Master Wato Explained

Master Wato
Birth Name:Hirai Kawato
Birth Date:13 March 1997
Birth Place:Ikeda, Osaka, Japan
Weight:87 kg (192 lbs)
Height:177 cm
Trainer:NJPW Dojo
Junji Hirata
Hiroshi Tanahashi[1]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Debut:January 3, 2016

is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) under the ring name Master Wato (マスター・ワト Masutā Wato). He was previously on an international learning excursion, working for NJPW's Mexican partner Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) under the ring name Kawato-San (or Kawato San). He is a former CMLL World Lightweight Champion and competed in the main event of CMLL's 2020 Sin Piedad supercard show.

He was trained in the NJPW Noge Dojo in the Tokyo Prefecture. From 2016 until 2019 he worked as a Young Lion in NJPW, gaining in ring experience while still training. As a Young Lion he mainly faced other trainees early on, moving on to participate in various tournaments such as the 2017 Super Junior Tag Tournament (with Kushida) and finishing second in the 2017 Young Lion Cup.

Professional wrestling career

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2016–2018)

Kawato started working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in 2016, training in their dojo for his in-ring career. He started by training as a Young Lion in NJPW's dojo, wearing simple black trunks and boots as he worked with other of NJPW Young Lions and experienced veterans as part of his training. On January 3, 2016, Kawato made his in-ring debut, losing to fellow Young Lion Yohei Komatsu.[2] Throughout 2016, Kawato spent most of the year working opening and undercard matches, and primarily fought against fellow Young Lion Teruaki Kanemitsu.[3] On February 9, 2016, Kawato teamed with Jyushin Thunder Liger and Yuji Nagata to defeat the team of Henare, Tomoyuki Oka and Yoshitatsu in a six-man tag team match.[4] David Finlay, Kawato, Manabu Nakanishi, and Ryusuke Taguchi defeated TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima), Liger, and Oka in the opening match of the NJPW 45th Anniversary show in Korakuen Hall.[5]

On April 22, 2016, Kawato won his first singles match when he defeated Shota Umino.[6] Kawato and Yoshitatsu defeated Katsuya Kitamura and Oka in the dark match of the 2017 Wrestling Dontaku major show, but still did not work on the televised portion of the show.[7] [8] [9] On June 20, Kawato was involved in his first higher card match when he teamed with Hiroshi Tanahashi, losing to Los Ingobernables de Japón ("The Ungovernables from Japan"; Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi). In October, Kawato teamed with Kushida to take part in the 2017 Super Junior Tag Tournament where they were defeated in the first round by Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh). On November 5, 2017, Kawato, alongside Juice Robinson, Liger, Kushida and Tiger Mask defeated Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Taichi, Taka Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Zack Sabre Jr.) at Power Struggle.[10]

From October 12 to December 21, Kawato took part in the 2017 Young Lion Cup, where he finished second with a record of four wins (defeating Oka,[11] Shota Umino,[12] Ren Narita,[13] and Tetsuhiro Yagi[14]) and one loss, to tournament winner Katsuya Kitamura,[15] to end up in second place overall.[13] Kawato competed on all eight days of the 2018 Fantastica Mania tour, where NJPW and Mexican-based Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) co-promoted a number of shows in Japan. Each night, Kawato and various tag team partners faced, and lost to, members of Los Ingobernables de Japón. His final match of the tour, and for NJPW at the time, saw him team with Mexican wrestler Atlantis as they lost to Gedo and Bárbaro Cavernario.[16]

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2018–2020)

On January 9, 2018, CMLL announced on Twitter that Kawato would begin his excursion with them at the end of the month, and would actively compete in the promotion after taking part in New Japan's Fantastica Mania events.[17] While in CMLL he would be billed as "Kawato San" (sometimes written as "Kawato-San"). For his first CMLL match, Kawato teamed up Misterioso Jr. and Virus, losing to Audaz, Pegasso, and Rey Cometa in a six-man tag team match.[18] While he was working for CMLL, they also allowed Kawato San to wrestle on the Mexican independent circuit between CMLL shows. His first independent circuit match was on March 11, where he lost to Ricky Marvin as part of a Lucha Memes show.[19]

In CMLL, he was teamed up with Okumura, CMLL's Japanese liaison, to form a team called Eje del Mal ("Axis of Evil"), presenting them as a group of "evil foreigners". Their first match as a team saw the two, and Johnny Idol, lose to Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa, and Stuka Jr.[20] Kawato San was one of twelve wrestlers competing in a torneo cibernetico elimination match to determine the challenger for CMLL's Rey del Inframundo ("King of the Underworld") championship, but was eliminated early on.[21] He was also invited to participate in the 2018 Leyenda de Plata ("Silver Legend"), one of CMLL's most prestigious tournaments. Kawato was the first man eliminated, pinned by Audaz about eight minutes into the match.[22] [23] [24]

