Hideki Suzuki
Suzuki in August 2015
Birth nameHideki Suzuki (鈴木 秀樹, Suzuki Hideki)
Born (1980-02-18) February 18, 1980[1]
Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido[1][2][3]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Hachiman
Hideki Suzuki
Billed height191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[1][2][3]
Billed weight110 kg (243 lb)[1][2][3]
Trained byBilly Robinson[4]
DebutNovember 24, 2008[1]

Hideki Suzuki (鈴木 秀樹, Suzuki Hideki, born February 18, 1980)[1][2][3] is a Japanese professional wrestler and catch wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah.

Trained by Billy Robinson, Suzuki started his career with the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) promotion in 2008. In 2014, he left IGF to become a freelancer, starting to work for promotions such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1) and Wrestle-1 (W-1). He is a former two-time BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion,a former one-time Zero1 World Heavyweight, NWA United National Heavyweight, Wrestle-1 Champion and NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion. In 2017, Fighting TV Samurai named Suzuki the MVP in Japanese independent wrestling. In 2021, Suzuki signed with WWE, where he performed on the NXT brand under the ring name Hachiman as a member of Diamond Mine, and also worked as a coach at the WWE Performance Center.

Professional wrestling career

Inoki Genome Federation (2008–2014)

With a background in judo and football, Suzuki was trained in professional wrestling at the U.W.F. Snake Pit Japan dojo.[2][3] After four years of training under British wrestler Billy Robinson,[4] he made his debut for the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) promotion on November 24, 2008, losing to Hiromitsu Kanehara.[2][3] For the next three years, Suzuki worked undercards of IGF events.[2] His status finally began to rise in 2012 following a match with Peter Aerts.[2] On May 26, 2013, Suzuki won the second Inoki Genome tournament, defeating Akira Joh in the finals.[5] As a result, he received his first shot at the IGF Championship on October 26, but was defeated by the defending champion, Kazuyuki Fujita.[6] The following March, Suzuki left IGF to become a freelancer.[1][4]

Freelance (2014–2021)

Suzuki then began working regularly for Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1),[7][8] while also making appearances for promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW),[9] DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT),[10] and Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah).[11] Suzuki quickly received a shot at Zero1's World Heavyweight Championship, though losing to defending champion, Kohei Sato, on May 6.[12] On August 3, 2014, Suzuki finally won his first professional wrestling championship in Zero1, defeating Tama Williams for the NWA United National Heavyweight Championship.[13] In November, Suzuki took part in special week, where Zero1 co-produced three events with the Wrestle-1 promotion.[14]

Through the continued relationship between Zero1 and Wrestle-1, Suzuki began also making appearances for the latter promotion, where he found himself a rival in Kai. On March 8, 2015, after Kai had captured the Wrestle-1 Championship, Suzuki immediately confronted the new champion and challenged him to a title match.[15] The match took place on April 1 and saw Suzuki defeat Kai in just seven minutes to become the new Wrestle-1 Champion.[16][17] On May 5, Suzuki put both of his championships on the line at separate Zero1 and Wrestle-1 shows, losing the NWA United National Heavyweight Championship to Kamikaze and retaining the Wrestle-1 Championship against Ryota Hama.[18][19] On June 27, Suzuki returned to IGF for the first time since his departure from the promotion, first defeating Wang Bin in the opening round and then Daichi Hashimoto in the finals to win the Genome-1 2015 Nagoya tournament.[20] Following the win, Suzuki formed an "anti-IGF" stable with foreigners Erik Hammer, Kevin Kross and Knux.[21] On July 12, Suzuki lost the Wrestle-1 Championship back to Kai in his third defense.[22][23][24] On November 1, Suzuki defeated Kohei Sato to win Pro Wrestling Zero1's World Heavyweight Championship.[25] On February 26, 2016, Suzuki returned to IGF, when he was appointed the leader of a new stable named Hagure IGF Gundan ("Rogue IGF Corps"), which also included Kazuyuki Fujita, Kendo Kashin and Shogun Okamoto.[26] On March 27, Suzuki lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Kohei Sato.[27]

