999-2006)]] |
551 | |
552 | !!! [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson American Dragon]] (Bryan Danielson, 2002, 2003-2004) |
553 | |
554 | !!! Josh Barnett (Joshua Lawrence Barnett 2003-2004, 2015-2018, 2021, 2022-) |
555 | * BadassBoast: Often vowed to finish MMA matches with German suplexes and other pro wrestling moves, to the point it almost became a RunningGag when he announced it only to lose or win in any other way. |
556 | * BadassTeacher: Taught Wrestling/BobSapp how to wrestle earning him the name, the ”Trainer of the Beast”. |
557 | * BloodKnight: He really likes to fight. |
558 | * CombatCommentator: Served as one of the english dub of NJPW on AXS. |
559 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Catch Wrestling]]: Trained by Billy Robinson in the UWF Snakepit, and also trains in the Combat Submission Wrestling system under Erik Paulson. Subverted with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as he is ranked in the Machado system, it is an honorary rank and he never actually trained in it. |
560 | * {{Otaku}}: A major one. |
561 | * RedBaron: "The Warmaster" |
562 | * SuplexFinisher: Had a German Suplex as his finishing move. |
563 | |
564 | !!! Curry Man[=/=]Wrestling/ChristopherDaniels (Daniel Christopher Covell, 2002-2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2022-) |
565 | |
566 | !!! Hirooki Goto (後藤洋央紀, Gotō Hirooki, 2003-2005, 2007-) |
567 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hirooki_goto.png]] |
568 | * AlwaysSecondBest: For all his achievements, including winning the 2008 G1 Climax, he's never been able to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, despite a whopping ''8'' attempts to do so. |
569 | * BashBrothers: With his childhood friend Shibata. |
570 | * CoolMask: As CTU-H |
571 | * EverythingsBetterWithSamurai |
572 | * FinishingMove: Shouten, Shouten Kai and Goto Shiki |
573 | * HeterosexualLifePartners: With his former classmate Katsuyori Shibata, who allowed him to stay in his house and helped him to rehabilitate his injuried shoulder before his second entrance exam to New Japan (he had to left the company after passing the first one due to said injury). |
574 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Aikido]]: He trains in the Yoshinkan dojo. |
575 | * KimonoIsTraditional: Often wrestles in a hakama. |
576 | * LightningBruiser: Is surprinsigly strong for a wrestler his size. |
577 | * OpposingSportsTeam: Thanks to this trope, Goto pretty much played the heel by default for his NEVER Openweight title defense at the G1 Special in San Francisco, since his opponent, Jeff Cobb, was the local indie promotion's heavyweight champion. |
578 | * PowerStable: Control Terrorism Unit (CTU), RISE and Chaos. |
579 | * RedBaron: "Aramusha" ("Daredevil"), "Fukkoku Strong-Style" ("New Iteration Strong-Style"), "Brave Warrior" and "Wild Samurai". |
580 | * ReversePsychology: Pulled this on Wrestling/KotaIbushi who kept refusing his offers to fight for the NEVER Openweight Championship. After a regular match he told him he would stop offering, provoking Ibushi to propose the match on his own. Unfortunately for Goto, it backfired when he was defeated for the title as a result. |
581 | * SignatureMove: The ushigoroshi, a fireman's carry neckbreaker that Goto himself was the first to popularize. |
582 | * WrestlingDoesntPay: A modern day wrestling {{Samurai}}. |
583 | |
584 | !!! Wrestling/GiantSilva (Paulo Silva, 2001-2003) |
585 | |
586 | !!! [[Wrestling/TheGreatKhali Giant Singh]] (Dalip Singh Rana, 2001-2002) |
587 | |
588 | !!! Heat/Minoru/ Wrestling/MinoruTanaka (田中稔, Tanaka Minoru, 1999-2009) |
589 | |
590 | !!! Tomoaki Honma (本間朋晃, Honma Tomoaki, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007-) |
591 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tomoaki_honma.png]] |
592 | * BashBrothers: With Makabe |
593 | * CoolMask: As Makai Masked Canadian |
594 | * {{Determinator}}: This is true in his matches despite his Jobber status to begin with. It becomes solidified after he recovered from a terrible neck injury in 2017. |
595 | * FinishingMove: Turmeric Clutch, Kokeshi and Pillar Crash. |
596 | * {{Jobber}}: The only time he seems to wins is against Young Lions or as part of a tag team. |
597 | * PowerStable: Makai Club and G.B.H. |
598 | * RickyMorton: Usually in tag teams with Makabe. |
599 | * TookALevelInBadass: Beat [[Wrestling/BulletClub Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows]] with Makabe to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship in Wrestle Kingdom 2016. |
600 | * UseYourHead: His sick looking Flying Headbutt which he has even done on an opponent lying on the floor. |
601 | |
602 | !!! Wataru Inoue (井上 亘, Inoue Wataru, 1999-2014) |
603 | * BashBrothers: With Katsuyori Shibata |
604 | * FinishingMove: Oracion Flame. |
605 | * JackOfAllStats: While Wataru doesn't specialize in one area, he is a consistent performer. |
606 | * PowerStable: Seikigun and Seigigun. |
607 | * RedBaron: "Mr. High Tension" |
608 | |
609 | !!! Wrestling/TomohiroIshii (石井 智宏, Ishii Tomohiro, 2004, 2005, 2006-) |
610 | |
611 | !!! Wrestling/TaijiIshimori (石森 太二 Ishimori Taiji, 2004-2005, 2010, 2016, 2018-) |
612 | |
613 | !!! [[Wrestling/{{Chyna}} Joanie Laurer]] (Joan Marie Laurer, 2002) |
614 | |
615 | !!! Wrestling/BrockLesnar (Brock Edward Lesnar, 2005-2007) |
616 | |
617 | !!! Naomichi Marufuji (丸藤正道, Marufuji Naomichi, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) |
618 | * CoolMask: As part of his entrance attire. |
619 | * FinishingMove: Shiranui, Shiranui Kai and Pole Shift. |
620 | * LightningBruiser |
621 | * NoShirtLongJacket: As part of his entrance attire. |
622 | * RedBaron: "Junior Genius" |
623 | * SuplexFinisher: Twist Donut (Bridging swinging fisherman suplex). |
624 | |
625 | !!! Kazunari Murakami (村上 和成, Murakami Kazunari, 2000-2004, 2006) |
626 | * TheApprentice: Firstly to Antonio Inoki and later to Akira Maeda. |
627 | * ArchEnemy: Takashi Iizuka and Yuji Nagata. |
628 | * [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Arrogant Judo/MMA Guy]] |
629 | * BashBrothers: With Naoya Ogawa. |
630 | * BloodKnight |
631 | * EvilCounterpart: To Takashi Iizuka. |
632 | * FinishingMove: Cross Ambreaker, Rear Naked Choke and Running Punt Kick. |
633 | * [[IKnowKarate I Know Judo]] |
634 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite getting often profiled as an AxCrazy in the ring and real-life bad boy (mostly due to his tenure as an Inoki UFO henchman), he is known for being a nice and professional between scenes. |
635 | * KickTheDog: He attacked and injured Chocoball Mukai before his Battlarts debut to send a message to Nagata, who had just befriended Mukai. |
636 | * PowerStable: The Makai Club |
637 | * RedBaron: "Terrorist of Heisei" |
638 | * WhiteMaskOfDoom: As a member of the Makai Club. |
639 | |
640 | !!! Hiroshi Nagao (長尾浩志, Nagao Hiroshi, 2002-2006) |
641 | * GameBreakingInjury: The guy was ''fragile''. In just six months, he injured his knee in a ring appearance before his debut, then he got injured ''during'' his very debut, and then injured his arm while in training. The wear of all those bits pretty much convinced him to leave NJPW's grueling schedule. |
642 | * TheGiant: Unusually tall for a Japanese, he was compared to Giant Baba himself. |
643 | * [[IKnowMaddenKombat I Know Volleyball]]: A former volleyball star from the Sakai Blazers. |
644 | * LightningBruiser: Was a very agile giant, using great leaps and high altitude dropkicks, and was said to be better at it than some junior heavyweights. |
645 | * PutOnABus: Despite being a promising rookie, he left NJPW very abruptly in order to "consider better options" (translated: to sign up with Wrestling/FightingOperaHUSTLE, who offered him a lot of money for a much more relaxed schedule). |
646 | * NeckLift: The chokeslam was his finisher. |
647 | |
648 | !!! Wrestling/ShinsukeNakamura (中邑 真輔, Nakamura Shinsuke, 2002-2006, 2006-2016) |
649 | |
650 | !!! Wrestling/TetsuyaNaito (内藤 哲也, Naitō Tetsuya, 2005-2009, 2009-) |
651 | |
652 | !!! Wrestling/MasayukiNaruse (成瀬 昌由, Naruse Masayuki, 2001-2006) |
653 | |
654 | !!! TJ Perkins/Pinoy Boy/Puma[=/=]TJP (Theodore “Teddy” James Perkins, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2019-) |
655 | * FinishingMove: Detonation Kick, Pinoy Stretch, Mamba Splash |
656 | * IHaveManyNames: Throughout his New Japan career, he has gone by several different aliases. |
657 | * PowerStable: The United Empire |
658 | * OlderThanTheyLook: For his first New Japan match being in 2002 TJ still looks remarkably youthful in his late 30s. |
659 | * RedBaron: "The Fil-Am[[note]]short for Filipino-American[[/note]] Flash", and "Public Enemy" |
660 | * SmugSnake: Of all the members of the United Empire, he is second only to Will Ospreay himself in expressing his arrogance and heel tendencies. |
661 | * WeakButSkilled: While TJ lacks in size and strength, he compensates with his agility and mastery of submission techniques. |
662 | |
663 | !!! Rocky Romero[=/=]Black Tiger IV (John R. Rivera, 2002, 2003, 2004-2006, 2008-) |
664 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rocky_romero.png]] |
665 | * AlliterativeName |
