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- Saint Louis Anarchy alumni
- Westside Xtreme Wrestling alumni
- Living people
- World Wrestling Entertainment current roster
- Male wrestlers
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- WWE 205 Live Alumni
- WWE 24-7 Champions
Akira Tozawa
Akira Tozawa
Information
Ring names
Height
Weight
Born
Birth Place
Billed from
Debut
Professional wrestling career[]
Dragon Gate (2005–2010)[]
Akira Tozawa was the third graduate of theDragon Gate dojo to debut. He was being groomed to enter the stable M2K, but he did not progress very well. After debuting, he underwent a 10 match trial series, but lost all 10 matches and was banished back to the DG dojo.
Tozawa returned inOctober 2005, teaming with fellow rookie Yuki Ono/Katsuo. However, he ended up teaming withVangelis, a wrestler with a Nazi stripper gimmick.Kenichiro Arai intervened, much to Tozawa's resentment. When Tozawa scored the biggest win of his career so far by beatingNaruki Doi during the Brave Gate League, the impressed Arai offered him a spot in M2K. Tozawa, however, refused, and stated his intention to run a stable of his own, and created a cram school based stable called Tozawa-juku.
Even though Tozawa-juku bore his name, he was not necessarily the leader. Because of his backstage reputation as a troublemaker at the time, he was regularly held off of shows, progressed little, and was far beneath his stablematesTaku Iwasa, Kenichiro Arai, and even fellow troublemaker Yuki Ono in rank.
When Ono experienced newfound popularity and rank courtesy of a massive amount of weight gain (40+KG), Tozawa began to bulk up as well, and he and Ono formed the Metabolic Brothers tag team within Tozawa-juku. They discarded the gakuran pants worn by the unit and wore silver tights and boots. However, they hardly got anywhere, due to injuries to Ono and the general awfulness of the whole concept.
On July 11, 2008, after having done this for a little over half a year, he appeared on a show with his gakuran pants on and announced that, in light of the recent success that new stablematesShinobu andEl Generico have brought to the unit (as well as constant pestering from Iwasa and Arai), he was going on a diet. After a diet trial series, where he actually had success, he brashly challengedOpen the Triangle Gate ChampionsMasaaki Mochizuki,Don Fujii, andMagnitude Kishiwada to a title match against him, Iwasa & Arai on November 16. The trio agreed, but on the condition that Tozawa-juku would have to disband if his team lost. His team would lose the match, bringing about the end of the unit, and he and his stablemates were given a graduation ceremony. He promised everyone that he would ascend to the next stage.
He and Iwasa began to team withShingo Takagi in the weeks that followed, and then on December 19, he appealed to Shingo to form a new unit with him and Iwasa. Shingo agreed to it. On January 11, 2009, Dragon Kid joined up with him and the others, and Shingo gave the unit the name of Kamikaze. Tozawa participated in the Battle of Tokyo Tournament two weeks later, and made it to the finals before losing toKagetora. In his times with Kamikaze, he was the lowest ranked member; as such he was lower on the card and took the losing fall often in his matches. Highlights of this time period were anOpen the Brave Gate Championship challenge in 2009 againstCima and a "Loser is Banished to Dark Matches" match on May 5, 2010 against Kamikaze stablemateCyber Kong. After this loss against Kong, Tozawa left Japan for an extended tour of the United States beginning in May 2010.
American exploits (2010–2016)[]
On May 7, 2010, Tozawa made his debut for Dragon Gate's international expansionDragon Gate USA, as a member of the heel group Kamikaze USA, teaming withGran Akuma in a match, where they were defeated byMike Quackenbush andJigsaw.
Also in May 2010, Tozawa began working regularly for SoCal promotionPro Wrestling Guerrilla. He made hisPro Wrestling Guerrilla debut on May 9, during theDynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament, teaming with fellow Kamikaze partnerYamato in a first-round losing effort againstThe Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe). At the following show on June 11, he defeatedScott Lost and on July 30Chris Sabin.
Tozawa also competed inChikara'sYoung Lions Cup VIII in August 2010. He defeatedGreen Ant on August 27 in the first round, but was the last man eliminated from the six-way elimination semifinal match later that same night. On August 29, the final day of the tournament, Tozawa was defeated byHallowicked in a singles match.
On September 5 Tozawa entered PWG's2010 Battle of Los Angeles, defeating El Generico in his first round match. The following night, Tozawa was eliminated from the tournament byChris Hero. The match, called by some a match of the year contender, is considered Tozawa's breakout performance, which got him noticed even by the Dragon Gate office. Tozawa returned to PWG on December 11, 2010, in a match, where he was defeated byKevin Steen. Afterwards Steen recruited Tozawa as his partner for the March 4DDT4 tournament.
Tozawa earned victories overSami Callihan,Austin Aries, andBxB Hulk for Dragon Gate USA in January 2011, but run-ins with stablematesJon Moxley and Yamato led to him being kicked out of Kamikaze USA, turning himface in the process. At the following Dragon Gate USA tapings on April 3, Tozawa defeated Moxley to earn an immediate shot at Yamato'sOpen the Freedom Gate Championship. He was, however, unsuccessful in his attempt to become the new champion. Tozawa was also unsuccessful in beatingPac for his Open the Brave Gate Championship on April 2, at Mercury Rising 2011.
