Satoshi Kojima

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Satoshi Kojima

Kojima in November 2011.
Ring name(s) Satoshi Kojima
The Great Koji
The Great Kosuke
Joe-Joe Lee
Lion Satoshi
Billed height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Billed weight 112 kg (250 lb)[1]
Born September 14, 1970 (1970-09-14) (age 41)[1]
Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan[1]
Trained by Animal Hamaguchi[1]
Kensuke Sasaki
Hiroshi Hase
NJPW Dojo[1]
Debut July 16, 1991[1]

Satoshi Kojima (小島 聡 Kojima Satoshi?) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling.[1] He is currently in his fourth reign as one half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions. 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. As a team, he and Hiroyoshi Tenzan became the first team to won G1 Climax Tag League and World's Strongest Tag Team League on the same year.

Contents

[edit] Before Wrestling

Like many Japanese wrestlers, Kojima has a background in Judo, but he chose not to continue the sport when he went to college. He got his start loading trucks for New Japan Pro Wrestling & after some months of persuasion finally convinced head trainer Animal Hamaguchi to accept him into the dojo.

[edit] Career

[edit] New Japan Pro Wrestling (1991–2002)

Kojima entered the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo in February 1991. He debuted as a wrestler on September 14 in a match against Hiroyoshi Yamamoto, who would later adopt the stage name of Hiroyoshi Tenzan. In 1994 he defeated Manabu Nakanishi in the Young Lions Cup finals, winning the tournament. In the end of that year he went to Europe, and returned to NJPW in January 1996. When he returned, he formed The Bull Powers with Nakanishi, who had returned from WCW. In May 1997 he defeated Riki Chōshū and Kensuke Sasaki with Nakanishi to become an IWGP Tag Team Champion for the first time. At the end of 1998 he joined nWo Japan, by Keiji Mutoh's leadership. Kojima and Tenzan (known together as Ten-Koji, a portmanteau of their last names) formed a tag team and ended up holding the IWGP Tag Team titles together twice.

[edit] All Japan Pro Wrestling (2002–2010)

In January 2002, in opposition to Antonio Inoki focusing the IWGP title on unreliable shoot style wrestlers such as Kazuyuki Fujita and Tadao Yasuda, Kojima left NJPW with his mentor Keiji Mutoh, and joined All Japan Pro Wrestling where he was finally able to receive the push of a top star. He held both of the company's tag team titles, the AJPW Double Cup Tag Team Championship twice. On February 16, 2005, he won the Triple Crown, AJPW's unified heavyweight championship from Toshiaki Kawada. Only four days later he won NJPW's heavyweight championship, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, from his former tag team partner Hiroyoshi Tenzan in a cross-promotional double title match. On May 14, 2005, Tenzan won the IWGP title back, but not the Triple Crown.[2]

Upon joining AJPW, Kojima began to use the Great Koji (copying The Great Muta) and Great Kosuke (copying The Great Sasuke) personas for special matches.

On July 3, 2006 Kojima lost the Triple Crown to Taiyō Kea. Three days later it was revealed that Kojima would return to New Japan to compete in the 2006 G-1 Climax, where he would go to lose in the finals against former tag team partner and rival Hiroyoshi Tenzan.

In October 2006 it was announced that TenKoji would reform for the upcoming World's Strongest Tag Team League tournament. On December 2, 2006 the reformed TenKoji won the Real World Tag League defeating Kohei Suwama and RO'Z in the finals when Kojima used a lariat on RO'Z. The duo next faced Masahiro Chono and Keiji Muto at NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome. They lost when Chono forced Tenzan to submit.

In July 2007, Kojima shocked the All-Japan Army when he betrayed them and joined the Voodoo Murders, where he was quickly made the group's co-leader along with TARU. Soon after joining, Kojima and TARU won the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championships from Toshiaki Kawada and Taiyō Kea. Kojima left the group in 2008 after returning from injury to side with his sworn friend Hiroyoshi Tenzan and to feud with the alliance of Great Bash Heel (Tenzan's former group) and the VooDoo Murders.