On March 5, 2017, Suzuki challenged Daisuke Sekimoto for the Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) World Strong Heavyweight Championship. After wrestling to a thirty-minute time limit draw, Suzuki and Sekimoto agreed to a rematch on March 30.[28][29] Suzuki went on to win the rematch to become the new World Strong Heavyweight Champion.[30][31] On September 14, Suzuki and Kohei Sato defeated Shogun Okamoto and Yutaka Yoshie to win the vacant NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship.[32] After five successful title defenses, Suzuki lost the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship to Daichi Hashimoto on December 17.[33][34] Suzuki claimed that losing the title cost him most of his bookings and that he was facing unemployment heading into 2018.[35] On January 1, 2018, Suzuki and Sato lost the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship to Masayuki Okamoto and Yutaka Yoshie.[36]

On April 4, 2019 at Josh Barnett's Bloodsport, Suzuki defeated Timothy Thatcher via knockout.

WWE (2021–2022)

In April 2021, Suzuki signed with WWE as a coach in the Performance Center.[37] Despite his work as coach, Suzuki would begin to work on NXT's weekly show as a pro wrestler under the name of Hachiman, as a part of the villainous stable Diamond Mine, alongside Roderick Strong, Tyler Rust (who was released several weeks later) and Malcolm Bivens.[38][39] Within the coming months, The Creed Brothers (Brutus and Julius Creed) and Ivy Nile would also join the stable. On January 5, 2022, Suzuki was released from his WWE contract.[40]

Pro Wrestling Noah (2022–current)

On February 24, 2022 it was announced that Suzuki would be returning to Japan to wrestle for Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah).[41] On March 13, 2022 Suzuki would team with Takashi Sugiura to win the GHC Tag Team Championship by defeating the team of Daiki Inaba & Kaito Kiyomiya at Noah Great Voyage In Yokohama 2022.[42]

Other media

Suzuki's first book, entitled Biru Robinson Den Kyatchi Azu Kyatchi Kyan Nyūmon (ビル・ロビンソン伝　キャッチ　アズ　キャッチ　キャン入門, "Billy Robinson: Catch as Catch Can Primer"), was released on January 19, 2017. The book is about wrestling techniques taught to Suzuki by Billy Robinson.[43]