666 | * BadassTeacher: Rocky's role on the team is of a mentor and manager to Sho and Yoh. |
667 | * ColorCharacter: As Black Tiger |
668 | * CombatPragmatist: Claims to be the King of Sneaky Style. He tried to apart his wisdom to Sho and Yoh, with the former eventually learning, [[FaceHeelTurn a bit too well]]. |
669 | * CoolMask: As Black Tiger |
670 | * DoItYourselfThemeTune: Rocky provided the music for and does the lead vocals for Forever Hooligans, Roppongi Vice and Roppongi 3K. |
671 | * EyepatchOfPower: Wears one outside of matches. |
672 | * FinishingMove: Diablo Armbar, Foreign Devil and Kick to the Head. |
673 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel: For a very long time as himself before turning Face along with the rest of Chaos. |
674 | * FurAndLoathing: Wore a fur coat as a member of Forever Hooligans and Roppongi Vice. |
675 | * LegacyCharacter: Was the fourth Black Tiger after César Cuauhtémoc González (aka Silver King). |
676 | * PowerStable: Chaos |
677 | * RedBaron: "Mr. Forever", "Azúcar", and "The King of Sneaky Style". |
678 | * SlasherSmile: With or without tongue present. |
679 | |
680 | !!! Creator/BasRutten (Sebastian "Bas" Rutten, 2002) |
681 | |
682 | !!! Wrestling/BobSapp (Robert Malcolm "Bob" Sapp, 2002-2004, 2012-2013) |
683 | |
684 | !!! Wrestling/KatsuyoriShibata (柴田勝頼, Shibata Katsuyori, 1999-2004, 2006, 2012-) |
685 | |
686 | !!! [[Wrestling/SilverKing Silver King/Black Tiger III]] (César Cuauhtémoc González Barrón, 2001-2002) |
687 | |
688 | !!! Davey Boy Smith, Jr. (Harry Smith, 2005, 2012-2019) |
689 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/davey_boy_smith_jr.png]] |
690 | * [[BadassFamily Badass]] WrestlingFamily: He's the son of [[Wrestling/DaveyBoySmith the British Bulldog]] and a member of the the Hart Family. |
691 | * TheBrute: While he's not limited to strength due to his technical wrestling prowess, he along with Archer are the tallest and strongest members of Suzuki-gun. |
692 | * CoolMask: Wears luchador-style mask of a cartoon bulldog. |
693 | * EvilBrit: Subverted, he’s Canadian, but he has British heritage. |
694 | * FinishingMove: Bulldog Bomb, Sharpshooter and Running Powerslam. |
695 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel: Has been aligned with the vicious Suzuki-gun since the start of his second run with the company. |
696 | * ItRunsInTheFamily: As a member of the Hart family and the Son of one of the British Bulldogs, it certainly to be expected. |
697 | * LegacyCharacter: To his father, the British Bulldog. Aside from his maternal features and lack of British accent, he's the spitting image and is just as big. |
698 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/SuzukiGun. |
699 | * RedBaron: "Bulldog Jr." or "Bulldog the Second" |
700 | * WearingAFlagOnYourHead: The Canadian flag on his pants as a member of K.E.S. Lately he's been wearing the colors of the Union Jack on his gear. |
701 | |
702 | !!! Kenzo Suzuki (鈴木健想, Suzuki Kenzo, 2000-2003) |
703 | * TheBrute |
704 | * FacePalmOfDoom: The Rising Sun (Clawhold STO) |
705 | * FinishingMove: Spear and the Rising Sun. |
706 | * [[IKnowMaddenKombat I Know Football]]: Adaped some of his rugby skills into the ring. |
707 | * RedBaron: "Mr. Passion", "Kurayami no Sosui" ("The Leader of Darkness"). |
708 | * WrestlingFamily: His wife Hiroko served as his valet after his time in New Japan. |
709 | |
710 | !!! Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryusuke, 2002-) |
711 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ryusuke_taguchi.png]] |
712 | * AfroAsskicker: When he initially became the Funky Weapon. |
713 | * DiscoDan: Was once the stuck in the 70s/80s variety. |
714 | * FinishingMove: Dondon, Dondon The End, Enban Chuudoku, Mirror Magic Go!, Milano-saku Dodon's Throne, Shika Koroshi, Uradodon |
715 | * HappyDance: After he wins his matches in his Disco Dan days. |
716 | * LargeHam: "Oh yeah!" even without a mic in hand he can make himself heard on the house mics. |
717 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/TaguchiJapan |
718 | * RedBaron: "Funky Weapon", "Master Of Dropkicks" (Master Of Dropkick is also the name of his entrance theme) |
719 | * ShakingTheRump: A taunt of his during his 80s stint. |
720 | * ShoutOut: Uses [[Wrestling/EddieGuerrero the three amigos and a frog splash]]...okay, a 180 frog splash but the intent is obvious. |
721 | * TheatricsOfPain: He's a great seller, all the more noticeable in this atmosphere. With the subdued audience you can really hear his pained breaths and cries of anguish, plus contrast them against all the guys who hardly sell. |
722 | |
723 | !!! Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yujiro, 2004-2009, 2009-) |
724 | * CaneFu: His pimp cane as a member of the Bullet Club. |
725 | * ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: He's turned on Naito, Chaos, the Elite, Jado, and the Gurillas of Destiny. He'd sell off Pieter if it meant he won a G1 match |
726 | * CombatPragmatist: Given his ChronicBackstabbingDisorder and TheWorfEffect statuses, and the wear and tear his body has taken over his career, he usually doesn't think twice about cheating to get an edge. |
727 | * CoolShades: Always has a pair of sunglasses for his entrance after his heel turn. |
728 | * FinishingMove: Bukko Nuki German, Suisha Otoshi, Tokyo Pimps, Pimp Juice, Miami Shine and Intercollege Slam. |
729 | * KavorkaMan: Not the best looking wrestler yet hangs out with beautiful women like Mao and Pieter. |
730 | * PowerStable: Chaos and Bullet Club/House of Torture |
731 | * RedBaron: "Mr. R Rated" during his ladies man gimmick. This was changed to the even less subtle "The Tokyo Pimps". |
732 | * SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: As a ladies man, he's one of Wrestling/ValVenis and as a pimp, he's one of [[Wrestling/CharlesWright the Godfather]]). |
733 | * TheWorfEffect: Gets a good amount of wins in tag matches and against lower card and Young Lion talent. Most of the time though, he doesn't win when it matters. |
734 | |
735 | !!! Wrestling/HiroshiTanahashi (棚橋 弘至, Tanahashi Hiroshi, 1999-) |
736 | |
737 | !!! Tiger Mask IV (山崎義弘, Yamazaki Yoshihiro, 2002-). |
738 | * AnimalMotifs: Lions perhaps? |
739 | * BattleStrip: At ''NJPW Fight For Existence II" when called out by Low Ki, though it was quickly broken up before anything could really happen. |
740 | * CoolMask: Comes with the Tiger Mask gimmick. |
741 | * FinishingMove: Tiger Suplex, Avalanche Double Underhook Suplex and other variants. |
742 | * LegacyCharacter: The first person to be Tiger Mask since Koji Kanemoto was unmasked in 1995. |
743 | * MaskedLuchador: Specifically, the entire Tiger Mask line owe their existence to Fray Tormenta. |
744 | * TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: He is somewhat infamous because he likes to criticize things on the company, like the guest MMA fighters and the new junior heavyweights. |
745 | |
746 | !!! [[Wrestling/YoshiTatsu Naofumi Yamamoto/Yoshitatsu]] (山本 尚史, Yamamoto Naofumi, 2002-2007, 2014-2017) |
747 | |
748 | !!! Wrestling/ToruYano (矢野 通, Yano Tōru, 2001-) |
749 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toru_yano.png]] |
750 | * BoisterousBruiser |
751 | * CombatPragmatist: He fights ''incredibly'' dirty and does whatever he can to get away with it. He won a G1 Climax match by ''taping the opponent's legs together outside the ring'', therefore by ring-out. |
752 | * ChairmanOfTheBrawl: Often uses his red steel chair and spitting sake in his opponent’s face. |
753 | * DrunkenMaster: Used to carry a bottle of sake to the ring. |
754 | * FinishingMove: Oni Koroshi, Kagamiwari and various pinfalls. |
755 | * GarbageWrestler: Mainly his more aggressive Great Bash Heel persona, more or less played for laughs now. |
756 | * GenreSavvy: He gradually learns that leaving himself open during his Wrestling/RobVanDam style taunt allows opponents to sneak up behind him. He uses this knowledge to catch them off guard more often than not -- and goes back to the taunt. |
757 | * LargeHam: Maybe their largest. |
758 | * NotSoHarmless: Occasionally breaks out of his wacky comedy style and shows his legitimate grappling prowess or violent G.B.H. persona. |
759 | * PowerStable: G.B.H. and Chaos |
760 | * ProductPlacement: Somehow turned this into part of his entrance, as he now always shills his latest Yano Toru or CHAOS DVD to the crowd (and even during his speech at the G1 Climax 24 press conference, causing Shinsuke Nakamura and Kazuchika Okada to [[{{Corpsing}} crack up behind him]]) |
761 | * PunctuatedForEmphasis: Yano’s catchphrase involves emphasizing each word while pointing to himself with both thumbs: YANO! TO! RU! Also yes, this is a complete rip-off of what Wrestling/RobVanDam does. |
762 | * RedBaron: "YTR" |
763 | * TraumaticHaircut: Given one by [[Wrestling/YoshihiroTajiri Tajiri]] after losing a hair vs hair match. |
764 | |
765 | !!! Ryūshi Yanagisawa (柳澤 龍志, Yanagisawa Ryūshi, 2002-2006) |
766 | [[/folder]] |
767 | |
768 | [[folder: Debuted in the Strong Style Reborn Era (2006-2012)]] |
769 | |
770 | !!! Wrestling/KarlAnderson (Chad Allegra, 2008-2016, 2021-) |
771 | |
772 | !!! Wrestling/KurtAngle (Kurt Steven Angle, 2007, 2008, 2009) |
773 | |