On March 4, 2011, Tozawa and Kevin Steen, the team known collectively as the Nightmare Violence Connection, entered PWG'sDDT4 tournament, upsetting the Briscoe Brothers in their first round match. After another upset victory over theROH World Tag Team Champions,The Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero andClaudio Castagnoli), during which Tozawa pinned Hero, avenging his Battle of Los Angeles loss, he and Steen made it to the finals of the tournament, where they were, however, defeated byThe Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson). On April 9, Tozawa was defeated byLow Ki in a singles match in PWG.
On April 15, Tozawa returned to Chikara, captaining Team Dragon Gate, consisting of himself, Kagetora andSuper Shisa, in the2011 King of Trios tournament. In the first round of the tournament, Team Dragon Gate defeated theSpectral Envoy (UltraMantis Black, Hallowicked andFrightmare). The following day, Team Dragon Gate was eliminated from the tournament in the quarterfinal stage byThe Osirian Portal (Amasis, Hieracon andOphidian). On April 17, the final day of the tournament, Tozawa facedEddie Kingston in a losing effort.
On April 19, Tozawa made his debut forEvolve at the promotion's first live internetpay-per-view, facingChuck Taylor in a losing effort.
On May 15, 2011, inAustin, Texas, Tozawa captured the Anarchy Championship Wrestling (ACW) U–30 Young Gun Championship, the first title of his career, by defeating previous champion ACH,Arik Cannon and Gary Jay in a four-way match. He would lose the title to Gerald James six days later.
On May 27, Tozawa returned to PWG for his final weekend with the promotion before his return to Japan. During the first night ofAll Star Weekend 8, Tozawa and Kevin Steen defeated El Generico andRicochet in a tag team match. The following night, Tozawa wrestled two matches, first teaming with Steen to defeat the RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime and Johnny Yuma) in a tag team match, before defeating Chris Hero in his PWG farewell match. This ended Towaza's extended USA tour, although Tozawa remained a part of Dragon Gate USA.
On June 3, Tozawa and Yamato failed to capture theOpen the United Gate Championship when they lost to reigning champions Masato Yoshino and Pac at Fearless 2011. On June 28, 2012, Tozawa unsuccessfully challengedJohnny Gargano for the Open the Freedom Gate Championship. Tozawa received another shot at the title on July 28, 2013, at Dragon Gate USA's fourth anniversary event, but was again defeated by Gargano.
On July 24, 2015, Tozawa returned to PWG, losing to Ricochet, and on the first show of 2016, returned once again, losing toZack Sabre Jr.
Return to Dragon Gate (2011–2016)[]
On June 8, 2011, Tozawa made his return to Dragon Gate, joining the promotion's dominant heel stable, Blood Warriors. Upon his return, Tozawa was treated as a serious competitor and given a major push, which included defeating Shingo Takagi on July 17 atKobe Pro Wrestling Festival 2011. In August, Tozawa and fellow Blood Warriors member BxB Hulk took part in the2011 Summer Adventure Tag League, where they ultimately defeated Masaaki Mochizuki and Yamato of rival group Junction Three to win the tournament. On the September 16, Tozawa defeated rival Yamato in a no ropes, no disqualification match. This led to Tozawa challenging Masaaki Mochizuki for theOpen the Dream Gate Championship onOctober 13, but Tozawa was defeated. On December 1, Tozawa and BxB Hulk defeated Kagetora andSusumu Yokosuka to win the vacantOpen the Twin Gate Championship, Tozawa's first title in Dragon Gate. On January 19, 2012, Tozawa and Hulk turned on Blood Warriors leader Cima, causing him to lose a ten-man "Loser Leaves Unit" tag team match; as a result, Cima was kicked out of Blood Warriors. After this match, Tozawa assumed the leader role inside Blood Warriors. On January 29, Tozawa made a one night return to PWG, when he teamed with Kevin Steen andSuper Dragon in a six-man tag team main event, where they were defeated by El Generico, Masato Yoshino and Pac. On February 9, the Tozawa-led Blood Warriors won their feud with Junction Three by defeating them in a fourteen-man elimination tag team match, forcing their rival group to disband. On March 1, Tozawa renamed the Blood Warriors asMad Blankey. Three days later, he and BxB Hulk lost the Open the Twin Gate Championship to Jimmy Kagetora and Jimmy Susumu.