In 2008, Tenzan and Kojima became the first tag team to ever win G1 Climax Tag League and Real World Tag League in the same year. Later he started his 1st stable named F4 (Friend Fight Fan and Future) with young proteges YAMATO and KAI. A 4th member in ZODIAC joined later in 2009. On September 26, 2009 a few days after his 39th birthday Kojima lifted the All-Japan Triple Crown off of Yoshihiro Takayama, returning the titles to All-Japan and winning them for the 2nd time. He lost the title on March 21, 2010 to Ryota Hama.[3]

Kojima's AJPW page was taken down soon before he agreed to compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling's 20th annual G1 Climax. It's reported that he was plagued with an arm injury that required surgery and needed time off to heal. AJPW then refused to discuss resigning Kojima until he was healthy. It's been reported Kojima was not pleased with this and began entertaining other possibilities.

[edit] Return to New Japan (2010–present)

Kojima returned to New Japan in August 2010 in order to take part in the 2010 G1 Climax tournament. His return match took place on August 6, 2010, when he teamed up with El Samurai in a tag team match, where they were defeated by Hirooki Goto and Ryusuke Taguchi.[4] In the round robin stage of the tournament Kojima won five out his seven matches and won his block to advance to the finals, where, on August 15, he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win G1 Climax.[5] On October 11 Kojima defeated Togi Makabe to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship for the second time.[6] On December 11 Kojima made his first successful defense of the title, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura.[7] On December 14 Kojima announced that he was starting his own stable, tentatively named Kojima Office, and named Taichi, who had accompanied him to the ring for his Nakamura match, its first member.[8] Kojima turned heel on December 23, when he hit his number one contender Hiroshi Tanahashi with a lariat after a match, where he and Kota Ibushi had defeated Tanahashi and Prince Devitt.[9] On January 4, 2011, at Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome, Kojima lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Tanahashi.[10][11] On January 30 Kojima defeated Togi Makabe to earn a rematch with Tanahashi.[12] Meanwhile, the newly renamed Kojima Army expanded to include TAKA Michinoku and NOSAWA Rongai, who in turn used his connections to get MVP to also join the group.[13][14] Kojima received his rematch for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on February 20, but was again defeated by Tanahashi.[15] After Kojima was defeated by Togi Makabe on May 3, Taichi and TAKA Michinoku turned on him and named the returning Minoru Suzuki as their new leader, while Kojima himself formed a new partnership with Makabe and MVP, who left the stable after Suzuki took over.[16][17][18] On July 18, Suzuki defeated Kojima in a singles match.[19] The two had a rematch on August 1 during the first day of the 2011 G1 Climax, where Kojima managed to pick up the win.[20] Kojima managed to win five more matches in the tournament, but a loss to former partner Hiroyoshi Tenzan on the final day eliminated him fron the running for a spot in the finals.[21] After the tournament Kojima was sidelined indefinitely with an eye injury suffered during the match with Tenzan.[22] On September 19, it was announced that Kojima had signed a contract with New Japan to become an official member of the promotion's roster. Kojima then announced that he would make his return on October 10 and challenged former partner Hiroyoshi Tenzan to be his opponent that day.[23] Kojima would end up defeating Tenzan in his return match.[24] In the 2011 G1 Climax Tag League, Kojima teamed with Togi Makabe as the "Beast Combination".[25] After picking up three wins and one loss in their first four matches, Kojima and Makabe were defeated by the Billion Powers (Hirooki Goto and Hiroshi Tanahashi) on November 4, causing them to narrowly miss advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.[26] Kojima and Tenzan faced each other yet again on November 12 in a match, which was won by Tenzan. Afterwards, the former tag team partners came together to fend off an attack from CHAOS.[27] Ten-Koji wrestled their return match as a tag team on December 4, defeating CHAOS members Hideo Saito and Takashi Iizuka.[28] On January 4, 2012, at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, Kojima and Tenzan defeated Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson) to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the third time.[29]

[edit] In wrestling

  • Entrance themes
    • "Crush Dynamite" – NJP Unit (NJPW)
    • "Ride Hover" – NJP Unit / nWo (NJPW)
    • "Rush!!" – Production theme (NJPW / AJPW)
    • "Stylus" – Production theme (AJPW)

