Koji Kanemoto
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| Koji Kanemoto | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask III |
| Billed height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Billed weight | 90 kg (198 lb) |
| Born | October 31, 1966 Kobe, Hyogo |
| Debut | November 7, 1990 vs Michiyoshi Ohara) |
Kōji Kanemoto is a Japanese professional wrestler.
He portrayed Tiger Mask in its third incarnation, succeeding Mitsuharu Misawa. In 1994, he famously lost a "mask vs. mask" match against popular cruiserweight Jushin "Thunder" Liger during a New Japan Pro Wrestling show. Since 1994 he has wrestled under his own name for New Japan Pro Wrestling. His style used to be the classic junior heavyweight wrestling, but repeated high-flying moves and inherent damage put an incentive on him to use shoot style, largely as a modification of his wrestling persona. Hard shoot kicks combined with scientific wrestling are his current trademark.
Kanemoto was the first man to defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in the United States, a match against Alex Wright at Starrcade 1995 (although World Championship Wrestling did not announce it as such).
On May 3, 2006, Kanemoto defeated Tiger Mask IV to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title for the fifth time.
In the 2006 G-1 Climax, Kanemoto reached the semi final, the first junior heavyweight to achieve this feat.
[edit] In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
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- 5-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 3-time IWGP Junior Tag Team Champion (once with Minoru Tanaka, once with Jushin Liger and once with Wataru Inoue)
- United Wrestling Alliance
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- 1-time UWA Junior Light Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time UWA Welterweight Champion
[edit] Wrestling Observer Newsletter
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- 1998 Most Outstanding Wrestler
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