Osamu Nishimura

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Osamu Nishimura
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Osamu Nishimura Mr. Muga Osamu Daiyu
Billed height	(6 ft 1 in)
Billed weight	(232lb)
Born	March 23, 1971 Tokyo
Resides	Tokyo
Debut	April 21, 1991 vs Takayuki Iizuka

Osamu Nishimura (西村修) is a Japanese professional wrestler who formerly worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

[edit] Career

Nishimura debuted in 1991 after passing through the NJPW dojo. In 1994 he embarked on a tour of the United States, entering the Global Wrestling Federation and becoming a top contender for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship, which had lost prestige since WCW abandoned it the previous year. In the infamous tournament promoted by Extreme Championship Wrestling in August 1994 (which featured winner Shane Douglas throwing the belt down after winning it), Nishimura was eliminated in the first round by Dean Malenko. In a second tournament by Smoky Mountain Wrestling in November, Nishimura battled Lou Perez to a draw and both men were eliminated.

Nishimura returned to Japan when his mentor Tatsumi Fujinami was forming an offshoot promotion, Muga (Unselfishness), which would base its style on traditional catch wrestling. Nevertheless, the promotion did not catch on and Nishimura ended up leaving the country yet again, this time targeting Germany's Catch Wrestling Association promotion.

He returned to New Japan in 1998 and a push began for him.. Made Shinya Hashimoto's partner in the struggle against nWo Japan's Keiji Muto and Masa Chono, who held the IWGP World Tag Team Championship, they lost their title shot, however. Nishimura also failed to unseat IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kensuke Sasaki, and later in the year, tragedy struck. Nishimura was diagnosed with cancer, which rendered him unable to compete until achieving remission in 2000 after treatment.

In 2001 he went to the U. S. again, this time to polish his skills at the Funking Conservatory in Florida, under the eye of Dory Funk, Jr., whom Nishimura admired from watching matches of New Japan's founder Antonio Inoki. He blossomed again, winning the FC's United States Championship. After returning to Japan, Nishimura's star was bright enough to warrant an earnest push, and he won the IWGP tag team titles with Fujinami. Nonetheless, the bi-promotional duo of Muto and All Japan Pro Wrestling's Taiyō Kea were on the rise, and the two teams clashed over both the IWGP title and AJPW's Double Cup, both of which ended up around the waists of Muto and Kea.

In 2002 he tried teaming with Manabu Nakanishi under the name Gotch-ism but failed to win the titles. As Nakanishi began teaming more with Yutaka Yoshie, Nishimura engaged in a feud with the returning Minoru Suzuki, with whom he had a Muga-style feud that showcased the traditional, scientific skills of both wrestlers. He found a better partner in Hiroyoshi Tenzan, with whom he won another IWGP tag team title in late 2003. They held the belts until February 2004 when they were defeated by Suzuki and Yoshihiro Takayama.

As Tenzan focused on the IWGP heavyweight title, Nishimura aimlessly was relegated to the mid-card. In January 2006, Nishimura opted not to renew his NJPW contract and left the company altogether. He and old Muga comrade Katsushi Takemura began teaming for Chikara Pro Wrestling, and they made it to the semi-finals of a tag team tournament before being defeated by Milano Collection A. T. and Skayde.