Naomichi Marufuji

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Naomichi Marufuji


Statistics
Ring name(s)	Naomichi Marufuji
Billed height	176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Billed weight	84 kg (185 lb)
Born	September 26, 1979 Kitaadachi District, Saitama, Japan
Debut	August 28, 1998

Naomichi Marufuji (丸藤正道, Marufuji Naomichi^?) is a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling NOAH and the US based independent wrestling promotion, Ring of Honor.

1 Career
2 Finishing and signature moves
3 Championships and accomplishments
4 External links

[edit] Career

Marufuji pursued amateur wrestling during his high school days before joining All Japan Pro Wrestling, apparently inventing the shiranui finisher. For the first two years of his career, under Giant Baba and Mitsuharu Misawa's isolationist policy, he was a jobber; one of the few rare interpromotional matches he worked in Michinoku Pro Wrestling in 1999, a six-man tag lucha libre match, gave him a chance to shine. After the NOAH secession, he joined the upstart promotion and became an integral part of its Junior Heavyweight division, impressing many with his high-flying style. He would go on to form a successful tag team with KENTA, as well as win the 2004 Super J-Cup. Marufuji is expected to be one of NOAH's future aces.

As part of his foreign excursion to the US along with Kenta Kobashi and KENTA, Marufuji challenged Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Championship on December 17, 2005, in Edison, New Jersey. Danielson retained his title, but the crowd gave Marufuji a loud ovation after the match.

On March 5, 2006, Marufuji scored the biggest victory in his career to that date, pinning former AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion and former GHC Heavyweight Champion Akira Taue.

Marufuji returned to the United States to wrestle for Ring of Honor on the main event of the Best in the World show on March 25, 2006 show in New York City, teaming with KENTA (Kobayashi) for the first time in the United States against the team of Samoa Joe and ROH World champion Bryan Danielson; the team of Marufuji and KENTA won after KENTA pinned Danielson, but after Marufuji tried and failed to lift Joe.

On September 9, 2006, Naomichi defeated Jun Akiyama for the GHC Heavyweight Championship at the 27:29 mark at the Budokan Hall, utilizing the Perfect Inside Cradle. In doing so he has become the first wrestler to 'sweep' all five GHC titles in NOAH. He is the youngest and the smallest GHC Heavyweight Champion of all time aged 26 and weighing around 185 lbs.

Marufuji returned to Ring of Honor for a 3rd tour, along with KENTA, when he debuted in East Windsor, Connecticut. Marufuji and KENTA started off the tour with a win, teaming up to defeat the Briscoes at Glory By Honor V, Night 1. At Glory By Honor V, Night 2, he successfully defended the GHC Heavyweight Championship against former ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness, giving the GHC Heavyweight Championship World title status.

On December 10, 2006, Marufuji lost the GHC Heavyweight Championship to Mitsuharu Misawa.