Kazushige Nosawa

Kazushige Nosawa
Born (1976-12-17) December 17, 1976
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Black Death
Black Tiger VII
Kazushige Nosawa
Nosawa Rongai
Nosawa
Nosawa Mendoza
Noja
Nozawa
Parka Guerrera
Space Lone Wolf
Super Cacao
Billed height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Billed weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Billed from Ichikawa, 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.

Career

Early career (1995–2004)

Nosawa spent most of his early career training and wrestling in Mexico, most notably with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He also spent much of his early career competing on the U.S. independent scene, Nosawa has competed for American promotions such as Ring of Honor (ROH), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), and Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW). Along with Mitsunobu Kikuzawa, Kazuhiko Masada, Minoru Fujita and Katsushi Takemura, Nosawa created the group "Tokyo Gurentai".

In 2004, he would adapt the "Nosawa Rongai" or "Nosawa Out of the Question" ring name as a play off to a comment made by Kaz Hayashi, who had replied "Nosawa is out of the question" when he was asked about whether he was going to allow Kazushige to challenge for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. By doing this, Nosawa forced a title match against Hayashi, and although he lost, he would decide to keep the name for the rest of his career.

Juggalo Championship Wrestling

JCW Heavyweight Champion (2003–2007)

On March 16, 2003 at a Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) event, 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 a member of Team JCW.[3]

SlamTV! (2007)

In 2007, Nosawa went on tour with JCW to film the Internet wrestling show SlamTV!, where he was one of the main heroes of the program. However, he started off his SlamTV! tour with a string of losses, 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. Despite this, Nosawa continued his winning streak into episode 14, where he faced and defeated 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]

Juggalo World Order (2007–2008)

On October 6, 2007, Corporal Robinson, Scott Hall, and Violent J formed the Juggalo World Order (JWO) at Evansville Invasion.[6] At that year's 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.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003–2004)

Nosawa would first gain national U.S. exposure by making appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He debuted at the 2003 Super X Cup, losing in the first round to Juventud Guerrera; he then reappeared as captain of Team Japan in the 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 fellow Japanese rookie Kazushi Miyamoto. The duo even challenged for the NWA World Tag Team Championship at TNA's second Anniversary show in June 2004, but ultimately came up short against America's Most Wanted. The duo's last in-ring appearance for the company would be at Victory Road '04, where both Nosawa and Miyamoto competed in the X-Division Gauntlet match, which was won by Hector Garza.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2005–2008)

Nosawa would originally find little success after arriving in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in the mid-2000s, losing as many matches as he won. On March 20, 2005, he received an opportunity at the World Junior Heavyweight Championship, but would lose to defending champion Taka Michinoku. On July 26, he lost a "Banishment" match to his old friend Mazada, and was forced to leave All Japan. Soon after that, he would reappear as a masked wrestler named Space Lone Wolf (Keiji Mutoh's old alter-ego), finding more success than his previous character. However, by December, Space Lone Wolf would be unmasked and revealed as being Nosawa.

In 2006, Nosawa would begin again wrestling with his old friend Mazada again, and for parts of the year would also team with Brute Issei and AKIRA. Towards the end of 2006, Nosawa and Mazada began to team up with Minoru Suzuki to form "Minoru Gundan", which landed Nosawa a more prominent role in the promotion. He and Suzuki would go on to wrestle in the World's Strongest Tag Determination League, but unfortunately the team would come in last place.

In 2007, Nosawa promoted several comedy wrestling shows, making fun of Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation and using both talent from All Japan, as well as freelancers. During the Champion 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" to defeat the team of Ryuji Hijikata, Kikutaro, T28 and Ryuji Yamaguchi. After the match, Ray Suzuki revealed himself as Minoru Suzuki. Suzuki stated that starting the next year Mendoza would throw his Amigos tights away and return to the Nosawa Rongai ring name, Suzuki then kidnapped Nosawa to start his "early training". This was followed by Pepe and Miguel announcing they would return to Mexico, while Kaz Hayashi and Taka Michinoku were announced as returning to All Japan come the new year. After one last "Viva Mexico", Los Mexico Amigos disbanded.

Tokyo Gurentai and other promotions (2007–present)

Since disbanding from Mexico Amigos, Nosawa has rejoined teaming with MAZADA and Takemura as the "Tokyo Gurentai". Nosawa, Mazada, and Takemura later align themselves with Minoru Suzuki and Taiyō Kea, and dubbed their new group GURENTAI. Nosawa won a game of Jenga for the group's leadership role, but Suzuki immediately shot down the idea of Nosawa as the leader. Nosawa would later return to All Japan Pro Wrestling and was defeated by Rene Dupree in his return match.

Outside of AJPW, Nosawa performed for companies under the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance banner up until the alliance's demise, sometimes alongside his mentor Keiji Mutoh.

