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Yoshinari Ogawa

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Yoshinari Ogawa (小川良成; Ogawa Yoshinari) (born November 2, 1966) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his work for Pro Wrestling NOAH, where he is a former nine-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion, a former GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion, a former two-times GHC Tag Team Champion (along with his mentor Mitsuharu Misawa), the winner of the 2019 Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League and the Fourth Grand Slam Champion (under the original format). He also works for the promotion as a producer and as one of its head trainers.

Considered one of Pro Wrestling NOAH's franchise and veteran wrestlers, Ogawa started his career in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he was initially on the undercard, he began being pushed until the early 90s, when he became one of AJPW's top junior heavyweight stars, this led him the World Junior Heavyweight Championship three times, while also later founding success in tag team competition along with his mentor Mitsuharu Misawa, with the duo winning the All Asia Tag Team and World Tag Team Championships.

He moved to Pro Wrestling NOAH (NOAH) in 2000, where he would win the GHC Tag Team Champions (along with his mentor) and year later winning his first world championship, the GHC Heavyweight Championship in an upset win. He would win the the GHC Tag Team Champions with his mentor one more time, holding the titles for 379 days. He would later become a mainstay in the junior heavyweight division, where he would win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships multiple times, before winning the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship in January 2020. With this win, he became the fourth and last person to become NOAH's Grand Slam Champion under the old format.

During his career, he has earned the nickname of "Rat Boy" due to his sneaky, clever in-ring tactics and baiting his opponents into quick pins. He has also been known during his career to be handsome and a gentlemen towards the female audience.

Professional wrestling career[]

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1985–2000)[]

Yoshinari Ogawa debuted in All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1985, working on the undercard, until joining Genichiro Tenryu's group Revolution, which helped him elevate higher on the card. He remained in the group until it disbanded in 1990 upon Tenryu's abrupt departure from AJPW.

After Tenryu left, Ogawa became one of the top stars in AJPW's junior heavyweight division in the 1990s, winning the junior heavyweight championship three times. He also reigned as tag team champion with his mentor, Mitsuharu Misawa.

Pro-Wrestling NOAH (2000–2024)[]

Regular Army and Veteran status (2000–2018)[]

Ogawa left AJPW for Misawa's newly started Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2000, where he continued his tag team with Misawa. On April 4, 2002 he scored a huge upset, beating Jun Akiyama very quickly to become the GHC Heavyweight Champion. Ogawa held the title for 153 days, defending his championship twice against Akira Taue and Takeshi Rikio, before ultimately losing it to Takayama on September 7, 2002. On January 10, 2004, Ogawa and Misawa won the GHC Tag Team Championship for a second time, this time defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yuji Nagata at the Great Voyage 2004 show. The team held the championship for a then-record 379 days while defending the belts seven times, another record at the time. They lost the championships to the team of Scorpio and Doug Williams on January 23, 2005.

Ogawa became a mainstay in the junior heavyweight division forming a partnership with Zack Sabre Jr. starting in 2013 as the pair joined together to take part in the NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League for the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. The team came in second place in their block losing to eventual block and league winners Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask IV on the final day. However, the team defeated Liger and Tiger Mask on December 7, 2013, at 'Great Voyage in Tokyo Vol. 2' to become the tag team champions for the first time.[1] The pair defended their titles for the first, and only, time on March 8, 2014, defeating Kenoh and Hajime Ohara at 'Great Voyage in Tokyo' show.[2] The team lost the titles on March 21, 2014, to the team of Atsushi Kotoge and Taiji Ishimori, but Ogawa and Sabre became two-time champions less than a month later by defeating Kotoge and Ishimori for the championships. Yet again, on July 5, 2014, after just one defense over Hiro Tonai and Shiori Asahi which occurred on May 3, Ogawa and Sabre lost the titles to Kotoge and Ishimori at 'Great Voyage in Tokyo Vol.2'.[3]

The pair entered the 2014 NTV G+ Junior Tag League and finished last in their four team block with four points. On May 10, 2015, Ogawa and Sabre received a title match against the champions El Desperado and Taka Michinoku at Great Voyage in Yokohama. This match was a losing effort from the team and Ogawa, in the summer of 2015, took part in his first singles tournament since 2008, the Global Junior Heavyweight League. Ogawa finished fifth in the block of seven with six points and victories over Desperado, Hitoshi Kumano, and Sho Tanaka. Ogawa and Sabre took part in their third straight NTV G+ Junior Tag League and finished second, again losing to the eventual block winners, Desperado and Michinoku, on the final day of the league. This match was their final match as a team and on November 30, 2015, Ogawa's six man team of Hitoshi Kumano and Muhammad Yone defeated Sabre's team of Genba Hirayanagi and Captain Noah with Ogawa scoring the decision over Sabre in what was Sabre's final match in Pro Wrestling Noah.[4]

