BATT (professional wrestling)
Encyclopedia
BATT was a professional wrestling
stable that competed in both New Japan Pro Wrestling
and All Japan Pro Wrestling
from 2001 to 2002. The name: BATT is short for "Bad Ass Translate Trading", meaning a group of wrestlers that crossed borders. The groups is best known for the fact that its members were from different promotions: New Japan (Mutoh, Frye, & Ohtani), All Japan (Kea & Hase), and Michinoku Pro (Shinzaki).
and England
. The two made their return at Wrestling World 2001 as the two defeated Jushin Thunder Liger and Manabu Nakanishi
in less than 6 minutes. At the Fighting Spirit 2001 tour, Mutoh and Ohtani continued to team up and formed an alliance. On February 3, 2001, Mutoh and Ohtani defeated Masahiro Chono
and Don Frye
after Frye turned on Chono, a few days later on February 11, Frye officially joined with Mutoh and Ohtani. On February 18, 2001, All Japan's Taiyo Kea
and Michinoku Pro's Jinsei Shinzaki also became official members when they assisted Mutoh in a match against Kazunari Murakami
, however, Ohtani would leave New Japan and BATT after the February 18 Sumo Hall show to join Pro Wrestling ZERO1.
Beginning in March 2001, Mutoh renewed his feud with Chono and Team 2000
. On March 17, Mutoh officially named his group BATT (Bad Ass Translate Trading) and at the same show, former New Japan wrestler and Mutoh's former tag team partner: Hiroshi Hase joined the group. After exchanging victories against Team 2000 during the spring and early summer, the group would win their first title on June 8, 2001 when Mutoh defeat Genichiro Tenryu
to win the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.
Despite winning the Triple Crown, the group would see several setbacks at Dome Quake on July 20, 2001, Kea and Shinzaki would fail to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship, Mutoh would fall to Chono, and Frye would fail to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. A few weeks later, Mutoh would enter the 2001 G1 Climax
, making all the way to the finals but would ultimately lose to Yuji Nagata
.
BATT would bounce back in the fall as Frye would win the G1 World Climax Tournament but left New Japan shortly after to return to Mixed Martial Arts. On October 8, 2001 BATT main evented New Japan's Indicate of Next as Mutoh and Hase lost to Nagata and Jun Akiyama
. A few weeks later on October 22, 2001, Mutoh and Kea would defeat Genichiro Tenryu and Yoji Anjo
to win the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
. Six days later on October 28, Mutoh and Kea defeated Tatsumi Fujinami
and Osamu Nishimura
in a title vs. title match to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship. In December 2001, Mutoh and Kea would continue their dominance as they would win the 2001 World's Strongest Tag League given BATT they're third tag team achievement in two months.
on February 24, 2002. Despite BATT broken up, Mutoh and Kea would continue to defend the Unified World Tag Team Championship until they lost the titles to Kronik
on July 17, 2002 afterwards they broke up. Two years later, on July 10, 2004, Mutoh and Kea would reunite at Pro Wrestling NOAH
's first Tokyo Dome show: Departure 2004 as they challenged Mitsuharu Misawa
and Yoshinari Ogawa
for the GHC Tag Team Championship
but they failed to win the titles.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
stable that competed in both New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
and All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
from 2001 to 2002. The name: BATT is short for "Bad Ass Translate Trading", meaning a group of wrestlers that crossed borders. The groups is best known for the fact that its members were from different promotions: New Japan (Mutoh, Frye, & Ohtani), All Japan (Kea & Hase), and Michinoku Pro (Shinzaki).
History
In January 2001, Keiji Mutoh and Shinjiro Ohtani both made returns to New Japan after spending much of 2000 on learning execursions with Mutoh being in WCW and Ohtani being in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The two made their return at Wrestling World 2001 as the two defeated Jushin Thunder Liger and Manabu Nakanishi
Manabu Nakanishi
is a Japanese professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion.-Amateur wrestling career:...
in less than 6 minutes. At the Fighting Spirit 2001 tour, Mutoh and Ohtani continued to team up and formed an alliance. On February 3, 2001, Mutoh and Ohtani defeated Masahiro Chono
Masahiro Chono
, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...
and Don Frye
Don Frye
Donald Frye is a retired American mixed martial artist, actor, and professional wrestler. Frye rose to fame fighting in early Ultimate Fighting Championship events, winning the UFC 8 and Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournaments...
after Frye turned on Chono, a few days later on February 11, Frye officially joined with Mutoh and Ohtani. On February 18, 2001, All Japan's Taiyo Kea
Taiyo Kea
Maunakea Mossman is an American professional wrestler, better known under his stage name Taiyō Kea . Although he was born in Hawaii, he has spent nearly his entire career as a member of the Japan-based All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion...
and Michinoku Pro's Jinsei Shinzaki also became official members when they assisted Mutoh in a match against Kazunari Murakami
Kazunari Murakami
is a Japanesefreelance professional wrestler and a retired mixed martial artist, best known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX and Big Mouth LOUD, of which he was a founding member...
