Gran Naniwa

Yoshikuni Kimura (木村 吉公, Kimura Yoshikuni)[1] (February 15, 1977 – October 6, 2010)[2] was a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Gran Naniwa (愚乱・浪花, Guran Naniwa). Naniwa was known for his comedic gimmick, in which he performed mannerisms of crabs.[3] This was also reflected upon in the design of his wrestling mask.

Gran Naniwa
Birth nameYoshikuni Kimura
Born(1977-02-15)February 15, 1977
Ibaraki Prefecture
DiedOctober 6, 2010(2010-10-06) (aged 33)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Gran Naniwa
The Claw
Billed height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Billed weight98 kg (216 lb)
Trained byGreat Sasuke
DebutJune 2, 1993

Professional wrestling career

Naniwa debuted professionally in 1993 in Michinoku Pro Wrestling as a face. He participated in the 1995 Super J-Cup, managing to get to the quarterfinals, but he was later eliminated by eventual winner Jyushin Thunder Liger.[2] In the late 1990s, Naniwa competed in the United States for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). He wrestled Gran Hamada in January 1998 at the ECW House Party event.[3] After this, Naniwa took a brief hiatus for a few years but made his return in 2006, again under his Gran Naniwa ring name, competing in a match for New Japan Pro Wrestling's now defunct WRESTLE LAND "brand".

Death

Kimura died on October 6, 2010 due to a heart attack at the age of 33.

Championships and accomplishments
  • Central American Middleweight Championship (1 time)
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References
  1. "Profile at Puroresu Central". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  2. 選手名鑑 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  3. Caldwell, James (2010-11-21). "Japan News: Japanese pro wrestler Gran Naniwa dies at age 33, briefly wrestled for ECW in 1990s". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
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