| Taishi Ozawa | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1996-10-23)23 October 1996 (age 28)[1] Shizuoka,Japan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) |
|
| Billed height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in)[2] |
| Billed weight | 87 kg (192 lb) |
| Trained by | Kaito Kiyomiya |
| Debut | 2022 |
Taishi Ozawa (小澤大嗣,Ozawa Taishi), better known by the ring nameOzawa (stylized inall caps), is a Japaneseprofessional wrestler. He is signed toPro Wrestling Noah where he is the currentGHC Heavyweight Champion and a member ofTeam 2000X.[3]
Ozawa made his professional wrestling debut inPro Wrestling Noah as a rookie trainee on the first night of theStar Nagivation 2022 from September 15, where he lost toYoshiki Inamura in singles competition.[4] Ozawa made his pay-per-view debut atNoah Ariake Triumph 2022 on October 30, where he fell short toKai Fujimura. During his rookie years, he competed in opener bouts of pay-per-views, mainly against other rookies and in multiple-competitor matches.[5] AtNoah Global Honored Crown 2022 on November 10, he teamed up with Yasutaka Yano in a losing effort to Kai Fujimura and Yoshiki Inamura in tag team competition.[6]
AtNoah The New Year 2023 on January 1, he fell short to Yasutaka Yano in singles competition.[7] On the first night of theNoah Star Navigation 2023 from February 5, Ozawa teamed up withKinya Okada in a losing effort againstKongo (Tadasuke andHi69).[8] AtNoah Great Voyage in Osaka 2023 on February 12, he teamed up with Kinya Okada in a losing effort against Funky Express (Muhammad Yone andAkitoshi Saito).[9] AtNoah Great Voyage in Yokohama 2023 on March 19, he fell short to Yasutaka Yano.[10] One month later atNoah Green Journey in Sendai 2023 on April 16, he fell short toAnthony Greene.[11] AtNoah Majestic 2023 on May 4, he teamed up with Akitoshi Saito in a losing effort againstSuper Crazy and Mohammed Yone in tag team competition.[12] AtNoah Great Journey in Nagoya 2023 on, Ozawa teamed up with Yone andAlejandro in a losing effort against AkitoshiSeiki Yoshioka andStallion Rogers in six-man tag team competition.[13] AtNoah Grand Ship In Nagoya 2023 on September 24, he teamed up with Stallion Rogers,Atsushi Kotoge and Akitoshi Saito to defeat Yu Owada,Hi69,Daiki Inaba and Muhammad Yone as a result of an eight-man tag team bout, which represented his first pay-per-view victory.[14] AtNoah Demolition Stage In Fukuoka 2023 on October 28, he teamed up with Yone and Ozawa in a losing effort against Kai Fujimura, Stallion Rogers and Akitoshi Saito.[15]
AtNoah The New Year 2024 on January 1, Ozawa fell short to Yu Owada in singles competition.[16]
After spending roughly one and a half years as a rookie in Noah, Ozawa started a foreign excursion in January 2024 in which he has mainly strolled through the British independent scene. Most of his work took place inProgress Wrestling. He made his debut atChapter 162: The Light Of The Dragon on January 28, 2024, where he fell short to Rob Drake.[17] AtProgress Chapter 165: Diamond Dust on March 7, 2024, Ozawa fell short to Connor Mills in singles competition.[18] AtProgress Chapter 167: One Bump Or Two? on April 21, 2024, he fell short toLuke Jacobs.[19] During his time in Progress, Ozawa developed heel character tendencies while helping other villainous wrestlers such as Gene Munny and Luke Jacobs attack opponents post matches. During the2024 Super Strong Style tournament, Ozawa competed in aRufus Hound invitational battle royal won by Gene Munny.[20] AtProgress Chapter 169: The Devil On My Shoulder on July 28, 2024, he fell short toSaxon Huxley.[21] AtProgress Chapter 171: History Is Written By The Victors on September 22, 2024, he teamed up with Gene Munny in a losing effort against Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos andKid Lykos II).[22] Ozawa wrestled his last match in the excursion pay-per-views atProgress x Noah x DEFY on October 5, 2024, where he fell short toCara Noir.[23]
Ozawa returned to Japan on October 14, 2024, atNoah Star Navigation Premium: Akitoshi Saito Road Last, being announced as a new member of "All Rebellion".[24] One month later atNoah Deathnity on November 17, 2024, Ozawa attacked stablemateKaito Kiyomiya after the latter's successful defense of theGHC Heavyweight Championship in the main event againstTakashi Sugiura, betraying All Rebellion and joining villainous stable of "Team 2000X".[25]
AtNoah The New Year 2025, Ozawa defeated Kiyomiya to win theGHC Heavyweight Championship.[26]
Ozawa made his debut inNew Japan Pro Wrestling as a guest competitor on the second night ofWrestle Kingdom 17 from January 21, where he teamed up with Yasutaka Yano and fell short toKosei Fujita andRyohei Oiwa.[27]
