 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1985-12-14)December 14, 1985[1][2] |
| Died | October 12, 2022(2022-10-12) (aged 36) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Billed height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1][2] |
| Billed weight | 120 kg (265 lb)[1][2] |
| Trained by | NJPW Dojo |
| Debut | 2015[1][2] |
| Retired | 2018 |
Katsuya Kitamura (北村 克哉,Kitamura Katsuya; December 14, 1985 – October 12, 2022) was a Japanese professional wrestler, bodybuilder and an amateur wrestler trained byNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was the winner of the2017 Young Lion Cup.[3]
Prior to becoming aprofessional wrestler, Kitamura was a highly accomplishedamateur wrestler, known for being one of the largest wrestlers in all of Japan. Because of his size and physique, he earned the nickname "Wrestling Monster".[4] He attendedSenshu University, where he was a part of their wrestling team. In 2006, he won the All Japan Wrestling Championship in the 120 kg category, and later on in the same year represented Japan in the World Championships.[4] Throughout his amateur career, Kitamura would go on to win three national championships and represent Japan on a global level twice. As well as amateur wrestling, Kitamura took part in the 2015Ganryū-jima fighting tournament, where he defeated aMongolianSumo wrestler.[4]
On June 13, 2011, Kitamura was banned from amateur wrestling for two years after testing positive foranabolic steroids, specifically, the illegal muscle building drugdrostanolone. Kitamura was being tipped as a possible member of Japan'sOlympic wrestling team for the2012 London Olympic Games, but the ban ruled him out of participation. He did not appeal against the ban, but said that he"took them by accident after buying some supplements from abroad".[5]
Kitamura began training in the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) dojo in 2015. His first match in NJPW was not a traditional professional wrestling match, but rather adarkamateur wrestling exhibition atLion's Gate Project 1, where he wrestled fellow traineeTomoyuki Oka to a time limit draw.[6]
After undergoing further training, Kitamura wrestled his first ever professional match on September 1, 2016, atLion's Gate Project 3, another dark match where he and Oka once again wrestled to a draw.[7] On March 13, 2017, he made his televised debut, teaming with Oka in a loss to theGuerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga andTanga Loa).[7] The following day, Kitamura teamed withKatsuyori Shibata andYuji Nagata in a loss toTenCozy (Satoshi Kojima andHiroyoshi Tenzan) andJuice Robinson.[8] The day after that, he once again lost to Tonga and Loa, this time teaming with Nagata.[9]
On June 24, 2017, three months after his debut, Kitamura won the first match in his career when he teamed with Tomoyuki Oka to defeatManabu Nakanishi and Tetsuhiro Yagi in a tag match. Kitamura and Oka continued teaming regularly, eventually dubbing their team "Monster Rage".[10] At the end of 2017, Kitamura took part in two tournaments held by NJPW; the2017 World Tag League and the2017 Young Lion Cup. In the World Tag League, Kitamura and fellow young lionDavid Finlay finished last in their block after losing all seven of their matches.[11] Meanwhile, in the Young Lion Cup, Kitamura emerged victorious after winning all five of his matches.[12] On January 5 at New Year's Dash, Katsuya began a Seven Trial series of matches where he would face seven different wrestlers. He lost his first of seven matches toJay White at New Year Dash. Atthe New Beginning in Sapporo he lost his second match of seven toMichael Elgin and his third the following day toJuice Robinson. At the Road to The New Beginning event fromKorakuen Hall he lost his fourth match againstHiroyoshi Tenzan, and the fifth againstManabu Nakanishi. AtThe New Beginning in Osaka on February 10, he lost match #6 againstYuji Nagata. At The New Beginning in Hiroshima he was scheduled to face Manabu Nakanishi, but he suffered acerebral concussion and was unable to compete. It was reported that the severity of the injury may force him to retire.[13] He later injured his leg in a scooter accident.[14] After almost a year with little news or updates on his condition, Kitamura left NJPW on January 31, 2019.[15][16][17]
Kitamura made his mixed martial arts debut againstBobby Ologun atRizin 32 on November 20, 2021, He lost the bout via rear-naked choke in the second round.[18]
Kitamura died on October 12, 2022, at age 36; reportedly, he felt unwell and called an ambulance to take him to a hospital, where his condition rapidly deteriorated.[19][14] The cause of death was not released publicly.
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Bobby Ologun | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Rizin 32 | November 20, 2021 | 2 | 2:34 | Okinawa, Japan |