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Ryusuke Taguchi
Ryusuke Taguchi
Ryusuke Taguchi
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Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke; born April 15, 1979)[3] is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and performing for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is a former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, seven-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and three-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He was also the winner of the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors.

Key Information

Pursuing several sports in high school, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (168 lb) class amateur wrestling in college before entering the NJPW Dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo,[5] wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight division.

Taguchi's best known gimmick is akin to a disco dancer, often sporting a short afro and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team matches. This earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".

Professional wrestling career

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New Japan Pro-Wrestling

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Early career (2002–2006)

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During high school, Taguchi dabbled in many athletic pursuits, including baseball, soccer, and track and field, before entering the 76 kg (168 lb) class in amateur wrestling at Tōkai University.[6] He enrolled in the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) dojo in March 2002, training under Kotetsu Yamamoto, passing the promotion's notoriously tough entry test,[6] before debuting on November 22, 2002, in a losing effort against Toru Yano.[5] Taguchi continued to wrestle in minor matches through early 2003, before being entered into the tenth annual Best of the Super Juniors (BOSJ) tournament by default after Heat pulled out.[6] Taguchi finished in last place with zero points, losing all of his matches.[7]

In November 2003, Ryusuke Taguchi and fellow New Japan graduate Hirooki Goto won a 4-team tournament to decide the number one contenders to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, defeating Wataru Inoue and El Samurai in the semifinals and Masahito Kakihara and Masayuki Naruse in the finals.[8] When the title was vacated just days later due to injury,[9] Taguchi and Goto instead faced Gedo and Jado (who had won a separate tournament) on November 29, 2003, to decide the new champions; Gedo and Jado won the match and the title.[10] On December 27, 2003, Taguchi defeated Naofumi Yamamoto to gain a spot on the card for New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, Wrestling World.[11] He went on to defeat Akiya Anzawa at the event on January 4, 2004, in under five minutes.[12]

On March 21, 2004, Taguchi and Goto received their second opportunity at the junior tag titles, falling to champions American Dragon and Curry Man.[13] On the April Strong Energy tour, Taguchi was entered into the eight-man round-robin Young Lion Cup (YLC) tournament, earning nine points in the group stage and defeating Hirooki Goto and Michinoku Pro's Kazuya Yuasa in the semifinals and final, respectively.[14] Winning the tournament earned Taguchi his first singles title opportunity, as he unsuccessfully challenged U-30 (under 30) Openweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi on May 13, 2004.[12] Taguchi once again competed in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in June 2004, finishing with 4 points by wrestling to 20-minute time limit draws with El Samurai and American Dragon, and defeating Jyushin Thunder Liger in 45 seconds.[15] Taguchi again finished in last place for his block.

In October and November 2004, Taguchi competed in the 7-man, single-elimination Young Lion Toukon Tournament, a sort of "sequel" to the Young Lion Cup;[16] he received a bye to the semifinals as a result of winning that tournament, defeating Hiroshi Nagao and Katsuhiko Nakajima in his two matches to punctuate his YLC victory.[16]

On January 6, 2005, Taguchi announced that he would be going on a learning excursion to Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), a common practice for young Japanese juniors, wrestling simply as "Taguchi".[17] He competed in two farewell matches in New Japan, losing to Wataru Inoue in the first and teaming with Taiji Ishimori to defeat Tiger Mask and El Samurai in the second.[18] Taguchi made his CMLL debut on February 11, 2005, in the Arena México, teaming with Black Tiger and Shigeo Okumura to defeat Negro Casas, Felino and Safari.[19] Taguchi also wrestled in Último Dragón's Toryumon Mexico, teaming with Hiromi Horiguchi to win the 4-team Yamaha Cup tournament on February 27, 2005.[20] Taguchi continued to compete in CMLL throughout much of 2005, often teaming with fellow New Japan alumni Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Tanahashi. He returned to Japan on October 7, 2005[21] and wrestled his official return match on October 22, 2005, teaming with Masahito Kakihara to defeat Sangre Azteca and Hirooki Goto.[22]

On February 19, 2006, Ryusuke Taguchi and veteran junior El Samurai defeated heel faction CTU's (Counter Terrorist Unit) Minoru and Hirooki Goto to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, giving Taguchi his first title.[23] They made their first defense on March 19, 2006, defeating another veteran-young lion duo in Koji Kanemoto and Wataru Inoue,[24] followed by three-time title holders Gedo and Jado on May 7, 2006, in a match that lasted over 30 minutes.[25]

Taguchi again competed in the BOSJ in June 2006, finishing in fourth place out of seven in his block with seven points, defeating Jyushin Thunder Liger, Sangre Azteca and Fuego, and wrestling to a double count out with Jado.[26] Taguchi and Samurai faced Gedo and Jado in a title rematch on July 8, 2006, losing the belts to their challengers in another 30-minute match.[27] On September 3, 2006, Taguchi made his debut in New Japan's WRESTLE LAND brand, teaming with Pegasus Kid II to defeat Milano Collection A.T. and Makai Rey Cobra #3; he also wrestled in a brief "bonus track" match later in the night, winning a 14-man tag team match along with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tanaka, Jado, Gedo, Pegasus Kid and Gran Naniwa against Toru Yano, Milano, and five members of the Makai Club.[28] Taguchi continued to participate in WRESTLE LAND through 2006 and 2007. On September 24, 2006, Taguchi made his first attempt at a major singles junior title by challenging Tiger Mask for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, losing in 13 minutes.[29]

