Apollo 55

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Apollo 55
Tag team
MembersPrince Devitt
Ryusuke Taguchi
Name(s)Apollo 55[1]
Billed heightsDevitt:
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Taguchi:
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[3]
Combined
billed weight		172 kg (379 lb)[2][3]
DebutJanuary 30, 2009[4]
DisbandedApril 7, 2013[5]
Years active2009–2013

Apollo 55 (アポロ・ゴー・ゴー, Aporo Gō Gō) was the

three times, while both he and Taguchi managed to win the annual Best of the Super Juniors
tournament. After four years of teaming together, the team disbanded in April 2013.

History

Formation (2009)

Ryusuke Taguchi

On January 4, 2009, at

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Ryusuke Taguchi entered the ring alongside Irish wrestler Prince Devitt to announce that the two were also entering the race for a shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[7] Devitt's longtime tag team partner Minoru had recently left NJPW, leading to the promotion putting him and Taguchi together because of their similarities in both age and size, despite the fact that neither of them could speak the other's language.[8][9] On February 15, Devitt and Taguchi failed to earn a shot at the title, when they were defeated in a four-way number one contender's match by No Limit.[10] After No Limit failed to regain the title from The Motor City Machine Guns, NJPW announced that Devitt and Taguchi were next in line for a shot at the title.[11] On April 1, Devitt and Taguchi held a public training session, during which they announced that in the future their tag team would be known as "Apollo 55" (pronounced "Apollo Go Go"), while also presenting their first two double-team finishing maneuvers.[1] Devitt has stated that he came up with the team name, combining his love of sci-fi and space with Taguchi's nickname "Funky Weapon a Go Go" ("Go" also being Japanese for the number five).[8][9] Apollo 55 received their title shot on April 5, but were defeated by The Motor City Machine Guns.[12][13]

Junior heavyweight tag team domination (2009–2012)

On June 20, 2009, at

Golden☆Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi), on October 11 at Destruction '10.[37] Apollo 55 received a rematch for the title on November 14 at a DDT event, but were again defeated by the Golden☆Lovers.[38]

Prince Devitt

After Devitt successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Ibushi on January 4, 2011, at

Kushida).[54][55]

Dissolution and aftermath (2013–2014)

See also: Bullet Club
Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi during their final match against each other at Invasion Attack 2014

On January 4, 2013, at

Bad Luck Fale, signaling the end of one of the most accomplished junior heavyweight tag teams in NJPW history.[5][63]

Following the dissolution of Apollo 55, Prince Devitt formed the villainous Bullet Club stable with Fale, Karl Anderson and Tama Tonga, while also beginning to move out of the junior heavyweight division and even challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[64] Despite this transition, Devitt kept holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, though the title was largely pushed aside and forgotten.[65] He ended up holding the title until January 2014, when he lost it to Kota Ibushi.[66] Meanwhile, Taguchi suffered a hip injury shortly after the breakup of Apollo 55,[67] but returned in February 2014, restarting his rivalry with Devitt.[68] On April 6 at Invasion Attack 2014, one year after the dissolution of Apollo 55, Taguchi defeated Devitt in a grudge match between the two, after which they shook hands with each other.[69] The following day, NJPW announced Devitt's resignation from the promotion.[70]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

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