774 | !!! Lance Archer (Lance Hoyt, 2011-2020, 2021, 2022-) |
775 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lance_archer.png]] |
776 | * CatchPhrase: "Everybody Dies!" |
777 | * CoolShades: Part of his early Suzuki-gun costume. |
778 | * FinishingMove: Blackout, Snap-inverted DDT and Texas Tornado. |
779 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel: Has been aligned with the vicious Suzuki-gun since he debut. |
780 | * LightningBruiser: A powerhouse who can keep pace with New Japan's lighter talent. |
781 | * NoSell: {{Downplayed| trope}}, he sells very little in short matches but the longer the fight goes on, the more he starts to show how much things hurt. |
782 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/SuzukiGun. |
783 | * RedBaron: "American Psycho" |
784 | * [[WearingAFlagOnYourHead Wearing a Flag on Your Pants]]: The American flag as a member of K.E.S. early on. |
785 | * WritingAroundTrademarks: In Wrestling/{{TNA}}, he went by his real name, Lance Hoyt. In Wrestling/{{WWE}} he used the moniker Vance Archer. New Japan just his legit first name and mixed it with the badass last name. |
786 | |
787 | !!! [[Wrestling/MattBloom Giant Bernard]] (Matthew Jason "Matt" Bloom, 2006-2012) |
788 | |
789 | !!! Wrestling/DLoBrown (Accie Connor) 2007 |
790 | |
791 | !!! Milano Collection A.T. (澤藤 章人, Sawafuji Akihito, 2006-) |
792 | * BashBrothers: With Taichi |
793 | * CombatCommentator: His current job after his retirement from the ring. |
794 | * TheDandy |
795 | * FinishingMove: AT Lock, IR, Paradise Lock and Victoria Milanese. |
796 | * GameBreakingInjury: Was diagnosed with inferior oblique muscle palsy caused by a hard kick to the eye by Gedo, thus forcing his retirement. |
797 | * [[ImaginaryFriend Imaginary Dog]]: He had an invisible dog named Mikeru-chan... |
798 | * [[NotSoImaginaryFriend Not So Imaginary Dog]]: ...who often dragged him around the ring. |
799 | * PowerStable: RISE |
800 | * RetiredBadass: Was the 2007 Best of the Super Juniors, but was forced to retire after he was diagnosed with inferior oblique muscle palsy caused by a hard kick to the eye by Gedo. |
801 | * SuplexFinisher: Two of his finishers are elaborated suplexes. |
802 | * WrestlingDoesntPay: A wrestling fashion aficionado[=/=]supermodel. |
803 | |
804 | !!! Prince Devitt[=/=]Pegasus Kid II (Wrestling/FergalDevitt, 2006-2014) |
805 | |
806 | !!! [[Wrestling/BadLuckFale King Fale/Bad Luck Fale]] (Fale Simitaitoko, 2010-2012, 2013-) |
807 | |
808 | !!! Mitsuhide Hirasawa/Hideo Saito/Captain New Japan/Bone Soldier (平澤 光秀, Hirasawa Mitsuhide, 2006-2010, 2011-2017) |
809 | * CoolMask: As Captain New Japan |
810 | ** MalevolentMaskedMen: As Bone Soldier. |
811 | * {{Determinator}}: While Cap usually serves as {{Jobber}}, he makes his opponent work for their win. |
812 | * {{Expy}}: An obvious homage to ComicBook/CaptainAmerica |
813 | * TheGoodCaptain: As Captain New Japan, he was a member of the New Japan Army and a steadfast, if not hapless, ally of Tanahashi. |
814 | * HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: The last couple years saw him changes from Seigigun face to chaotic heel to a SuperHero to heel again. |
815 | * {{Jobber}}: As Cap and Bone Soldier, he was the most notorious jobber on the roster. As Cap, he entertain the crowd but was a compete joke and treated like a jinx to most of his allies. As Bone Soldier, he was treated more vicious, but the crowd grew indifferent to him and his lack of winning ways led Kenny Omega to ostracize him then kick him out of the Bullet Club. |
816 | * LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Be it a toy shield as Captain New Japan. |
817 | * PowerStable: Seigigun as Hirasawa, Chaos as Saito and Bullet Club as Bone Soldier. |
818 | |
819 | !!! Wrestling/KotaIbushi (飯伏幸太, Ibushi Kota, 2009-) |
820 | |
821 | !!! Taichi Ishikari/Taichi (牧 太一郎, Maki Taichiro, 2006, 2007, 2009 2010-) |
822 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taichi.png]] |
823 | * BashBrothers: Milano Collection A.T. and then Taka Michinoku. |
824 | * BattleStrip: One of his trademark taunts is taking off his pants in the middle of the ring. Thankfully, there are wrestling trunks underneath. |
825 | * CombatPragmatist: As a member of Suzuki-gun, Taichi is constantly cheating even if it's to his determent. |
826 | * CoolMask: As part of his entrance entire. |
827 | * FinishingMove: Black Mephisto and Taichi Clutch. |
828 | * FirstNameBasis: Now just known by his first name. |
829 | * NonIndicativeName: Taichi is short for Taichiro, but those who wouldn't know that would wonder why he's named after a martial art/exercise. |
830 | * RedBaron: "Ai o Suteta Seitei" ("The Holy Emperor who Abandoned Love") |
831 | * PowerStable: First Wrestling/SuzukiGun and currently Just 5 Guys. |
832 | * ThePrankster: He a Taka would be notorious for their tricks as a Junior tag team. |
833 | * SumoWrestling: Taichi has added sumo wrestling positions (like the shiko), holds, and throws to his skill set due to his love for the sport. |
834 | * WrestlingDoesntPay: A wrestling (lip synching) pop singer/[[AristocratsAreEvil nobleman]]. |
835 | |
836 | !!! [[Wrestling/LondonAndKendrick Brian Kendrick]] (2011-2013) |
837 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel: As a member of Chaos. |
838 | * PowerStable: Chaos |
839 | |
840 | !!! Wrestling/LowKi (Brandon Silvestry, 2008-2009, 2011-2013) |
841 | |
842 | !!! KUSHIDA (櫛田 雄二郎, Kushida Yūjirō, 2010-2019) |
843 | * BashBrothers: With TAJIRI (also his teacher) and Alex Shelley in the Time Splitters. |
844 | * FinishingMove: Kushida Lock, Midnight Express and Supernova Press. |
845 | * OneSteveLimit: Only goes by his last name so not to get confused with Bullet Club member, Yujiro Takahashi. |
846 | * RedBaron: "Tornado Kid" |
847 | * ShoutOut: He has referenced ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' several times including wearing Marty [=McFly’s=] orange future jacket. |
848 | |
849 | !!! Máscara Dorada (2011-2016, 2022-) |
850 | * ColorCharacter: His name in Spanish is "Golden Mask" |
851 | * CoolMask |
852 | * MaskedLuchador |
853 | * RedBaron: "The Boy Wonder" |
854 | |
855 | !!! Kyosuke Mikami/El Desperado (三上 恭佑, Mikami Kyōsuke, 2011-2012, 2014) |
856 | * ButNotTooForeign: Although Mikami is purely Japanese in real life, Desperado is kayfabe half-Mexican on his mother's side with his half-Japanese heritage explaining his ability to speak Japanese. |
857 | * CoolMask: As El Desperado |
858 | * MaskedLuchador: As El Desperado |
859 | * PartsUnknown: As El Desperado |
860 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/SuzukiGun. |
861 | |
862 | !!! [[Wrestling/SinCara Mistico, Carístico]] (Luis Ignascio Urive Alvirde, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2019) |
863 | |
864 | !!! [[Wrestling/MontelVontaviousPorter MVP]] (Hassan Hamin Assad FKA Alvin Burke Jr. 2011-2013) |
865 | |
866 | !!! Mikey Nicholls (Michael Nicholls, 2006, 2015, 2019, 2022-) |
867 | * EarlyBirdCameo: His original LA Dojo matches aside, Nicholls only had two matches with New Japan prior to going the company in 2019 (though one of those matches was Wrestle Kingdom 9). |
868 | * LandDownUnder: Hails from Perth, Australia. |
869 | * FinishingMove: Mikey Bomb |
870 | * PowerStable: Chaos and TMDK |
871 | * StraightMan: Despite his nickname below, Mikey is by far the most straight forward and mild-mannered members of ZSJ's TMDK. |
872 | * RedBaron: "Mad" based on the Film/MadMax series. |
873 | |
874 | !!! Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada (岡田 和睦, Okada Kazuchika, 2007-2010, 2010-) |
875 | |
876 | !!! Wrestling/KennyOmega (Tyson Smith, 2010-2011, 2012, 2013, 2014-2019) |
877 | |
878 | !!! Davey Richards (Wesley David Richards, 2010-2012) |
879 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel |
880 | * LightningBruiser |
881 | * PermaStubble |
882 | * PowerStable: Chaos |
883 | * TwoFirstNames |
884 | |
885 | !!! [[Wrestling/{{Rhyno}} Rhino]] (Terrance Guido Gerin, 2008, 2011) |
886 | |
887 | !!! Chris Sabin (Joshua "Josh" Harter, 2009-2010, 2016, 2018, 2022-) |
888 | * BashBrothers: Alex Shelley |
889 | * DeadpanSnarker |
890 | * UsefulNotes/{{Detroit}}: Emphasized as a member of the Motor City Machine Guns. |
891 | * HotbloodedSideburns |
892 | |
893 | !!! Alex Shelley (Patrick Martin, 2009-2010, 2012-2016, 2022) |
894 | * AnimeHair |
895 | * BashBrothers: Chris Sabin in the Motor City Machine Guns and KUSHIDA in the Time Splitters. |
896 | * DeadpanSnarker |
897 | * UsefulNotes/{{Detroit}}: Emphasized as a member of the Motor City Machine Guns. |
898 | * JackOfAllStats: Alex Shelley: Is a great high flyer, but he's good with a little bit of everything. |
899 | |
900 | !!! Wrestling/LaSombra (Manuel Alfonso Andrade Oropeza, 2010-2011, 2012, 2013-2015) |
901 | |
902 | !!! Strong Man (Jon Andersen, 2010-2013) |
903 | * BashBrothers: With Manabu Nakanishi who he even called a brother from another mother. |
904 | * TheBigGuy |
905 | * NoSell: Shrugs off stiff shots and Irish Whip attempts. |
906 | * PecFlex |
907 | * RedBaron: “Yeti of America” |
908 | |
909 | !!! Wrestling/HiromuTakahashi/Kamaitachi ((高橋 広夢 Takahashi Hiromu, 2010-2013, 2016-) |
910 | |
