Kenta Kobashi
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Kenta Kobashi | |
---|---|
Fukuchiyama, Kyoto , Japan | |
Spouse(s) |
Mizuki Mai (m. 2010) |
Children | 1 |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Kenta Kobashi Blaze[1] |
Billed height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] |
Billed weight | 115 kg (254 lb)[2] |
Billed from | Kyoto, Japan |
Trained by | Dory Funk Jr. Giant Baba Kazuharu Sonoda Masanobu Fuchi |
Debut | February 26, 1988 |
Retired | May 11, 2013 |
Kenta Kobashi (小橋 健太, Kobashi Kenta, ring name: 小橋 建太) (born, March 27, 1967) is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler. He started his career in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in 1988, where he became one of the promotion's top stars, holding the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship three times, and winning the Champion Carnival in 2000. Kobashi left All Japan in June 2000, taking part in a mass exodus led by Mitsuharu Misawa, which led to the formation of Pro Wrestling Noah.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time,[3][4] Kobashi worked for Noah for thirteen years, and had the longest singular GHC Heavyweight Championship reign of all time, holding the championship for 735 days between 2003 and 2005. Overall, Kobashi was a four-time world champion and an eight-time tag team champion.
Kobashi spent many of the later years of his career sidelined due to various injuries. He underwent numerous surgeries on his arms and legs in the early-mid 2000s before retiring from in-ring action in May 2013. Kobashi continues to make sporadic appearances in both Noah and All Japan, while also promoting his own shows under the Fortune Dream banner.
Professional wrestling career
All Japan Pro Wrestling (1988–2000, 2009)
Kobashi practiced judo and
Kobashi during this period played dual roles according to who his partners and opponents were. When teamed with the higher ranking Misawa or
Kobashi defeated Akira Taue on July 24, 1996, to capture his first Triple Crown. He lost the championship to Misawa on January 20, 1997, in a very highly regarded match. In March 1997 in the Champion Carnival he gained his first pinfall victory over Misawa. At the end of the Carnival, Kobashi qualified for the finals for the first time. However, instead of the traditional one on one contest to settle the carnival, a one night 3 way round robin was held due to Kobashi, Kawada, and Misawa all having finished the Carnival round robin with the same score. In the first match Kobashi went to a 30-minute draw with Misawa. However, this match left both men greatly weakened and Kawada was able to quickly gain his first singles pin over Misawa in the next match that gave Kobashi little time to rest. In the final match Kawada defeated Kobashi to gain his second Carnival title. In October 1997 Kobashi won his first World Tag title without Misawa when he and Johnny Ace defeated Gary Albright and Steve Williams. In the same month he challenged Misawa for the Triple Crown in another memorable match, but again Misawa defeated him. While Kawada would finally end his quest to defeat Misawa for the Triple Crown at AJPW's May Tokyo Dome show called AJPW 25th Anniversary, in 1998, Kobashi would replace Kawada as Misawa's top rival. On June 12, 1998, Kobashi defeated Kawada to begin his second Triple Crown reign. Shortly before his victory he again suffered a major knee injury which he would not give time to heal, which nearly ended his career, and during that time, Johnny Ace turned heel on Kobashi to form his own stable called "The Movement". He lost the championship again to Misawa on October 31.
The year of 1998 would end with Kobashi gaining another career milestone as he with Akiyama, teaming as "Burning", captured his first World's Strongest Tag Determination League championship. As January began Kobashi was kicking off a new rivalry against Vader. He won the World's Strongest Tag Determination League again with Akiyama in December 1999. In February 2000 he defeated Vader to earn his third Triple Crown reign. Then in April 2000 he won his first Champion Carnival while in the course of the tournament gaining his first televised singles victory over Misawa. In mid-2000 Misawa left the company to form Pro Wrestling Noah; Kobashi, along with all but three All Japan native workers, followed Misawa. He was the reigning Triple Crown champion at the time, and the championship was thus vacated.
On August 30, 2009, Kobashi returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling for one night only, competing in his first match for the company in nine years. Kobashi teamed with Akihiko Ito and fellow AJPW alumnus Tsuyoshi Kikuchi in a losing effort to Satoshi Kojima, KAI and Hiroshi Yamato at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku, Volume 8.
Pro Wrestling Noah (2000–2013)
During this period, Kobashi's knee injuries were beginning to worsen to the point that he desperately needed time off to heal. However, he was needed to establish Noah as a viable promotion, and was given a marquee position on the first two shows. On August 5, 2000, he teamed with Akiyama to defeat Misawa and Taue in a
His return match was on February 24, 2002, and featured Kobashi reforming his pairing with Misawa to face Akiyama and New Japan Pro-Wrestling's (NJPW) Yuji Nagata. His knees again gave out on him during the match. After taking another five months to recuperate he returned and Noah began to slowly build towards him winning their top prize, the GHC Heavyweight Championship.
