Kentaro Shiga
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese professional wrestler
, currently working as a freelancer
. He returned from a two-year hiatus due to injury in 2005.
in early 1994. For the first two years, Shiga spent most of the time in opening matches or low midcard matches as he paid his dues. On January 3, 1996, Shiga won his first honor when he won the yearly January 3 Korakuen Hall Jr. Heavyweight Battle Royal. Shortly after Shiga entered the 1996 Asunaro Cup Tournament where he finished in 6th place with 2 points. Following these events, Shiga returned to the midcard for another few years where he didn't challenge for any titles. In 1998, Shiga teamed with Akira Taue
in the 1998 Asunaro Cup tournament where they finished as the runner-ups losing to Jun Akiyama
and Takao Omori
in the finals. Later in the year, Shiga joined Kenta Kobashi's
stable: Burning. On February 13, 1999, Shiga teamed with Kobashi and Jun Akiyama in a One Night Six Man Tag Team Tournament where they emerged victorious. On June 9, 1999, Shiga received his first title shot when he challenged Yoshinari Ogawa
for the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
but lost. On January 3, 2000, Shiga won his second Jr. Heavyweight Battle Royal. In June 2000, Shiga left All Japan along with the majority of the native roster to Mitsuharu Misawa's
new promotion: Pro Wrestling NOAH
.
to defeat Masao Inoue
and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
. The following day, Shiga wrestled in the second to last match teaming with Daisuke Ikeda in a losing effort to Mitsuharu Misawa and Yoshinari Ogawa. After debuting in NOAH, Shiga continue to remain in the midcard but woul get more to participate in tournaments and title matches, by the end of 2000 he joined Jun Akiyama's stable: Sterness. In March 2001, Shiga entered the tournament to crown the first GHC Heavyweight Champion
, Shiga defeated Too Cold Scorpio in the first round but lost to Yoshihiro Takayama
in the quarterfinals. In October 2001, Shiga entered a tournament to crown the first GHC Tag Team Championship
as he teamed with Takuma Sano but the pair lost in the first round to Takao Omori and Shinjiro Ohtani
. By the end of 2001, Shiga teamed with Kanemaru to win a One Night Tag Team Tournament. In early 2002, Shiga left Sterness to reunite with Kenta Kobashi in Burning. Shortly after joining, Shiga teamed with Kobashi and KENTA
to win a One Day Six Man Tag Team Tournament. In October 19, 2002, Shiga and Kobashi challenged Jun Akiyama and Akitoshi Saito
for the GHC Tag Team Championship but came up short. In January 2003, Shiga would suffer a serious neck injury that would keep him out for over two and a half years.
After two and a half years, Shiga returned to the ring at NOAH's September 18, 2005 Nippon Budokan
show where he lost to Tamon Honda
. One year after returning from injury, Shiga defeated Scorpio on September 3, 2006 to win the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship
, his first championship. In February 2007, Shiga formed a tag team with Kishin Kawabata called the Pen Pals. On February 17, The Pen Pals won a tournament to become the first GHC Hardcore Openweight Tag Team Champions. On July 15, 2007, the team challenged Jun Akiyama and Takeshi Rikio
for the GHC Tag Team Championship but lost. In November when the Tag Team Championship again became a singles championship which saw Shiga lose to Kawabata. In 2009, Shiga also began making appearances for Hustle
where he competed as Punch the C. After remaining in the midcard for two more years, Shiga was released from NOAH in early 2010.
. He wrestled on their January 31, 2010 show teaming with Tamon Honda in a losing effort to GBH
(Togi Makabe
and Tomoaki Honma
). He also participated in New Japan's J SPORTS CROWN Six Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament where he teamed with Honda and Makoto Hashi but the team lost in the first round. Shiga also began wrestling in Kensuke Office and returned to NOAH but is used in opening matches. On August 27, 2011, Shiga took part in the charity event All Together, put together by New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah, and defeated 26 other men in a battle royal to win the Destroyer Cup.
1 When the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship was rechristened to the GHC Hardcore Tag Team Championship, Shiga won the title with Kishin Kawabata. However, Shiga's title reign was still recognized as one reign instead of two.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional wrestler
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...