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion (2007–2008)

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At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome event on January 4, 2007, Taguchi teamed with El Samurai and All Japan Pro Wrestling's Masanobu Fuchi to defeat Kikutaro, Nobutaka Araya and Akira Raijin, pinning Kikutaro after the Dodon.[30] Four days later on January 7, 2007, Taguchi suffered a right eye injury in a tag team match with Tiger Mask against Jyushin Thunder Liger and Milano Collection A.T., forcing him out of action for two months. He had been scheduled to compete in a four-man tournament to decide the number one contender to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but was removed as a result of the injury;[31] Taguchi returned on March 3, 2007. On March 11, 2007, Taguchi was introduced as the first member of El Samurai's new Samurai Gym faction, and was later joined by Yujiro on March 18, 2007.[32] On April 13, 2007, Taguchi challenged Minoru for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in his first shot at the title, albeit unsuccessfully.[33] Minoru also stole the Samurai Gym signboard after the match, carrying it as a trophy for the next several months.[34][35]

Taguchi entered the 14th annual Best of the Super Juniors tournament in June 2007, having his strongest showing to date, winning five out of six group stage matches by defeating Tetsuya Naito, Koji Kanemoto, El Samurai, Dragon Gate's BxB Hulk, and junior champion Minoru, finishing in first place for his block with 10 points. Taguchi lost in the semifinals however, to eventual winner Milano Collection A.T.[36] As a reward of sorts for beating Minoru in the tournament, Taguchi was granted a second shot at the Junior Heavyweight title on July 6, 2007, defeating Minoru once more to win his first singles championship, and retrieving the Samurai Gym signboard.[37][38] He made his first defense of the title on September 24, 2007, defeating Tiger Mask.[39] He defended the championship once again on October 7, 2007, at independent promotion Pro Wrestling KAGEKI's tenth anniversary show, defeating the company's founder Azteca;[40] the following day, Taguchi again defended the title, defeating Minoru once more.[41] On October 28, 2007, Taguchi defended the title for the third time in one month, defeating 5-time champion Koji Kanemoto in Kobe, Kanemoto's hometown.[42] Taguchi lost the title in his fifth defense on December 8, 2007, falling to Wataru Inoue.[43]

On January 4, 2008, at Wrestle Kingdom II in Tokyo Dome, Taguchi teamed with Takashi Iizuka, Koji Kanemoto and Tiger Mask to face the "Alliance" of Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX's Masato Tanaka and Tatsuhito Takaiwa, and DRADITION's Katsushi Takemura and Yutaka Yoshie; the Alliance won the encounter, Yoshie pinning Taguchi.[44] Taguchi faced Wataru Inoue in a rematch for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on January 27, 2008, losing to Inoue once more.[45] On February 1, 2008, it was announced that El Samurai would be leaving NJPW due to his contract expiring, effectively ending Samurai Gym.[46] In March and April 2008, Taguchi represented NJPW in several interpromotional matches with the newly renamed Pro Wrestling ZERO1; on March 30, 2008, at New Dimension, Taguchi and Koji Kanemoto defeated ZERO1's Masato Tanaka and Tatsuhito Takaiwa.[44] On the following New Japan Brave tour, Taguchi defeated Takaiwa in a singles match. He then teamed with Kanemoto and Manabu Nakanishi in three tag team matches in late April, he and Nakanishi defeating ZERO1's Takao Omori and Osamu Namiguchi, he and Kanemoto again defeating Tanaka and Takaiwa, and he and Kanemoto losing to Tanaka and Shinjiro Otani.[47]

On April 29, 2008, Taguchi faced his former partner and generation rival, Hirooki Goto, who had since graduated to the heavyweight division. The match, which took place in Goto's hometown of Kuwana, was won by Goto in just under 15 minutes.[44] In June of that year, Taguchi once again entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, finishing in first place for his six-man block with eight points, losing only to Tatsuhito Takaiwa in a rematch of their April meeting, and defeating the man who won the Junior title from him, Wataru Inoue. Taguchi advanced to the semifinals as a result, losing to Koji Kanemoto.[48]

Apollo 55 (2009–2013)

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Main article: Apollo 55
Taguchi in June 2011

