 Sawafuji as Milano Collection A. T. in June 2007, after winning the2007 Best of the Super Juniors | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Akihito Terui (照井章仁,Terui Akihito)[4] (1976-08-27)August 27, 1976 (age 49)[2] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring names |
|
| Billed height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] |
| Billed weight | 85 kg (187 lb)[3] |
| Billed from | Milan,Italy[2] |
| Trained by | Skayde Magnum Tokyo[3] Último Dragón Rudy Boy Gonzalez Texas Wrestling Academy |
| Debut | May 13, 2000[2] |
| Retired | January 18, 2010 |
Akihito Sawafuji (澤藤 章人,Sawafuji Akihito), bornAkihito Terui (照井章仁,Terui Akihito; August 27, 1976),[4][2][3][5][6] is a Japanesecolor commentator and retiredprofessional wrestler, better known by his ring nameMilano Collection A. T. (ミラノコレクションA.T.,Mirano Korekushon Ē Tī). As Milano, Sawafuji adopted the gimmick of an Italian fashion aficionado/supermodel, reflected in his ring attire. Milano is also known for walking to the ring with an invisible dog known as Mikeru. After retiring from in-ring competition in 2010, Milano began working as a color commentator forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), a position he maintains to this day.
Sawafuji debuted in 2000 inToryumon, where he later adopted the persona and ring name of Milano Collection A. T., an Italianfashionaficionado/supermodel, wearing lavish coats and trunks and walking to the ring with an invisible dog named Mikeru to much more success, and upon his arrival in Japan, he was the ace of Toryumon's T2P class. In 2002, he won the T2P Strongest Merit Assessment League defeatingMasato Yoshino and received theInternational Light Heavyweight Championship for the win. He then went on to form the Italian Connection withYossino andYassini.[7] The unit eventually added membersPescatore Yagi,Condotti Shuji,Anthony W. Mori and mascotVenezia. With the closure of T2P in July 2003, he joined theToryumon main roster.
In mid-2006, he began training at the Texas Wrestling Academy inSan Antonio, Texas at the urging ofWWE'sShoichi Funaki, and trained under Rudy Boy Gonzalez. He also wrestled for many otherAmerican wrestling federations, includingEast Coast Wrestling Association,Ring of Honor (ROH), NWA Anarchy,Chikara andTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he took part in the2008 World X Cup as part ofTeam Japan, winning his first and only singles match for TNA againstCurry Man, gaining 2 points for his team.[8] He then competed atVictory Road in the third round, which was a four team triple elimination match, dominating early in the match before getting eliminated.[9]
After returning to Japan full time in 2007, he began working forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as a part of theR.I.S.E. faction. He received his first title opportunity in New Japan on November 6, 2006, unsuccessfully challengingTiger Mask IV for theNWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.[10] He achieved his greatest success in both New Japan and as a professional wrestler in 2007 when he wonNew Japan Pro-Wrestling'sBest of the Super Juniors tournament, defeatingWataru Inoue in the final.[11] In August, he took part in theG1 Climax, finishing with 2 wins and 4 points. In November, he teamed withHirooki Goto as R.I.S.E in theG1 Tag League, making it to the semi-finals where they were eliminated byHiroshi Tanahashi andKoji Kanemoto.[12]
On January 18, 2010, Sawafuji announced his retirement from professional wrestling because ofinferior oblique musclepalsy, brought on by an excessively strong thrust kick to the eye byGedo. A retirement ceremony was held on February 14.
Sawafuji remains with New Japan as a member of the IWGP Championship Committee and a color commentator.
Sawafuji is currently a trainer forWorld Wonder Ring Stardom.[13]