911 | !!! Wrestling/MasatoTanaka (田中将斗, Tanaka Masato, 2006, 2007, 2008-2013) |
912 | |
913 | !!! [[Wrestling/GuerrillasOfDestiny Tama Tonga]] (Alipate Leone, 2010-2012, 2013-) |
914 | |
915 | !! [[Wrestling/TheDudleyBoys Team 3D]] |
916 | !!! Brother Devon (Devon Hughes, 2008-2010) |
917 | !!! Brother Ray (Mark [=LoMonaco=], 2008-2010) |
918 | |
919 | !!! Travis Tomko (Travis David Tomko, 2006-2008) |
920 | * BaldOfEvil |
921 | * BeardOfEvil |
922 | * TheBrute |
923 | * FinishingMove: Argentine Neckbreaker and Chainsaw Kick. |
924 | * PowerStable: RISE |
925 | |
926 | !!! Volador Jr. (Ramón Ibarra Rivera, 2012-) |
927 | * FinishingMove: Ataque Depredador |
928 | * MaskedLuchador: At first, but lost his mask to La Sombra at the CMLL 80th Anniversary Show in 2013. All his apperances in New Japan since has been maskless (at least when he competes in-ring). |
929 | * RedBaron: “The Skywalker” |
930 | |
931 | !!! [[Wrestling/EvilWrestler Takaaki Watanabe/EVIL]] (渡辺 高章 Watanabe Takaaki, 2011-2013, 2015-) |
932 | |
933 | !!! YOSHI-HASHI (吉橋 伸雄, Yoshihashi Nobuo, 2008-2010, 2012-) |
934 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yoshi_hashi.png]] |
935 | * BullyingADragon: He felt disrespected by Shibata, one of New Japan’s most brutal wrestlers and challenged him to a match. [[SquashMatch It went about as expected]]. |
936 | * {{Determinator}}: Despite the below, he never gives up and gives it his all even when he's against guys who are twice his size. Even managing to knock them off their feet. Finishing them off on the other hand... |
937 | * {{Jobber}}: Unless Iizuka was with him, chances are he ate the pin for Chaos. Now that Iizuka and Yujiro defected from Chaos, he is clearly on the lowest rung on the ladder of heavyweights in CHAOS. He gets the occasional singles win but no real momentum or significant streak. |
938 | * PowerStable: Chaos |
939 | * RedBaron: "Loose Explosion" (at least that's what it said on his pants), and "Headhunter". |
940 | * ShoutOut: His costume and staff pay homage to the Monkey King from ‘’Literature/JourneyToTheWest’’. |
941 | [[/folder]] |
942 | |
943 | [[folder: Debuted in the Rainmaker Era (2012-2019)]] |
944 | |
945 | !!! ACH (Albert Christian Hardie Jr., 2016-2018, 2020-2021) |
946 | * FinishingMove: 450 Splash |
947 | * JackOfAllStats: During his time on ''NJPW Strong'', ACH had been showing more and more on how good he was at striking, grappling, submissions in addition to his flying. |
948 | * {{Otaku}}: His former entrance attire included [[Manga/{{Naruto}} a Hidden Leaf Village inspired Flak Jacket]] and his former {{Catchphrase}} is [[Manga/OnePiece SUUUPPERRR!!]] |
949 | * RedBaron: "Super ACH" and “Super Ace”. |
950 | * TheWorfEffect: Newly crowned IWGP Champions of all belts have faced ACH, including KUSHIDA, Styles, Kenny Omega and Tetsuya Naito. |
951 | |
952 | !!! Beretta (Gregory "Greg" Marasciulo, 2013, 2015-2019) |
953 | * FinishingMove: Dudebuster DDT, Cradle belly-to-back Piledriver, Gobstopper, and Strong Zero. |
954 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel: As a member of Chaos and Roppongi Vice |
955 | * MeaningfulName[=/=]SpellMyNameWithAnS: Changed the spelling of his Kayfabe last name from B'''a'''r'''r'''eta to B'''e'''r'''e'''t'''t'''a to reference the gun manufacturer Beretta. |
956 | * OnlyOneName: He used to have a first name, [[WebVideo/ZTrueLongIslandStory Where's Trent]]? |
957 | * OnlySaneMan: To Rocky Romero, his tag partner. |
958 | * PowerStable: Chaos |
959 | * RedBaron: "Dudebuster" |
960 | |
961 | !!! [[Wrestling/SheltonBenjamin Shelton X Benjamin]] (Shelton James Benjamin, 2012-2015) |
962 | |
963 | !!! Wrestling/TheBriscoeBrothers |
964 | !!! Jay Briscoe (Jamin "Jay" Pugh, 2016-2019) |
965 | !!! Mark Briscoe (Mark Pugh, 2016-2019) |
966 | |
967 | !!! BUSHI (清水 哲也, Shimizu Tetsuya, 2012-) |
968 | * CoolMask: Makes it a habit of wearing two, one over the other. |
969 | * FinishingMove: Firebird Splash, MX, Sankakutobi-Tornillo |
970 | * MaskedLuchador: His gimmick has become wearing a more elaborate mask over the mask he wears to the ring and the amount of masks he actually owns. |
971 | * PowerStable: Los Ingobernables de Japón. |
972 | * RedBaron: Currently "Shikkoku no Death Mask" ("Jet Black Death Mask"), formerly “Flying Bushido” |
973 | * SuperSpit: Began spitting poison mist as a member of Los Ingobernables. |
974 | * WearingAFlagOnYourHead: Wore the three colors that make up the Mexican flag on his mask as a face. |
975 | |
976 | !!! Wrestling/SamiCallihan (Sam Johnston, 2017) |
977 | |
978 | !!! Wrestling/DaltonCastle (Brett Giehl, 2016-2019) |
979 | |
980 | !!! Cheeseburger (Brandel Littlejohn, 2016-2019) |
981 | * ButtMonkey: While he does have moments of impressive offense, most of his attacks [[NoSell are not very effective]]. |
982 | * FinishingMove: Shotei |
983 | * FragileSpeedster: One of his assets is how quick and agile he is, but it doesn’t help most of the time since most of the roster can catch up with him. |
984 | * KnownOnlyByTheirNickname: The name Cheeseburger came around in ROH when Charlie Haas said he needed to eat one due to his lack of size. |
985 | * WeakButSkilled: Jushin Liger knew what it is like to be bullied for your size so he showed Cheeseburger how to use his SignatureMove, the Shotei. |
986 | |
987 | !!! Jeff Cobb (Jeffrey Cobb, 2017-) |
988 | * {{Acrofatic}}: It isn’t enough of him to be as strong as an ox, but Cobb has displayed jaw-dropping levels of agility for a guy his size. |
989 | * AHeroToHisHometown: Pulled a variation of this at the G1 Special in San Francisco, where he challenged for the NEVER Openweight Championship and walked out carrying the top title from local indie promotion APW. The crowd promptly latched onto Jeff, cheering him over Hirooki Goto. |
990 | * FinishingMove: Tour of the Islands, Gachimuchi-sault (Standing Moonsault) |
991 | * LeotardOfPower: Wears customized singlets from SPLX. |
992 | * LightningBruiser: Built like a tank, but scarily agile and capable of some impressive high-flying moves. |
993 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire. |
994 | * RedBaron: "The Hatchet", “Mr. Athletic” and "The Imperial Unit". |
995 | * WrestlingMonster: A heroic example until he joined the United Empire. |
996 | |
997 | !!! Wrestling/{{Cody|Rhodes}} (Cody Rhodes, 2016-2019) |
998 | |
999 | !!! Wrestling/AdamCole (Austin Jenkins, 2016-2017) |
1000 | |
1001 | !!! Clark Connors (Connor Deutsch, 2018-) |
1002 | * FinishingMove: No Chaser and formerly the Jeep Flip. |
1003 | * PowerStable: The Bullet Club |
1004 | * RedBaron: "100 Proof" formerly "The Wild Rhino" |
1005 | * UrExample: The first ever winner of the Lion's Break Crown. |
1006 | * WrestlingDoesntPay: His ring gear head him dress like a wrestling safari guide. |
1007 | |
1008 | !!! Wrestling/RobConway (Robert Thomas Conway, (2013-2015) |
1009 | |
1010 | !!! Alex Coughlin (Alex Coughlin, 2018-) |
1011 | * AllForNothing: The reason he turned on Hontai and the LA Dojo for Bullet Club. He was angered that he missed out on his family's life for opportunities that never came. |
1012 | * PowerStable: The Bullet Club War Dogs |
1013 | * RedBaron: Currently "The Dead-Eye Dreadnought", formerly "The Android". |
1014 | |
1015 | !!! Jax Dane (2013-2014) |
1016 | * TheBrute |
1017 | * FinishingMove: The 300 (Spear). |
1018 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel |
1019 | * TheQuietOne: Does not say one word the entire time he wrestles in New Japan. |
1020 | * RedBaron: "Godzilla" |
1021 | |
1022 | !!! Robbie Eagles (2018-) |
1023 | * BadassesWearBandanas: Wears a headband on his head and a bandana around his neck. |
1024 | * DudeWheresMyRespect: His reason for leaving CHAOS. In his words, Lio Rush jumping the line and being tapped as YOH's tag partner for the Junior Tag League triggered his departure when TMDK came calling. |
1025 | * FinishingMove: Ron Miller Special |
1026 | * GogglesDoNothing: Wears a purely cosmetic, but awesome looking sniper scope eyepiece as part of his entrance gear. |
1027 | * LandDownUnder: Billed from New South Wales. |
1028 | * RedBaron: Was "The Sniper of the Skies" now just "The Sniper". |
1029 | * PowerStable: First Bullet Club then Chaos, then TMDK. |
1030 | * TokenGoodTeammate: To the Jay White-led era of Bullet Club. Ultimately resulted in him being a DefectorFromDecadence and jumping ship to CHAOS. |
1031 | |
1032 | !!! Michael Elgin (Aaron Frobel, 2015-2019) |
1033 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/michael_elgin.png]] |
1034 | * AscendedFanboy: He is a huge fan of New Japan and quickly became one of its more popular foreign stars during his tenure. |
1035 | * CharlesAtlasSuperPower: Lifting and re-lifting wrestlers from the standing vertical suplex position like he was lifting weights. |
1036 | * CrassCanuck: Okay, not quite as nice as the stereotype. |
1037 | * FinishingMove: Elgin Bomb and Burning Hammer. |
1038 | * LightningBruiser: More so on the "bruiser". |
1039 | * RedBaron: "Unbreakable" |
1040 | * {{Revenge}}: He got the first ladder match in New Japan's history after Kenny Omega used a ladder and table to retain the IWGP intercontinental title belt against Elgin and injured his partner, Hiroshi Tanahashi. |
1041 | * SignatureMove: Power bomb, turnbuckle bomb, crippler cross face. |
