Profile of Yoshihiro Asai on Famous Like Me

Yoshihiro Asai (born December 12, 1966 in Nagoya, Aichi), better known as Último Dragón, is a Japanese professional wrestler. In addition to having trained in Japan, Asai learned to wrestle in the lucha libre style while working in Mexico. Asai is credited with popularizing the "Asai Moonsault", although, contrary to popular belief, he did not invent the move.

Career

Asai debuted in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1987, but left the promotion along with his mentor, Gran Hamada, to help form Hamada's Universal Lucha Libre promotion. When the ULL went into decline, he moved to WAR.

Asai made his American debut in 1996 as Ultimate Dragon for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling promotion. He suffered an arm injury in 1999 that required surgery. The operation was botched, causing nerve damage. It was thought that this would force an end of his career and he announced his retirement.

In 1997, Asai a training school in Mexico called the Ultimo Dragon Gym, where he trained three classes of students, "Toryumon Japan", "Toryumon 2000 Project" (T2P) and "Toryumon X". His first class of students worked for WCW early in their career. In 1999 a promotion named Toryumon opened, with the vast majority of the roster having been trained by Asai. Toryumon was later renamed Dragon Gate, with Asai parting ways with the promotion. He continued to train students at his gym.

In 2002, Asai underwent another surgery to repair the damage done to his arm and returned to wrestling. In the spring of 2003, he signed with World Wrestling Entertainment, seeking to realise his two lifelong goals of competing in Madison Square Garden and performing at WrestleMania. Asai debuted on WWE television in Madison Square Garden, and wrestled there again at WrestleMania XX. His contract expired in 2004, with Asai leaving on good terms. He has indicated that he may return maskless for another run in the WWE.

Since leaving the WWE, Asai has occasionally wrestled for the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. In September 2005, he was reported to be in talks with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling about signing a contract. But the contract was never signed because Asai wanted a written contract, not an Pay-Per-Appearence-contract.

Finishing and signature moves

• Dragon Sleeper (Modified inverted front facelock)
• Asai DDT (Standing shiranui)
• Asai Moonsault (Springboard moonsault from the ring apron to the outside)
• Lionsault (Springboard moonsault)
• Dragonrana
• Running Ligerbomb
• Cancun Tornado
• Aztec Suplex
• Tiger suplex
• Kick combo

Championships and accomplishments

New Japan Pro Wrestling

• 2-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time WWF Light Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
• 2-time NWA World Welterweight Champion
• 3-time WAR International Junior Heavyweight Champion
• 2-time British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Champion
• 2-time UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship
• 1-time WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Champion

World Championship Wrestling

• 2-time WCW Cruiserweight Champion
• 2-time WCW World Television Champion

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre

• 2-time NWA World Middleweight Champion

Universal Wrestling Association (Mexico)

• 5-time UWA World Middleweight Champion
• 1-time UWA World Welterweight Champion

WAR

• 1-time WAR World 6-Man Tag-Team Champion (with Genichiro Tenryu and Nobutaka Araya)

Michinoku Pro

• 1-time Michinoku Pro Tohuku Tag-Team Champion (with Jinsei Shinzaki)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him # 61 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years (2003)

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