WRESTLE-1 having a Cruiserweight Cup to crown a champion
Posted: Mar 9th, '15, 20:53
WRESTLE-1 has announced a Cruiserweight division, title, and tournament to claim its first champion.
The division has a weight limit of 200lbs and the tournament kicks off April 1 in the first two of four tournament matches, followed by the next two on April 19, and the semifinals and finals on May 5. So let's meet the Cruiserweights!
Andy Wu:
5'7", 176
Third-year as a pro
Trained by Kaz Hayashi & El Pantera
Has spent much time in Mexico and has a lucha-infused style
El Hijo del Pantera
23 years old
As the name says, son of legendary luchadore, El Pantera
Part of Tajiri's DESPERADO stable. At the press conference, Tajiri said that Pantera was brought in to DESPERADO for one reason, to win the Cruiserweight title.
Wrestled professionally since he was 16
Hiroshi Yamato
31 years old
5'10" 180
Offense is very drop and suplex-based
Notable Titles: AJPW All-Asia Tag, AJPW World Junior, 2012 AJPW World Junior League
Wrestled for All-Japan, New Japan, and NOAH
Degree in agriculture, and is also a high school agriculture teacher, surveyor, and hazardous materials engineer
Kaz Hayashi:
41 years old
5'8" 183
The driving force behind WRESTLE-1's Cruiserweight division, both on-and-off camera
Most notable of all the Cruiserweights and probably just behind Muta in all of WRESTLE-1. Has wrestled for the likes of WCW, WWF (developmental), AAA, New Japan, All-Jaapan, NOAH, ROH, PWG, FMW, and CMLL among many others.
Notable Titles: 2x AJPW World Junior Heavyweight, AJPW World Tag, AJPW All-Asia Tag, Current WRESTLE-1 Tag (w/Shuji Kondo), 2011 and 2012 AJPW Junior Tag League winner, 2006 AJPW Junior Heavyweight League winner
Minoru Tanaka
42 years old
5'9" 187
Most highly-decorated Cruiserweight in the field
Notable Titles: AJPW World Junior Heavyweight, 2x AJPW All-Asia Tag, 4x IWGP Junior Heavyweight, 5x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag, Current NWA World Junior Heavyweight, 2009 AJPW Junior Tag League winner, 2006 NJPW Best of the Super Juniors winner,
His four IWGP Junior reigns rank below only Jushin Liger, Koji Kanemoto, and Tiger Mask IV
Rionne Fujiwara
28 years old
5'9" 191
Australian
Shootfighter gimmick and moveset
Named after his trainer, Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Third-year pro
Australian karate champion and filmmaker/actor
Part of the heel Novus stable (along with Yusuke Kodama)
Seiki Yoshioka
27 years
5'7" 169
Taekwondo background
Wrestled in AJPW, DDT, and Zero-1 among others
Wrestles a heavier style than his weight
Yusuke Kodama
27 years old
5'8" 176
Trained by Tajiri
Wrestles under a mask in Mexico as 14k
Part of the heel Novus stable (along with Rionne Fujiwara)
Andy Wu:
5'7", 176
Third-year as a pro
Trained by Kaz Hayashi & El Pantera
Has spent much time in Mexico and has a lucha-infused style
El Hijo del Pantera
23 years old
As the name says, son of legendary luchadore, El Pantera
Part of Tajiri's DESPERADO stable. At the press conference, Tajiri said that Pantera was brought in to DESPERADO for one reason, to win the Cruiserweight title.
Wrestled professionally since he was 16
Hiroshi Yamato
31 years old
5'10" 180
Offense is very drop and suplex-based
Notable Titles: AJPW All-Asia Tag, AJPW World Junior, 2012 AJPW World Junior League
Wrestled for All-Japan, New Japan, and NOAH
Degree in agriculture, and is also a high school agriculture teacher, surveyor, and hazardous materials engineer
Kaz Hayashi:
41 years old
5'8" 183
The driving force behind WRESTLE-1's Cruiserweight division, both on-and-off camera
Most notable of all the Cruiserweights and probably just behind Muta in all of WRESTLE-1. Has wrestled for the likes of WCW, WWF (developmental), AAA, New Japan, All-Jaapan, NOAH, ROH, PWG, FMW, and CMLL among many others.
Notable Titles: 2x AJPW World Junior Heavyweight, AJPW World Tag, AJPW All-Asia Tag, Current WRESTLE-1 Tag (w/Shuji Kondo), 2011 and 2012 AJPW Junior Tag League winner, 2006 AJPW Junior Heavyweight League winner
Minoru Tanaka
42 years old
5'9" 187
Most highly-decorated Cruiserweight in the field
Notable Titles: AJPW World Junior Heavyweight, 2x AJPW All-Asia Tag, 4x IWGP Junior Heavyweight, 5x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag, Current NWA World Junior Heavyweight, 2009 AJPW Junior Tag League winner, 2006 NJPW Best of the Super Juniors winner,
His four IWGP Junior reigns rank below only Jushin Liger, Koji Kanemoto, and Tiger Mask IV
Rionne Fujiwara
28 years old
5'9" 191
Australian
Shootfighter gimmick and moveset
Named after his trainer, Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Third-year pro
Australian karate champion and filmmaker/actor
Part of the heel Novus stable (along with Yusuke Kodama)
Seiki Yoshioka
27 years
5'7" 169
Taekwondo background
Wrestled in AJPW, DDT, and Zero-1 among others
Wrestles a heavier style than his weight
Yusuke Kodama
27 years old
5'8" 176
Trained by Tajiri
Wrestles under a mask in Mexico as 14k
Part of the heel Novus stable (along with Rionne Fujiwara)