Gran Naniwa
| Ring name(s) | Gran Naniwa The Claw |
|---|---|
| Billed height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Billed weight | 98 kg (220 lb) |
| Born | February 15, 1977 Ibaraki Prefecture |
| Died | October 6, 2010 (aged 33) |
| Trained by | Great Sasuke |
| Debut | June 2, 1993 |
Gran Naniwa (愚乱・浪花) (February 15, 1977 - October 6, 2010)[1] was a Japanese professional wrestler. Naniwa was known for his comedic gimmick, in which he performed mannerisms of crabs.[2] This was also reflected upon in the design of his wrestling mask.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Naniwa debuted professionally in 1993 in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, immediately making an impact as one of the most popular[citation needed] faces within the company. His first major attempt at becoming a top performer saw him compete in the 1995 Super J Cup. Naniwa managed to get to the quarterfinals, but he was later eliminated by Jushin Liger, who later went on to win the Super J Cup.[1] In the late 1990s, Naniwa competed in the United States for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he wrestled Gran Hamada in January 1998 at the ECW House Party event.[2] After this, Naniwa took a brief hiatus for a few years but made his return in 2006, again under his Gran Naniwa ring name, competing in a match for New Japan Pro Wrestling's now defunct WRESTLE LAND "brand".
[edit] Death
Naniwa died on October 6, 2010 due to a heart attack at the age of 33, although many wrestling news outlets mistakenly stated that Naniwa was 34.
[edit] In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Clutch de Naniwa (Modified arm wrench inside cradle)
- Driver de Naniwa (Sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- Spinning gutwrench powerbomb
- Signature moves
[edit] References
- ^ a b "選手名鑑" (in (Japanese)). New Japan Pro Wrestling. http://www.njpw.co.jp/prof/free_misc10.html. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Caldwell, James (2010-11-21). "Japan News: Japanese pro wrestler Gran Naniwa dies at age 33, briefly wrestled for ECW in 1990s". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_45441.shtml. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
[edit] External links
- Cagematch profile (German)
