Katsuhiko Nakajima

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Katsuhiko Nakajima
Statistics
Ring name(s) Katsuhiko Nakajima
Billed height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Billed weight 181 lb (82 kg)
Born March 11, 1988 (age 19)
Fukuoka, Fukuoka cri
Debut January 5, 2004
vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Katsuhiko Nakajima (中嶋 勝彦 Nakajima Katsuhiko?, born March 11, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler, represented as a freelancer by Kensuke Office, owned by his mentor Kensuke Sasaki. He most frequently wrestles in All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion.

At just 19 years old, and making his pro debut at 15,[1] Nakajima has already made a significant impact on puroresu, earning the nickname "Supernova", and facing legends such as Kenta Kobashi,[2] Satoru Sayama,[3] Jushin Liger[4] and Tatsumi Fujinami.[5] He has competed in several notable Japanese promotions, including New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX, Michinoku Pro, and, currently, All Japan Pro Wrestling.

He has set several age records over his short career, including being the youngest wrestler to compete in AJPW's prestigious Champion's Carnival tournament,[6] and to hold the AJPW Junior Heavyweight Championship. He won the Tokyo Sports Grand Prix "Rookie of the Year" award in 2004, and the Fighting Spirit award in 2005.[7]

Contents

[edit] Career

An accomplished jūdōka, Nakajima was hired by Riki Chōshū's World Japan promotion in December of 2002, at the young age of 14. He debuted for World Japan (WJ) in September 2003, facing American fighter Jason Leigh in a steel cage vale tudo match, winning via knockout in one minute and thirty-five seconds.[1] His true pro wrestling debut came on the main event of World Japan's "RESOLUTION" card on January 5, 2004, losing via submission to Tomohiro Ishii.[3]

Nakajima continued to wrestle for WJ for a short time, even wrestling the original Tiger Mask Satoru Sayama,[3] before signing with Kensuke Office in April.[8] This led to his debut with New Japan Pro Wrestling, facing legendary junior heavyweight Jushin Liger in the Tokyo Dome on May 3, 2004.[4] He made his debut with All Japan Pro Wrestling the next day, successfully teaming with Toshiaki Kawada in a six-man tag team match.[9] He continued to wrestle for both promotions extensively throughout 2004, even competing in Block B of NJPW's Best of the Super Juniors tournament, finishing with 2 points by defeating Curry Man,[10] and reaching the finals of the Young Lion Toukon (fighting spirit) tournament, losing to Ryusuke Taguchi.[4]

In AJPW, Nakajima received the first championship match of his career, teaming with Kensuke Sasaki to unsuccessfully challenge Masanobu Fuchi & Genichiro Tenryu for the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship.[11] The two would go on to team up in the 2004 World's Strongest Tag Team League, finishing with 4 points in Block B.[12] Nakajima received his first opportunity at a singles championship on April 20, 2005, losing to AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion TAKA Michinoku.[13] His appearances in NJPW became much more sporadic around this time, with his final match to date taking place on April 24, a loss to 6-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tatsumi Fujinami.[5]

On May 7, Katsuhiko participated in the 2005 Differ Cup, a biennial, cross-promotional junior heavyweight tag team tournament, teaming with Osaka Pro's Takehiro Murahama; the two lost to Super Shisa and Tiger Emperor in the first round.[14] He also teamed with Tomoaki Honma in a tournament throughout June 2005 to decide the vacant All Asia Tag Team Championship, making it to the finals before losing to Shuji Kondo & "brother" YASSHI.[15] Just over one month later, on July 26, Nakajima and Sasaki defeated Kondo and YASSHI for the titles in their second defense, giving Nakajima his first championship.[16] They would continue to defend the titles through 2005, against such teams as Arashi & Ryuji Hijikata[17] and Buchanan & D'Lo Brown.[18]