, currently working as a freelancer
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
. He returned from a two-year hiatus due to injury in 2005.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (1994-2000)
Shiga trained in the All Japan dojo and debuted in All Japan Pro WrestlingAll 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 :...
in early 1994. For the first two years, Shiga spent most of the time in opening matches or low midcard matches as he paid his dues. On January 3, 1996, Shiga won his first honor when he won the yearly January 3 Korakuen Hall Jr. Heavyweight Battle Royal. Shortly after Shiga entered the 1996 Asunaro Cup Tournament where he finished in 6th place with 2 points. Following these events, Shiga returned to the midcard for another few years where he didn't challenge for any titles. In 1998, Shiga teamed with Akira Taue
Akira Taue
is a Japanese professional wrestler, and the current President of Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former AJPW Triple Crown champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had 14 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter....
in the 1998 Asunaro Cup tournament where they finished as the runner-ups losing to 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...
and Takao Omori
Takao Omori
is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler, currently competing for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has formerly competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1.-All Japan Pro Wrestling :...
in the finals. Later in the year, Shiga joined Kenta Kobashi's
Kenta Kobashi
Not to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
stable: Burning. On February 13, 1999, Shiga teamed with Kobashi and Jun Akiyama in a One Night Six Man Tag Team Tournament where they emerged victorious. On June 9, 1999, Shiga received his first title shot when he challenged 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 AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight The All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling...
but lost. On January 3, 2000, Shiga won his second Jr. Heavyweight Battle Royal. In June 2000, Shiga left All Japan along with the majority of the native roster to Mitsuharu Misawa's
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...
new promotion: 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...
.
Pro Wrestling NOAH (2000-2010)
Shiga debuted for NOAH at their first show on August 5, 2000 where he teamed with Naomichi MarufujiNaomichi Marufuji
is a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling Noah, with occasional appearances in other professional wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, among others. Marufuji is the first of only two Grand Slam Champion in Pro...
to defeat Masao Inoue
Masao Inoue
is a professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah as a member of Dark Agents. He has previously worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling.-All Japan Pro Wrestling:...
and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Kanemaru holds the records for the most reigns for both of Noah's Jr...
. The following day, Shiga wrestled in the second to last match teaming with Daisuke Ikeda in a losing effort to Mitsuharu Misawa and Yoshinari Ogawa. After debuting in NOAH, Shiga continue to remain in the midcard but woul get more to participate in tournaments and title matches, by the end of 2000 he joined Jun Akiyama's stable: Sterness. In March 2001, Shiga entered the tournament to crown the first GHC Heavyweight Champion
GHC Heavyweight Championship
The Global Honored Crown Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on April 15, 2001 when Mitsuharu Misawa defeated Yoshihiro Takayama in a 16-man tournament final...
, Shiga defeated Too Cold Scorpio in the first round but lost to Yoshihiro Takayama
Yoshihiro Takayama
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Takayama is well known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment, especially after his fight at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye...
in the quarterfinals. In October 2001, Shiga entered a tournament to crown the first 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...
as he teamed with Takuma Sano but the pair lost in the first round to Takao Omori and Shinjiro Ohtani
Shinjiro Ohtani
Shinjiro Otani is a Japanese professional wrestler contracted to Pro Wrestling ZERO1. Otani is also the acting President of the company.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
. By the end of 2001, Shiga teamed with Kanemaru to win a One Night Tag Team Tournament. In early 2002, Shiga left Sterness to reunite with Kenta Kobashi in Burning. Shortly after joining, Shiga teamed with Kobashi and KENTA
Kenta Kobayashi
, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
to win a One Day Six Man Tag Team Tournament. In October 19, 2002, Shiga and Kobashi challenged Jun Akiyama and Akitoshi Saito
Akitoshi Saito
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah.-Before pro wrestling:Before pro wrestling, Akitoshi Saito was trained in karate by Masashi Aoyagi. Saito seconded Aoyagi in his matches against Atsushi Onita in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in 1989...
for the GHC Tag Team Championship but came up short. In January 2003, Shiga would suffer a serious neck injury that would keep him out for over two and a half years.
After two and a half years, Shiga returned to the ring at NOAH's September 18, 2005 Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
show where he lost to Tamon Honda
Tamon Honda
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently a freelancer, he most recently worked for Pro Wrestling Noah.-1984, 1988, and 1992 Summer Olympics:Honda represented Japan in three Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling in 1984, 1988, and 1992...
