Kazusada Higuchi

Kazusada Higuchi
Birth name	Kazusada Higuchi (樋口和貞, Higuchi Kazusada)
Born	October 24, 1988
	Monbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Ikeman Higuchi Kazusada Higuchi Mammoth Higuchi SUMO Rock
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	110 kg (243 lb)
Trained By	DDT Dojo
Debut	November 28, 2014

Kazusada Higuchi (樋口和貞, Higuchi Kazusada, born October 24, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former sumo wrestler, currently working for DDT Pro-Wrestling, where he is a former two-times KO-D Tag Team and 6-Man Tag Team Champion.

Higuchi was a sumo wrestler before retiring in 2013 and joining professional wrestling the following year. He then trained at the DDT Dojo and was assigned to their sub-brand DDT New Attitude (DNA), before moving to DDT's main roster on July 2017.

Early Life

Higuchi when he was in high school, he was the captain of the judo club, and he went on winning the third prize award at all road competitions. He was then scouted to the 8th octagon (former Yokozuna and Katsuhisa) and he started a sumo career. He made his sumo debut in March 2007, he renamed his quadruped name to "Kita-dori Yamagasa" in 2009. In 2013 Higuchi ended his sumo career.

Professional wrestling career

Dramatic Dream Team (2014-present)

After ending his sumo career in 2013, the following year he joined DDT Pro-Wrestling as a trainee and eventually made his professional wrestling debut on November 28 defeating Kota Umeda. He was then assigned to DDT's sub-brand DDT New Attitude which was to showcase of all DDT Pro-Wrestling up and coming young talent prospects. Later in that year, Higuchi won two Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contracts. The first contract he lost it to Kudo, the second he cashed in on March 29 unsuccessfully challenging HARASHIMA DDT's main title the KO-D Openweight Championship. After the match, he was praised by HARASHIMA with him stating that he had a bright future ahead of him. Following the loss, Higuchi took part ofin015 King of DDT making into the semifinals losing to the tournament winner Yukio Sakaguchi. Back in DNA Higuchi won the Wrestling Koshien defeating Ryota Nakatsu in the finals. At the end of the year, Higuchi was awarded the Newcomer Award by the Japan Indie Awards.

On February 28, 2016 Higuchi, Shunma Katsumata and Kouki Iwasaki defeated T2Hide (Kazuki Hirata, Sanshiro Takagi and Toru Owashi) to win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship. Later in March, Higuchi won the Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract and he cashed in again, unsuccessfully challenging HARASHIMA for the KO-D Openweight Championship. Higuchi, Katsumata and Iwasaki lost the titles to Team Dream Futures (Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie and Soma Takao) on May 15. Then Higuchi took part of 2016 King of DDT making into the second round losing to Shigehiro Irie. On September he won a battle royal to become the 1º contender to KO-D Openweight Championship. He unsuccessfully challenged Shuji Ishikawa for the title on September 25. Then in DNA, Higuchi took part in DNA Grand Prix, finishing his block undefeated with a record of five wins, advancing to the finals. In the finals, Higuchi lost to Mike Bailey. On January 22, 2017 Higuchi, Mizuki Watase and Kouki Iwasaki defeated Shuten Doji (Kudo, Masahiro Takanashi and Yukio Sakaguchi) to win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship. The match also included Happy Motel (Antonio Honda, Konosuke Takeshita and Trans Am Hiroshi). In March Higuchi won the Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract for the third time. Higuchi, Watase and Iwasaki lost the titles to Makoto Oishi, MAO and Shunma Katsumata on March 20. On April 8 Higuch lost his contract to Yoshihiro Takayama. On May 21, 2017 Higuchi and Shigehiro Irie defeated Akito and Konosuke Takeshita to win the KO-D Tag Team Championship. The two then formed YaroZ alongside Antonio Honda, Hoshitango and Ryuichi Sekine. On July 4 Higuchi made his last match for DNA in order to move to DDT's main roster, ending his affiliation with DNA. On August 20 Higuchi and Irie lost the titles to HARASHIMA and Naomichi Marufuji. On March 25, 2018 Higuchi and Daisuke Sekimoto defeated Naomichi Marufuji and HARASHIMA to win KO-D Tag Team Championship. On May 29 in the sixth episode of DDT Live! Maji Manji, Higuchi won a battle royal last eliminating Kota Umeda to win the Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract to become the 1# contender to the KO-D Openweight Championship against his former partner Shigehiro Irie. They lost the titles to Mad Paulie and Tetsuya Endo on June 20. On August 28, Higuch formed The Compliance with Danshoku Dino, Makoto Oishi, Super Sasadango Machine and Antonio Honda. From November 30 until December 15, Higuchi took part in the 2019 D-Oh Grand Prix, where he finished the tournament with a record of three wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament.

Pro Wrestling NOAH (2018)

In November, Higuchi took part in NOAH's the Global League, where he finished the tournament with three wins and four losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Canadian Backbreaker
  • Goten (Canadian Backbreaker transitioned to a chokeslam)
  • Doctor Bomb (Gutwrench sitout powerbomb)
• Signature moves
  • Argentine Backbreaker
  • Body Press
  • Buchikamashi
  • Dropkick
  • Iron Claw
  • Oklahoma Stampede
  • Torture Rack Face Lock
  • Sitdown Nodowa-Otoshi (Chokeslam to a kneeling opponent) – adopted from Don Fujii
• Entrance themes
  • "Roar Of The Young Beast"

Championships and accomplishments

• Dramatic Dream Team/DDT New Attitude
  • KO-D Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shigehiro Irie (1) and Daisuke Sekimoto (1)
  • KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shunma Katsumata and Kouki Iwasaki (1), and Mizuki Watase and Kouki Iwasaki (1)
  • Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere (2015–2018)
  • Wrestling Koshien (2015)
• Japan Indie Awards
  • Newcomer Award (2015)
• Toshikoshi Puroresu
  • New Year's Eve One Day 16 Team Shuffle Tag Tournament (2016) – with Yoshihisa Uto