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Kensuke Sasaki

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Kensuke Sasaki
Born (1966-08-04) August 4, 1966 (age 58)
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kensuke Sasaki
Power Warrior
Kensuki Sasaki
Benkei
Masked Volcano
KENSKEE
Billed height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Billed weight115 kg (243 lb)
DebutFebruary 16, 1986

Kensuke Sasaki (佐々木健介, Sasaki Kensuke) is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for various promotions through his own agency, Kensuke Office. He works primarily for Pro Wrestling NOAH and All Japan Pro Wrestling. He is the only man ever to hold all 3 of Puroresu major heavyweight titles.

Career

New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling

Sasaki debuted in Riki Chōshū's Japan Pro Wrestling Promotion (a satellite of All Japan Pro Wrestling) in 1986, and would later follow Choshu as he returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1987. In January 1989, Sasaki embarked on an overseas learning excursion in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion in Canada, winning (his first title) the Stampede International tag team title with All Japan loyalist Sumo Hara. Sasaki returned to New Japan in March 1990, and formed a popular tag team with Hiroshi Hase in November of that year. The pair would have two reigns as IWGP Tag Team Champions, and had memorable matches with the Steiner Brothers. Two more tag title reigns followed when in 1992, Kensuke Sasaki became the third Road Warrior, Power Warrior. Teaming with Road Warrior Hawk as the Hell Raisers, they dominated the tag scene in New Japan. That November, he started wrestling periodically for World Championship Wrestling, and would wrestle there on and off for the next five years.

In a incident in the New Japan dojo in 1995, he was blamed for the death of a trainee. According to the book, Ring Of Hell, he suplexed and worked over the trainee, who he thought was not making enough effort. No charges were ever brought against him.

Sasaki dropped the Power Warrior persona in 1994 and began climbing the ranks in singles competition. He won (his first major title) the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in November 1995, and lost it one month later. He won the G-1 Climax tournament in August 1997 by defeating Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the final, and then captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship by defeating long reigning champion Shinya Hashimoto months later. Sasaki solidified his dominance in the heavyweight division by defeating both Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh in his first and second title defenses. Kensuke Sasaki won the G-1 Climax for the second time in 2000 with a victory over Manabu Nakanishi in the final, now holding both of New Japan's two heavyweight singles crowns. On October 10, 2000, Kensuke Sasaki faced (and lost) to Toshiaki Kawada in a non-title match at an All Japan vs. New Japan event called Do Judge. In 2001, Sasaki lost the IWGP Heavyweight Title to Scott Norton and later that year resigned after a falling out with company management.

MMA

After leaving New Japan, Sasaki took a hiatus from pro wrestling and focus on Mixed Martial Arts, he has 2 fights under his belt, winning both by submission in the first round beating Dan Chase in 2001 and future UFC fighter Christian Wellisch in 2003 [1] . While there, he would alter his look, cutting his signature mullet (occasionally dyeing his hair different colors), wearing ring gear bearing the word, "Volcano," and adapting moves he learned in MMA to his pro wrestling repitiore.

World Japan

In the beginning of 2003, Sasaki joined his mentor, Riki Chōshū, in his new World Japan promotion. When that company failed, Sasaki returned to New Japan as a "traitor" in 2004, now playing the role of a heel. After heated feuds with Nagata and others, Sasaki enjoyed three more IWGP Heavyweight Title reigns and established himself as one of New Japan's most successful wrestlers ever. Kensuke Sasaki won his second IWGP Heavyweight Championship from Genichiro Tenryu while wrestling with a 39 °C (102.2 °F) fever.[2] He played to the fans, & told them he would do anything to get back in their good graces. After receiving their forgiveness, he once again left the promotion on good terms.

Kensuke Office

Afterwards, he became a freelancer and established his own agency, Kensuke Office. The agency is run by Sasaki's wife (former Joshi wrestler), Akira Hokuto, and currently represents Sasaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kento Miyahara, Takashi Yoshioka and Takashi Okita. Under the Kensuke Office agency, Sasaki and pupil Katsuhiko Nakajima toured other promotions, particularly All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH. In 2005, Kensuke Sasaki won the Champion Carnival, and also fought (and lost) to Kenta Kobashi at NOAH's Destiny 2005 show on July 18, 2005 in the Tokyo Dome. In September 2006, Kensuke Office was announced as a member of the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance. Beginning in 2007, Kensuke Office has organised its own shows, and some of the talent featured on the shows include Minoru Suzuki, Jun Akiyama, Genichiro Tenryu, Yoshihiro Takayama, Kikutaro, Takeshi Morishima, KENTA and Catman.

On August 26, 2007, Kensuke Sasaki defeated Minoru Suzuki to become the AJPW Triple Crown Champion. Sasaki made his first defense against Toshiaki Kawada on October 18, 2007, and would go on to team with Kawada (after Nakajima suffered an injury on October 18) in the 2007 Real World Tag League from November 23 to December 9. Sasaki and Kawada would lose a Finals Decision match against Satoshi Kojima and Suwama on December 9; both teams were tied, and opponents were needed for Keiji Muto and Joe Doering in the final of the League. Sasaki successfully defended the Triple Crown Championship against Satoshi Kojima (on March 1, 2008). Sasaki participated in the 2008 Champion Carnival over five straight shows in the Korakuen Hall from April 5 to April 9, scoring 4 points after 1 win (over Joe Doering), 1 loss (to Minoru Suzuki) and 2 draws (with Suwama and Osamu Nishimura). Sasaki lost the Triple Crown Championship to Carnival Winner Suwama on April 29, 2008. After losing the titles, he jumped to Pro Wrestling NOAH & announced he would make it his full-time home promotion, while still operating the Kensuke Office. On September 6, 2008, he defeated Takeshi Morishima for the GHC Heavyweight Title, becoming the only person to hold the Heavyweight title in all three major Japanese promotions.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    • PWI ranked him # 27 of the 100 best tag teams during the PWI Years with Hiro Hase in 2003.

1The championship was won in Tokyo, Japan as part of an interpromotional card between New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling.

Personal life

Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto have two young sons. Also, Kensuke has a strong bond with his protégé Katsuhiko Nakajima, whom he considers a member of the family.

Notes

  1. ^ Kensuke Sasaki's Professional MMA record from Sherdog
  2. ^ Strong Style Spirit ~ Your New Japan resource for six years
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