| Kazushige Nosawa | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | NOSAWA Rongai NOSAWA NOSAWA Mendoza NOJA Nozawa Space Lone Wolf Kazushige Nosawa Super Cacao Parka Guerrera |
| Billed height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Billed weight | 86 kg (190 lb) |
| Born | December 17, 1976 |
| Billed from | Ichikawa City, Chiba, Japan |
| Trained by | Negro Casas |
| Debut | December 27, 1995 |
Kazushige Nosawa (野沢一茂 Nosawa Kazushige), better known by his ring names NOSAWA and NOSAWA Rongai, is a Japanese freelance professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in All Japan Pro Wrestling and various independent promotions.
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NOSAWA spent most of his early career training and wrestling in Mexico. Most notably with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. In the U.S indy scene, NOSAWA has competed for such promotions as Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Xtreme Pro Wrestling. Along with MAZADA and TAKEMURA, they created the group "Tokyo Gurentai".
On March 16, 2003, Nosawa defeated "Ritchie Boy" Breyer Wellington to win the JCW Heavyweight Championship.[1] Later that year, he was featured on JCW Vol. 3 in a match where he again defeated Wellington.[2] In July 2004, Nosawa lost the championship to Kid Kash at the Gathering of the Juggalos.[1] In 2007, he took part in the Pro Wrestling Unplugged/Juggalo Championship Wrestling cross promotional event "Cuffed & Caged: Last Man Standing". Nosawa was featured in the main event War Games match as member of Team JCW.[3]
In 2007, Nosawa went on tour with JCW to film the internet wrestling show SlamTV!, where he was one of the main veteran heroes. However, he started off SlamTV! with a string of loses, going 0-5 in his first five matches.[4] After receiving a letter from his storyline mentor The Great Muta, saying that Muta was coming to JCW to check up on his pupil, Nosawa stepped up his game and began a winning streak.[4] At "East Side Wars", The Great Muta teamed with Nosawa to help him defeat the team of Mad Man Pondo and Necro Butcher.[5] By the following week however, The Great Muta had left. Nosawa continued his winning streak into episode 14, where he faced Ron Zombie.[5] During the match, Justin Credible came to the ring and assaulted Nosawa.[5] On the next episode, Nosawa interfered in Credible's match by spitting Asian mist into his eyes. At Bloodymania, Nosawa and The Great Muta teamed up again to defeat Justin Credible and 2 Cold Scorpio.[5]
On October 6, 2007, Corporal Robinson, Scott Hall, and Violent J formed the Juggalo World Order (JWO) at Evansville Invasion.[6] At that years Hallowicked After Party, on October 31, Shaggy 2 Dope was introduced as a member of the group. After the main event of the night, special guest referee Nosawa ripped off his referee shirt to reveal that he, too, was a member of the JWO.[6] Nosawa appeared in a few matches with the JWO, before returning to Japan.
NOSAWA first got national U.S. exposure making appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling first in the 2003 Super X Cup, losing in the first round to Juventud Guerrera; then again as captain of Team Japan in 2004 World X Cup, where he ended up placing last by the end of the Tournament. NOSAWA would go on to make sporadic appearances on the early episodes of TNA iMPACT, usually teaming up with then AJPW rookie Kazushi Miyamoto. The duo even challenged for the NWA World Tag Team Championship at TNA's second Anniversary show, but ultimately came up short against America's Most Wanted. Their last in-ring appearance for the company would be at Victory Road 04', where both NOSAWA and Miyamoto competed in a X-Division Gauntlet, which was won by Hector Garza.
NOSAWA saw little success after returning to All Japan, losing as many opening matches as he won. On March 20, 2005 he took a shot at the AJPW Junior Heavyweight Championship, but lost to TAKA Michinoku. On July 26, he lost a "Banishment" match to his old friend MAZADA, and he had to leave All Japan. Soon after that, he would reappear as a wrestler named Space Lone Wolf, having slightly better success. However, on December, Space Lone Wolf would be unmasked and revealed as being NOSAWA.
