Masayuki Kono
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, currently working in All Japan Pro Wrestling
.
.
to defeat Satoshi Kojima
and Suwama
with Kono submitting Kojima. Throughout the spring and summer, Kono fought for the All Japan army and occasionally team with Mutoh. On July 5, 2009, Kono received his first title shot when he teamed with Mutoh to challenge Minoru Suzuki
and Taiyo Kea
for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
but they came up short. In the fall of 2009, Kono teamed with Suwama in the 2009 World's Strongest Tag League. The two were able to make it to the finals but lost to Mutoh and Masakatsu Funaki
.
In his first big victory of 2010, Kono defeated Suwama at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 9 on March 21, 2010. In the spring, Kono entered the 2010 Champion's Carnival. He finished secon in his block with 5 points which allowed him to advance in the semi-finals where he fell to Funaki. Following the Champion's Carnival, Kono joined the New Generation Force stable with Suwama, Ryota Hama
, Seiya Sanada, and Manabu Soya and from there began a feud with the Partisan Force stable (Minoru Suzuki, Masakatsu Funaki, Akebono
, and Taiyo Kea). On July 4, 2010, Kono challenged Suzuki for the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship but lost. At Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 10 on August 29, Kono faced Masakatsu Funaki and lost by Knockout. In September 2010, The New Generation Force broke up, and shortly afterward, Kono joined the Voodoo Murders
and began using the ring name KONO. On November 5, 2010, KONO teamed with Minoru to win a Number 1 Contenders tournament for the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
, but lost the following the day in the title match against Seiya Sanada and Manabu Soya. In late November, KONO entered the 2010 World's Strongest Tag League teaming with KENSO
. The two emerged victorious, defeating Suwama and Ryota Hama in the finals.
On January 3, 2011, KONO and KENSO challenged Taiyo Kea and Akebono for the AJPW World Tag Team Titles but lost. On February 6, Kono and Joe Doering
defeated Taiyo Kea and Akebono to win the AJPW World Tag Team Title. On June 3, 2011, in the aftermath of a backstage fight between Yoshikazu Taru
and Nobukazu Hirai
, which resulted in Hirai suffering a stroke, All Japan Pro Wrestling disbanded Voodoo Murders, suspended all of its Japanese members, including Kono, and vacated the Unified World Tag Team Championship. Kono was suspended specifically for not attempting to stop Taru's assault on Hirai. Kono's suspension was lifted on June 30. At the press conference Kono announced that he would be returning to performing under his real name. Kono made his return to All Japan on October 10, 2011, teaming with Joe Doering and Osamu Nishimura
in a six man tag team match, where they were defeated by Akebono, Masakatsu Funaki and Ryota Hama.
|Loss
|align=center|3–5
|Stanislav Nedkov
|TKO (Punches)
|Pancrase – Shining 10
|December 7, 2008
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1:35
|
|
|-
|Loss
|3–4
|Brad Morris
|Submission (Punches)
|WR 12 – Warriors Realm 12
|February 9, 2008
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1:32
|
|
|-
|Loss
|3–3
|Tatsuya Mizuno
|TKO (Punches)
|Pancrase – Rising 9
|November 28, 2007
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|3:28
|
|
|-
|Loss
|3–2
|Mu Bae Choi
|Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
|Pancrase – Blow 10
|December 2, 2006
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|2:36
|
|
|-
|Win
|3–1
|Daniel Lyons
|TKO (Punches)
|Pancrase – Blow 7
|September 16, 2006
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|3:46
|
|
|-
|Win
|2–1
|Teymur Aliyev
|TKO (Punches)
|Pancrase – Blow 4
|May 2, 2006
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|4:09
|
|
|-
|Loss
|1–1
|Aslan Dzeboev
|KO (Punch)
|Pancrase – Spiral 8
|October 2, 2005
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|4:12
|
|
|-
|Win
|1–0
|Yukio Kawabe
|Technical Submission (Kimura)
|Pancrase – Spiral 5
|July 10, 2005
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1:10
|
|
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 :...