Ogawa, alongside several Noah company-mates, took part in the first two New Japan Pro-Wrestling 'Lion's Gate Project' shows where he defeated Jay White on the first show on February 25, 2016, then defeated David Finlay on the second show which took place on May 19.[5][6] Ogawa took part in the qualifying for the 2016 Super J-Cup defeating Hitoshi Kumano in his first qualifier but losing to Taiji Ishimori in the final of his qualifying region.

Stinger (2018–2024)[]

Main article: Stinger

In October 2018, Ogawa joined Kotaro Suzuki in his feud with RATEL'S. On December 16 at Great Voyage in Yokohama vol.2, Ogawa, Suzuki and YO-HEY formed a stable, dubbing themselves as "Stinger". On February 24, Ogawa and Suzuki defeated Hajime Ohara and Hitoshi Kumano to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. From May to June, Ogawa and Suzuki took part of the 2019 Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of six wins, one loss, and one draw, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On June 9, Ogawa and Suzuki defeated HAYATA and YO-HEY to win the tournament From June until July, Ogawa took part in the 2019 Global Junior League, finishing the tournament with a record of three wins and two losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. On November 2 at Noah the Best 2019, Ogawa and Suzuki lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to RATEL'S (Daisuke Harada and Tadasuke).

On January 4, 2020, at New Sunrise, Ogawa defeated HAYATA to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. As a result, he won all NOAH's four major GHC titles and becoming the fourth man to complete NOAH's Grand Slam after Naomichi Marufuji, KENTA and Takashi Sugiura. Later that month, Ogawa took part in the 2020 Global Junior League, with Ogawa winning his block with a record of two wins and one draw, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On January 30, Ogawa was defeated by Dick Togo in the semifinals. On March 29, Ogawa successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship against Daisuke Harada, ending Stinger's feud with RATEL'S. Following the match, Suzuki turned on Ogawa. Later in a post-match interview, due to Suzuki's actions, Ogawa announced the disbanding of the stable. On April 19, Ogawa lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to Kotaro Suzuki. Afterwards, Suzuki asked to team with him, in order to challenge for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, which Ogawa accepted. On May 9, during the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championshionship, Ogawa and Suzuki reformed Stinger, after HAYATA turned on YO-HEY to join them. The following day, Ogawa and HAYATA defeated Tadasuke and YO-HEY to win the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, meaning that Stinger held all two of Noah's junior heavyweight championships. On October 11, Ogawa and HAYATA lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Momo no Seishun (Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada). On October 28, Ogawa and HAYATA turned on Suzuki, turning Stinger to a tag team. Later that night, Ogawa and HAYATA attacked and challenged Momo no Seishun to a match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. This led to on November 22 at NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 4, Ogawa and HAYATA defeating Momo no Seishun in a rematch to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the second time. On December 6 at Noah the Best, Ogawa and HAYATA faced Kotaro Suzuki and Selvaje de Oriente for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. During the match, Oriente turned on Suzuki, revealing himself to be Yuya Susumu, joining Stinger in the process. On May 31, Ogawa and HAYATA lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to Daisuke Harada and Hajime Ohara. In June, Stinger began feuding with the Los Perros del Mal de Japón stable, leading to a title match on November 28 at Noah the Best, where Ogawa and HAYATA defeated Eita and Nosawa Rongai to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the third time.

On December 5, after HAYATA successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship, Ogawa pulled the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship belt off of his shoulder, and HAYATA held on to it, before Ogawa indicated himself as the next challenger for the title by pointing to it. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, HAYATA proclaimed Ogawa as his next challenger, leading Ogawa to offer an handshake, before proceeding to attack him. Their feud for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship led to a title match on January 1, 2022 at The New Year, where Ogawa unsuccessfully HAYATA for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. Following the match, HAYATA offered an handshake to Ogawa, but he refuse throwing his half of the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to HAYATA. Four days later at New Sunrise, Ogawa and HAYATA successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Los Perros del Mal de Japón (Kotaro Suzuki and YO-HEY). Afterwards, Ogawa appeared to have resolve his issues with HAYATA. On January 19, HAYATA and Ogawa vacated the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, after Ogawa tested positive for the COVID-19. On April 29 at Majestic, Ogawa and Chris Ridgeway defeated Atsushi Kotoge and YO-HEY to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