On July 5, 2009, at Circuit 2009 New Japan Soul Taguchi and Prince Devitt, known collectively as Apollo 55, defeated The Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[49] On January 4, 2010, at Wrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome Taguchi and Devitt successfully defended the titles against Averno and Último Guerrero.[50] On April 21 Taguchi and Devitt were stripped of the titles, after they had not defended them for 30 days.[51] On May 8 the two entered the Super J Tag Tournament in an attempt to regain the Championship, but were defeated in the finals by the team of El Samurai and Koji Kanemoto.[52] On June 28, 2010, Taguchi, teaming up with Devitt and Hirooki Goto entered the J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament.[53] Two days later the trio defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tajiri and Kushida in the finals to win the tournament.[54][55] On July 19, Taguchi and Devitt defeated Koji Kanemoto and El Samurai to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the second time as a team.[56] On October 11 Taguchi and Devitt lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the Golden☆Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi).[57] On January 22, 2011, Taguchi defeated Máscara Dorada for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship at a Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and New Japan Pro-Wrestling co–promoted event, titled Fantastica Mania 2011, in Tokyo.[58][59] At the second Fantastica Mania 2011 show the following day, Taguchi and Devitt regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship from Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi.[60][61] On April 3, Taguchi made his first defense of the CMLL World Welterweight Championship, defeating Japanese independent performer Madoka.[62] In May 2011, Taguchi took part in the Invasion Tour 2011, New Japan's first ever tour of the United States, during which he and Devitt successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against the Strong Style Thugz (Homicide and Low Ki) on May 15 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[63] During the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors, Taguchi debuted a new finishing move, the Milano–saku Dodon's Throne, and used it to win five out of his eight-round robin stage matches to finish second in his block and advance to the semifinals of the tournament.[64] On June 10, Taguchi defeated his own tag team partner and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt to advance to the finals of the tournament, where he was defeated by Kota Ibushi.[65] On June 18 at Dominion 6.18, Taguchi lost the CMLL World Welterweight Championship back to Máscara Dorada.[66] On June 23, Taguchi, Devitt and Hirooki Goto won their second J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament in a row by defeating the team of Giant Bernard, Jyushin Thunder Liger and Karl Anderson in the finals of the three-day-long tournament.[67] On August 1, Taguchi unsuccessfully challenged Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[68] On August 14, Taguchi and Devitt successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Ibushi and Kenny Omega.[69] On September 11, Apollo 55 defeated Taichi and Taka Michinoku to make their seventh successful IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship defense, breaking the record for most defenses during a single reign.[70] On October 10 at Destruction '11, Taguchi and Devitt lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards and Rocky Romero).[71] On January 4, 2012, at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, Taguchi and Devitt defeated Richards and Romero to once again regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[72] On February 12 at The New Beginning, Apollo 55 lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship back to the No Remorse Corps in their first defense.[73]

On May 27, Taguchi entered the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors tournament.[74] Winning five out of his eight round-robin stage matches, Taguchi finished second in his block and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament.[75] The following day, Taguchi first defeated Pac in the semifinals and then avenged his earlier round-robin loss to IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Low Ki in the finals to win the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors and earn a shot at Low Ki's title.[76] On June 16 at Dominion 6.16, Taguchi failed in his title shot against Low Ki.[77] On September 23 at Destruction, Taguchi received another shot at the title, but was this time defeated by Kota Ibushi.[78] On October 21, Apollo 55 entered the 2012 Super Jr. Tag Tournament, defeating Chaos World Wrestling Warriors (Brian Kendrick and Low Ki) in their first round match.[79] On November 2, Taguchi and Devitt defeated the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, the Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov and Rocky Romero), to advance to the finals of the tournament, where, later that same day, they were defeated by the Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida).[80] Despite failing to make it to the main card of Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, Taguchi made an appearance at the event, challenging Prince Devitt to a match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, after he had successfully defended the title against Low Ki and Kota Ibushi.[81] Taguchi received his title shot on February 10 at The New Beginning, but was defeated by Devitt.[82] On April 7 at Invasion Attack, Apollo 55 unsuccessfully challenged Time Splitters for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, after which Devitt turned on Taguchi, ending the longtime partnership between the two.[83]

Singles competition (2013–2016)

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Taguchi in November 2015
Taguchi Japan in February 2017

The first match between the former members of Apollo 55 took place on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2013, where Taguchi and Captain New Japan were defeated in a tag team match by Devitt and his new associate Bad Luck Fale.[84] In the 2013 Best of the Super Juniors, Taguchi won his block with five wins and three losses, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.[85] However, on June 9, New Japan announced that Taguchi had suffered a hip injury and could not participate in his semifinal match; he was replaced by Taka Michinoku.[86] Taguchi made his return on January 5, 2014, announcing that he was returning to the ring during the February tour, looking to continue his feud with Devitt.[87] Taguchi wrestled his return match on February 2, teaming with Alex Shelley, Kushida and Togi Makabe in an eight-man tag team match, where they were defeated by Devitt and his Bullet Club stablemates Bad Luck Fale, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson, with Devitt pinning him for the win.[88] On February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Taguchi picked up his first win over Devitt by pinning him a tag team match, where he and Togi Makabe defeated Devitt and Bad Luck Fale.[89] On April 6 at Invasion Attack 2014, one year after the break-up of Apollo 55, Taguchi defeated Devitt in a singles grudge match. Post-match the two men shook hands, ending their rivalry with each other.[90]

At the following major event, Wrestling Dontaku 2014 on May 3, Taguchi received a shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Kota Ibushi.[91] On May 30, Taguchi entered the 2014 Best of the Super Juniors tournament,[92] where he finished second in his block with a record of four wins and three losses, advancing to the semifinals.[93] On June 8, Taguchi was eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals by Ricochet.[94] On September 21 at Destruction in Kobe, Taguchi defeated Kushida to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the second time.[95][96] He made his first successful title defense on October 13 at King of Pro-Wrestling against El Desperado, despite outside interference from his Suzuki-gun stablemates Taichi and Taka Michinoku.[97][98] Taguchi's feud with the Suzuki-gun trio continued on October 25 at the 2014 Super Jr. Tag Tournament, where he teamed with Mexican wrestler Fuego. Taguchi and Fuego were eliminated from the tournament in the first round by El Desperado and Taichi, when Taichi pinned Taguchi, after outside interference from Michinoku and Desperado hitting him with his own title belt.[99] This led to Power Struggle on November 8, where Taguchi successfully defended his title against Taichi.[100] On January 4, 2015, Taguchi lost the title to Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome.[101][102]