In 2006, NOSAWA began wrestling with his old friend MAZADA again, and for parts of the year he also teamed with Brute Issei or AKIRA. Towards the end of 2006, NOSAWA and MAZADA began to team up with Minoru Suzuki to form "Minoru Gundan", which landed NOSAWA a few bigger matches. He and Suzuki would go on to wrestle in the Real World Tag League, but unfortunately the team would come in last place.
In 2007, NOSAWA promoted several comedy wrestling shows, making fun of Antonio Inoki's IGF and using both talent from All Japan, as well as freelancers. During the Champion's Carnival, NOSAWA switched his name to El NOSAWA Mendoza and formed a new stable called "Los Mexico Amigos", with PEPE Michinoku (TAKA Michinoku) and Miguel Hayashi, Jr (Kaz Hayashi). Nobutaka Araya then joined the team as El Hijo del ARAYA Segundo after the Carnival’s final show. Along with changing their names, the group wore the official colors of the Mexican Flag (Red/Green/White). After multiple bouts against Minoru Suzuki, NOSAWA offered Suzuki an invitation into Mexico Amigos, to which he declined. This resulted in the group changing multiple assets. Their name was changed to Mexico Amigos Black, the previous worn Mexican Flag attire became black and gold attire, and Araya was kicked out of the group. Later in the year, Mexico Amigos teamed with "Ray Suzuki" and defeated Ryuji Hijikata, Kikutaro, T28 and Ryuji Yamaguchi. After the match, Ray Suzuki revealed himself as Minoru Suzuki and stated that starting next year NOSAWA would throw his Amigos tights away and return to NOSAWA Rongai, then kidnapped him to start early training. This led to Pepe and Miguel stating they would return to Mexico, but Kaz and Taka would return come the new year. After one last "Viva Mexico", Mexico Amigos disbanded.
Since disbanding from Mexico Amigos, Nosawa has rejoined teaming with MAZADA and Takemura as the "Tokyo Gurentai". Nosawa, Mazada, and Takemura aligned themselves with Minoru Suzuki and Taiyō Kea, and dubbed their new group GURENTAI. NOSAWA won a game of jangen for the group's leadership role, but Suzuki immediately shot down the idea of NOSAWA as the leader. Nosawa Returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling and was Defeated by Rene Dupree.
Outside of AJPW, NOSAWA performs for companies under the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance flag, sometimes alongside his mentor The Great Muta.
On February 20, 2011, Nosawa was arrested on charges of stealing a taxi and driving it without having a driving license.[7][8] Two days later Nosawa announced that he was taking an indefinite break from professional wrestling.[9] Nosawa returned from his break on June 25 at a Minoru Suzuki promoted charity event, losing to Suzuki in the main event.
| Wager | Winner | Loser | Location | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair | Arkangel de la Muerte | NOSAWA | ? | ? | |
| Mask | Tigre Blanco | Super Cacao | Mexico City | October 19, 1999 | |
| Hair | Tony Rivera | Super Cacao | Mexico City | May 18, 2000 | Relevos Suicidas match with Brazo de Oro and Fugaz. |
| Hair | Ricky Marvin | Super Cacao | Mexico City | May 28, 2000 | Relevos Suicidas match with Marvin and Cacao vs. Fugaz and Tony Rivera. |
| Hairs | Mike Segura and Último Vampiro |
NOSAWA and MASADA |
Naucalpan, Mexico State | May 31, 2001 | |
| Hairs | Negro Casas and El Satánico |
NOSAWA and MASADA |
Mexico City | May 16, 2003 |
NOSAWA is widely known for being a Juggalo, or a fan of the Insane Clown Posse. Among his many tattoos, he has the Wraith, a Dark Lotus cross, and the Hatchetman, which is the logo of Psychopathic Records.
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