Yujiro Takahashi
| Yujiro Takahashi | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 13, 1981 Niigata, Niigata |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Yujiro Takahashi Yujiro |
| Trained by | NJPW Dojo |
| Debut | July 26 2004 vs. Naofumi Yamamoto |
Yujiro Takahashi (高橋 裕二郎, Takahashi Yujiro, born January 13 1981), better known by his shortened ring name Yujiro (裕次郎) is a Japanese junior heavyweight professional wrestler trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a member of the Samurai Gym mini-faction along with Ryusuke Taguchi and leader El Samurai.
Takahashi entered New Japan in November 2003 with an extensive amateur background, advancing through the dojo and debuting on July 26 2004 under his full name.[1] He shortened his name to Yujiro shortly afterwards.
Career
| Move name | Description |
|---|---|
| Spear | |
| Diving headbutt | |
| Suisha Otoshi | Over the shoulder back to belly slam |
| Karelin lift | |
| Belly to belly suplex | |
| Crab hold | |
| German suplex | |
| Trapping suplex | |
2004-2006
Yujiro Takahashi, an esteemed amateur wrestler in college[1] passed the NJPW dojo entry test in November 2003,[1] making his debut on July 26 2004 in a loss to Naofumi Yamamoto at Korakuen Hall.[4] Takahashi shortened his ring name to simply "Yujiro" shortly thereafter, debuting the name in a match against Akiya Anzawa on September 2 2004.[4] Yujiro later entered the 7-man, single-elimination Young Lion Toukon Tournament on October 31 2004, losing to Hirooki Goto in the first round.[5] Yujiro continued to wrestle other young lions such as Anzawa, Goto, Yamamoto and Ryusuke Taguchi through 2004 and early 2005, before entering the Young Lion Cup in March 2005; he finished sixth place out of seven with four points, defeating Akiya Anzawa and Tommy Williams during the group stage.[6]
On November 4 2005, Yujiro defeated former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Masayuki Naruse, pinning him with an inside cradle.[7] During the match, Naruse hit several stiff slaps and kicks to the face, breaking Yujiro's jaw and causing him to bleed from the mouth,[8] forcing him out of action for the rest of the year. Yujiro returned from injury on March 4 2006, defeating fellow young lion Mitsuhide Hirasawa in the opening match.[9] Yujiro continued to wrestle in the undercard for the remainder of the year.
2007
On January 27 2007, Yujiro participated in a one-night tournament to decide the #1 contender to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, also including Wataru Inoue, Ryusuke Taguchi and Prince Devitt; Devitt received a bye to the finals due to Taguchi suffering a right eye injury,[10] and Inoue defeated Yujiro, defeating Devitt in the final as well.[11] Yujiro received an opportunity at the title by traditional means a few months later, unsuccessfully challenging champion Minoru on May 22 2007 in his first title shot in New Japan.[12] After nearly three years with the company, Yujiro entered his first Best of the Super Juniors tournament in June 2007, earning 4 points in the group stage by defeating Prince Devitt by forfeit and eventual winner Milano Collection AT by pinfall.[13] Yujiro finished in sixth place out of seven in his block.
References
- ^ a b c "Yujiro profile". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "Yujiro profile". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "Yujiro official profile" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ a b "NJPW results, 2004". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "NJPW Tsuyoku-Are ~ Toukon Series 2004 tour results". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "NJPW Big Fight Series tour results". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "NJPW Toukon Series 2005 tour results". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "NJPW news, October 22 to November 11 2005". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "NJPW Circuit 2006 Takeoff tour results". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "NJPW news, January 7 to February 3 2007". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "Circuit 2007 New Japan ISM tour results". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "NJPW New Japan Glory X "GBH" ~DESPERADO~ tour results". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "NJPW Best of the Super Juniors XIV tour results". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2007-07-26.