Taguchi received a rematch for the title on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka, but was again defeated by Omega.[103][104] In May, Taguchi entered the 2015 Best of the Super Juniors.[105] After five wins and one loss, he entered the final day with a chance to reach the finals of the tournament, but a loss to Chase Owens meant that he was eliminated instead.[106] A year later, Taguchi won his block in the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors with a record of five wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament.[107] On June 7, Taguchi was defeated in the finals of the tournament by Will Ospreay.[108] On July 20, Taguchi entered the 2016 Super J-Cup, defeating Pro Wrestling Noah representative Daisuke Harada in his first round match.[109] On August 21, he was eliminated from the tournament in the second round by another Noah representative, Yoshinobu Kanemaru.[110]

Taguchi Japan (2017–present)

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Main article: Taguchi Japan
Taguchi in May 2016

On January 5, 2017, Taguchi, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Evil and Sanada) for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[111] The trio of Taguchi, Tanahashi and Nakanishi eventually became known as "Taguchi Japan".[112] Taguchi was portrayed as the coach of the pseudo-baseball/soccer/professional wrestling stable.[113] They lost the title back to L.I.J. on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka.[114] On March 6 at NJPW's 45th anniversary event, Taguchi unsuccessfully challenged Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[115] Over the following months, Taguchi Japan expanded with several new members, including David Finlay, Juice Robinson, Kushida and Ricochet.[116] On April 4, Taguchi, Ricochet and Tanahashi defeated L.I.J. to bring the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship back to Taguchi Japan.[117] They lost the title back to L.I.J. on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2017.[118] Taguchi then took part in the 2017 Best of the Super Juniors, where he finished with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals.[119]

Taguchi then formed a new tag team named "Funky Future" with Ricochet under the banner of Taguchi Japan.[120] On August 13, the two defeated The Young Bucks to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[121] They lost the title to Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh) on October 9 at King of Pro-Wrestling.[122] In May 2018, he entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He finished the tournament with 3 wins and 4 losses, failing to advance to the finals. On the final night of the G1 Climax 28, Taguchi under the guise of Pro Wrestler Sengoku Embu teamed with Kushida and Rey Mysterio Jr. to defeat the team of Chaos' Kazuchika Okada, Sho and Yoh.[123]

On January 30, 2019, Makabe, Taguchi and Yano defeated Bullet Club to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[124] On March 10, Taguchi would compete in the New Japan Cup, replacing an injured David Finlay, and defeat Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the first round. In the second round, he lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi. In November 2020, he entered the Best of the super juniors tournament. He finished the tournament with 8 points (4 wins and 5 losses), failing to advance to the finals. In August, Taguchi entered the Super J-Cup, defeating Jonathan Gresham in the first round. In round 2, Taguchi lost to Dragon Lee.[125] In October, Tagucji teamed with Rocky Romero in the Super Junior Tag League. The team finished with 8 points, failing o advance to the finals.[126] On Night 2 of Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 5, 2020, Taguchi, Makabe and Yano lost the Never Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships to Los Ingobernables de Japon, ending their reign at 340 days.[127][128]

In June, Taguchi entered the New Japan Cup, but was quickly eliminated by Sanada.[129] In September, Taguchi teamed with Master Wato in a tournament to crown new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, the duo failed to win the vacant titles after scoring 2 points in the tournament, but began to team frequently. In November, Taguchi entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament but failed to advance to the finals, after scoring only 8 points.[130] In January 2021, on nigh 2 of Wrestle Kingdom 15, Taguchi and Wato, unsuccessfully challenged El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.[131]

In July at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Taguchi and Rocky Romero challenged El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.[132] In August, Taguchi returned to teaming with Wato in the Super Junior Tag League, they narrowly failed to advance the finals, finishing with 6 points.[133] In September, Taguchi made his NJPW Strong debut in the US, teaming with Rocky Romero to defeat the West Coast Wrecking Crew.[134] In November, Taguchi competed in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, finishing with 10 pints, failing to advance to the finals.[135] In January 2022, Taqguchi and Romero, competed in a three-way tag-team match, for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, where they and Ishimori and Phantasmo, failed to defeat champions Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask.[136]

At NJPW New Years Golden Series later in January, Wato and Taguchi (now called Six or Nine) successfully captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. In March, Taguchi entered the New Japan Cup, but was eliminated in the first round by Evil.[137] Six or Nine made their first successful tag team title defense at Hyper Battle, defeating Bullet Club's Cutest Tag Team (El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori).[138] In May, they made a second successful defense against Suzuki-Gun's Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Douki.[139] Later in the month, Taguchi competed in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, competing in the A Block.[140] He finished the tournament, with 6 points, finishing last in his block. On the final day, Six or Nine lost to United Empire's T.J. Perkins and Francesco Akira in a non-title match.[141] Due to this loss, Six or Nine defended the titles in a rematch, where they lost the championships to Akira and TJP, ending their reign at 121 days.[142] Six or Nine, failed to win the titles back in a rematch at Burning Spirit.[143]