1042 | |
1043 | !!! David Finlay (David Finlay III, 2015-) |
1044 | * {{Catchphrase}}: “See you in the mountains” as a face. |
1045 | * FinishingMove: Into Oblivion (Formerly called Trash Panda), Prima Nocta (Just called the Stunner [[DubNameChange in the English Commentary]]) and the Acid Drop. |
1046 | * {{Metalhead}}: Alluded to with his entrance attire and his long hair. His first song is titled “Samurai Rock” and his second song was very metal-esque. |
1047 | * PowerStable: The current leader of the Bullet Club putting his focus on the sub group, the War Dogs. |
1048 | * RedBaron: "The Rebel" formerly "Celtic Prince". |
1049 | * [[RichBitch Rich Bastard]]: As Bullet Club leader, he mocked the insulation of struggle to get through NJPW, because he never had to. He lived as a wealthy child to rich parents in a giant lake front mansion. Has flagrantly mentioned that he used {{Nepotism}} to get ahead in his career. |
1050 | * SmugSnake: "The Rebel" loves to crush people's dreams. |
1051 | * WrestlingFamily: An extensive family tree in the business. No not only is his dad [[OnlyOneName Finlay]] aka Fit Finlay, his siblings, grandfather and great grandfathers were also professional wrestlers and his aunt and great uncle were referees. |
1052 | |
1053 | !!! Karl Fredericks (Karl Fredericks, 2018-2022) |
1054 | * BadassNative: Karl is the first LA Dojo Young Lion of his class to graduate and is the 2019 Young Lion's Cup winner. |
1055 | * FinishingMove: Manifest Destiny. |
1056 | * RedBaron: “The Alpha Wolf" |
1057 | * UrExample: The first non-Japanese wrestler to win the Young Lion's Cup in 2019. |
1058 | |
1059 | !!! [[Wrestling/DrewHankinson Doc Gallows]] (Andrew "Drew" Hankinson, 2013-2016, 2021-) |
1060 | |
1061 | !!! Flip Gordon (Travis Gordon Lopes Jr., 2018, 2020) |
1062 | * BattleStrip: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]], unlike Taichi, Flip rips off his pants, before the match actually starts. He does, however, flip off the turnbuckle and rip them off in mid-air. |
1063 | * DemolitionsExpert[=/=]TheEngineer: Flip is a honorably discharged member of the Army National Guard who served as a combat engineer that specialized in explosives training. |
1064 | * FinishingMove: Star Spangled Stunner |
1065 | * PowerStable: Villain Enterprises |
1066 | * [[WearingAFlagOnYourHead Wearing a Flag on Your Pants]]: Has the american flag displayed on his trunks. |
1067 | |
1068 | !!! Shane Haste (Shane Veryzer, 2015, 2022-) |
1069 | * Cloudcuckoolander: Shane is very wacky, saying and doing things that match his Hysterical moniker. |
1070 | * LandDownUnder: Hails from Perth, Australia. |
1071 | * FinishingMove: Tankbuster, Thunder Mountain |
1072 | * PowerStable: Chaos and TMDK |
1073 | * RedBaron: "Hysterical" |
1074 | |
1075 | !!!Toa Henare/Aaron Henare/Henare (Aaron Henry, 2016-) |
1076 | * FinishingMove: First the TOA Bottom (Rock Bottom) and the Street of Rage (Death Valley Driver) |
1077 | * CoolShades: Was part of his updated look as a member of the United Empire. |
1078 | * HotBlooded: In the ring he’s quite intense, prior to being the "Face of Fury" he was well spoken outside of the ring and most of his promos are subdued and humble. Now he's embraced his savage side again. |
1079 | * IHaveManyNames: From [[OnlyOneName just Henare]] as a Young Lion, to Toa Henare, to Aaron Henare, and now back to Henare. |
1080 | * LoinCloth: For a bit of time, he wore a brown loincloth to the ring. |
1081 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire. |
1082 | * RedBaron: Currently "Face of Fury", formerly "The Ultimate Weapon" |
1083 | * TribalFacePaint: With his reveal as the "Face of Fury" Henare, had a tattoo added to his nose and mouth. |
1084 | * [[WildSamoan Wild Maori]]: Had aspects of this as a Young Lion, rapped it up when he graduated and, while he now dialed it back a bit upon initially joining the United Empire, now he's tapped into it again. |
1085 | |
1086 | !!! Yoshinobu Kanemaru (金丸義信, Kanemaru Yoshinobu, 2017-) |
1087 | * CardCarryingVillain: They don't call him "Heel Master" for nothing. |
1088 | * FinishingMove: Deep Impact, Touch Out |
1089 | * PowerStable: First Wrestling/SuzukiGun and after that Just 5 Guys before betraying them and joining Wrestling/BulletClub House of Torture. |
1090 | * RedBaron: "Heel Master" |
1091 | * SuperSpit: Brings a bottle of Suntori whiskey with him to the ring and he's not adverse to taking a swig and giving his opponets a Suntori Surprise. |
1092 | |
1093 | !!! Hirai Kawato/Master Wato (川人 拓来, Kawato Hirai, 2016-2018, 2020-) |
1094 | * ButtMonkey: From Hontai to heels to the commentary team if Wato is the subject of conversation, he will be the butt of at least one joke or criticism. |
1095 | * FinishingMove: RPP, enzan Tombstone Driver, Recientemente, Vendeval |
1096 | * LeeroyJenkins: One issue with Wato is that he more into showing his impressive abilities and rushing in for the attack without putting real thought into any semblance of strategy. |
1097 | * RedBaron: “Road to the [=GrandMaster=]” |
1098 | * WrestlingDoesntPay: A wrestling martial arts master. |
1099 | |
1100 | !!! Wrestling/FrankieKazarian (Frank Gerdelman, 2015, 2018) |
1101 | |
1102 | !!! The Kingdom |
1103 | !!! [[Wrestling/MikeBennett Michael “Mike” Bennett]] (Michael Bennett 2014-2015) |
1104 | !!! Wrestling/MattTaven (Matthew Marinelli 2014-2015, 2019) |
1105 | !!! Wrestling/MariaKanellis (Mary Louise Kanellis 2014-2015) |
1106 | !!! TK O'Ryan (Stephen John Tkowski 2019) |
1107 | !!! Vinny Marseglia (Vincent Marseglia, 2019) |
1108 | * BattleCouple: Mike and Maria with Taven against Karl Anderson and Doc and Amber Gallows. |
1109 | * BatterUp: TK O'Ryan's weapon which is a reference to him being a baseball player in college. |
1110 | * {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Vinny who has a creepy look and is fond of bringing balloons to the ring. |
1111 | * DarkActionGirl: Maria would often cheat on the team’s behalf. |
1112 | * DreadlockWarrior: Marseglia has unkempt, black dreads that matches his chaotic look. |
1113 | * DistractedByTheSexy: Most of the New Japan roster could not resist Maria’s “charms”. |
1114 | * InsistentTerminology: Taven, O'Ryan and Marseglia like calling people "Melvins". |
1115 | * {{Jerkass}}: Both incarnations of filled with [[SmugSnake Smug Snakes]] with delusions of grandeur. |
1116 | * RedBaron: “The Prodigy” for Bennett, “The Chaotic Idol” for Taven, “The First Lady of Wrestling” for Maria, "The Sassy Wild Horse" for O'Ryan, and "The Horror King" for Marseglia. |
1117 | * SmallNameBigEgo: Mostly the guys as Maria being a former WWE Diva. As Maria and Mike went to TNA and WWE, this is now more true for Taven's group. |
1118 | * TerribleTrio: Unless Maria was flirting with opponents, they didn’t like anyone and the feeling was mutual. |
1119 | |
1120 | !!! Alex Koslov (Alex Sherman, 2012-2015, 2020-) |
1121 | * DanceBattler: Uses the kicks from ThatRussianSquatDance to attack his opponent. |
1122 | * ForeignWrestlingHeel |
1123 | * FurAndLoathing |
1124 | * NeverBareheaded: His ushanka (the fuzzy Russian hat with the ear flaps), unlike most examples though, Koslov keeps his hat on during that match and it usually manages to stay on. |
1125 | * RedBaron: "The Russian Hooligan" |
1126 | * RetiredBadass: Returned in 2020 to be a CombatCommentator for NJPW Strong. |
1127 | * PowerStable: Chaos |
1128 | |
1129 | !!! Dragon Lee/Ryu Lee (2016-2022) |
1130 | * ArchEnemy[=/=]TheRival: Himoru Takahashi |
1131 | * FinishingMove: Desnucadora, Dragon Driver |
1132 | * MaskedLuchador: A masked star formerly of CMLL. |
1133 | * ShoutOut: It’s hard not to think that the Dragon Lee moniker is an obvious reference to Creator/BruceLee. |
1134 | * WrestlingFamily: His father is La Bestia del Ring and his brothers are Rush and the current Místico (who was [[LegacyCharacter also formerly Dragon Lee]]). |
1135 | |
1136 | !!! Yohei Komatsu/Yoh (小松 洋平 Komatsu Yōhei 2012-2016, 2017-) |
1137 | * BashBrothers: Sho and Yoh went on excursion together, tagged together as Fujin & Raijin in CMLL and the Tempura Boyz in Ring of Honor and re-debuted in New Japan Together as Roppongi 3K. Their partnership needed near the end of the 2021 Super Junior Tag League, when a frustrated Sho turned heel on him and joined House of Torture. |
1138 | * FinishingMove: 3K (With Sho), Five Star Clutch, and Direct Drive. |
1139 | * PowerStable: Chaos |
1140 | * RedBaron: "High and Mighty" and then "Direct Drive" |
1141 | * RedOniBlueOni: Yoh was red, showing a more energetic and charismatic side of himself while Sho was blue, choosing to be stoic and focused. The roles flipped after Sho's heel turn. Yoh became a bit more focused while, Sho became an unhinged lunatic. |
1142 | * TheWoobie: In 2021, Roppongi 3K were in a funk in their Tag Team matches, with Yoh taking most of the pins. Yoh was wracked with guilt, only for Sho to snap and attack him near the end of the 2021 Super Junior Tag League after they failed to even garner one win. |
1143 | |
1144 | !!! Wrestling/JayLethal (Jamar "Jay" Shipman, 2016-) |
1145 | |
1146 | !!! [[Wrestling/GuerrillasOfDestiny Tanga Loa]] (Tevita Fifita, 2016-) |
1147 | |
1148 | !!! Ren Narita (成田蓮, Narita Ren, 2017-) |