.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (2003–2005)
Kono trained in the All Japan Dojo and made his debut on March 28, 2003 in a losing effort to Nobutaka Araya. For the next two years, Kono largely was in opening matches where he worked with fellow newcomers and aging wrestlers as he paid his dues. During this time, Kono had no title matches or took part in any tournaments. In 2005, Kono left All Japan and professional wrestling to focus on Mixed Martial ArtsMixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
.
Mixed martial arts (2005–2008)
In early 2005, Kono began a MMA career fighting for Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling. He won his first fight at Pancrase – Spiral 5 on July 10, 2005 defeating Yukio Kawabe by Technical Submission. He then lost to Aslan Dzeboev by Knockout at Pancrase – Spiral 8 on October 2. He then went on a two fight win streak defeating Teymur Aliyev at Pancrase – Blow 4 and Daniel Lyons at Pancrase – Blow 7 both by TKO. Kono then lost his last four fights, losing to Mu Bae Choi by Technical Submission at Pancrase – Blow 10, then to Tetsuya Mizuno at Pancrase – Rising 9 by TKO. His next appearance was at Warrior Realm 12 where he lost to Brad Morris by Submission. His most recent fight was a loss to Stanislav Nedkov at Pancrase – Shining 10 by TKO.Return to All Japan (2009–present)
By early 2009, Kono ended his MMA career and returned to professional wrestling. He spent the first few months of 2009 in Canada, wrestling on the independants before finally returning to All Japan in May 2009. Upon his return, Kono had an immediate impact as he teamed Keiji MutohKeiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Taiwan...
to defeat Satoshi Kojima
Satoshi Kojima
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling. As a singles wrestler, he was the first wrestler to hold NJPW's IWGP Heavyweight Championship and All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown Championship simultaneously...
and Suwama
Kohei Suwama
is a Japanese professional wrestler also known simply as . He is best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling as part of the Voodoo Murders stable, where he is a former two-time All Japan Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion....
with Kono submitting Kojima. Throughout the spring and summer, Kono fought for the All Japan army and occasionally team with Mutoh. On July 5, 2009, Kono received his first title shot when he teamed with Mutoh to challenge Minoru Suzuki
Minoru Suzuki
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Suzuki was the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world. During the 1990s he was known as one of the best fighters in the Pancrase promotion and was the second King of Pancrase world champion...
and 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...
for 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...
but they came up short. In the fall of 2009, Kono teamed with Suwama in the 2009 World's Strongest Tag League. The two were able to make it to the finals but lost to Mutoh and Masakatsu Funaki
Masakatsu Funaki
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, as well as the UWF. He is currently performing at All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is one half of the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Champions, along with Keiji Mutoh...
.
In his first big victory of 2010, Kono defeated Suwama at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 9 on March 21, 2010. In the spring, Kono entered the 2010 Champion's Carnival. He finished secon in his block with 5 points which allowed him to advance in the semi-finals where he fell to Funaki. Following the Champion's Carnival, Kono joined the New Generation Force stable with Suwama, Ryota Hama
Ryota Hama
is a retired Japanese sumo wrestler and current professional wrestler, competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling.-Sumo:Hama joined sumo in July 1995, and he fought for the Hakkaku stable run by former yokozuna Hokutoumi. His shikona was Hokutoarashi and he reached a highest rank of makushita 6 in...
, Seiya Sanada, and Manabu Soya and from there began a feud with the Partisan Force stable (Minoru Suzuki, Masakatsu Funaki, Akebono
Akebono Taro
is a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990...
, and Taiyo Kea). On July 4, 2010, Kono challenged Suzuki for the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship but lost. At Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 10 on August 29, Kono faced Masakatsu Funaki and lost by Knockout. In September 2010, The New Generation Force broke up, and shortly afterward, Kono joined the Voodoo Murders
Voodoo Murders
VOODOO-MURDERS was the main heel group in All Japan Pro Wrestling. They are famous for their violent actions and lack of respect for their opponents...
and began using the ring name KONO. On November 5, 2010, KONO teamed with Minoru to win a Number 1 Contenders tournament for the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling . It was created on November 16, 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association when King Kong Czaya & Tiger Jokinder defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan &...