In November, Taguchi teamed with Clark Connors in the 2022 Super Junior Tag League. The duo finished the tournament with 6 points, failing to advance to the finals.[144] At Wrestle Kingdom 17, Taguchi competed in the New Japan Rambo, but failed to last till the final 4.[145] In May. Taguchi was announced to be participating in the A Block of the Best of the Super Juniors.[146] Taguchi finished bottom of the block, scoring just 2 points and failing to advance to the semi-finals.[147]

Other media

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In 2015, Taguchi began performing as a singer character named "Akira Michishirube".[148] Taguchi, as Michishirube, released his first CD on July 27, 2016.[149]

Championships and accomplishments

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Taguchi as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in September 2014

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ryusuke Taguchi

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ryusuke Taguchi is a Japanese professional wrestler, born on April 15, 1979, in Iwanuma, Miyagi, who has been performing for (NJPW) since his debut on November 22, 2002. Standing at 180 cm and weighing 91 kg, Taguchi is renowned in the junior heavyweight division for his versatile style blending technical submissions, high-flying maneuvers, and comedic elements, often highlighted by his signature hip attack and a gimmick centered around the number 69. Taguchi's early career in NJPW focused on establishing himself as a reliable technician, training under the promotion's system before breaking out with significant achievements. His first major title win came in 2007 when he captured the , defeating , and he held it for one reign before losing it later that year. He secured a second reign in 2014, defeating Kushida at Destruction in , marking him as a two-time champion in the division's premier singles title. Complementing these accomplishments, Taguchi has been a seven-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, partnering with wrestlers such as , Prince Devitt (later ), Ricochet, and most recently Master Wato as part of the team Six or Nine. A standout moment in Taguchi's career was his victory in the 2016 tournament, where he defeated in the finals, solidifying his status as a top junior competitor. Earlier, as part of the Apollo 55 with Prince Devitt from 2009 to 2013, he contributed to multiple tag title reigns and helped elevate the junior tag division through intense matches against teams like the Forever Hooligans. In recent years, as of 2025, Taguchi continues to compete actively for NJPW, serving also as a coach while maintaining his entertaining persona in events like the and ongoing junior heavyweight tours. His longevity and adaptability have made him a beloved figure in , with over two decades of contributions to NJPW's roster.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2002–2006)

Ryusuke Taguchi was born on April 15, 1979, in Iwanuma, , . A former amateur wrestler who competed in the 76 kg class during college, Taguchi entered the (NJPW) in March 2002 to begin his professional training under veteran trainer , known for developing several prominent junior heavyweights through rigorous sessions emphasizing endurance and technique. This foundational period as a "young lion"—NJPW's term for in-house trainees—focused on building core skills in strong style wrestling, including stiff strikes, submissions, and high-impact maneuvers suited to the junior heavyweight division. Taguchi made his professional debut on November 22, 2002, at Korakuen Hall in , where he lost to fellow young lion in a singles match during the NJPW Triathlon Survivor tour. Over the next year and a half, he competed primarily in opening matches and multi-man tags against other trainees and lower-card talent, honing his athleticism and gaining experience in NJPW's junior heavyweight style, which emphasized speed and aerial work alongside hard-hitting exchanges. In 2004, Taguchi participated in the tournament, a showcase for promising rookies; he advanced through block matches and defeated Kazuya Yuasa in the final on April 27 at Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall to claim the championship, earning recognition as NJPW's top young talent of the year. This victory marked his breakthrough, highlighting his potential and leading to an eight-month excursion to later that year, where he wrestled for (CMLL) and Toryumon México, adapting to techniques and winning the 2005 La Copa Yamaha Internacional tournament. Upon returning to NJPW in early 2006, Taguchi transitioned into regular junior heavyweight competition, teaming with veterans to face established pairs and build momentum toward title contention. His first major achievement came on February 19, 2006, at NJPW's Circuit 2006 Acceleration event in Ryogoku Kokugikan, , where he and defeated defending champions Wataru and via submission to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship—Taguchi's inaugural title in . The 21-minute match showcased Taguchi's growing synergy with the experienced , as they overcame the champions' technical prowess with a combination of high-flying offense and ground control, including Taguchi securing the winning Dodon buster on . The duo held the titles for 139 days, making two successful defenses before losing them on July 8, 2006, to and in Shizuoka. This reign solidified Taguchi's status as a rising contender in the division.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship reigns (2007–2008)