On March 1, 2003, Kobashi defeated his rival Mitsuharu Misawa in a match for the GHC Heavyweight Championship. Kobashi's reign spanned for over two years and included 13 successful defenses. Notable defences included: against
On September 8, 2007, news broke that Kobashi would make his return on the December 2, 2007, Budokan Hall event where he would team up with Takayama to face Akiyama and Misawa. On the card, Misawa would pin Kobashi with an avalanche Emerald Flowsion, but the fans still gave Kobashi a rousing ovation.
In September 2008, Kobashi underwent emergency surgery on both of his arms. The surgery was successful, and Kobashi was expected to make a full recovery. Kobashi was expected to be out of action for up to a year, but he would return to the ring less than six months later. Prior to returning to the ring, Kobashi stated that he wanted to start in opening matches, and rebuild himself to a main event player.
Kenta Kobashi made his return to wrestling on March 1, 2009, at Nippon Budokan with Pro Wrestling Noah, defeated Masao Inoue in the opening match of the card with his signature lariat. Kobashi won the
On December 23, 2009, Kobashi was seriously injured in a three-way match against Honda and Kikuchi. He was sidelined for 19 months with nerve damage in his right arm. Kobashi made his return on July 23, 2011, teaming with
Post-retirement (2013–present)
On March 17, 2013, Kobashi made an appearance for All Japan Pro Wrestling to promote his retirement match. Before the main event,
On February 14, 2014, Kobashi announced that starting June 8, he would begin producing his own independent events under the brand "Fortune Dream".
On May 10, 2015, Kobashi returned to Noah to serve as a "special witness" for a GHC Heavyweight Championship match between champion Minoru Suzuki and challenger Naomichi Marufuji. Kobashi's role included making sure that the Suzuki-gun stable did not interfere in the match.[20]
In September 2023, he made an appearance for
Personal life
Kobashi married his girlfriend of 14 years, singer Mizuki Mai, on October 2, 2010.[22][23] In August 2015, Mai gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter.[24]
Legacy
Kobashi has the fifth-most 5-star matches (as rated by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter) with 23, behind Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega (24), Mitsuharu Misawa (25) and Will Ospreay (26). In 2002, he was inducted by Dave Meltzer into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame as the third inductee of the 2002 and the 148th inductee for his accomplishments in All Japan Pro Wrestling. For his last match on May 11, 2013, he was presented a replica of the GHC Heavyweight Championship belt as a farewell gift after his retirement match at Final Burning. He held the GHC Heavyweight Championship for a total of 735 days (the longest time held by any one competitor) with the second most successful defenses with 13. Del Wilkes considered him as the greatest wrestler of all time, and Eddie Kingston labeled him a "perfect wrestler".[25]
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- All Asia Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Tiger Mask II/Mitsuharu Misawa (1), Johnny Ace (2), and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (1)
- Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[2]
- World Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Mitsuharu Misawa (2), Johnny Ace (2), and Jun Akiyama (2)
- Champion Carnival (2000)
- January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (1993)[26]
- One Night Six Man Tag Team Tournament (1999) – with Jun Akiyama and Kentaro Shiga[27]
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League (1993–1995) – with Mitsuharu Misawa
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League (1998, 1999) – with Jun Akiyama
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League Fresh Award (1991) – with Tsuyoshi Kikuchi[28]
- International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Nikkan Sports
- Match of the Year (1997) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 21[30]
- Match of the Year (1998) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 31[31]
- Match of the Year (2003) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on March 1[32]
- Match of the Year (2004) vs. Jun Akiyama on July 10[33]
- Match of the Year (2005) vs. Kensuke Sasaki on July 18[34]
- Match of the Year (2007) with Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama on December 2[35]
- Outstanding Performance Award (1996)[36]
- Fighting Spirit Award (1997, 2007, 2008)[30][35][37]
- Wrestler of the Year (1996, 1998, 2004, 2005)[36][31][33][34]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 4 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500in 1996, 2000, and 2004
- Ranked No. 33 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[38]
- Ranked No. 6 of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Mitsuharu Misawa in 2003
- Ranked No. 4 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the
- Pro Wrestling Noah
- GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2]
- GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship (1 time)
- GHC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Tamon Honda
- One Day Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2002) – with Kenta and Kentaro Shiga[27]
- Tokyo Sports
- Comeback Award (2007)[39]
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)[40]
- Match of the Year (1995) with Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Akira Taue and Toshiaki Kawada on June 9, 1995[41]
- Match of the Year (1997) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 21, 1997[41]
- Match of the Year (1998) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 31, 1998[41]
- Match of the Year (2003) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on March 1, 2003[39]
- Match of the Year (2004) vs. Jun Akiyama on July 10, 2004[39]
- Match of the Year (2005) vs. Kensuke Sasaki on July 18, 2005[39]
- Match of the Year (2007) with Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama on December 2, 2007[39]
- Match of the Year (2011) with
- Rookie of the Year (1989)[43]
- Tag Team of the Year (1993, 1994) with Mitsuharu Misawa[41]
- Tag Team of the Year (1999) with Jun Akiyama[41]
- Wrestler of the Year (1996, 1998)[41]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Box Office Draw (2004, 2005)
- Burning Hammer
- Match of the Year (1992) with Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon on May 25
- Match of the Year (1998) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on October 31
- Match of the Year (1999) vs Mitsuharu Misawa on June 11
- Match of the Year (2003) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on March 1
- Match of the Year (2004) vs. Jun Akiyama on July 10
- Match of the Year (2005) vs. Samoa Joe on October 1 at Joe vs. Kobashi
- Most Improved Wrestler (1990)
- Most Outstanding Wrestler (1993, 1994)
- Tag Team of the Year (1995) with Mitsuharu Misawa
- Tag Team of the Year (1999) with Jun Akiyama
- Wrestler of the Year (1996, 2003–2005)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2002)
References
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- ^ a b c d e "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 - 2004 : 4 Kenta Kobashi". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. October 2004. p. 22. December 2004.