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
    • Fighting Spirit Award (2010)[37]
    • Most Valuable Player (2005)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Satoshi Kojima" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=065. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
  2. ^ a b Staff, Powerslam. "Power Slam". Looking at: NJPW at the Dome (SW Publishing LTD): pp. 22–23. 132. 
  3. ^ Lefort, Kieran (2010-03-21). "All Japan Sumo Hall report 3-21 - New Triple Crown champion". Figure Four Weekly/Wrestling Observer Newsletter. http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/12711/. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 
  4. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 8/6/10". Strong Style Spirit. 2010-08-06. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1836. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  5. ^ a b "(Results) New Japan, 8/15/10". Strong Style Spirit. 2010-08-15. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=1973. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  6. ^ a b "(Results) New Japan, 10/11/10". Strong Style Spirit. 2010-10-11. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2154. Retrieved 2010-10-11. 
  7. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 12/11/10 & Liger wins another title in USA". Strong Style Spirit. 2010-12-11. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2408. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
  8. ^ "小島「棚橋選手は一番負けたくないし、一番負けてはいけない相手」/「レッスルキングダムV」囲み会見（1）" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. 2010-12-14. http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=4829. Retrieved 2010-12-20. 
  9. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 12/23/10". Strong Style Spirit. 2010-12-23. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2472. Retrieved 2010-12-23. 
  10. ^ "レッスルキングダムⅤ ｉｎ 東京ドーム" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=132. Retrieved 2011-01-04. 
  11. ^ Caldwell, James (2011-01-04). "NJPW News: New Japan announces U.S. tour dates in 2011, new IWGP Hvt. champion determined in Tokyo Dome Show main event". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_46512.shtml. Retrieved 2011-01-04. 
  12. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 1/30/11". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-01-30. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2546. Retrieved 2011-02-01. 
  13. ^ "小島軍（仮）座談会で小島の本性が暴かれる!?　週刊プロレス3月2日号(vol.1566)は2月16日(水)発売" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. 2011-02-15. http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=5216. Retrieved 2011-04-09. 
  14. ^ "NOSAWA: MVP is coming to New Japan". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-01-31. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2551. Retrieved 2011-02-01. 
  15. ^ "The New Beginning" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. 2011-02-20. http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=142. Retrieved 2011-02-20. 
  16. ^ "レスリングどんたく 2011" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=173. Retrieved 2011-05-03. 
  17. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 5/3/11". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-05-03. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2776. Retrieved 2011-05-03. 
  18. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 5/15/11 (USA)". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-05-15. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2833. Retrieved 2011-05-15. 
  19. ^ "New Japan Soul 2011" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=303. Retrieved 2011-07-18. 
  20. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 8/1/11". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-08-01. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=3037. Retrieved 2011-08-01. 
  21. ^ "ブシロード Presents G1 Climax XXI ～The Invincible Fighter～" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. 2011-08-14. http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=322. Retrieved 2011-08-14. 
  22. ^ "8/22 card announced, 8/30 card changed; Kojima injured". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-08-17. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=3112. Retrieved 2011-08-17. 
  23. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 9/19/11". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-09-19. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=3169. Retrieved 2011-09-19. 
  24. ^ "Destruction '11" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=412. Retrieved 2011-10-10. 
  25. ^ "G1 Tag League 2011 teams announced!". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-09-21. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=3179. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  26. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 11/4/11". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-11-04. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=3235. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  27. ^ "(Results) New Japan, 11/12/11". Strong Style Spirit. 2011-11-12. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=3246. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
  28. ^ "New Japan Alive 2011" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=481. Retrieved 2011-12-04. 
  29. ^ "NJPW 40th anniversary Tour. レッスルキングダムⅥ in 東京ドーム" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=470. Retrieved 2012-01-04. 
  30. ^ Profile at Shining Road, AJPW fansite
  31. ^ http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/alljap/ajtourn.htm
  32. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Japan: New Japan G-1 (Grade-1) Climax Tag Tournament Champions". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 374. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  33. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Japan: New Japan Young Lions Cup Tournament Champions". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 375. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  34. ^ "2001 New Japan Awards". Strong Style Spirit. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/2001-awards.html. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
  35. ^ "2000 New Japan Awards". Strong Style Spirit. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/2000-awards.html. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
  36. ^ "Major League Wrestling". onlineworldofwrestling.com. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/mlw/. Retrieved 2008-07-08. 
  37. ^ "2010 Tokyo Sports awards – New Japan involvement". Strong Style Spirit. 2010-12-09. http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2343. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 

[edit] External links

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