Taguchi captured the for the first time on July 6, 2007, defeating defending champion Minoru at a event in Tokyo, Japan. This victory came shortly after Taguchi's strong performance in the 2007 tournament, where he advanced to the semifinals with five wins in the round-robin stage, including a key victory over Minoru. The win marked Taguchi's breakthrough as a singles competitor, elevating him from a promising young talent to a top contender in NJPW's junior heavyweight division. During his 155-day reign, Taguchi made four successful defenses, showcasing his technical prowess and resilience against established rivals. Notable victories included retaining the title against on September 24, 2007, at an NJPW ; Minoru on October 8, 2007, during the Explosion '07 event; and Prince Devitt on October 28, 2007, at the 35th Anniversary Tour. These matches highlighted Taguchi's ability to blend mat-based wrestling with high-energy strikes, solidifying his status as a credible champion. He lost the championship on December 8, 2007, to Wataru Inoue via submission in at the New Japan Alive event, ending his inaugural run after a competitive 21-minute bout. Taguchi's title reign significantly influenced his career trajectory, establishing him as a mainstay in NJPW's junior division and opening opportunities for high-profile tournaments. In the 2008 Best of the Super Juniors, he topped his block with eight points from four wins and two draws, advancing to the semifinals before falling to Koji Kanemoto. This performance, combined with his prior championship success, positioned Taguchi as a leading figure among junior heavyweights, paving the way for future tag team endeavors while affirming his singles viability.

Apollo 55 (2009–2013)

In 2009, Ryusuke Taguchi partnered with Prince Devitt to form the tag team Apollo 55 in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), drawing inspiration from the energetic "go-go" ethos of the Apollo space program. The duo first teamed at Wrestle Kingdom III on January 4, 2009, challenging the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) in a non-title match. Their alliance gained momentum through consistent performances in the junior heavyweight division, culminating in a breakthrough victory on July 5, 2009, at Circuit 2009 New Japan Soul, where they defeated the Motor City Machine Guns to capture the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. This first reign lasted 290 days until the title was vacated on April 21, 2010, due to Devitt suffering an injury, during which Apollo 55 achieved seven successful defenses—a record for the championship at the time—against opponents including the Super Sonic Style Combo and Jado & Gedo. Following a to crown new champions, Apollo 55 reclaimed the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on July 19, 2010, at the Summer Fight 2010 Tour event in by defeating and , who had won the Super J Tag for the vacant titles. The second reign spanned 84 days and featured defenses against high-profile teams such as (Matt and Nick Jackson) on August 15, 2010, at the XX, showcasing Apollo 55's technical prowess and aerial innovation in the junior tag landscape. It concluded on October 11, 2010, at Destruction '10, when the (Kenny Omega and ) dethroned them in a critically match that highlighted intense rivalries within NJPW's junior division. Apollo 55 secured their third reign on January 23, 2011, at 2011 in , avenging their prior loss by defeating the to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Lasting 260 days, this period solidified their dominance, with defenses against CHAOS-affiliated duos like & and international challengers, emphasizing storylines of resilience against stable-backed opposition. The reign ended on October 10, 2011, at King of Pro-Wrestling, as the once again prevailed, underscoring a heated rivalry that elevated the junior tag scene. The team's fourth and final championship run began on January 4, 2012, at in , where Apollo 55 defeated No Remorse Corps ( and )—a key CHAOS unit—to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. This 39-day reign included defenses that intensified their feud with CHAOS, but it abruptly concluded on February 12, 2012, at , with No Remorse Corps reclaiming the titles due to Richards' visa issues leading to a subsequent vacating. In 2012, Apollo 55 remained prominent in tag competition, reaching the finals of the Super Jr. Tag Tournament on November 2 but falling to the Time Splitters (KUSHIDA and ), a rivalry that extended into with non-title clashes highlighting generational and stylistic contrasts in NJPW's junior ranks. By late 2013, signs of dissolution emerged as Devitt focused on his singles push, winning the 2013 and adopting a darker that foreshadowed Bullet Club's formation. Apollo 55's final notable appearances together tapered off, with the team effectively ending upon Devitt's departure from NJPW in April 2014 to join , leaving Taguchi to pursue solo endeavors. Their partnership across four reigns and numerous defenses cemented Apollo 55 as one of NJPW's most successful junior tag teams of the era, blending athleticism, charisma, and strategic teamwork.

Singles competition (2013–2016)

Following the dissolution of his tag team partnership in Apollo 55, Ryusuke Taguchi shifted his focus back to singles competition within (NJPW), aiming to reestablish himself as a top junior heavyweight contender. In the 2013 (BOSJ) XX tournament, Taguchi competed in and secured a strong performance with five victories—including wins over , KUSHIDA, BUSHI, , and Jado—against two losses to and , earning him advancement to the semifinals. There, on June 9, 2013, at Ryogoku Kokugikan, he fell to Prince Devitt via submission, finishing as a semifinalist in the prestigious round-robin event. This tournament run highlighted Taguchi's technical prowess and resilience, setting the stage for his renewed push in the junior division. Taguchi's singles momentum culminated in his second IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship reign, captured on September 21, 2014, at Destruction in , where he defeated champion KUSHIDA via ankle lock submission in the main event. He successfully defended the title twice during his 105-day reign: first against El Desperado on October 13, 2014, at King of Pro-Wrestling via submission, and then against Taichi on November 3, 2014, at Power Struggle via roll-up pin. The reign ended on January 4, 2015, at in , when defeated him with the One-Winged Angel to claim the title. These defenses showcased Taguchi's ability to blend mat-based submissions with opportunistic counters against agile and striking opponents. Throughout 2015 and 2016, Taguchi continued to compete prominently in singles, participating in multiple BOSJ tournaments and even crossing over to the heavyweight division. In the 2016 BOSJ XXIII, he reached the finals on June 7 at Ota City General Gymnasium but was defeated by Will Ospreay via Stormbreaker, in a match praised for its high-energy exchanges and Taguchi's targeted leg work to counter Ospreay's aerial offense. Later that year, Taguchi made his G1 Climax debut in the 26th edition's B Block, competing against heavyweight stars and earning points through victories like one over David Finlay on August 10, though he ultimately finished with a 2-7 record in the grueling tournament. This period marked an evolution in Taguchi's approach, emphasizing his signature hip attacks and ankle lock submissions while incorporating more comedic flair to engage audiences, contributing to a singles win rate of approximately 55% across NJPW events from 2013 to 2016.

