Akitoshi Saito

Akitoshi Saito (斎藤 彰俊, Saitō Akitoshi, born August 8, 1965) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah.

Before pro wrestling

Before pro wrestling, Akitoshi Saito was trained in karate by Masashi Aoyagi. Saito seconded Aoyagi in his matches against Atsushi Onita in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in 1989. He was trained for pro wrestling by Aoyagi and Yoshiaki Fujiwara.

Career

Early years (1990–1991)

Saito made his pro wrestling debut in Pioneer Senshi and spent much of his early career in W*ING, a small promotion where he enjoyed moderate success.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1991–1998)

He joined New Japan Pro Wrestling in December 1991, along with his mentor Masashi Aoyagi, feuding with Shiro Koshinaka and Kuniaki Kobayashi. In 1992, the four formed a faction later named Heisei Ishingun, but left the promotion in 1998.

Pro Wrestling Noah (2000–2012)

After a lengthy hiatus, Saito made his surprise return to pro wrestling in October 2000 for Pro Wrestling Noah, teaming up with longtime mentor Masashi Aoyagi.

In 2001, he joined Jun Akiyama's STERNNESS faction as second-in-command and his career skyrocketed. Obtaining success like never before, he won the GHC Tag Team Title with Akiyama in September 2002, his first championship belt in his 12-year career. Akiyama and Saito proceeded to hold the titles for more than 8 months before losing them to Kenta Kobashi and Tamon Honda in June 2003.

Saito would go on to form his own stable, Dark Agents, with Takashi Sugiura, Masao Inoue and former Heisei Ishingun stablemate Shiro Koshinaka. He awarded himself the GHC Great Happy Christmas Championship in 2004. The title is defended only once a year, on Christmas Eve. He would also challenge for the GHC Heavyweight Title on two separate occasions, in 2004 against Kenta Kobashi and in 2005 against Takeshi Rikio. Saito utilizes a unique form of wrestling, combining martial arts kicks and power moves. With his skill and ring presence, he remains one of Noah's top stars and a prospect for the GHC Heavyweight Title.

On May 23, 2008, Akitoshi Saito and Bison Smith defeated Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura to win the GHC Tag Team Titles.

Tragedy struck on June 13, 2009 when in a title defense against Mitsuharu Misawa and Go Shiozaki. Misawa suffered a spinal injury after a high-angle backdrop suplex from Saito and was later pronounced dead at the hospital at 10:10 p.m. JST.^[1]

It was reported on December 29, 2011, Saito's contract with NOAH will not be renewed after it expires in January 2012. After his contract expired, Saito became a freelancer.

Freelance (2012–2014)

On January 22, Saito and Akiyama defeated Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson) to win the GHC Tag Team Championship.^[2] Since becoming a freelancer, Saito has lost a lot of weight, slimming down from 123 kg to 105 kg. On March 11, Saito wrestled his first non-NOAH match in All Japan Pro Wrestling, teaming with Atsushi Aoki and Akiyama to defeat Hiroshi Yamato, Keiji Mutoh, and Shuji Kondo. On May 23, Saito went to Tenryu Project, teaming up with fellow Heisei Ishingun member The Great Kabuki to defeat KAMIKAZE and Onryo. On June 3, he lost to Takeshi Morishima in an attempt to win the GHC Heavyweight Championship. On July 22, he and Akiyama lost the titles to TNA's Samoa Joe and Magnus, ending their reign at exactly seven months to the day. On October 26th, he won back the GHC Tag Team Championship, this time with Go Shiozaki, from KENTA and Maybach Taniguchi, ending their 18 day reign.

Return to Noah (2014)

On June 13, 2014, Noah announced that Saito had re-signed with the promotion.^[3]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Death Brand (Vertical suplex piledriver)
  • Sickle Death (Jumping high kick) – adopted from his mentor, Masashi Aoyagi

• Signature moves
  • Death Cloak (Side slam lifted and dropped into a chokeslam)
  • Death Collector (Vertical suplex stunner)
  • Death Punish (Spinning headlock lariat)
  • Lariat
  • Multiple kick variations
    • Scissors
    • Spinning wheel
    • Roundhouse
  • Multiple suplex variations
    • Death Landing (High angle belly to back)
    • Death Tornado (Twisting belly to back)
    • German
    • Straitjacket belly to back
  • Powerbomb
  • Right–handed knockout hook

• Entrance themes
  • "Destiny" by McAuley Schenker Group (Pioneer Senshi/W*ING, 1990–1991)
  • "Martial Romance" (NJPW, 1992–1994)
  • "Enter The Karasutengu" by Seikou Nagaoka (NJPW, 1994–1998)
  • "Ghost of the Navigator" by Iron Maiden (NOAH, 2000–2002 / 2002-2004)
  • "T2" (NOAH, 2002)
  • "Deathtiny" (NOAH/Freelance, 2004–present)

Championships and accomplishments

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #181 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011^[4]

• Pro Wrestling Noah
  • GHC Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Jun Akiyama (2), Bison Smith (1), and Go Shiozaki (1)
  • GHC Great Happy Christmas Championship (1 time, current)
  • Global Tag League (2008) – with Bison Smith
  • Global Tag League (2011) – with Jun Akiyama
  • Global Tag League Outstanding Performance Prize (2009)- with Bison Smith^[5]
  • The Tournament Winner (2008)^[6]

• Tokyo Sports
  • Best Tag Team Prize (1992)- with Shiro Koshinaka, Kengo Kimura, and Masashi Aoyagi^[7]

References

External links

• Akitoshi Saito fan site (Japanese)
• Profile at Green Destiny
• Profile at Jujigatame Puroresu (Archived 2009-10-24)