Tatsutoshi Goto

Tatsutoshi Goto (後藤 達俊, Gotō Tatsutoshi, born May 25, 1956) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He competed primarily in WAR and New Japan Pro Wrestling using the name "T2000 Machine". He also briefly competed in WCW as part of the nWo Japan.

Career

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1982–2006)

Tatsutoshi Goto was an avid weightlifter during his university days, and achieved good results in competitions. After graduation, he studied karate, and in August, 1982, joined New Japan. He debuted against Kazuo Yamazaki in December of that year, and performed young lion duties until 1986, when he first participated in the Young Lion Cup, making it to the finals before losing to Keiichi Yamada (the future Jushin "Thunder" Liger), after the cup he carried out an overseas learning excursion to the USA. After returning, he became a prominent "heel" in New Japan. He participated in the first Best of the Super Juniors tournament (then Top of the Super Jr.) where he finished in 10th place with 9 points.^[3] In 1990, he became a member the "Blond Outlaws" with Hiro Saito and Norio Honaga^[4] where he largely remained in the midcard only getting one title shot when he and Super Strong Machine challenged Kensuke Sasaki and Hiroshi Hase for the IWGP Tag Team Championship on December 11, 1990 but lost.^[5] On June 12, 1990, he got the nickname "Mr. BD" from giving a backdrop to Hiroshi Hase, which nearly killed him. After the Blonde Outlaws broke up, Goto later joined Shiro Koshinaka's, Heisei Ishingun in 1993 where he would form a longtime tag team with Michiyoshi Ohara called the Mad Dogs.^[6]

While in Ishigun, Goto would win his first championship when he teamed with Koshinaka and Ohara to defeat Hiromichi Fuyuki and the World Class Tag Team on January 8, 1995 to win the WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.^[7] After 3¹⁄₂ months as champions, Ishigun would lose the titles on April 30, 1995 to Genichiro Tenryu, Animal Hamaguchi, and Koki Kitahara.^[8] Later in the year, Goto took part in the 1995 Super Grade Tag League teaming with Koshinaka where they finished 4th place with 6 points.^[9] For the next 2 years, Goto continued to represent Ishingun in feuds with New Japan Pro Wrestling and also briefly teamed with nWo Japan for several tours in 1997.^[10]

After the collapse of Heisei Ishingun in 1999, Goto continued to team Ohara and on June 27, 1999, they won the IWGP Tag Team Championship from Kensuke Sasaki and former leader: Shiro Koshinaka. After holding the titles for 2 months, the Mad Dogs would lose the titles to Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi on August 28, 1999 at the Battle of Last Summer.^[11] In 2000 he became a Masahiro Chono loyalist, joining "Team 2000". After joining Team 2000, Goto would briefly continue to team with Ohara but the team quietly broke up towards the end of 2000. Afterwards, Goto would uses several masked gimmicks. He first became "Mr. T" at the DO JUDGE!! event teaming with Chono to defeat Shiro Koshinaka and Masanobu Fuchi.^[12] After DO JUDGE!!, Goto then became "T2000" Machine and feuded with Super Strong Machine usually winding up on the losing end.

In 2001, he reunited with old Blonde Outlaws friend, Hiro Saito but the team was never pushed and remained in the midcard. The Blonde Outlaws only highlight was winning the 2003 Teisen Hall Six Man Tag Team Tournament with Shinsuke Nakamura.^[13] In 2003, Goto reunited with Michiyoshi Ohara in the stable called "The Crazy Dogs" with Hiro Saito and Enson Inoue.^[14][15] From 2003 to 2004, The Crazy Dogs were in a feud with the Makai Club which ended after Ohara and Inoue left New Japan.

Freelance (2006–present)

In January, 2006, Goto left New Japan to become a freelancer, although would make New Japan appearances after leaving. Since becoming a freelancer, Goto worked in a variety of promotions including DRADITION, Pro Wrestling ZERO1, Kensuke Office, Tenryu Project, DDT, & HUSTLE.^[16] On June 9, 2010, Goto won his first championship in 10 years when he teamed with Yoshihiro Takayama and Daisuke Sekimoto to win the Tenryu Project Six-Man Tag Team Championships.^[17] Goto is a sneaky veteran, well known for defeating top superstars when least expected. He utilizes one of the deadliest backdrop suplexes in professional wrestling, and despite staying true to his aggressive ways, is a very popular and respected veteran.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves

• High angle belly to back suplex

• Nicknames

• Mr. BD^[18]
• Mr. Backdrop^[19]

• Entrance Themes

• Mr. BD (NJPW/Freelance, 1990–present)^[20]

Championships and accomplishments

• New Japan Pro Wrestling

• IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 Time) - with Michiyoshi Ohara
• Teisen Hall Cup Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2003) – with Hiro Saito and Shinsuke Nakamura

• Tenryu Project

• Tenryu Project Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time,) - with Daisuke Sekimoto and Yoshihiro Takayama

• Wrestle Association "R"

• WAR Six Man Tag Team Championship (1 Time) - with Shiro Koshinaka & Michiyoshi Ohara

References