Taguchi Japan and veteran years (2017–present)

In early 2017, Ryusuke Taguchi formed the stable following a victory over (BUSHI, , and SANADA) to capture the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship on January 5 at Road to , with initial members and . The group, positioned as a babyface counter to dominant heels, expanded to include and , emphasizing Taguchi's role as a comedic yet resilient leader blending veteran guidance with flamboyant antics. became known for multi-man tag matches that highlighted inter-faction rivalries, often incorporating Taguchi's signature humor to engage audiences. Under the Taguchi Japan banner, the stable secured the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship three times. The inaugural reign began on January 5, 2017, when Taguchi, Tanahashi, and Nakanishi dethroned in Korakuen Hall, marking the group's debut as titleholders and setting the tone for their underdog feuds. The second reign came on January 30, 2019, at Road to , where Taguchi teamed with Makabe and to defeat Bullet Club's , , and , holding the titles for 340 days and defending against various trios including and House of Torture. Their third successful capture occurred on September 5, 2021, at Capital Collision, with Taguchi partnering Makabe and to overcome House of Torture's , , and , reinforcing the stable's longevity in midcard contention. Taguchi also achieved success in the junior heavyweight tag division during this era. On February 19, 2022, at New Japan Cup, he and Master Wato, dubbing themselves Six or Nine, defeated Flying Tiger (Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, holding it for 121 days with defenses against teams like Bullet Club's El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. This reign showcased Taguchi's versatility, pairing his experience with Wato's high-flying style in matches that bridged generations within New Japan Pro-Wrestling. From 2023 onward, Taguchi maintained an active schedule while transitioning into a mentorship role. He competed in the 2023 (BOSJ 30), advancing through block play with wins over opponents like before elimination in the semifinals. In 2025, marking his 21st BOSJ appearance, Taguchi entered Block B of BOSJ 32, securing victories over and YOH but finishing with six points after losses to El Desperado and Kevin Knight, utilizing his evolved "Funky Weapon" gimmick—now incorporating props like a bottle of alcohol for distractions—to generate crowd energy at age 46. He teamed with Dragon Dia as the Skateboard Bros. in the 2025, earning six points in Block A with wins over teams like before a final loss to House of Torture. Taguchi appeared at New Japan Soul 2025, teaming with in tag matches against , contributing to undercard storytelling that hinted at Taguchi Japan's potential reformation through trios bouts involving former allies like Makabe and . At Tanahashi's Final event in 2025, Taguchi joined multi-man tags honoring the retiring ace, underscoring their shared history. Concurrently, Taguchi assumed a coaching position at the NJPW , assisting young lions alongside veterans like Tenzan in training sessions focused on fundamentals and ring psychology, balancing his in-ring commitments with developmental guidance. His "Funky Weapon" persona continued to evolve in 2025 BOSJ, blending comedic elements like trouser-based antics with serious submissions, earning praise for sustaining fan interest amid his veteran status.

Other media

Video game appearances

Ryusuke Taguchi has been featured as a playable character in several video games based on New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotions, reflecting his long tenure with the company since his 2002 debut. These appearances primarily occur in simulation-style wrestling titles, where his character incorporates elements of his in-ring style, including signature maneuvers inspired by his comedic "Dolphin" persona, such as hip attacks and the Dodon (a chickenwing facebuster). His earliest video game inclusion was in King of Colosseum II, a PlayStation 2 title developed by Spike and released on September 9, 2004, which featured an extensive NJPW roster alongside wrestlers from other promotions like Pro Wrestling Noah. Taguchi appears as a playable wrestler with a moveset aligned to his junior heavyweight style at the time. Taguchi next appeared in Wrestle Kingdom 2: Pro-Wrestling World War, a PlayStation 2 game developed by Yuke's and released on May 10, 2007, serving as a sequel to the original Wrestle Kingdom. In this title, he is part of the NJPW roster, allowing players to utilize his agile, technical wrestling approach in matches and story modes. More recently, Taguchi is included in , a cross-platform simulation game (PC, ) developed by and released on December 18, 2017, with official NJPW licensing that added a full junior and heavyweight roster through collaborations. His playable character emphasizes his veteran status, with a detailed moveset featuring the Dodon as a finisher and humorous animations tied to his Dolphin gimmick, enabling custom matches and edit modes.