On July 18, Nakajima made his debut in Pro Wrestling NOAH, wrestling in a six-man tag team match in the Tokyo Dome. He would continue by teaming with Kensuke Sasaki against Kenta Kobashi and his own protege Go Shiozaki in an inter-generation tag team match on November 5, with Sasaki pinning Shiozaki after a lariat.[2] This match was rated 4 3/4 out of 5 stars by wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, one of only seven NOAH matches to receive that or a higher rating.[19]

Nakajima made his debut for Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX on July 9, winning a six-man junior tag team match.[20] He went on to defeat Osamu Namiguchi on August 31 for his first singles title, the WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship, though whether this can be considered part of the title's official lineage is disputed.[21] He would hold it until June 24, 2006, losing the title to premier ZERO1-MAX junior Tatsuhito Takaiwa.[22] This is to date Nakajima's last appearance with the promotion.

Nakajima using a German suplex on Shuji Kondo in their Junior Heavyweight Championship match.
Nakajima using a German suplex on Shuji Kondo in their Junior Heavyweight Championship match.

On February 11, 2006, at a Kensuke Office show celebrating Kensuke Sasaki's 20th career anniversary, Nakajima teamed with Genichiro Tenryu against the "dream team" of Kenta Kobashi and Kensuke Sasaki, falling to a Sasaki lariat.[23] On March 21, Nakajima won a three-way elimination match in AJPW, defeating both Tomoaki Honma and NOSAWA Rongai to earn a spot in Block B of the prestigious 2006 Champion's Carnival,[24] becoming the youngest man to participate in the tournament.[6] Nakajima finished in last place in the block with 2 points by defeating D'Lo Brown. He then participated in the 2006 Junior League tournament from June 25 to July 3, to decide a challenger for the Junior Heavyweight Championship; Katsuhiko won his block with 5 points, before losing in the final to Kaz Hayashi.[25] On July 2, Nakajima's partner Kensuke Sasaki suffered a left eye fracture in a match against Katsuyori Shibata, taking him out of action for the foreseeable future, and forcing the team to vacate the All Asia Tag Team Championship on October 29, after holding the titles since July 2005.[26]

On October 15, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kaz Hayashi were announced as one of seven teams in the 2006 World's Strongest Tag Team League; they had a strong showing in the tournament, defeating such teams as NOSAWA Rongai & Triple Crown Champion Minoru Suzuki and RO'Z & Suwama, and drawing with Taiyō Kea & TAKA Michinoku, finishing with 5 points overall.[27] Kensuke Sasaki made his return from injury on January 2, 2007, teaming with Nakajima to defeat TARU & "brother" YASSHI. The following day, Nakajima faced YASSHI in a match to determine Shuji Kondo's next challenger for the Junior Heavyweight Championship, winning via disqualification when Kondo himself interfered.[27] He made his challenge on February 17, defeating Kondo to end his 16-month reign, and becoming the youngest junior heavyweight champion in history.[28]

