Profile of Yuji Nagata on Famous Like Me

Yuji Nagata (born April 24, 1968 in Togane, Chiba) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is known for his perennial 'tweener status and his stiff, shoot style wrestling technique.

Career

Before turning professional, Nagata was a successful amaresu (amateur) wrestler.

New Japan Pro Wrestling

Nagata joined NJPW in April 1992 and trained in the New Japan Dojo. He debuted on September 14 of that year, facing Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Nagata increased in stature during the 1995 inter-promotional angle pitting NJPW loyalists against UWF International wrestlers. He wrestled in America from 1997 to 1998, and began challenging for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship upon his return. On September 23, 1998, Nagata fought Scott Norton for the vacant title (the previous champion, Masahiro Chono, had suffered a neck injury) in Yokohama but was defeated.

On August 28, 1999 in Tokyo, Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Shiro Koshinaka and Kensuke Sasaki for the IWGP Tag Team Championships. They held the title untils July 20, 2000, when they lost to Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Nagata and Nakanishi feuded with Kojima and Tenzan for several months, but were unable to regain the titles.

In March 2000 Nagata formed an ill-fated stable known as Fighting Club G-EGGS, with all the stable member having legitimate sporting backgrounds. The stable included Manabu Nakanishi, Nagata's tag team partner and co-IWGP Tag Team Champion at the time, Masakazu Fukuda, Yutaka Yoshie and Brian Johnston. Fukuda passed away in April 2000 from a brain hemorrhage suffered during a match with Katsuyori Shibata, and was honoured with a ten-bell salute and a tribute show in September of that year. Johnston's participation in the group was largely limited after he suffered a stroke, and Nagata eventually disbanded G-EGGS on June 16, 2001.

In August 2001, Nagata won the eleventh annual G-1 Climax tournament, defeating Keiji Mutoh by submission in the finals. Nagata had entered the tournament twice before, but was eliminated in semi-final matches on both instances. Nagata challenged for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship once again after it was vacated by the injured Kazuyuki Fujita on January 4, 2002, but lost to Tadao Yasuda on February 16, 2002, in a tournament final. Nagata defeated Yasuda for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on April 5, 2002 in the Nippon Budokan. Immediately following his victory, Nagata was attacked by Pro Wrestling NOAH mainstay Yoshihiro Takayama. He held the title for thirteen months before losing to Takayama on May 2, 2003 in the Tokyo Dome.

In April 2005, Nagata formed Team JAPAN, a group of former amateur wrestlers with a grudge against the younger generation of wrestlers in NJPW.

World Championship Wrestling

Nagata joined the American World Championship Wrestling promotion in February 1997 as an arrogant heel. He was managed by Sonny Onoo, who also acted as his translator. He began feuding with Ultimo Dragon, with Nagata repeatedly injuring Dragon's shoulder. The two rivals faced one another at Halloween Havoc on October 26, with Nagata forcing his smaller opponent to submit with an arm submission hold. They faced one another in a rematch at WCW World War 3 on November 23, with the added stipulation that, should Dragon win, he would receive five minutes alone in the ring with the interfering Onoo. Nagata was able to pin Dragon following a distraction by Onoo, thus ending their feud.

In 1998 Nagata teamed with Kensuke Sasaki and entered a tournament for the number one contenderships to the WCW World Tag Team Championships. The partners won the tournament, but were unable to win the titles in their subsequent title match. Nagata left WCW in August 1998 and returned to Japan.

Personal life

Nagata was married on September 29, 2002.

Profile

• Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
• Weight: 238 lb (108 kg)
• Born: April 24, 1968
• Birthplace: Togane, Chiba
• Trained by: The New Japan Dojo
• Debut: September 14, 1992
• Previous manager(s): Sonny Onoo

Finishing and signature moves

• Backdrop Hold (bridging belly to back suplex)
• Nagata Lock I (reverse figure four leglock)
• Nagata Lock II (crossface)
• Nagata Lock III (crossface with armbar)
• Thunder Death Driver (twisting brainbuster)
• Exploder suplex
• Wrist-clutch exploder suplex
• Overhead belly to belly suplex
• Northern lights suplex
• Guillotine choke
• Wakigatame
• Enzuigiri

Championships and accomplishments

All Japan Pro Wrestling

• 1-time AJPW World Tag Team Champion (with Kendo Kashin)

New Japan Pro Wrestling

• 1-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time IWGP Tag Team Champion (with Manabu Nakanishi)

Pro Wrestling NOAH

• 1-time GHC Tag Team Champion (with Hiroshi Tanahashi)

Tournament victories

New Japan Pro Wrestling

• G-1 Tag League, with Takashi Iizuka (2000)
• G-1 Climax (2001)
• Naeba Tag Tournament, with Jushin Liger (2001)

World Championship Wrestling

• WCW Tag Team Championships Contender Tournament, with Kensuke Sasaki (1998)

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