Michael Nakazawa
Shoji Nakazawa (中澤 公胤, Nakazawa Shoji, born October 8, 1975),[5] better known by his ring name Michael Nakazawa (中澤マイケル, Nakazawa Maikeru), is a Japanese professional wrestler and judoka currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[6]
Michael Nakazawa | |
---|---|
Nakazawa in 2013 | |
Birth name | Masatsugu Nakazawa[1] |
Born | [2] Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan[3] | October 8, 1975
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Abnormal Michael Nakazawa[3] Nakazawa Magic Iker Michael CEO |
Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
Billed weight | 203 lb (92 kg) |
Trained by | DDT Dojo |
Debut | October 23, 2005[4] |
Professional wrestling career
Independent circuit
Nakazawa is best known for his tenure with DDT Pro-Wrestling where he is a former KO-D Tag Team Champion (with Kenny Omega), Six-Person Tag Team Champion and DDT Extreme Champion.[7] Throughout his career he has also wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling,[8] Michinoku Pro, Big Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Nakazawa studied in the United States and is a fluent speaker of English. He often acted as an interpreter for English-speaking foreign wrestlers in Japan and through this relationship he met Kenny Omega, a now-Executive VP at AEW, with whom he has shared a ring 35 times, both as an opponent and as a tag team partner.[9]
All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)
Nakazawa was announced as a new signee of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in early 2019.[6] He debuted at Double Or Nothing, the first ever pay-per-view of the promotion, taking part in a 21-man Casino Battle Royale. He was the first man to be eliminated by Sunny Daze.[10] The following month at Fyter Fest, Nakazawa defeated Alex Jebailey in a hardcore match.[11]
Early life
Nakazawa attended Tokai University before studying abroad in the United States were he obtained an MSc Sports Science at the United States Sports Academy (USSA) Graduate School.[12] Nakazawa's father, Kazunari Nakazawa, is an associate professor at Tokai University and director of the American Football club.
Championships and accomplishments
- DDT Pro-Wrestling[13]
- KO-D Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Tomomitsu Matsunaga (1) and Kenny Omega (1)
- DDT Extreme Division Championship (1 time)
- Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (14 times)
- UWA World Trios Championship (3 times)
- DDT Jiyugaoka Six-Person Tag Team Championship - with Hikaru Sato and Tomomitsu Matsunaga
References
- "Maikeru Nakazawa". www.wikidata.org.
- "Michael Nakazawa: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)". www.profightdb.com.
- "Michael Nakazawa « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
- "Michael Nakazawa". Puroresu Central. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- "DDT ProWrestling". DDT ProWrestling.
- MiscTPWWMar 5, Indie /; 2019. "AEW Announces Signing of Michael Nakazawa".CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- "Titles « Michael Nakazawa « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
- "NEW Japan Pro Wrestling".
- "AEW Announces Signing Of Michael Nakazawa - Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com.
- Powell, Jason. "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho, The Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr. and Fenix for the AAA Tag Titles, Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes, Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Kylie Rae". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
- Powell, Jason. "6/29 AEW Fyter Fest results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr., Fenix, and Laredo Kid, Jon Moxley vs. Joey Janela in an unsanctioned match, Cody vs. Darby Allin, Cima vs. Christopher Daniels". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
- "中澤マイケルのページへようこそ" [Welcome to Michael Nakazawa's page]. mnakazawa.client.jp.
- "Dramatic Dream Team (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
External links
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael Nakazawa. |