[edit] Finishing and signature moves

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time, disputed)[21]
  • Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
  • Rookie of the Year (2004)
  • Fighting Spirit Award (2005)[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Profile on PuroresuFan.com. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “His pro debut came in September, 2003, but not in a pro wrestling match; instead, in a steel cage and under vale tudo rules against Jason Rey, (sic) an American fighter, who 15-year-old Nakajima KO'd in 95 seconds!”
  2. ^ a b NOAH results, 2005. Green Destiny. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiosaki (24:58) when Sasaki used a lariat on Shiosaki.”
  3. ^ a b c World Japan results, 2004. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Tomohiro Ishii beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (debut) (12:11) with a single-leg crab hold"; "Original Tiger Mask beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (11:44) with a Japanese leg roll clutch hold.”
  4. ^ a b c NJPW results, 2004. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Jushin Thunder Liger beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (7:27) with a crab hold"; "Young Lion Toukon Tournament - Final: Ryusuke Taguchi beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (9:41) with a crab hold.”
  5. ^ a b New Japan Cup results, 2005. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Tatsumi Fujinami beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (3:59) with a Dragon sleeper.”
  6. ^ a b AJPW news, March 23 to April 17, 2006. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Katsuhiko Nakajima became the youngest person to wrestle in the Champion Carnival at the age of 18.”
  7. ^ a b Tokyo Sports Grand Prix Awards, 2000s. Puroresu.com. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
  8. ^ Kensuke Office profile (Japanese). Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
  9. ^ AJPW BAPE STA!! 2004 results. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Toshiaki Kawada, Ryuji Hijikata & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat TAKA Michinoku, Takehiro Murahama & Miracle Man (14:10) when Kawada used a single-leg crab hold on Miracle.”
  10. ^ Best of the Super Juniors results, 2004. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Katsuhiko Nakajima [2] beat Curry Man [1] (8:20) by referee stop.”
  11. ^ AJPW Crossover results, 2004. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “All Asia Tag Team Title: Genichiro Tenryu & Masanobu Fuchi (c) beat Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (14:04) when Fuchi used an inside cradle on Nakajima (1st defense).”
  12. ^ World's Strongest Tag Team League results, 2004. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
  13. ^ Champion's Carnival results, 2005. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: TAKA Michinoku (c) beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (17:04) with the Michinoku Driver II (5th defense).”
  14. ^ Differ Cup results, 2005. ZEROONEUSA.com. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
  15. ^ AJPW Crossover results, 2005. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Shuji Kondo & "brother YASSHI" (sic) beat Tomoaki Honma & Katsuhiko Nakajima (16:30) when YASSHI pinned Nakajima after Kondo used a King Kong lariat to become the 79th champions.”
  16. ^ a b AJPW Summer Action Series results, 2005. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Shuji Kondo & "brother" YASSHI (c) (12:23) when Nakajima used a German suplex hold on YASSHI to become the 80th champions.”
  17. ^ AJPW Summer Impact results, 2005. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “All Asia Tag Team Title: Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) beat Arashi & Ryuji Hijikata (20:30) when Sasaki used a lariat on Hijikata (1st defense).”
  18. ^ AJPW Flashing Tour results, 2005. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “All Asia Tag Team Title: Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) beat Buchanan & D-Lo Brown (21:24) when Sasaki used a Northern Light bomb on Buchanan (2nd defense).”
  19. ^ Observer Star Ratings List. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “11/5/05 Kenta Kobashi/Go Shiozaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki/Katsuhiko Nakajima ****3/4”
  20. ^ ZERO1-MAX Decide it Again results. ZEROONEUSA.com. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
  21. ^ a b WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship History. Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved on April 9, 2007.
  22. ^ ZERO1-MAX Rights results. ZEROONEUSA.com. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
  23. ^ AJPW results, 2006. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Kensuke Sasaki 20th Anniversary: Kensuke Sasaki & Kenta Kobashi beat Genichiro Tenryu & Katsuhiko Nakajima (26:36) when Sasaki used a lariat on Nakajima.”
  24. ^ AJPW news, February 21 to March 22, 2006. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
  25. ^ AJPW Junior League results. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “Final: Kaz Hayashi beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (20:58) with the Final Cut”
  26. ^ AJPW news, October 14 to November 25, 2006. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “During Kensuke's talk show, it seems that he and Nakajima returned the All-Asia Tag Titles after one year and 3 months of holding them since Kensuke will not make his return in December.”
  27. ^ a b AJPW news, December 4, 2006 to February 9, 2007. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007.
  28. ^ a b AJPW news, February 12 to March 9, 2007. Shining Road. Retrieved on March 14, 2007. “AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Shuji Kondo (c) (24:25) with a German Suplex hold (Nakajima becomes the 24th champion).”
  29. ^ Tohoku Tag Team Championship History. Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved on March 29, 2007.

[edit] External links

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