1149 | * SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: It certainly hasn't gone unnoticed how similar he his to his excursion coach, Katsuyori Shibata, from attitude and in-ring style, to just still wearing black trunks and boots. |
1150 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub House of Torture. |
1151 | * RedBaron: “Son of Strong Style” |
1152 | |
1153 | !!! Tomoyuki Oka/Great-O-Khan (岡 倫之, Oka Tomoyuki, 2016-2018, 2019, 2020-) |
1154 | * BaldOfEvil: On his first official night back in Japan since becoming the Great-O-Khan, he interfered in in the G1 Climax and cost Okada his match against Will Ospreay, the latter turning heel on Okada minutes later. |
1155 | * BigWordShout: Before he applies the submission hold, he yells out "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogbIfsoWj4k Shuba!]]" before he applies the [[WebAnimation/{{Hololive}} Oozora Subaru-style Sheep Murder]]. And yes, that is its official name. |
1156 | * ChineseVampire: His entrance gear and mannerisms before matches are reminiscent of the jiangshi or hopping vampire. |
1157 | * FinishingMove: [[VillainousFaceHold The Eliminator]] |
1158 | * IKnowKarate: Before his New Japan career, O-Khan competed in tournaments for amateur wrestling, judo, karate, sambo, kickboxing, pankration, jiu-jitsu and mixed-martial arts. |
1159 | * PowerStable: One of the three founding members of Wrestling/TheUnitedEmpire with Will Ospreay and Bea Priestly. |
1160 | * RedBaron: “The Dominator” |
1161 | * ScreamingWarrior: Shrieks like a banshee as he attacks his opponent. |
1162 | * SpellMyNameWithAnS: During his excursion in [=RevPro=], his name was the Great O-Karn. |
1163 | |
1164 | !!! Wrestling/WillOspreay (William Ospreay, 2016-) |
1165 | |
1166 | !!! Chase Owens (Chase Owens, 2014-) |
1167 | * FinishingMove: Package Piledriver. |
1168 | * GreenEyedMonster: Gets pretty petty when it comes to being left out of tournaments. This includes Finlay and Henare's "C Block" in the 2018 G1 Climax and being passed over for the 2018 World Tag League when regular partner, Yujiro, teamed up with fellow West Virginian, Hangman Page. |
1169 | * TheMole: In a video on the [=YouTube=] channel ''What Culture'' Chase and Tama Tonga claimed Chase was this in the BC Elite for the BC [=OG=]s all along. Whether this is in New Japan canon and/or not just a [[BlatantLies blatant lie]] by the [=OG=]s isn't made clear. |
1170 | * PowerStable: Bullet Club. |
1171 | * TheQuietOne: Initially, he usually let the likes of Bruce Tharpe and later Kenny Omega talk for him. After a couple years, he managed to find his own voice. |
1172 | * RedBaron: "The Crown Jewel". |
1173 | |
1174 | !!! [[Wrestling/AdamPage Hangman Page]] (Stevie Woltz, 2016-2019) |
1175 | * CanonName: His fellow wrestlers continue to call him by his {{kayfabe}} first name Adam despite NJPW billing him as Hangman Page. |
1176 | * {{Expy}}: A hard man associated with nooses whose nickname takes the place of his first name in the company when he's brought into Wrestling/BulletClub, much like [[strike:Luke]] [[Wrestling/DrewHankinson Doc Gallows]] before him. |
1177 | * NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: "The Hangman". |
1178 | * OneSteveLimit: Hangman is normally his RedBaron, while his ring name is Adam Page. NJPW wanted to set him apart from Wrestling/AdamCole, who joined Bullet Club around the same time he did |
1179 | * PowerStable: Bullet Club (Elite). |
1180 | |
1181 | !!! Ricochet (Wrestling/TrevorMann, 2013-2017) |
1182 | |
1183 | !!! Juice Robinson (Joseph Robinson, 2015-) |
1184 | * AllAmericanFace: Picked up elements of this as he started chasing the U.S. title, and ended up becoming the first American to hold the belt. |
1185 | * ArchEnemy: To Jay White, who he's been interlocked with in one form or another since they were Young Lions. The two made amends in 2022 as Jay brought Robinson into Bullet Club. |
1186 | * BunnyEarsLawyer: Flamboyant Juice was so colorful and goofy, and Rock Hard Juice is so over-the-top obnoxious, that you might not take him seriously at first. Then you realize he's a 2-time IWGP United States Champion with wins over Jay White and ''Kenny friggin' Omega''. |
1187 | * BroughtDownToNormal: Despite an extended run in FCW and NXT previous to his New Japan debut, he elected to start from all the way at the bottom as a Young Lion and work his way back up the card. |
1188 | * DreadlockWarrior: He rocked pretty long dreads from when he first showed up at the Dojo until he shaved them in mid-2019. He'd supposedly offered to cut them during his Young Lion training, but presumably, the trainers decided he was already more experienced than the rest of his class and therefore didn't need to cut it. |
1189 | * FaceHeelTurn: Attacked Hiroshi Tanahashi to stake another claim at the United States Championship while revealing himself as the newest Bullet Club member at ''Wrestling Dontaku'' 2022. |
1190 | * FinishingMove: A jumping version of Wrestling/{{Christian}}'s Killswitch, which he calls "Pulp Friction". |
1191 | * MoneyDearBoy: His motive for joining Bullet Club is to make enough money to make a clean break from the business as quickly as possible. |
1192 | * RedBaron: "The Flamboyant" for several years, before joining Bullet Club and shifting to "Rock Hard". |
1193 | * SignificantHaircut: Shockingly cut his iconic dreadlocks off before his U.S. championship defence against the debuting Wrestling/JonMoxley to show how dead seriously he was taking his opponent. |
1194 | * SirSwearsalot: Does he ever! |
1195 | * TheStoner: Not said outright, given that this is Japan and getting caught with weed can get you deported, but...c'mon. He's got the dreadlocks, the rainbow colors, the happy-go-lucky vibe...then some people eventually convinced him to ditch the weed and go for beers instead. |
1196 | * TagTeam: With David Finlay, until 2022. |
1197 | * TenMinuteRetirement: Had once announced that his contract was about to run out and he had no plans to continue wrestling. Less than a month later, a masked man attacked Tanahashi and did the Turkish Wolf with Chase Owens. That masked man was Juice. |
1198 | |
1199 | !!! Jonah Rock/JONAH (2018, 2021-2022) |
1200 | * {{Acrofatic}}: Has shades of this with the with Torpedo splash from the top turnbuckle. |
1201 | * LandDownUnder: He's from Adelaide, Australia. |
1202 | * FinishingMove: The Torpedo |
1203 | * MightyGlacier: JONAH main advantage as a wrestler is as a powerhouse. In a G1 Climax block with heavy hitters like Bad Luck Fale, Jeff Cobb, and Lance Archer, JONAH proved to be the second most dominant only behind Okada (who he had beaten). |
1204 | * PowerStable: TMDK |
1205 | * RedBaron: "Top Dog" |
1206 | |
1207 | !!! Wrestling/ZackSabreJr (Lucas Eatwell, 2017-) |
1208 | |
1209 | !!! Wrestling/KazushiSakuraba (桜庭 和志, Sakuraba Kazushi, 2012-2016) |
1210 | |
1211 | !!! SANADA (真田 聖也, Sanada Seiya, 2016-) |
1212 | * BatterUp: Carries a baseball bat on his way to the ring. |
1213 | * DarkIsEvil: Wears dark outfits and attire. |
1214 | * DelinquentHair: From his debut until mid-2019, he would spike his hair into an impossibly high mohawk. |
1215 | * DressedToPlunder: Started going for a pirate look in the middle of 2019. |
1216 | * FinishingMove: The Dragon Sleeper, which he calls Skull End, and The Moonsault. |
1217 | * PowerStable: Debuted by attacking Okada as the new member of Los Ingobernables. Currently, the premiere member of Just 5 Guys. |
1218 | * RedBaron: "Cold Skull" |
1219 | * TheVoiceless: It takes him winning the main event of the show and a fair amount of prodding from the crowd just to get two words out of him. |
1220 | * ThoseTwoGuys: He and EVIL are LIJ's go-to heavyweight tag team. |
1221 | * UnknownRival: SANADA considers Okada his greatest rival and constantly targets him, but Okada doesn't exactly reciprocate that energy. |
1222 | * WhiteMaskOfDoom: Wears one in the shape of a skull. |
1223 | |
1224 | !!! Wrestling/MartyScurll (Martin Scurll, 2017-2019) |
1225 | |
1226 | !!! Wrestling/AJStyles (Allen Neal Jones, 2014-2016) |
1227 | |
1228 | !!! [[Wrestling/EvanBourne Matt Sydal]] (Matthew Joseph "Matt" Korklan, 2015-2016) |
1229 | |
1230 | !!! Chuckie T. (Dustin Howard, 2017-2019) |
1231 | * AbortedArc: New Japan was midway through a storyline involving Chuckie spontaneously freaking out and hitting opponents with chairs during matches, often leading to The Best Friends being disqualified, when the pair left for Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling. It was given no mention after their departure. |
1232 | * BashBrothers: With Baretta |
1233 | * RedBaron: "Kentucky Gentleman" |
1234 | * PowerStable: CHAOS. |
1235 | |
1236 | !!! Shingo Takagi (鷹木信悟, Takagi Shingo 2018-) |
1237 | * NormalFishInATinyPond: During his stint as a junior heavyweight, his only singles loss was to Wrestling/WillOspreay in the 2019 Best of Super Juniors tournament. His transition into the regular heavyweight division has seen him take more losses against wrestlers better equipped to face someone like him, such as his first G1 Climax tournament. |
1238 | * RedBaron: "The Dragon" |
1239 | * TheSixthRanger: Joined Los Ingobernables de Japon in 2018, after Hiromu Takahashi got hurt and left the group with only one active junior heavyweight. |
