Genichiro Tenryu
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Genichiro Tenryu (天龍源一郎 Tenryū Gen'ichirō), real name Genichiro Shimada (嶋田源一郎 Shimada Gen'ichirō), is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling. "Tenryu" was his shikona.
Career
Scouted by Giant Baba, the All Japan Pro Wrestling owner, Tenryu was sent to the Amarillo territory to get trained by Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk, and made his debut there. After returning to Japan, he stayed in the undercard until about 1982 when he began to get a slight push in that year's Champion Carnival tournament. In 1983, following a brief stint in Jim Crockett Promotions, his push began in earnest when Jumbo Tsuruta pursued the NWA International heavyweight title, now the main title in the Triple Crown.1984 saw Tenryu winning the NWA United National title, now also part of the Triple Crown, as well as the NWA International tag team title with Tsuruta. Their combination was called "Kakuryu" (鶴 = kaku = tsuru (the "tsuru" in Tsuruta) + 龍 = ryū in Tenryū). The team feuded with Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu, who were the leaders in an "invasion" angle by the Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion, an All Japan satellite made up of former New Japan Pro Wrestling talent.
In 1987, following the departure of the Japan Pro talent, Kakuryu broke up after losing the tag team titles to the Road Warriors, which led to Tenryu forming his own stable, "Revolution", with former International Pro Wrestling wrestlers Ashura Hara and Hiromichi Fuyuki, as well as All Japan rookies Toshiaki Kawada and Yoshinari Ogawa. Tenryu and Hara feuded with Tsuruta and his new partner Yatsu over the PWF (Pacific Wrestling Federation) tag team titles and later with their replacement, the Double Cup tag team titles (a combination of the PWF and International tag belts). Hara was kicked out of the promotion in late 1988, and Tenryu replaced him with Stan Hansen, with whom he held the Double Cup as well.
1989 was Tenryu's banner year. The Triple Crown had just been formed with Tsuruta as the first holder, and Tenryu was chosen to be the first Japanese antagonist that contended for it. The Tsuruta-Tenryu clashes that ensued since May set the standard for all Triple Crown matches and feuds to follow. When Tenryu won the belt in June, the match was so spectacular it was deemed Match of the Year by major Japanese publications. The same year saw him finally pin his mentor Baba, albeit in a tag match - but still a major success for a Japanese wrestler. Only Mitsuharu Misawa would follow him to that. In addition, Tenryu was chosen to be one-third of the NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champions with the Road Warriors after the Road Warriors turned heel against their former co-holder of the title, Dusty Rhodes. However, Tenryu's increasing commitments to All Japan meant less time to wrestle in the United States, and this resulted in the six man championship being vacated and temporarily being abandoned until 1991, when it was temporarily resurrected as a World Championship Wrestling championship.
Tenryu's most high-profile North American match was for World Wrestling Entertainment in 1991 at WrestleMania VII, where he teamed with Koji Kitao to defeat Demolition. He also appeared in the 1994 Royal Rumble, where he made it to the "final four" but was eliminated by eventual co-winners Lex Luger and Bret Hart. In storyline, he and The Great Kabuki had been hired as mercenaries by Yokozuna's manager, Mr. Fuji, to attack Luger.
In 1990, Tenryu left All Japan to form SWS. After its collapse in 1992, Tenryu, aided by Masatomo Takei (brother of his wife Makiyo) formed WAR. WAR became his base from where he would take on top wrestlers from other promotions, such as Atsushi Onita, Nobuhiko Takada, The Great Muta, Shinya Hashimoto and Masahiro Chono, all of whom he defeated. He also traded victories with Tatsumi Fujinami and Antonio Inoki, thus becoming the only Japanese to defeat both Inoki and Baba by pinfall.
In 1998, as WAR went into decline, Tenryu began an earnest comeback, this time in New Japan. He first allied with Shiro Koshinaka, and they won the IWGP tag team belts from Team Wolf, Masa Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. In December 1999, Tenryu made history as the first native to win the top two distinctions of professional wrestling in Japan (All Japan's Triple Crown and New Japan's IWGP heavyweight title) by beating Muta for the IWGP. (The first man to win both titles was Big Van Vader, an American.)
In 2000, following the near-collapse of All Japan due to the Pro Wrestling NOAH split, Tenryu closed WAR and rejoined All Japan, eager to test his mettle against the remaining ace, his former disciple Kawada. Tenryu beat Kawada in the subsequent tournament for the vacant Triple Crown, winning the belts for a second time. In his second stay in All Japan, he would capture the belts a third time and also the Double Cup with former WAR-UWFI feud rival Yoji Anjo.
In 2003, he joined World Japan for a few matches, but as it declined rapidly, he switched back and forth aimlessly between New Japan and All Japan.
In 2005, he entered NOAH himself, and with impending feuds with Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and other wrestlers he knew from his first All Japan stint, as well as new faces he's never met in the ring before, such as Jun Akiyama, Tenryu is sure to make a spectacular third comeback.
Tenryu was the first native Japanese to break the tradition of promotional boundaries, and to fight anyone, regardless of promotion or style. Because of this, he is often referred to by Japanese fans as "Mr. Puroresu". It's a credit to his ability that he's remained a superstar and a heavyweight title contender even past the age of 50.
Finishing and signature moves
- Powerbomb
- 53 Sai — 53 Years Old (Snap scoop brainbuster)
- Northern Lights Bomb (Scoop brainbuster)
- Lariat
- Backhand chop to the base of opponent's throat
- Diving back elbow drop
- WAR Special (Sitting double chickenwing)
- Guh Punch (Jab to opponent's jaw)
- Short-arm enzuigiri
- DDT
- German suplex
- Second rope German suplex
- Super frankensteiner
- Octopus hold
Championships and accomplishments
- *2-Time NWA United National Champion
- *2-Time NWA International Tag Team Champion (with Jumbo Tsuruta)
- *1-Time AJPW PWF Tag Team Champion (with Ashura Hara)
- *1-Time AJPW PWF Heavyweight Champion
- *5-Time AJPW Unified Tag Team Champion (with Ashura Hara once, Stan Hansen 3 times and Yoji Anjoh once)
- *3-Time AJPW Triple Crown World Heavyweight Champion
- *1-Time AJPW All-Asian Tag Team Champion (with Masanobu Fuchi)
- *Winner 1984 AJPW World's Strongest Tag League (with Jumbo Tsuruta, beat Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody)
- *Winner 1986 AJPW World's Strongest Tag League (with Jumbo Tsuruta, beat Stan Hansen & Ted DiBiase)
- *Winner 1989 AJPW World's Strongest Tag League (with Stan Hansen, beat Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu)
- *Winner 2001 AJPW Champion Carnival (beat Taiyo Kea)
- Others
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