, however, Ohtani would leave New Japan and BATT after the February 18 Sumo Hall show to join Pro Wrestling ZERO1.
Beginning in March 2001, Mutoh renewed his feud with Chono and Team 2000
Team 2000
Team 2000 was a professional wrestling stable that competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Throughout its tenure, T2000 was New Japan's top heel stable.-Background:...
. On March 17, Mutoh officially named his group BATT (Bad Ass Translate Trading) and at the same show, former New Japan wrestler and Mutoh's former tag team partner: Hiroshi Hase joined the group. After exchanging victories against Team 2000 during the spring and early summer, the group would win their first title on June 8, 2001 when Mutoh defeat Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
to win the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.
Despite winning the Triple Crown, the group would see several setbacks at Dome Quake on July 20, 2001, Kea and Shinzaki would fail to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship, Mutoh would fall to Chono, and Frye would fail to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. A few weeks later, Mutoh would enter the 2001 G1 Climax
G1 Climax
The G1 Climax professional wrestling tournament is a weeklong event held each August by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. The G1 draws standing room only crowds each night, record receipt gates and generates front-page coverage on the sports sections of several of the daily newspapers in Tokyo...
, making all the way to the finals but would ultimately lose to Yuji Nagata
Yuji Nagata
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He was known for his perennial tweener status, currently a solid fan favorite, and his stiff, shoot style wrestling technique....
.
BATT would bounce back in the fall as Frye would win the G1 World Climax Tournament but left New Japan shortly after to return to Mixed Martial Arts. On October 8, 2001 BATT main evented New Japan's Indicate of Next as Mutoh and Hase lost to Nagata and Jun Akiyama
Jun Akiyama
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah and All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. Akiyama is known for his serious style and outstanding, time-tested work as a tag team wrestler...
. A few weeks later on October 22, 2001, Mutoh and Kea would defeat Genichiro Tenryu and Yoji Anjo
Yoji Anjo
, is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He was born in Suginami, Japan on December 31, 1969.-Professional wrestling career:...
to win the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
. Six days later on October 28, Mutoh and Kea defeated Tatsumi Fujinami
Tatsumi Fujinami
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as "The Dragon." He is the one who is credited for inventing the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex...
and Osamu Nishimura
Osamu Nishimura
Osamu Nishimura is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Nishimura formerly worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling and MUGA World Pro Wrestling.-Early years :...
in a title vs. title match to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship. In December 2001, Mutoh and Kea would continue their dominance as they would win the 2001 World's Strongest Tag League given BATT they're third tag team achievement in two months.
Breakup and Aftermath
In January 2002, Keiji Mutoh shocked the Japanese Wrestling World by leaving for All Japan. Due to this, New Japan ended its business relationship with All Japan and BATT broke up with all the wrestlers returned to their promotions and Mutoh and Kea were stripped of the IWGP Tag Team Titles. After joining All Japan, Mutoh would lose the Triple Crown to Toshiaki KawadaToshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....
on February 24, 2002. Despite BATT broken up, Mutoh and Kea would continue to defend the Unified World Tag Team Championship until they lost the titles to Kronik
Kronik
Kronik may refer to:* KroniK, an American professional wrestling tag team* Kronik , 1998 album by Voivod* Kronik, a line of Warrior ice hockey sticks...
on July 17, 2002 afterwards they broke up. Two years later, on July 10, 2004, Mutoh and Kea would reunite at Pro Wrestling NOAH
Pro Wrestling NOAH
is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
's first Tokyo Dome show: Departure 2004 as they challenged Mitsuharu Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa
was a Japanese professional wrestler. He made his professional debut on August 21, 1981 for All Japan Pro Wrestling . From 1984 until 1990, Misawa wrestled as the second generation Tiger Mask, as All Japan Pro Wrestling had purchased the rights of the Tiger Mask gimmick from New Japan Pro Wrestling...
and Yoshinari Ogawa
Yoshinari Ogawa
Yoshinari Ogawa is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah. He has earned the nickname of "Rat Boy" due to his sneaky, clever in-ring tactics and baiting his opponents into quick pins.- Career :...
for the GHC Tag Team Championship
GHC Tag Team Championship
The Global Honored Crown Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on October 19, 2001, when Scorpio & Vader defeated Jun Akiyama & Akitoshi Saito in a tournament final...
but they failed to win the titles.
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestlingis a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
- AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (1 Time)- Mutoh
- AJPW Unified World Tag Team ChampionshipAJPW Unified World Tag Team ChampionshipThe All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
(1 TimeAJPW Unified World Tag Team ChampionshipThe All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
)- Mutoh & Kea - World's Strongest Tag League (2001)- Mutoh & Kea
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
- IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 Time)- Mutoh & Kea
- G1 World Climax (2001)- Frye