Music and acting

In 2015, Ryusuke Taguchi introduced his musical persona "Akira Michishirube," an enka-inspired singer character that added a comedic layer to his public image. This debut aligned with his evolving role in (NJPW), where the character allowed him to blend entertainment elements into his performances. As Michishirube, Taguchi released his debut single CD, Michishirube, on July 27, 2016, featuring tracks such as "Michishirube" and "Road69". The release was promoted alongside NJPW events, with live performances incorporating the persona to engage fans during shows. The Akira Michishirube gimmick became a staple of Taguchi's in-ring presentation during the Taguchi Japan stable era starting in 2017, where he integrated musical elements and dances into his entrances to emphasize the group's fun-loving dynamic. This fusion highlighted Taguchi's versatility, turning wrestling arrivals into interactive spectacles that drew on his routines for crowd interaction. Taguchi transitioned into with guest appearances , beginning with a cameo as himself in episode 10 of the 2016 legal drama 99.9: Criminal Lawyer. He returned for the series' second season in 2018, portraying an image character in episode 1. That same year, he took on a supporting role as Yorita, also known as Ginbae Mask, in the wrestling-themed family film My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler, which featured several NJPW wrestlers and explored themes of fatherhood and professional rivalry. In 2023, Taguchi appeared as a professional wrestler in episodes 1 and 5 of the action series Keishicho Outsider (also known as Outsider Cops), contributing to storylines involving and outsiders. Additional minor cameos include his role as Nishida Koichi in the 2023 Esper X Detective Agency: Searching for Goodbye. These roles often leveraged his wrestling background, portraying athletic or performative figures in narrative contexts.

Championships and accomplishments

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

Ryusuke Taguchi is a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. His first reign began on July 6, 2007, when he defeated in at New Japan Soul: C.T.U. Farewell Tour to win the title from the reigning champion. The reign lasted 155 days until December 8, 2007, when he lost to Wataru Inoue in at Circuit 2007 New Japan Alive. Taguchi's second reign started on September 21, 2014, defeating Kushida in at Destruction in Kobe. This 105-day reign ended on January 4, 2015, when he lost to in at 9.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

Taguchi is a seven-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, holding the record for the most reigns by an individual wrestler. His reigns are as follows:
ReignPartnerWin Date & EventDefeatedDurationLoss Date & EventLost To
1February 19, 2006 (NJPW Battle Surge, )Wataru Inoue & 134 daysJuly 8, 2006 (NJPW event, Shizuoka) &
2Prince DevittJuly 5, 2009 (NJPW Circuit 2009 New Japan Soul, )The ( & )290 daysVacated April 21, 2010 (due to Devitt's injury)N/A
3Prince DevittJuly 19, 2010 (NJPW event, ) & 84 daysOctober 11, 2010 (NJPW Destruction 2010, ) ( & )
4Prince DevittJanuary 23, 2011 (NJPW 2011, ) ( & )260 daysOctober 10, 2011 (NJPW Destruction 2011, )No Remorse Corps ( & )
5Prince DevittJanuary 4, 2012 (NJPW , )No Remorse Corps ( & )39 daysFebruary 12, 2012 (NJPW , Osaka)No Remorse Corps ( & )
6August 13, 2017 (NJPW 27, )The (Matt & Nick Jackson)57 daysOctober 9, 2017 (NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling, ) (Sho & Yoh)
7February 19, 2022 (NJPW in Osaka, Osaka)Flying Tiger ( & )121 daysJune 20, 2022 (NJPW Road to Destruction, )Catch 2/2 (TJP & )

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship

Taguchi is a three-time NEVER 6-Man Champion, all as part of the stable. His reigns include:
ReignPartnersWin Date & EventDefeatedDurationLoss Date & EventLost To
1 & January 5, 2017 (NJPW New Year Dash!!, ) (Bushi, & Sanada)37 daysFebruary 11, 2017 (NJPW The New Beginning in , ) (Bushi, & Sanada)
2 & April 9, 2017 (NJPW , ) (Bushi, & Sanada)24 daysMay 3, 2017 (NJPW Wrestling Toyonokuni, ) (, & Sanada)
3 & January 30, 2019 (NJPW The New Beginning USA, ) (, & )340 daysJanuary 5, 2020 (NJPW - Night 2, ) (, Bushi & )

Other accomplishments

Taguchi's early career highlight came in 2004 when he won the (NJPW) , defeating in the semifinals and Naofumi Yamamoto in the final to claim the tournament victory. This accomplishment marked him as a standout prospect among NJPW's young trainees, showcasing his technical prowess and determination during his formative years in the system. In the prestigious (BOSJ) tournament, Taguchi achieved significant success, including victories in the 2012 and 2016 editions, defeating and in the respective finals. He has made multiple deep runs in subsequent years, reaching the semifinals in 2013 after topping his block with a 5-3 record. Further notable appearances include semifinals contention in 2023 and his participation in the 2025 tournament, marking his 21st entry overall—a record for the most BOSJ appearances in NJPW history, underscoring his enduring presence and adaptability in junior heavyweight competition. Beyond in-ring tournaments, Taguchi has earned recognition for his contributions outside the ring, including fan-voted honors in NJPW's annual MVP polls, where his charismatic performances and longevity have garnered consistent support from audiences. As a coach in the NJPW , he has mentored numerous Young Lions, integrating his experience into training regimens that emphasize resilience and innovation, helping to shape the next generation of talent within the promotion.

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