On May 4, Ogawa and Ridgeway were attacked by their Stinger stablemates Yuya Susumu and Seiki Yoshioka, before challenging them to a title match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, with HAYATA siding with them due to a previously shared background. Afterwards, Ogawa and Ridgeway attacked HAYATA, Susumu and Yoshioka, during a post-match interview. This led to a match on May 21 at Dream On Final, for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship where the losing team would be forced to leave Stinger. The match ended in a no contest, following the interference from Los Perros del Mal de Japón, which in turn led the stable to reconcile. On June 7, Ogawa, Susumu, and Yoshioka defeated Los Perros del Mal de Japón's Eita, Kotaro Suzuki and Nosawa Rongai to win the Dragon Gate's Open The Triangle Gate Championship. The following day, Ogawa, Susumu, and Yoshioka lost the titles to Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada and YO-HEY. On September 25 at Grand Ship In Nagoya, Ogawa and Ridgeway lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka.

Ogawa concluded his feud with Los Perros del Mal de Japón and Nosawa Rongai on December 19. Four days later, Kzy and YO-HEY, who had recently won the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, were confronted by Eita, who challenged them to a title match, with YO-HEY asking him the identity of his patner. Eita shockingly announced that his partner would be Ogawa, with whom he had been mostly feuding with. On January 1, 2023, at The New Year, Ogawa and Eita defeated Kzy and YO-HEY to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Due to his alliance with Eita, over the following months, Ogawa's relationship with his Stinger stablemates turned soured. On April 16 at Green Journey in Sendai, Ogawa and Eita lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Tadasuke and YO-HEY. Afterwards, Ogawa turned on Eita, as the two fell out, leading to a brwal between them. On May 4 at Majestic, Ogawa and Ridgeway faced Daga and Eita. The match ended with Daga turning on Eita, and joining Stinger. Afterwards, Ogawa announced that he, Chris Ridgeway and Daga were the "new Stinger" and that HAYATA and Eita where not considered members anymore. On May 14, Ogawa faced Eita in a no contest, after Daga and Ridgeway attacked Eita. Afterwards, HAYATA made the save, as HAYATA stated that Ogawa's era was over. On May 21, following a match against Daga, Stinger once again attacked Eita, but was saved by HAYATA.

On August 13, 2024, it was announced that Ogawa would be retiring from professional wrestling due to a neck injury.

In wrestling[]

  • Finishing moves
    • Bridging belly-to-back suplex
    • Figure four leglock
    • Inverted single leg Boston crab
    • V1 Armlock (Keylock)
  • Signature moves
    • Double foot stomp
    • Enzuigiri
    • Jawbreaker
    • Multiple pinning variations
      • Inside cradle
      • Jackknife
      • Small package
      • Zebra Clutch (Figure four jackknife)
    • Neckbreaker
    • Snap DDT
    • Snap suplex
    • Tiger Driver (Sitout double underhook powerbomb) – adopted from Mitsuharu Misawa; used rarely
  • Nicknames
    • "Rat Boy"
    • "Lonely Technician"
    • "Shoryu Warrior"
  • Entrance themes
    • "Never Give Me Up" by Miyuki Ogawa (AJPW)
    • "Scum of the Earth" by Rob Zombie (NOAH)
    • "New Civilization of Massive Destruction" by LIV (NOAH, 2006)

Championships and accomplishments[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. NOAH Great Voyage 2013 In Tokyo Vol. 2 ~ Akira Taue Retirement Memorial Show « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
  2. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. NOAH Great Voyage 2014 In Tokyo « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
  3. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. NOAH Great Voyage 2014 In Tokyo Vol. 2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
  4. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. NOAH Winter Nagivation 2015 - Tag 5 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
  5. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. NJPW Lion's Gate Project1 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
  6. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. NJPW Lion's Gate Project2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
  7. ↑ Archived copy . Archived from the original on 2011-01-03. Retrieved on 2015-04-09.
  8. ↑ Great Voyage 2013 in Tokyo vol.2～田上明引退記念大会～ (in Japanese). Pro Wrestling Noah. Retrieved on 2013-12-07.
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