, but lost the following the day in the title match against Seiya Sanada and Manabu Soya. In late November, KONO entered the 2010 World's Strongest Tag League teaming with KENSO
Kenzo Suzuki
Kenzo Suzuki is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with New Japan Pro Wrestling and in the United States with World Wrestling Entertainment...
. The two emerged victorious, defeating Suwama and Ryota Hama in the finals.
On January 3, 2011, KONO and KENSO challenged Taiyo Kea and Akebono for the AJPW World Tag Team Titles but lost. On February 6, Kono and Joe Doering
Joe Doering
Joe Doering is an Canada professional wrestler, currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling. In the past he has worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and was also signed to World Wrestling Entertainment under a developmental deal...
defeated Taiyo Kea and Akebono to win the AJPW World Tag Team Title. On June 3, 2011, in the aftermath of a backstage fight between Yoshikazu Taru
Yoshikazu Taru
Yoshikazu Taru is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name TARU. He works for All Japan Pro Wrestling and El Dorado Wrestling.-Professional wrestling career:...
and Nobukazu Hirai
Nobukazu Hirai
Nobukazu Hirai is a Japanese professional wrestler currently competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling as Super Hate. He is the son of Japanese wrestler: Mitsu Hirai-Super World Sports :...
, which resulted in Hirai suffering a stroke, All Japan Pro Wrestling disbanded Voodoo Murders, suspended all of its Japanese members, including Kono, and vacated the Unified World Tag Team Championship. Kono was suspended specifically for not attempting to stop Taru's assault on Hirai. Kono's suspension was lifted on June 30. At the press conference Kono announced that he would be returning to performing under his real name. Kono made his return to All Japan on October 10, 2011, teaming with Joe Doering 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 six man tag team match, where they were defeated by Akebono, Masakatsu Funaki and Ryota Hama.
In wrestling
- Finishing Moves
- Chokebomb
- Diving knee drop
- Jumping knee
- Signature Moves
- Backdrop suplex
- Running dropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "Future Shock"
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 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 time)- with Joe DoeringJoe DoeringJoe Doering is an Canada professional wrestler, currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling. In the past he has worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and was also signed to World Wrestling Entertainment under a developmental deal... - World's Strongest Tag League (2010) - with KensoKenzo SuzukiKenzo Suzuki is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with New Japan Pro Wrestling and in the United States with World Wrestling Entertainment...
- AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #157 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|align=center|3–5
|Stanislav Nedkov
|TKO (Punches)
|Pancrase – Shining 10
|December 7, 2008
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1:35
|
|
|-
|Loss
|3–4
|Brad Morris
|Submission (Punches)
|WR 12 – Warriors Realm 12
|February 9, 2008
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1:32
|
|
|-
|Loss
|3–3
|Tatsuya Mizuno
|TKO (Punches)
|Pancrase – Rising 9
|November 28, 2007
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|3:28
|
|
|-
|Loss
|3–2
|Mu Bae Choi
|Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
|Pancrase – Blow 10
|December 2, 2006
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|2:36
|
|
|-
|Win
|3–1
|Daniel Lyons
|TKO (Punches)
|Pancrase – Blow 7
|September 16, 2006
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|3:46
|
|
|-
|Win
|2–1
|Teymur Aliyev
|TKO (Punches)
|Pancrase – Blow 4
|May 2, 2006
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|4:09
|
|
|-
|Loss
|1–1
|Aslan Dzeboev
|KO (Punch)
|Pancrase – Spiral 8
|October 2, 2005
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|4:12
|
|
|-
|Win
|1–0
|Yukio Kawabe
|Technical Submission (Kimura)
|Pancrase – Spiral 5
|July 10, 2005
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1:10
|
|