Suwama

Kohei Suwama (諏訪間 幸平, Suwama Kōhei, born November 23, 1976)[1] is a Japanese professional wrestler better known simply as Suwama (諏訪魔). He is best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current record seven-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion and a five-time World Tag Team Champion. He is also part of the promotion's board of directors.

Suwama
Suwama in 2018
Birth nameKohei Suwama
Born (1976-11-23) November 23, 1976[1]
Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kohei Suwama
Suwama
Billed height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Billed weight120 kg (265 lb)[1]
Trained byAll Japan Pro Wrestling
Hiroshi Hase
Kaz Hayashi
DebutOctober 11, 2004[1]

Professional wrestling career

All Japan Pro Wrestling

Early days (2004–2006)

Suwama was scouted and recruited to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) by Hiroshi Hase, particularly because of his amateur wrestling background. He joined the All Japan dojo on March 1, 2004, and teamed with AJPW president Keiji Mutoh early in his career, defeating many of his seniors. In 2005, he defeated Muto in the 2005 Champion Carnival.

Voodoo Murders (2006–2008)

Suwama aligned himself with the Voodoo Murders stable on January 8, 2006, following a Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship match between Satoshi Kojima and stable leader Taru. Upon joining the group, he officially changed his name to Suwama, which translates to "Suwa evil spirit".

He formed a team with RO'Z in early 2007, as the two set their sights on the vacant World Tag Team Championship. Their pursuit would be unsuccessful, as Toshiaki Kawada and Taiyō Kea defeated them in a decision match for the vacant belts on February 17, 2007. Suwama was sent by the group to Orlando, Florida on July 2, 2007, in order to secure Total Nonstop Action Wrestling star Scott Steiner for All Japan's Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku, Vol. 3 event in Sumo Hall on August 26, 2007. Suwama had observed Steiner's match and shortly afterwards came to an agreement with Steiner to team with him and challenge the team of The Great Muta and Tajiri. They were unsuccessful in the challenge.

For the rest of the year, Suwama mainly competed in six-man tags with Taru and Satoshi Kojima (who joined the group in July), but also had a short feud with rookie gaijin Joe Doering. Suwama teamed with Kojima in the 2008 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, where they defeated Toshiaki Kawada and Kensuke Sasaki to reach the finals, but lost to Keiji Mutoh and Joe Doering. Suwama and Kojima scored 10 points.

All Japan Ace (2008–present)

At All Japan's New Year's Shining Series show on January 3, 2008, Suwama saved Keiji Mutoh and Joe Doering from a post-match attack by the Voodoo Murders stable. After Suwama tore off his Voodoo Murders shirt, he shook hands with Mutoh and signaled his return to the All Japan Seikigun. On March 1, 2008, Suwama defeated Taru at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku, Vol. 4. From April 5–9, Suwama participated in All Japan's annual Champion Carnival tournament, which he ultimately won on April 9 by defeating New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) star Hiroshi Tanahashi in the finals. Suwama finished the Carnival with 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, which earned him 7 points.

On April 29, 2008, Suwama defeated Kensuke Sasaki to win the All Japan Triple Crown Championship.

Suwama first defended the Triple Crown on June 28, 2008, against Osamu Nishimura, beating Nishimura with the Last Ride. Suwama challenged Taiyo Kea and Minoru Suzuki on August 3, 2008 for the World Tag Team Championship teaming with Osamu Nishimura but did not win the belts. Suwama's second defense of the Triple crown was on August 31, 2008 versus Taiyo Kea it went to a 60-minute time limit draw. Suwama team up with Ryuji Hijikata in the All Asia Tag Team Championship tournament on January 2–3, 2009 to crown new All Asia Tag Team Champions. Suwama and Hijikata got eliminated in the first round of the tournament by losing to Satoshi Kojima and Kai when Kojima used a lariat on Hijikata. Suwama and Shuji Kondo defeated Joe Doering and Zodiac on March 1, 2009, to become the number one contenders for the World Tag Team Championship, but did not win the championship from Taiyō Kea and Minoru Suzuki. On August 29, 2010, Suwama defeated Minoru Suzuki to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the second time. He would go on to lose the title to Jun Akiyama on October 23, 2011.