He also participated in the 2019 Reyes del Aire ("King of the Air") tournament which took place on January 6 in Mexico City. He was the tenth man eliminated, as Audza pinned him after just over 20 minutes of wrestling.[25] [26] Just over a year after his CMLL debut, Kawato San appeared on his first major CMLL show as he teamed up with Disturbio and Misterioso Jr. to lose to Blue Panther Jr., Black Panther and Rey Cometa on the undercard of the 2019 Juicio Final.[27] [28] In June 2019, Kawato San and Audaz outlasted Eléctrico, El Hijo del Villano III, Flyer, Príncipe Diamante, Star Jr., Super Astro Jr., and Halcón Suriano Jr. to earn a match for the vacant CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship. The following week, on June 30, 2019, Kawato San defeated Audaz to become the new champion. Kawato did not wrestle any matches after July 28, 2019,[29] due to what was later revealed to be a knee injury. It was announced on November 6, 2019, that Kawato-San had returned to Mexico after recovering from his knee injury. Kawato was stripped of the CMLL World Lightweight Championship due to the injury.[30] Kawato returned to the ring on November 9, teaming with El Felino and Rey Bucanero as they lost to Atlantis Jr., Ángel de Oro, and Niebla Roja.[29]

Starting in late October, Kawato San and Dulce Gardenia became involved in a storyline feud, with the two facing off in six-man tag team matches throughout November and December.[31] Kawato and Gardenia both agreed to "bet" their hair. The lucha de apuestas match was the main event of the 2020 Sin Piedad ("No Mercy") show held on January 1, 2020. Gardenia won the match two-falls-to-one, followed by Kawato San being forced to shave all his hair off. Kawato San was one of 12 wrestlers competing in the 2020 Reyes del Aire ("Kings of the air") tournament, but was the sixth wrestler eliminated when Rey Cometa pinned him.[32] [33]

Return to NJPW (2020–present)

On July 3, 2020, Kawato returned to NJPW after a two-year excursion under the name Master Wato. As he was exiting, he was attacked by Suzuki-gun member Douki. It was later announced that at the New Japan Cup Finals in Osaka-Jo Hall, Wato would face Douki in a singles match where he was victorious.[34] He then embarked on a feud with another member of Suzuki-gun, Yoshinobu Kanemaru.[35] The feud ended when Kanemaru pinned Wato at Summer Struggle in Jingu Stadium in August.[36] In November 2020, he entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament where he was scheduled for a rematch against Kanemaru, but Kanemaru pulled out injured.[37] Wato finished the tournament with 4 wins and 5 losses, failing to advance to the finals.[38] At Wrestle Kingdom 15, he and Ryusuke Taguchi unsuccessfully challenged Suzuki-gun's El Desperado and Kanemaru for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[39] After being pinned by Bushi in a ten-man tag team match at New Year Dash!!,[40] the two men feuded on the Road To The New Beginning 2021 tour. At The New Beginning in Hiroshima, Bushi defeated Wato in a singles match.[41] Wato went on to compete in the 2021 Best of The Super Juniors finishing with a 4–7 record failing to advance.

On the preshow of the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 16, Wato would defeat El Desperado in a six man tag match and earn himself a title shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[42] At NJPW New Years Golden Series on February 11 he would be unsuccessful in his attempt. Eight days later, on February 19, he and Taguchi having formed the team called Six or Nine, would win The IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships in a four-way tag, making that his first championship victory in New Japan Pro Wrestling.[43] Despite being a Junior Heavyweight, Wato competed in the New Japan Cup, a heavyweight tournament, where he received a bye to the second round, although here he was defeated by Kazuchika Okada.[44] Six or Nine made their first successful tag team title defense at Hyper Battle, defeating Bullet Club's Cutest Tag Team (El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori).[45] In May, they made a second successful defense against the Suzuki-gun pairing of Kanemaru and Douki.[46] Later in the month, Wato competed in the annual Best of the Super Juniors tournament. In the B Block, Wato finished with 8 points, failing to advance to the finals.[47] On the day of the tournament finals, Wato and Taguchi were defeated by United Empire's TJP and Francesco Akira in a non-title match.[48] Due to this loss, Six or Nine defended the titles in a rematch, where they lost the championships to TJP and Akira, ending their reign at 121 days.[49] Six or Nine, failed to win the titles back in a rematch at Burning Spirit.[50] Following this, Wato focused on singles competition leading to Wato successfully defeated reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Taiji Ishimori, in a non-title match on October 10 at Declaration of Power.[51] After the match, Ishimori was confronted by Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado, who both wanted Junior Heavyweight title shots. This led to Ishimori, declaring that he would defend his championship against Desperado, Takahashi, and Wato in a four-way match at Wrestle Kingdom 17. On January 4, 2023, Wato was unsuccessful in capturing the junior heavyweight championship, which was won by Takahashi.[52]

