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Kensuke Sasaki

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Kensuke Sasaki
File:Kensuke sasaki.jpg
BornAugust 4, 1966
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kensuke Sasaki
Power Warrior
Benkai
Kenskee Sasaki
Billed height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Billed weight115 kg (243 lb)
DebutFebruary 16, 1986

Kensuke Sasaki is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestlers for various promotions through his own agency, such as New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and Dragon Gate. His agency also runs shows by itself. He has also previously worked for World Championship Wrestling.

Career

Starting in New Japan Pro Wrestlings young lion system in 1987, Kensuke Sasaki soon left on an overseas learning excursion in January 1989. Sasaki won his first title while in Stu Hart's Stampede promotion, and would return to New Japan in March 1990. In November of that year, he formed a popular tag team with Hiroshi Hase and had two reigns as IWGP Tag Team Champions. Two more tag title reigns followed when in 1992, Kensuke Sasaki appeared as the third Road Warrior, Power Warrior. Teaming with Road Warrior Hawk as the Hell Raisers they dominated the tag scene in New Japan.

File:Power Warrior.jpg
Sasaki as Power Warrior, with wife Akira Hokuto at left.

Sasaki dropped the Power Warrior persona in 1994 and began climbing the ranks in singles competition. He won the G-1 Climax tournament in August 1997 by defeating Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the final and captured the IWGP Heavyweight Title by defeating long reigning champion, Shinya Hashimoto, a few 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. Sasaki now held a both of New Japan's two heavyweight singles crowns. In 2002 Sasaki lost the IWGP Heavyweight Title to Yuji Nagata and later that year resigned after a falling out with company management. In the beginning of 2003 Sasaki joined his mentor, Riki Choshu, 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.

Afterwards, he became a freelancer who toured other promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he won the 2005 Champion Carnival), and Pro Wrestling NOAH, where he had a famous dream match against Kobashi Kenta at the Destiny 2005 show on July 18, 2005 in the Tokyo Dome (a loss by pinfall at 23:36 after a Burning Lariat from Kobashi).

Wrestling facts

Finishing and signature moves

Championships and accomplishments

  • 1-Time AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Champion (with Katsuhiko Nakajima)
  • 1-Time Champion's Canival Tournament winner (2005)
  • Michinoku Pro
  • 1-Time Michinoku Pro Tohoku Tag Team Champion (with Katsuhiko Nakajima)
  • Hawai'i Championship Wrestling
  • 1-time Stampede Tag Team Champion (with Sumo Hara)
  • Others
  • 2-Time WWC Caribbean Tag Team Champion (with Mr. Pogo)
  • 1-Time World Japan Pro World Magma Champion
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • He was ranked # 103 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
  • He was also ranked twice in the best tag teams of the "PWI Years". He was ranked # 27 with Hiro Hase and # 50 with Road Warrior Hawk.
  • 1991 Match of the Year (with Hiroshi Hase vs Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner)
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