Championships and accomplishments

Suzuki in 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 鈴木 秀樹. Wrestle-1 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 鈴木 秀樹. Inoki Genome Federation (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 鈴木 秀樹. U.W.F. Snake Pit Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 ＩＧＦからフリーに 鈴木秀樹「年間１００試合」目標. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 19, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Genome26". Inoki Genome Federation (in Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Genome29". Inoki Genome Federation (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  7. ↑ 鈴木が電撃登場！４月ゼロワン参戦へ. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. March 31, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ 鈴木秀樹がＷ―１とゼロワン「王座統一」プラン激白. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 3, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ カシンが「ダーク・キングダム」入りの鈴木秀樹を断罪. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). June 11, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ ハードヒット〜G-generation〜. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ Great Voyage 2014 in Niigata ～大航海×大花火～. Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  12. ↑ Takagi, Hiromi (May 6, 2014). Ｖ１王者・佐藤耕平がＷ−１を「叩き潰す」 弾丸ヤンキースがタッグ王座２冠へ王手. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  13. ↑ ＩＧＦ離脱から４か月…鈴木がＮＷＡ・ＵＮ王座奪取. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). August 4, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  14. ↑ 「Kassen ～合戦 Zero1vsW-1全面対抗戦～」11/5～11/7新宿大会全対戦カード決定のお知らせ. Wrestle-1 (in Japanese). October 10, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  15. ↑ ４・１Ｗ－１王座挑戦 鈴木秀樹「Kaiは王者失格」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 13, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  16. 1 2 鈴木秀樹がＷ－１王座奪取. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  17. ↑ Takagi, Hiromi (April 1, 2015). Ｗ−１新王者・鈴木秀樹が武藤戦を熱望 「みんなも見たいでしょ」と自信満々. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ Zero1 5.5後楽園大会 弾丸ヤンキースvs.大谷＆耕平のインターコンチタッグ戦、稔vs.日高のJr2冠戦. Battle News (in Japanese). May 5, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  19. ↑ 鈴木がＷ—１チャンピオンシップ初防衛. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). May 6, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Genome34". Inoki Genome Federation (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  21. ↑ 圧倒Ｖの鈴木秀樹がＩＧＦリングでやりたい放題. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Wrestle-1 Tour 2015 Symbol". Wrestle-1 (in Japanese). July 12, 2015. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  23. ↑ W-1 7.12後楽園大会 鈴木vs.KaiのW-1チャンピオンシップ、246vs.new Wild orderのタッグ王座戦、稔vs.吉岡のクルーザー級王座戦. Battle News (in Japanese). July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  24. ↑ Kai王座奪取もブーイング…武藤がトーナメント開催提案. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  25. 1 2 11/1新木場1stリング大会試合結果. Pro Wrestling Zero1 (in Japanese). November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  26. ↑ 「はぐれＩＧＦ軍団」のリーダーに鈴木秀樹. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  27. ↑ 【ゼロワン靖国】佐藤耕平が世界ヘビー級王座奪還. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 27, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  28. ↑ 大日本・関本が鈴木と大熱戦ドロー防衛、３・３０後楽園で再戦約束. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
  29. ↑ 【大日本】関本Ｖ２ 鈴木との再戦まで生きがいのウエートトレ封印. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  30. ↑ 鈴木が“引き分け再試合”で関本下してストロング王座奪取. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. March 31, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  31. ↑ 【大日本】ストロング王座奪取 鈴木秀樹が次期挑戦者を面接？. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 31, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  32. 1 2 『Zero１ ドリームシリーズ 』. Pro Wrestling Zero1 (in Japanese). Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  33. ↑ 故橋本真也さんの長男橋本大地が初ベルト 大日本. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 17, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  34. ↑ 【大日本】橋本大地がデビュー７年目で初ベルト奪取！. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  35. ↑ 鈴木秀樹「技能賞」受賞後ろくなことなし！？ ベルト失いオファー激減. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  36. ↑ Zero1「謹賀新年」. Pro Wrestling Zero1 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  37. ↑ Pollock, John (2021-04-23). "Hideki Suzuki joins WWE PC as a coach, other additions confirmed". POST Wrestling | WWE NXT AEW NJPW UFC Podcasts, News, Reviews. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  38. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (June 22, 2021). "Roderick Strong And Malcolm Bivens Lead Diamond Mine, Attack Kushida On 6/22 NXT". Fightful. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  39. ↑ Wilkins, Rob. "WWE NXT Results For 6/22/21 O'Reilly vs. Kushida, Adam Cole in action, Diamond Mine debut, and Samoa Joe". Fightful.
  40. ↑ Guzzo, Gisberto (January 5, 2022). ""Hachiman" Hideki Suzuki Released By WWE". Fightful. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Hideki Suzuki Returns to Pro Wrestling NOAH Following WWE Release". 24 February 2022.
  42. ↑ "NOAH Great Voyage In Yokohama 2022". CageMatch.
  43. ↑ 鈴木秀樹やっと宣言 はぐれＩＧＦ軍団“放牧”. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). January 17, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  44. ↑ ★BJW認定世界ストロングヘビー級王座★. Big Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  45. ↑ "【大日本】鈴木秀樹が「一騎当千」初優勝". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). April 16, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  46. ↑ ★BJW認定横浜ショッピングストリート6人タッグ王座★. Big Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  47. ↑ "Title Reigns - Triangle Ribbon Championship". CageMatch.
  48. ↑ 【年越しプロレス2017のまとめ】年忘れ！シャッフル・タッグトーナメントは関口組を下した竹下＆鈴木のモースト・ストロンゲスト・コンビが優勝！／蘇る80年代ガイジン列伝！ スタン、ブロディ、タケシータ、ブッチャーが大暴れ！ カリスマバラモン、阿鼻叫喚の地獄絵図への誘い！／Taka、デビュー25周年記念試合で新年を迎えると同時にMaoにフォール負け！. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  49. ↑ "DDT ProWrestling" 木高イサミのプロレス〜第三回新宿地上最大武道会～. Pro-Wrestling Basara (in Japanese). DDT Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  50. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2018". cagematch.net. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  51. ↑ "GHC Tag Team Championship". CageMatch.
  52. ↑ 【プロレス大賞】技能賞 初受賞の鈴木秀樹「コメント？書面でお願いします」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  53. ↑ 「年越しプロレス2017」. Big Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). December 31, 2017. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
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