On February 20, 2011, Nosawa was arrested on charges of stealing a taxi and driving it without having a driving license.[7] Two days later Nosawa announced that he was taking an indefinite break from professional wrestling.[8] Nosawa returned from his break on June 25 at a Minoru Suzuki promoted charity event, losing to Suzuki in the main event.

Since September 2013, Tokyo Gurentai, Nosawa included, has worked regularly for Wrestle-1.

Since April 2015, Nosawa joined the newly resurrected Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, as the leader of Monster-gun, which evolved into W*ING Monster-gun, when Kintaro Kanemura joined the group.

Personal life

Nosawa was previously in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Io Shirai; the two lived together in Koto, Tokyo.[9]

Marijuana arrest

On May 23, 2012, Nosawa and Shirai were arrested at the Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba upon their return from Mexico to Japan under suspicion of trying to smuggle 75 grams of marijuana, hidden inside paintings of the two, into the country.[9][10] On July 9, Mexico-based Japanese wrestler Takuya Sugi held a press conference and confessed to planting the drugs on Shirai and Nosawa. According to Sugi, Masahiro Hayashi, who worked as a liaison between AAA and Japan and who had a personal grudge with Nosawa, had promised him a contract extension with AAA in exchange for the deed.[11][12][13][14][15]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Arkangel de la Muerte (mask) NOSAWA (hair) Unknown Live event Unknown
Tigre Blanco (mask) Super Cacao (mask) Mexico City Live event October 19, 1999
Tony Rivera (hair) Super Cacao (hair) Mexico City Live event May 18, 2000 [Note 1]
Ricky Marvin (hair) Super Cacao (hair) Mexico City Live event May 28, 2000 [Note 2]
Mike Segura and Último Vampiro (hair) NOSAWA and MASADA (hair) Naucalpan, Mexico State Live event May 31, 2001
Negro Casas and El Satánico (hair) NOSAWA and MASADA (hair) Mexico City Live event May 16, 2003

Notes

  1. ↑ Lost a Relevos Suicidas match against Brazo de Oro and Fugaz.
  2. ↑ Relevos Suicidas match with Marvin and Cacao vs. Fugaz and Tony Rivera.

References

  1. 1 2 "JCW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY". Jump City Productions. 2004. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  2. ↑ Insane Clown Posse (Wrestlers) (2003). Juggalo Championshxt Wrestling Volume 3 (DVD). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Video.
  3. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Unplugged". Black Pants, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  4. 1 2 JCW SLAM TV, Volume 1 (DVD). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Video. 2007-09-18. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 JCW SLAM TV, Volume 2 (DVD). Royal Oak, Michigan: Psychopathic Video. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  6. 1 2 Creator and Producer: Insane Clown Posse (2007-11-17). "Slam TV: Hallowicked 2007!". SlamTV!. Detroit, Michigan.
  7. ↑ Caldwell, James (2011-02-20). "Japan News: MVP's Japanese wrestling debut hits speed bump – tag partner arrested, replacement match announced". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  8. ↑ "NOSAWA entschuldigt sich und nimmt Auszeit vom Wrestling". Purolove (in German). Archived from the original on 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  9. 1 2 Meltzer, Dave (May 24, 2012). "Thurs. update: New Rock movie, 2 wrestlers arrested allegedly smuggling pot into Japan, Joint promotional press conference, favorite intl group, Austin back on TV". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Nosawa論外また逮捕、大麻密輸容疑". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). May 24, 2012. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ Dark Angelita (July 10, 2012). "Sugi San confiesa complot en contra de Nosawa.". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Sugi San habría puesto una trampa a Nosawa". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). July 10, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  13. ↑ Alvarez, Bryan (July 11, 2012). "Wed update: UFC On Fuel lineup, TNA Off DirecTV, Sonnen appeal update, new Jericho book, tons more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Nosawa論外ハメた首謀者が謝罪会見". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  15. ↑ "紫雷イオの大麻事件でSugi謝罪". Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  16. ↑ Corporal Robinson (June 12, 2007). "The State of the Game". Psychopathic Records. Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  17. ↑ "11月24日（木）東京・後楽園ホール". Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-11-25. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  18. ↑ "NEVER．9 ～Road to the Super Jr．2Days Tournament Final～". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  19. ↑ "Fujitaが高木に、論外＆Mazadが大阪06に勝利し、ベルトが愚連隊に勢揃い！世界一性格の悪い神の子が降臨！". Battle News (in Japanese). 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  20. ↑ "「Wrestle-1 Tour 2015 Autumn Bout」". Wrestle-1 (in Japanese). 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  21. ↑ "「Wrestle-1 Tour 2016 Shining Winter」". Wrestle-1 (in Japanese). 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  22. ↑ "「Wrestle-1 Tour 2017 Outbreak」". Wrestle-1 (in Japanese). 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
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