| Osamu Nishimura | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Osamu Nishimura Nishimu Lama |
| Billed height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Billed weight | 105 kg (230 lb) |
| Born | September 23, 1971 Tokyo |
| Debut | April 21, 1991 against Takayuki Iizuka |
Osamu Nishimura (西村修) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Nishimura formerly worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling and MUGA World Pro Wrestling.
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Nishimura debuted in 1991 after training in 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. 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 hosted 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 (Selflessness), which would base its style around traditional catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Nevertheless, the promotion did not catch on and Nishimura left the country once again, targeting Germany's Catch Wrestling Association promotion.
He returned to New Japan in 1998 and teamed with Shinya Hashimoto in the struggle against nWo Japan's Keiji Mutoh and Masahiro Chono, who held the IWGP Tag Team Championship, but they were unsuccessful. Nishimura also failed to unseat IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kensuke Sasaki, and Nishimura was diagnosed with cancer later in the year. Nishimura was inactive until the cancer went into remission in 2000, following treatment. In 2001, he went to the United States again 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 Mutoh 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 Mutoh and Kea.
In 2002 he teamed with Manabu Nakanishi under the name Gotch-ism, but they 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, and they made it to the semi-finals of a tag team tournament before being defeated by Milano Collection A. T. and Skayde. He also participated in the NWA Reclaiming the Glory tournament, where he attempted to win the NWA World title for a third time, but was defeated in the first round by Brent Albright on Saturday, June 2, 2007.
On October 20, 2007, Nishimura announced that he and trainee Manabu Soya have signed with All Japan Pro Wrestling as full-time wrestlers, citing unhappiness with the erratic MUGA World scheduling. From November 23 to December 9, 2007, Nishimura teamed with Masanobu Fuchi to compete in the Real World Tag League, finishing the league with 7 points (2 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws) and placing 5th overall. In November 2007, Nishimura announced plans to form a tag team with Dory Funk, Jr. in 2008, along with claiming that All Japan is planning a retirement ceremony for Funk.