Yoshikazu Taru

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TARU in his entrance attire

Yoshikazu Taru, better known as TARU, is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for All Japan Pro Wrestling.

1 Career
2 Profile
3 Finishing and signature moves
4 Trivia
5 Championships/Accomplishments
6 External links

[edit] Career

Taru started wrestling in 1996 for Wrestle Yume Factory and other indy promotions. He joined Toryumon shortly after it opened and became the leader of the Crazy MAX faction (CMAX for short). The group was composed of Taru, Shiima Nobunaga, Judo Suwa and Sumo Fuji (other members included Chocoball Kobe, MAKOTO and Stalker Ichikawa). For many years they were a powerful faction in Toryumon Japan (later Dragon Gate) but the group dissolved on November 2, 2004, and Taru left the promotion.

Taru soon showed up in AJPW, where he started feuding with Taka Michinoku and his RO&D faction. He proceeded to create his own faction, Voodoo Murders, composed of himself, Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli, Chuck Palumbo, as well as former Dragon Gate trainees Shuji Kondo and "Brother" YASSHI. Giant Bernard also joined, becoming the monster of the group. Voodoo Murders became AJPW's main heel group and began an intense feud with RO&D, clashing with them on many occasions. They were also known for putting their victims in body bags and beating them senseless with baseball bats. The group suffered a major loss though when Giant Bernard left the team in order to join NJPW.

Taru is known for his bizarre entrance attires and behaviour as well as his sinister personality, often attacking bystanders to vent his aggression. He has also become notorious for his uncontrollable brutality, losing the majority of his matches by disqualification due to his inability to keep his anger in check. Conflicting this, his non-wrestling attire and personality could be classed as practically suave.

Taru wrestled one match against The Great Muta as The Great Ruta.

Taru challenged Satoshi Kojima for the Triple Crown on January 8, 2006. However, Kojima successfully defended his title.

[edit] Profile

Height: 6'0
Weight: 244 lbs.
Date of Birth: August 23, 1964
Hometown: Kobe City, Japan
Past Identities: TARU, The Great Ruta

[edit] Finishing and signature moves

TARU Driller (Spinning reverse piledriver)
T-Crush (Sitout spinebuster)
Malw (Vertical suplex powerbomb)
TARU Guillotine (Diving guillotine legdrop)
MoonTARUto (Second-rope moonsault)
Kakato Otoshi (Middle axe kick)
Lariat

[edit] Trivia

Taru's theme song is TARU Drill a Hole by Japanese dark metal group King-Show.
Crazy MAX had marketed its own clothing line, C+R.
Taru even promoted his own play, the TARU Theatrical Company. It was organized by Crazy MAX and Stalker Ichikawa.