1240 | |
1241 | !!! Sho Tanaka/Sho (田中 翔 Tanaka Shō 2012-2016, 2017-) |
1242 | * AxCrazy: When Ropponggi 3K went on their lengthy stretches of losses in 2021, Yoh mainly taking the pin, Sho, tried too rationalize it away and play it cool. Over the course Super Junior Tag League, he slowly started to go crazy. After embracing his unhinged nature and joining House of Torture, he's unhinged, unpredictable (his loyalty to BC/[=HoT=] aside), and violent. |
1243 | * BashBrothers: Sho and Yoh went on excursion together, tagged together as Fujin & Raijin in CMLL and the Tempura Boyz in Ring of Honor and re-debuted in New Japan Together as Roppongi 3K. Their partnership needed near the end of the 2021 Super Junior Tag League, when a frustrated Sho turned heel on him and joined House of Torture. |
1244 | * CombatPragmatist: In Chaos Rocky Romero tried to apart his "Seaky Style" wisdom to Sho and Yoh. Once Sho turned heel, it finally took. |
1245 | * DoItYourselfThemeTune: Like his other themes, Rocky made and does the lead vocals for R3K's theme. |
1246 | * FinishingMove: 3K (With Yoh) and Shock Arrow |
1247 | * PowerStable: Chaos and Bullet Club/House of Torture |
1248 | * SlasherSmile: Developed one when he turned on Yoh. |
1249 | * RedBaron: "High Voltage" and then "Murder Machine". |
1250 | * RedOniBlueOni: Yoh was red, showing a more energetic and charismatic side of himself while Sho was blue, choosing to be stoic and focused. The roles flipped after Sho's heel turn. Yoh became a bit more focused while, Sho became an unhinged lunatic. |
1251 | * TomboyishBaseballCap: He wore a backwards baseball cap as part of Ropponggi 3K. |
1252 | * WrenchWhack: Uses a combination wrench, [[CompanionCube which he talks to]], to attack wrestlers in and out of House of Torture matches. |
1253 | |
1254 | !!! Titán (2013-2014, 2016-2017, 2019-2020, 2022-) |
1255 | * MaskedLuchador: From CMLL, his mask designs are some of the flashiest in the world. He also fits the high flying style of the more popular type of luchador. |
1256 | * PowerStable: Seemingly Los Ingobernables de Japón, but it seems that Naito is hesitant of his inclusion for now. |
1257 | * RedBaron: "El Immortal" |
1258 | |
1259 | !!! Leo Tonga/Hikuleo (Tautuiaki Koloamatangi, 2016-) |
1260 | * BashBrothers: Literally, with Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga. |
1261 | * BigLittleBrother: He's both taller and bigger than his older brothers. |
1262 | * FinishingMove: Gunslinger |
1263 | * TheGiant: Just a little under 7 feet tall. |
1264 | * HeelFaceTurn: When given a choice by Jay White to beat up Tama on his order after his brothers were ousted from the Bullet Club, he attacked the Bullet Club and protected Tama. He became a face for the first time on camera, aligning with New Japan's group of faces/Main Unit/Hontai along with Jado, and his brothers. |
1265 | * PowerStable: Bullet Club before leaving the group to side with his brothers and Jado. |
1266 | * RedBaron: "Young Gun" and "Tongan Giant". |
1267 | * WrestlingFamily: The son of [[Wrestling/{{Meng}} Haku/Meng]], cousin of Bad Luck Fale and brother of Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa. |
1268 | |
1269 | !!! Yota Tsuji (辻 陽太, Tsuji Yōta, 2018-2021, 2023–) |
1270 | * PowerStable: After three years as a Young Lion and two years on excursion, he made his full debut at ''Wrestling Dontaku'' 2023 and strongly hinted at an alliance with Los Ingobernables de Japón, officially joining the stable a month later. |
1271 | |
1272 | !!! Shota Umino (海野 翔太, Umino Shōta, 2017-2019) |
1273 | * BadassBiker: Part of his identity upon his return from excursion. |
1274 | * LegacyCharacter: During his Young Lion years, Jon Moxley took a shine to him, making him his protege, and nicknaming him "Shooter". After his Young Lion graduation, he started to take on some of Moxley's mannerisms and habits, and keeping Mox's "Death Rider" jacket as a keepsake. |
1275 | * RedBaron: Initially "Shooter" Umino, currently "Roughneck". |
1276 | * WrestlingFamily: He is the son of current New Japan head referee, Hiroyuki Umino aka Red Shoes Unno. |
1277 | |
1278 | !!! Wrestling/JayWhite (2015-) |
1279 | |
1280 | !! Wrestling/TheYoungBucks |
1281 | !!! Nick Jackson (Nick Massie, 2013-2019) |
1282 | !!! Matt Jackson (Matt Massie, 2013-2019) |
1283 | [[/folder]] |
1284 | |
1285 | [[folder: Debuted in the Switchblade Era (2019-2023)]] |
1286 | |
1287 | !!! Francesco Akira (Francesco Begnini, 2022-) |
1288 | * PowerStable: The United Empire |
1289 | |
1290 | !!! Amazing Red (Jonathan Figueroa, 2019, 2022) |
1291 | * FinishingMove: Flipping power bomb which came to be known as ''Code Red'' |
1292 | * FragileSpeedster: Red cannot take super damaging attacks in a match, but he's quick enough to avoid most of them. |
1293 | * RedBaron: "Underground King" |
1294 | * TheStoic: [[SubvertedTrope Despite his name and the color of his hair]], Amazing Red is not a FieryRedhead, himself admitting he's not the type to talk trash, make threats or go after people. |
1295 | * WrestlingFamily: His cousins are [[Wrestling/TheaTrinidad Zelina Vega]] and Joel and Jose Maximo. |
1296 | |
1297 | !!! Aussie Open |
1298 | !!! Mark Davis (Davis Passwood, 2022-) |
1299 | !!! Kyle Fletcher (Kyle Fletcher, 2022-) |
1300 | |
1301 | !!! Ace Austin (Austin Highley, 2022-) |
1302 | |
1303 | !!! Bad Dude Tito (Tito Escondido, 2022-) |
1304 | * {{Catchphrase}}: "Bad Dude!" |
1305 | * FinishingMove: Frog Splash |
1306 | * LightningBruiser: Tito is powerful and can be deceptively quick and agile. |
1307 | * PowerStable: [[UrExample The first non-Austrailian member of TMDK]]. |
1308 | * RedBaron: "TMDK no Shin Senshi" ("TMDK's New Warrior"), and "Bad Dude" |
1309 | |
1310 | !!! Bandido (2019) |
1311 | * {{Bandito}}: Fitting to his name and gimmick, his poncho-style mask and entrance gears comes of him wearing a sombrero hat and bandolier outfits. |
1312 | * FinishingMove: 21 Plex, Avalanche Fallaway Moonsault Slam |
1313 | * FragileSpeedster: Fairly strong for his size, but he won't be doing tests of strength with bigger wrestlers. Instead, he'll rely on his his quick, high-intensity acrobatics. |
1314 | * MaskedLuchador: Born and trained in. Mexico, Bandido is the textbook example of a luchador complete with [[CoolMask his awesome looking Poncho-style mask]]. |
1315 | * RedBaron: "Tenkū no tōzoku" ("Bandit of the Sky") |
1316 | |
1317 | !!! Chris Bey (Chris Bey, 2020-) |
1318 | |
1319 | !!! Wrestling/ColtCabana (Scott Colton, 2019-2020) |
1320 | |
1321 | !!! Douki (葉山達也, Hayama Tatsuya, 2019-) |
1322 | * AscendedExtra: Came to New Japan and Suzuki-gun as a stand in for the injured El Desperado in the 2019 Best Of The Super Junior tournament. Even after Despy healed up, Douki stayed in the company. |
1323 | * CoolMask: Similar to the Franchise/MortalKombat ninjas. |
1324 | * FinishingMove: Suplex de la Luna |
1325 | * PowerStable: First Wrestling/SuzukiGun and currently Just 5 Guys. |
1326 | * RedBaron: "Japonés del Mal" ("Bad Japanese"), which was the name of his age team with Daisuke Hanaoka in [[Wrestling/{{Toryumon}} Toryumon Mexico]]. |
1327 | |
1328 | !!! [[Wrestling/TheRevival FTR]] |
1329 | !!! Dax Harwood (David K. Harwood, 2022-) |
1330 | !!! Cash Wheeler (Daniel Wheeler, 2022-) |
1331 | |
1332 | !!! Jonathan Gresham (Jonathan Gresham, 2019, 2021, 2022) |
1333 | * BadassLongRobe: His entrance gear is a red boxer's robe with white trim. It may not be sparkly no flashy but it fits his no-nonsense style. |
1334 | * FinishingMove: The Octopus Hold |
1335 | * RedBaron: "The Octopus" |
1336 | * WrestlingFamily: The husband of Jordynne Grace. |
1337 | |
1338 | !!! Gideon Grey (2022-) |
1339 | * PowerStable: United Empire |
1340 | * RedBaron: "The Orchestrator", and "Lord Gideon" |
1341 | |
1342 | !!! KAIRI (宝迫 香織, Hōsako Kaori, 2022-) |
1343 | |
1344 | !!! [[Wrestling/KentaKobayashi KENTA]] (小林 健太, Kobayashi Kenta, 2019-) |
1345 | |
1346 | !!! Gabriel Kidd/Gabe Kidd (Gabriel Kidd, 2020-) |
1347 | * BloodKnight: Has no qualms about jumping wrestlers just for kicks and is ready and willing to fight at any moment. |
1348 | * PowerStable: The Bullet Club War Dogs |
1349 | * RedBaron: "War Ready" formerly "The Young Bull". |
1350 | * TrashTalk: Gabe is big on this after his heel turn, [[SirSwearsALot usually with a lot of cursing]] (even by the standards of Togi Makabe or every other gaijin wrestler that has worked for New Japan). |
1351 | |
1352 | !!! Brody King (Nate Blauvelt, 2019-) |
1353 | * {{Acrofatic}}: Billed at 285 lbs. and a noticeable gut, Brody flies out of the ring with relative ease. |
1354 | * FinishingMove: Gonzo Bomb |
1355 | * LightningBruiser: A 6'5" powerhouse who has the sneaky speed and destruction of a freight train. As mentioned above, he can also keep up with high flyers with his airborne arsenal. |
1356 | * PowerStable: Villain Enterprises |
1357 | * RedBaron: "God's Hate" |
1358 | |
1359 | !!! Kevin Knight (Kevin Knight, 2020-) |
1360 | * RedBaron: "The Jet" |
1361 | |
1362 | !!! Wrestling/TomLawlor (Thomas Lawlor, 2020-) |
1363 | |
1364 | !!! [[Wrestling/SashaBanks Mercedes Moné]] (Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado, 2023-) |
1365 | |
