Yuma Anzai
Yuma Anzai | |
---|---|
Born | (1999-05-15) May 15, 1999 (age 25)[1] Annaka, Gunma, Japan |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Yuma Anzai |
Billed height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)[2] |
Billed weight | 105 kg (231 lb) |
Trained by | Yuma Aoyagi Yuji Nagata |
Debut | September 18, 2022 |
Yuma Anzai (安齊勇馬, Anzai Yuma, born May 15, 1999) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently competing in All Japan Pro Wrestling where he is the current and youngest Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion in history at 24 years and 350 days old, in his first reign.[3]
Professional wrestling career
All Japan Pro Wrestling (2022–present)
Anzai made his professional wrestling debut at All Japan Pro Wrestling 50th Anniversary on September 18, 2022, where he fell short to one of his coaches Yuji Nagata in singles competition.[4]
During his time in the company, Anzai competed in various signature events promoted by it. As for the Real World Tag League, he made his first appearance at the 2022 edition where he teamed up with Yuji Nagata and scored a total of six points after competing against the teams of Kento Miyahara and Takuya Nomura, Shuji Ishikawa and Cyrus, Jake Lee and Yuma Aoyagi, Suwama and Kono, Jun Saito & Rei Saito, Kuma Arashi and Koji Doi, and Shotaro Ashino and Ryuki Honda.[5] At the 2023 edition of the tournament, Anzai teamed up with Ryuki Honda and scored a total of nine points after going against the teams of Katsuhiko Nakajima and Hokuto Omori, Hayato Tamura and Galeno del Mal, Suwama and Hideki Suzuki, Jun Saito & Rei Saito, Yuma Aoyagi and Kento Miyahara, Kuroshio Tokyo Japan and Seigo Tachibana, Yukio Sakaguchi and Hideki Okatani, Cyrus and Ryan Davidson, and Shuji Ishikawa and Ren Ayabe.[6] In the Champion Carnival, Anzai made his first appearance at the 2023 edition where he placed himself in the Block B of the competition, scoring a total of six points after going against Shotaro Ashino, Rei Saito, Shuji Ishikawa, Suwama, Manabu Soya, Hokuto Omori and Takao Omori.[7]
Anzai competed for various championships promoted by AJPW. On the fourth night of the AJPW New Year Giant Series 2024 from January 27, he teamed up with his "New Period" tag team partner Ryuki Honda to unsuccessfully challenge Jun Saito and Rei Saito for the AJPW World Tag Team Championship.[8] On the second night of the AJPW Dream Power Series 2024 from March 30, Anzai defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, with this victory, Anzai became the youngest Triple Crown Champion in history at 24 years and 320 days old, breaking Kento Miyahara's record at 26 years and 350 days old.[9]
Japanese independent circuit (2022–present)
Anzai often competes in various promotions from the Japanese independent scene as a developmental talent sent by AJPW.[2]
Pro Wrestling Noah (2023–present)
Anzai made his debut in Pro Wrestling Noah at NOAH N-1 Victory 2023 Eve Festival on August 5, where he competed in the namesake signature Royal Rumble match of the event, bout won by Manabu Soya and also involving other notable opponents such as Adam Brooks, Lance Anoa'i, Jack Morris and others.[10] Anzai participated in the 2023 edition of the N-1 Victory, where he placed himself in the Block B of the competition, scoring a total of four points after going against Go Shiozaki, Manabu Soya, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Lance Anoa'i, El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Saxon Huxley and Daiki Inaba.[11]
New Japan Pro Wrestling (2023)
Anzai made a couple of appearances for New Japan Pro Wrestling. At All Together, a cross-over event promoted alongside Noah and AJPW, he teamed up swith Suwama and Yuji Nagata to defeat Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi and Bushi).[12] On the seventh night of the NJPW New Japan Road 2023 from June 18, 2023, Anzai teamed up with Zennichi Shin Jidai stablemates Atsuki Aoyagi, Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi in a losing effort against Hiroshi Tanahashi, Master Wato, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata.[13]
DDT Pro-Wrestling (2024–present)
Anzai made his debut in DDT Pro-Wrestling at DDT Into The Fight 2024 Tour In Shinjuku on February 8, where he teamed up with Ryuki Honda to defeat Rukiya and Takeshi Masada.[14] At Judgement 2024, Anzai and Honda unsuccessfully challenged Burning (Tetsuya Endo and Yuki Iino) for the KO-D Tag Team Championship.[15]
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 284 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 of 2023[17]
- Tokyo Sports
- Newcomer Award (2022)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Rookie of the Year (2023)[18]
References
- ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Yuma Anzai • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Yuma Anzai/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Yuma Anzai Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Di Trolio, Gerard (September 22, 2022). "AJPW 50TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW (SEPTEMBER 18, 2022) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Dark Angel (October 12, 2022). "AJPW: The "Real World Tag League 2022" is announced". superluchas.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Carlan, Lewis (October 21, 2023). "Teams For AJPW World's Strongest Tag Team Determination League 2023 Tournament Revealed". bodyslam.net. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "野村直矢選手欠場に伴う「#ajpwチャンピオンカーニバル2023」 Bブロック出場者決定のお知らせ". All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ Black, Ethan (January 27, 2024). "AJPW New Year Giant Series Night 4 Results – January 27, 2024". pwmania.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Thompson, Andrew (March 30, 2024). "Yuma Anzai ends Katsuhiko Nakajima's reign as AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion". postwrestling.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Daly, Wayne (August 5, 2023). "NOAH Results: N-1 Victory 2023 Eve Festival – Tokyo, Japan (8/5)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Fain, Thom (September 3, 2023). "Go Shiozaki Finally Clinches N1-Victory Trophy in Main Event Thriller". monthlypuroresu.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "All Together Again live results: NJPW/AJPW/NOAH crossover". 9 June 2023.
- ^ Boone, Matt (June 19, 2023). "NJPW New Japan Road Night 7 Results – June 18, 2023". pwmania.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Daly, Wayne (February 8, 2024). "DDT Results: Into The Fight 2024 Tour In Shinjuku – Tokyo, Japan (2/7)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Black, Ethan (March 17, 2024). "DDT Judgement Results – March 17, 2024". pwmania.com. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ Wrestling Titles. "UNIFIED TRIPLE CROWN HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Ruth, Sondra (September 14, 2023). "Complete 2023 PWI 500 List Revealed, Top NJPW Star Absent". tjrwrestling.net. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave. "February 26, 2024 Observer Newsletter: 2023 Observer Awards issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
External links
- Yuma Anzai on X