- ^ Podgorski, Alexander (May 16, 2015). "10 Reasons Kenta Kobashi Is The Greatest Wrestler Of The Modern Era". WhatCulture.com. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ^ Djeljosevic, Danny (April 28, 2022). "10 Things You Should Know About Japanese Wrestling Legend Kenta Kobashi". TheSportster. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ^ "新役員人事について (Appointment of New Directors)". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). October 6, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ^ ノア激震!小橋解雇、秋山ら退団. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 4, 2012. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
- ^ ノア激震!小橋解雇、秋山ら退団. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 4, 2012. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "ノ小橋、9日両国大会でフリー宣言へ!秋山ら5選手もノア退団申し入れ". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. December 5, 2012. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "「Great Voyage 2012 in Ryogoku vol.2」12月9日(日)両国国技館大会 小橋建太選手コメント". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ 秋山らノア退団正式決定. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 19, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ 小橋5・11「思い出多い」武道館引退試合. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ 2013年5月11日(土). Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (May 11, 2013). "Notes on Kenta Kobashi retirement match". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- ^ やはり小橋は最後まで"鉄人"だった!まさかの月面水爆で引退試合を締めくくった小橋「プロレスは自分の青春でした」. Battle News (in Japanese). May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- ^ "小橋が古巣・全日本に登場 馳がPWF新会長に任命". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. March 18, 2013. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ "武藤新団体「Wrestle-1」旗揚げ戦". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. September 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- ^ 曙が諏訪魔を下し、新ベルトとなった三冠王座を奪取!健在だったファンクスにファン歓喜!ドリフは惜しくもアジアタッグに届かず!. Battle News (in Japanese). October 28, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ 小橋建太プロデュース興行「Fortune Dream」が6月8日に始動. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. February 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
- ^ "【FortuneDream】小橋建太プロデュース興行始動、耕平&火野vs宮原&関本". Battle News (in Japanese). June 8, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- ^ "鈴木軍がGHC王座戦で4連勝! 永田裕志が"マイバッハ・ブルージャスティス"として登場!【5月10日(日)ノア横浜大会・試合結果】". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- ^ Thompson, Andrew (September 18, 2023). "DDT presents bullet train match, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama appear". POST Wrestling | WWE AEW NXT NJPW Podcasts, News, Reviews. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "411MANIA - Various News: Jim Ross Health Update, Kobashi Gets Married, NXT Preview, More". Various News: Jim Ross Health Update, Kobashi Gets Married, NXT Preview, More.
- ^ "Kobashi Kenta Ko'd by Killer Kiss". japan-zone.com. October 4, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ "小橋建太に第1子女児誕生 娘の「握りこぶし」に笑顔". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
- ^ Dakota Cohen (June 22, 2022). "Eddie Kingston Labels Two Legends 'Perfect Wrestlers'". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Name: Kenta Kobashi". Purolove.Com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ "Real World Tag League 1991 « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - the Internet Wrestling Database".
- ^ Oliver, Greg (March 16, 2023). "IPWHF Class of 2023 both 'Great' and 'Gorgeous'". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ a b "Nikkan Sports Awards - 1997". wrestlingscout. February 10, 2016.
- ^ a b "Nikkan Sports Awards - 1998". wrestlingscout. February 11, 2016.
- ^ "Nikkan Sports Awards - 2003". wrestlingscout. February 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ a b "Nikkan Sports Awards - 2004". wrestlingscout. February 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Nikkan Sports Awards - 2005". wrestlingscout. February 22, 2016.
- ^ a b "Nikkan Sports Awards - 2007". wrestlingscout. February 26, 2016.
- ^ a b "Nikkan Sports Awards - 1996". wrestlingscout. February 9, 2016.
- ^ "Nikkan Sports Awards - 2008". wrestlingscout. February 27, 2016. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo : Puroresu Awards: 2000s". Puroresu Dojo.
- ^ "オカダが2年連続でプロレス大賞MVPを受賞!史上4人目の快挙だが、本人は「当たり前の結果」". Battle News (in Japanese). December 10, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo: Puroresu Awards: 1990s". Puroresu Dojo.
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External links
- Profile at Puroresufan.com
- View from the Rising Sun - "Orange Crush" Kenta Kobashi
- Kenta Kobashi on Twitter
- Kenta Kobashi's profile at Cagematch.net , Internet Wrestling Database