On July 22, Tozawa received another shot at the Open the Dream Gate Championship, but was this time defeated by Cima. On August 19, Tozawa, BxB Hulk andNaoki Tanisaki defeated Cima,Gamma and Magnitude Kishiwada to win the2012 Summer Adventure Tag League and the vacant Open the Triangle Gate Championship. They lost the title to Kaettekita Veteran-gun (Gamma,Hub and Magnitude Kishiwada) onOctober 21. On May 5, 2013, Tozawa received another shot at the Open the Dream Gate Championship in the main event of Dead or Alive 2013, but was again defeated by Cima. On June 15, Tozawa and BxB Hulk regained the Open the Twin Gate Championship from Shingo Takagi and Yamato, when Yamato turned on Takagi and joined Mad Blankey. Tozawa and Hulk went on to lose the title to Naruki Doi and Ricochet on July 21. On August 1, after Tozawa had led Mad Blankey to victory against -akatsuki- in a match, where the losing stable would have to disband, the rest of Mad Blankey turned on him, kicking him out of the group and assuming Yamato their new leader. On August 30, Tozawa formed a new stable with former Mad Blankey stablemateUhaa Nation and Shingo Takagi. On September 12, the three were joined by Masato Yoshino, Ricochet and Shachihoko Boy, forming a stable named Monster Express. On December 22, Tozawa and Takagi defeated Naruki Doi and Yamato to win the Open the Twin Gate Championship. They lost the title toEita andT-Hawk on July 20, 2014. On February 28, 2015, Tozawa won his first singles title in Dragon Gate, when he defeatedKzy for the Open the Brave Gate Championship. On March 29, Tozawa also won theOpen the Owarai Gate Championship by defeatingYosuke♥Santa Maria. On November 1, Tozawa lost the Open the Brave Gate Championship to Kotoka in a three-way match, which also involvedNaoki Tanizaki. On November 14, 2015, Tozawa lost the Open the Owarai Gate Championship to referee Mr. Nakagawa via fan support.
On September 22, 2016, Tozawa unsuccessfully challenged YAMATO for the Dream Gate Championship. On September 25, he announced that he will be wrestling his final Dragon Gate match on November 3, before moving to the United States to work forWWE. In his send-off match, he teamed with Masato Yoshino and Naruki Doi in a losing effort against the team of Shingo Takagi, YAMATO, and BxB Hulk.
World Wrestling Entertainment[]
Cruiserweight division (2016–2019)[]
On March 31, 2016, Tozawa was announced as a participant in WWE'sGlobal Cruiserweight Series tournament, which was later renamed the "Cruiserweight Classic". The tournament began on June 23 with Tozawa defeating Kenneth Johnson in his first round match. On July 14, Tozawa defeatedJack Gallagher in his second round match. On August 26, Tozawa was eliminated from the tournament in the quarterfinals byGran Metalik.
On the September 5, 2016, episode ofRaw, Tozawa was announced as part of WWE's upcoming cruiserweight division. On November 2, Tozawa was announced as a roster member for the upcomingcruiserweight-centric205 Live show. On December 3, at an NXT live event atOsaka,Japan, Tozawa teamed withTajiri in a losing effort toNXT Tag Team Champions#DIY (Tommaso Ciampa andJohnny Gargano). On February 6, 2017, Tozawa made his debut onRaw, defeatingDrew Gulak in singles action.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Deadlift bridging delayedGerman suplex
- Tozawa Driver '07 (Sitout suplex slam) – 2007
- Shining Wizard
- Bridging snap German suplex
- DivingSenton
- Signature moves
- Aburaburoshiki Taigatame (Modified straddle pin)
- Apron Kara Tozawa /Tozawa From the Apron (Runs on the ring apron, leaps onto the top rope and thenspringboards into adiving headbutt)
- Ganki (Diving double knee drop to a standing opponent's shoulders into apin)
- High knee to a seated opponent
- Hurray! Hurray! Tozawa! (Diving headbutt, with theatrics) – 2005–2008
- Iwaki (Hip attack, as a counter to an oncoming opponent)
- Multiplekick variations
- Multiplesuplex variations
- German
- Super
- Tozawa Backdrop Hold (Bridging belly-to-back)
- Multiple suicide dives
- Rapidknife-edged chops to a cornered opponent
- Sankaigan Zanjyu (Senton, sometimes with a chair placed across the opponent's midsection)
- Senton bomb from the ring apron to the outside of the ring
- Nicknames
- "Big Over"
- "Mr. High Tension"
- "Sun of the Ring"
- "The Stamina Monster"
- Tag teams and stables
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Anarchy Championship Wrestling
- ACW U–30 Young Gun Championship (1 time)
- Dragon Gate
- Open the Triangle Gate Championship (1 time) – withBxB Hulk andNaoki Tanisaki
- Open the Twin Gate Championship (3 times) – with BxB Hulk (2),
- Summer Adventure Tag League (2011) – with BxB Hulk
- Summer Adventure Tag League (2012) – with BxB Hulk and Naoki Tanisaki
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him #124 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in thePWI 500 in 2012
Lucha de Apuesta record[]
| Wager | Winner(s) | Loser(s) | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mask | Akira Tozawa | Super Shenlong III | Tokyo,Japan | 02013-08-01August 1, 2013 | This was an eight-man tag team Mask vs. Hair match, where Tozawa,BxB Hulk,Kzy, Mondai Ryu andYamato faced Shenlong, Chihiro Tominaga,Cyber Kong andShingo Takagi. |