1366 | !!! Wrestling/JonMoxley (Jonathan Good, 2019-) |
1367 | |
1368 | !!! El Phantasmo (Riley Vigier, 2019-) |
1369 | * ArrogantKungFuGuy: His cheating, me-first mentality and SmugSnake behavior has made him very successful in New Japan so far, but it also caused Robbie Eagles to turn on Bullet Club for CHAOS. |
1370 | * {{Chiptune}}: His pre-Bullet Club theme incorporates elements of this. |
1371 | * CoolShades: Phantasmo wears a pair of spiked, shutter shades. They sometimes light up in time with his entrance music. |
1372 | * {{Dubstep}}: His theme song (both before and after joining Bullet Club) is something people would hear at a rave. It even has a beat drop. |
1373 | * FinishingMove: CRII ([=CR2=]) |
1374 | * KickTheDog: Likes to take merch from other factions right off of fans and throw it as many rows back as he can. |
1375 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub. |
1376 | * RedBaron: "Headbanga" and "ELP" |
1377 | |
1378 | !!! Bea Priestley (Beatrice St. Clere Priestley, 2020-2021) |
1379 | |
1380 | !!! Wrestling/TheRockNRollExpress |
1381 | !!! Ricky Morton (Richard Wendell Morton, 2019-2020) |
1382 | !!! Robert Gibson (Robert Gibson, 2019-2020) |
1383 | |
1384 | !!! [[Wrestling/DarrenYoung Fred Rosser]] (Frederick Douglas Rosser III, 2020-) |
1385 | |
1386 | !!! Wheeler Yuta (Paul Gruber, 2022-) |
1387 | |
1388 | !!! Alex Zayne (Alex Brandenberg, 2020, 2021, 2022-) |
1389 | * BilingualBonus: Yells "Itadakimasu!" ("It's time to eat!") before biting someone's ass. |
1390 | * ButtBiter: One of his signature moves. |
1391 | |
1392 | [[/folder]] |
1393 | |
1394 | [[folder: Debuted in the Reiwa Three Musketeers Era (2023-)]] |
1395 | |
1396 | !!! Dan Maloney (Daniel Moloney, 2023-) |
1397 | * FinishingMove: Dorilla Killer |
1398 | * PowerStable: The Bullet Club War Dogs after betraying the United Empire. |
1399 | * RedBaron: "The DRILLA" |
1400 | |
1401 | !!! [[Wrestling/DolphZiggler Nic Nemeth]] (Nicholas Theodore Nemeth, 2024-) |
1402 | |
1403 | [[/folder]] |
1404 | |
1405 | [[folder: The Young Lions]] |
1406 | |
1407 | Lists the various NJPW wrestlers who are currently training as Young Lions or are on excursion. When a wrestler gets released or graduates, remove them from here. If it’s the latter, also add them to the Era when they debuted. |
1408 | |
1409 | !!! General Young Lion Tropes |
1410 | * BoringButPractical: Even independent wrestlers and combat sports athletes who join the New Japan Dojo who may know a plethora of techniques have their arsenals limited to specific set of basic but effective techniques. |
1411 | * ImportantHaircut: Most trainees, specifically those trained in Japan, will debut with a clean shaven face (sometimes with a mustache) and a buzzcut to symbolize the start of their journey in the company. |
1412 | * {{Jobber}}: While there are exceptions to the rule, Young Lions generally don't win singles matches unless they are facing another Young Lion. They can win in tag team matches but they are never the ones picking up the win and could be at liability to take the fall for their team. |
1413 | * FinishingMove: The Boston Crab or a variation of it. |
1414 | * SpiritedCompetitor: Ready for any action they can get to the point of sometimes becoming surprisingly brutal in-ring. |
1415 | * TrainingFromHell: '''Part''' of their training involves doing 1,000 squats six days a week. |
1416 | * LimitedWardrobe: Basic black trunks and boots with the possibility of small personal effects thrown in. |
1417 | |
1418 | !! On Excursion/Pre-Graduation |
1419 | !!! Yuya Uemura (上村優也, Uemura Yūya, 2018-2021) |
1420 | |
1421 | !! Noge Dojo - Japan |
1422 | !!! Boltin Oleg (Oleg Boltin, 2022-) |
1423 | |
1424 | !!! Oskar Leube (Oskar Münchow, 2022-) |
1425 | |
1426 | !!! Kosei Fujita (藤田 晃生, Fujita Kōsei, 2021-) |
1427 | * PowerStable: At New Year Dash 2023, Zack Sabre Jr., Shane Haste, and Mikey Nicholls would bring Fujita into TMDK. This while he still a Young Lion. |
1428 | |
1429 | !!! Yuto Nakashima (中島 佑斗, Nakashima Yūto, 2021-) |
1430 | * FirstDayFromHell: The poor guy gets injured mere minutes into his first match ever. |
1431 | |
1432 | !!! Ryohei Oiwa (大岩 陵平, Ōiwa Ryōhei, 2021-) |
1433 | |
1434 | !! LA Dojo - USA |
1435 | !!! The DKC (Dylan Barrales, 2020-) |
1436 | * IKnowKarate: A black belt, which is frequently mentioned by the commentators. |
1437 | * OnlyKnownByInitials: DKC stands for “Dylan Kyle Cox”, his full wrestler name on the indies. It served as his RedBaron on NJPW Strong before becoming a Young Lion. |
1438 | * TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential: His reason for becoming a Young Lion under Shibata. |
1439 | |
1440 | !! New Zealand/Fale Dojo |
1441 | !!! Michael Richards (Michael Richards 2019, 2022-) |
1442 | |
1443 | !!! Jake Taylor (Jake Taylor, 2022-) |
1444 | |
1445 | !!! Andrew Villalobos (Andrew Villalobos 2019, 2022-) |
1446 | |
1447 | [[/folder]] |
1448 | |
1449 | [[folder: Non-Wrestling Seconds]] |
1450 | |
1451 | !!! Miho Abe (あべみほ, Abe Miho, 2015-) |
1452 | |
1453 | !!! Mao (2014-2016) |
1454 | |
1455 | !!! Pieter (2016-) |
1456 | |
1457 | [[/folder]] |
1458 | |
1459 | [[folder: NJPW Strong]] |
1460 | |
1461 | Lists the various freelance wrestlers who are part of the NJPW Strong roster. When a wrestler permanently leaves or becomes a part of the main roster (being signed to a contract, doing tours in Japan and/or appearing on the official NJPW’s website profile page), remove them from here. If it’s the latter, also add them to the Era when they debuted. |
1462 | |
1463 | !!! Blake Christian (Christian Hubble, 2020-2021, 2022-) |
1464 | |
1465 | !!! Homicide (Wrestling/NelsonErazo, 2022-) |
1466 | |
1467 | !!! JR Kratos (2020-) |
1468 | * {{Acrofatic}}: He might not be fast, but he is a lot more agile than his 300 pound frame would suggest, like doing suicide dives by jumping over the top ropes. |
1469 | * TheBrute: The most physically imposing member of Team Filthy. |
1470 | * FinishingMove: The Game Changer and the Fisherman's Buster |
1471 | * PowerStable: Team Filthy |
1472 | * RedBaron: “The Most Feared” |
1473 | |
1474 | !!! Eddie Kingston (Edward Moore, 2021-) |
1475 | |
1476 | !!! Danny Limelight (Daniel Rivera, 2020-2022) |
1477 | * FinishingMove: Simbiote DDT and the Death Valley Driver |
1478 | * PowerStable: Team Filthy |
1479 | * RedBaron: Danny “Limelight” Rivera and "The Radioactive Papi" |
1480 | |
1481 | !!! The West Coast Wrecking Crew (2021-) |
1482 | !!! Royce Isaacs (Isaac Hull, 2021-) |
1483 | !!! Jorel Nelson (Jorel Nelson, 2021-) |
1484 | * FinishingMove: Movie on the Roof (together) |
1485 | * PowerStable: Team Filthy |
1486 | |
1487 | [[/folder]] |
1488 | |
1489 | [[folder: NJPW Tamashii]] |
1490 | |
1491 | Lists the various freelance wrestlers who are part of the NJPW Tamashii roster. When a wrestler permanently leaves or becomes a part of the main roster (being signed to a contract, doing tours in Japan and/or appearing on the official NJPW’s website profile page), remove them from here. If it’s the latter, also add them to the Era when they debuted. |
1492 | |
1493 | !!! Shep Alexander (Alexander Shepard 2022-) |
1494 | |
1495 | !!! Jordan Allan-Wright (2022-) |
1496 | |
1497 | !!! Nikolai Anton Bell (2022-) |
1498 | |
1499 | !!! Jack Bonza (Stephen Teulan, 2022-) |
1500 | * PowerStable: The Rogue Army |
1501 | |
1502 | !!! Rowan Davis (2022-) |
1503 | |
1504 | !!! Tony Kozina (Anthony Kozina, 2022-) |
1505 | |
1506 | !!! Lyrebird Luchi (2022-) |
1507 | * PowerStable: The Rogue Army |
1508 | |
1509 | !!! Richard Mulu (Richard Mulu, 2022-) |
1510 | |
1511 | !!! The Natural Classics (2022-) |
1512 | !!! Stevie Filip (Stevan Filiposki, 2022-) |
1513 | !!! Tome Filip (Tome Filiposki, 2022-) |
1514 | |
1515 | !!! Aaron Solo (Aaron Solow, 2022-) |
1516 | |
1517 | !!! Mark Tui (Mark Tui, 2022-) |
1518 | |
1519 | !!! Caveman Ugg (Brian Gammage, 2022-) |
1520 | * PowerStable: The Rogue Army |
1521 | |
1522 | [[/folder]] |
1523 | |
1524 | [[folder: Commentators]] |
1525 | !!Japanese commentary |
1526 | !!!Milano Collection A.T. |
1527 | * CareerEndingInjury: Announced his retirement from in-ring actions on January 2010 due to an eye injury and now works as a commentator. |
1528 | !!!Shinji Noshino |
1529 | !!!Shinpei Nogami |
1530 | |
1531 | !!English commentary |
1532 | !!!Kevin Kelly; |
1533 | * TheLeader: Of the commentary team, as the one most often there. |
1534 | * CatchPhrase: |
1535 | ** "That damn stick!" (Whenever Jado accompanies Bullet Club members, since he always wields and uses a kendo stick to help them win) |
1536 | ** "Hey look, it's Honma!" (Whenever Honma does his entrance in PaperThinDisguise, and then reveals himself) |
1537 | |
1538 | !!!Chris Charlton |
1539 | * ButtMonkey: Gino pokes fun at him for being the one who contributes least to general commentary. |
1540 | * TranslatorBuddy: He translates Japanese. |
1541 | |
1542 | !!!Gino Gambino |
1543 | * PowerStable: Wrestling/BulletClub |
1544 | * VitriolicBestBuds: With Kevin and Chris. He is an unapologetic Bullet Club supporter and often has disagreements with them, and makes fun of Chris, but they are still chummy with him most of the time. |
1545 | !!!Don Callis |
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