. One year after returning from injury, Shiga defeated Scorpio on September 3, 2006 to win the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship
GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship
The Global Honored Crown Openweight Hardcore Championship is a semi-official professional wrestling championship contested in Pro Wrestling Noah. It was originally created in 2004 as a singles title known as the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship; in 2007 it was announced that it would be...
, his first championship. In February 2007, Shiga formed a tag team with Kishin Kawabata called the Pen Pals. On February 17, The Pen Pals won a tournament to become the first GHC Hardcore Openweight Tag Team Champions. On July 15, 2007, the team challenged Jun Akiyama and Takeshi Rikio
Takeshi Rikio
Takeshi Inoue, known by his stage name , born December 20, 1972, is a Japanese professional wrestler, who works for Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former sumo wrestler.- Sumo career :...
for the GHC Tag Team Championship but lost. In November when the Tag Team Championship again became a singles championship which saw Shiga lose to Kawabata. In 2009, Shiga also began making appearances for Hustle
Hustle
Hustle commonly refers to:* A confidence trick, deceptions performed by hustlers or grifters* The tradecraft of a hustler who deceives others by hustling, usually in sports* A slang word in America, meaning to get money, with no concern as to the legallity...
where he competed as Punch the C. After remaining in the midcard for two more years, Shiga was released from NOAH in early 2010.
Freelancer (2010-Present)
After being released, Shiga made appearances in New Japan Pro WrestlingNew 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...
. He wrestled on their January 31, 2010 show teaming with Tamon Honda in a losing effort to GBH
Great Bash Heel
Great Bash Heel, often abbreviated to G・B・H, was a professional wrestling stable, and is currently a tag team, in New Japan Pro Wrestling . It was the top heel group in New Japan Pro Wrestling, before April 2009, when the rest of the group turned on their leader, Togi Makabe, and formed a new...
(Togi Makabe
Togi Makabe
, better known by his ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Tag Team Champion....
and Tomoaki Honma
Tomoaki Honma
Tomoaki Honma is a freelance Japanese professional wrestler, currently touring with New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Career:Honma trained in the Big Japan dojo before debuting for the promotion in May, 1997...
). He also participated in New Japan's J SPORTS CROWN Six Man Openweight Tag Team Tournament where he teamed with Honda and Makoto Hashi but the team lost in the first round. Shiga also began wrestling in Kensuke Office and returned to NOAH but is used in opening matches. On August 27, 2011, Shiga took part in the charity event All Together, put together by New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah, and defeated 26 other men in a battle royal to win the Destroyer Cup.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Crucifix armbar
- Shiga Sleeper (Step-over toe-hold sleeper)
- Shiga Spiral Shooter (Belly to back suplex flipped sideways into a DDTDDT (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
) - Tornado DDT
- Signature moves
- Diving crossbody
- German suplex
- Octopus stretch
- Suicide dive
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 :...
- January 3rd Korakuen Hall Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal Winner (1996, 2000)
- One Night Six Man Tag Team Tournament (1999) - with Kenta KobashiKenta KobashiNot to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
& Jun AkiyamaJun Akiyamais 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...
- Pro Wrestling NoahPro Wrestling Noahis a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
- GHC Openweight / Hardcore Tag Team ChampionshipGHC Openweight Hardcore ChampionshipThe Global Honored Crown Openweight Hardcore Championship is a semi-official professional wrestling championship contested in Pro Wrestling Noah. It was originally created in 2004 as a singles title known as the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship; in 2007 it was announced that it would be...
(1 time)1 - One Night Tag Tournament Winner (2001) - with Yoshinobu KanemaruYoshinobu KanemaruYoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Kanemaru holds the records for the most reigns for both of Noah's Jr...
- One Day Six Man Tag Team Tournament Winner (2002) - with Kenta KobashiKenta KobashiNot to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
& KENTAKentais a masculine Japanese given name, and may refer to:* Kenta, Swedish musician * KENTA, Japanese professional wrestler * Kenta Kobashi, Japanese professional wrestler...
- Other achievements
- Destroyer Cup (2011)
1 When the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship was rechristened to the GHC Hardcore Tag Team Championship, Shiga won the title with Kishin Kawabata. However, Shiga's title reign was still recognized as one reign instead of two.