In later 2012, Suwama formed the Last Revolution tag team with Joe Doering, which in early 2013 was also joined by Kaz Hayashi, Shuji Kondo and Yasufumi Nakanoue.[2][3][4] On March 17, Suwama defeated Masakatsu Funaki to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the third time.[5] In June, Joe Doering disbanded Last Revolution, when Kaz Hayashi and Shuji Kondo announced their resignation from All Japan following Nobuo Shiraishi taking over as the new president of All Japan and Keiji Mutoh leaving the promotion.[4] While several other wrestlers also quit All Japan following the change in management, Suwama emerged as one of the first wrestlers to publicly show his support to Shiraishi, announcing that he was going to be staying in the promotion.[6] In September, Suwama came back together with Joe Doering, with the two forming a tag team named "Evolution".[7] On October 22, Evolution defeated Burning (Go Shiozaki and Jun Akiyama) to win the World Tag Team Championship, making Suwama the first "Quintuple Crown Champion" in 12 years.[8][9] However, just five days later, Suwama lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to Akebono.[10] On December 8, Evolution defeated Xceed (Go Shiozaki and Kento Miyahara) in the finals to win the 2013 World's Strongest Tag Determination League.[11] On February 16, 2014, Hikaru Sato joined Suwama and Doering, turning Evolution into a stable.[12] On June 28, Suwama and Doering lost the World Tag Team Championship to Wild Burning (Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori).[13] However, the next day, Suwama defeated Omori to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the fourth time.[14] That same day Suwama was made a part of All Japan's new board of directors.[15] He was later also given the title of "senior managing director".[16] On July 27, Suwama lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to his Evolution stablemate Joe Doering.[17] In December 2015, Suwama resigned from his senior managing director role.[18] On January 2, 2016, Suwama defeated Jun Akiyama to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the fifth time.[19] However, Suwama was stripped of the title only ten days later after suffering an achilles tendon rupture.[20]

Suwama returned to the ring on July 14, 2016.[21] On September 19, Suwama defeated Zeus in the finals to win the 2016 Ōdō Tournament.[22] Suwama would then unsuccessfully challenge the Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Kento Miyahara on November 27.[23] On September 23, 2017, Suwama won his second Ōdō Tournament in a row.[24] On October 9, Suwama defeated Miyahara to win the Triple Crown for a record sixth time.[25][26] He lost the title to Joe Doering on October 21.[27]

On November 19, Suwama allied with Shuji Ishikawa to enter the World's Strongest Tag Determination League, which the two won by defeating Daichi Hashimoto and Hideyoshi Kamitani in the finals. On January 3, 2018, the two won the World Tag Team Championship by defeating Wild Burning (Takao Omori and Jun Akiyama). They dropped the belts to Kento Miyahara and Yoshi Tatsu on February 3. Between April 7 and April 30, Suwama took part in the Champion Carnival, winning four matches and losing three. He was unable to reach the finals, but scored an important victory against eventual winner Naomichi Marufuji.

Championships and accomplishments
Suwama is a 7 time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion
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References
  1. 諏訪魔. All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  2. "ジョーとの「Last Revolution」始動!!覚悟と決意の革命宣言～諏訪魔選手、会見". All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). 2012-11-13. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  3. 諏訪魔軍に近藤修司が加入. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  4. ＬＲが３０日両国で解体へ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  5. "2013 プロレスLove in 両国～Basic&Dynamic～". All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  6. 白石社長が全日本プロレスの株式譲渡に関して中間報告！新団体設立に動く武藤にクギ！諏訪魔は全日本残留を宣言！. Battle News (in Japanese). 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  7. "全日本プロレス10・22新潟でEvolutionの世界タッグ挑戦、10・27両国で曙の三冠挑戦＆ドリフのアジアタッグ挑戦が決定！". Battle News (in Japanese). 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  8. "Anniversary Tour". All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  9. 諏訪魔５冠！２７日・両国でダブル防衛戦も. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  10. "Anniversary Tour". All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  11. 2013　世界最強タッグ決定リーグ戦. All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
  12. 世界タッグＶ２ 諏訪魔全ベルト独占宣言. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  13. "2014 ダイナマイトシリーズ　北海道・札幌テイセンホール". All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
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  15. ３冠奪取！諏訪魔 全日取締役就任も決意. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
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  18. 諏訪魔、専務取締役辞任を公表. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. 2015-12-16. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  19. 【1.2】 2016 ニューイヤーウォーズ 2Days・後楽園. All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). 2016-01-03. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  20. 諏訪魔がアキレスけん断裂で三冠返上. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. 2016-01-12. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  21. 諏訪魔　アキレス腱断裂から復帰戦　黒星発進も３冠返り咲き誓う. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. 2016-07-14. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
  22. 9.19後楽園ホール大会[観衆]1183人. All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  23. Rose, Bryan (November 27, 2016). "AJPW Sumo Hall results: Miyahara vs. Suwama for the Triple Crown". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  24. 9.23仙台大会[観衆]477人(超満員札止め). All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  25. 10.9後楽園大会[観衆]1301人(満員). All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). October 9, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  26. 【全日本】最多戴冠記録更新　諏訪魔が3冠奪取. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  27. 10.21横浜文化体育館大会[観衆]1870人. All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
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  32. 12.12後楽園大会[観衆]1660人(超満員札止め). All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
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  39. 【プロレス大賞】諏訪魔＆石川が２年連続ベストタッグ「史上初の３連覇を狙います！」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  40. 【プロレス大賞】諏訪魔＆石川が史上初３年連続ベストタッグ　来年のテーマは「スキャンダラス＆越境」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
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