In February at The New Beginning in Osaka, Wato lost to Taiji Ishimori.[53] In May, Wato would take part in the 2023 Best of the Super Juniors, where he would compete in the B Block.[54] Wato finished joint top of the block with 14 points, thus advancing to the semi-finals.[55] On May 26, he would defeat Mike Bailey in a semi-final match.[56] Two days later, he defeated Titán to win the tournament.[57] Wato challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, however he was defeated by the champion Takahashi.[58]

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

width=20% scope="col"Winner (wager)width=20% scope="col"Loser (wager)width=20% scope="col"Locationwidth=20% scope="col"Eventwidth=15% scope="col"DateNotes
Dulce Gardenia (hair) Kawato-San (hair) Mexico City Sin Piedad [62]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Master Wato. July 14, 2020. CAGEMATCH.
  2. Web site: Yohei Komatsu vs. Hirai Kawato (NJPW – 01/03/16). crossarmbreaker.com. en-US. March 7, 2017.
  3. Web site: Hirai Kawato >> Matches >> against Teruaki Kanemitsu . CageMatch . January 14, 2020.
  4. Web site: Matches « Hirai Kawato « Wrestlers Database. Kreikenbohm. Philip. cagematch.net. March 7, 2017.
  5. Web site: NJPW 45th Anniversary In Korakuen Hall . March 7, 2017 . CageMatch . January 14, 2020.
  6. Web site: Kawato San >> Matches >> 2016 . CageMatch . January 14, 2020.
  7. Web site: NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2017 . May 3, 2017 . February 14, 2020 . CageMatch.
  8. Web site: NJPW Wrestling Dontaku live results: Okada faces Bad Luck Fale . Rose . Bryan . May 2, 2017 . May 3, 2017 . Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  9. Web site: Bad Luck Fale challenges Okada, Omega vs. Ishii and more: 5/3 NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2017 report . Macklin . Matthew . May 3, 2017 . May 4, 2017 . Pro Wrestling Insider.
  10. Web site: Road to Power Struggle . November 9, 2017 . . ja.
  11. Web site: Lion's Gate Project8 . October 12, 2017 . . ja.
  12. Web site: JRA presents Road to Tokyo Dome . December 17, 2017 . . ja.
  13. Web site: Lion's Gate Project10 . December 21, 2017 . . ja.
  14. Web site: Lion's Gate Project9 . November 16, 2017 . . ja.
  15. Web site: JRA presents Road to Tokyo Dome . December 18, 2017 . . ja.
  16. Web site: Kawato San >> Matches >> 2018 >> New Japan Pro Wrestling . January 14, 2020 . CageMatch.
  17. CMLL_OFICIAL . 950608111747895296 . January 9, 2018 . Kawat arribará a México Es de los jóvenes talentos @njpw1972 que tendrá participación en esta Fantasticamanía 2018 y que arribará a México a finales de este mes de enero para participar activamente en el CMLL . Kawato will arrive in Mexico It is one of the young talents @ njpw1972 that will participate in this Fantasticamanía 2018 and that will arrive in Mexico at the end of January to actively participate in CMLL . January 9, 2018 . es.
  18. Web site: CMLL Super Viernes . February 2, 2019 . January 13, 2020.
  19. Web site: Lucha Memes . March 11, 2018 . January 13, 2020 . CageMatch.
  20. Web site: CMLL Martes Arena Mexico . March 20, 2018 . January 13, 2020 . CageMatch.
  21. Web site: Derrota con sabor a victoria para Rush y compañía. . The Gladiatores . es . October 27, 2018 . October 28, 2018 . Alfonso . Lizarraga.
  22. Web site: Phoenix y Cavernario, en busca de plata . es . November 18, 2019 . November 17, 2018 . Arturo . Rosas Plata . Ovaciones . January 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190123121249/https://ovaciones.com/phoenix-y-cavernario-en-busca-de-plata/.
  23. Web site: Cavernario y Phoenix, finalistas en torneo de leyenda de plata . es . November 18, 2019 . ESTO . November 7, 2018 . Arturo . Lopez Escalona.
  24. Web site: Dolorosa caída de Carístico ante Último Guerrero en la Arena México . es . November 18, 2019 . Marca . November 17, 2018.
  25. Web site: ¡Titán, a las nubes! . Titan, to the clouds! . January 7, 2019 . February 3, 2019 . es . Arturo . Rosas Plata . Ovaciones . February 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190204122319/https://ovaciones.com/titan-a-las-nubes/ . dead .
  26. Web site: CMLL: Titán gana el torneo "Reyes del Aire 2019" . Dark Angelita . January 9, 2019 . February 3, 2019 . es . . CMLL: Titan wins the 2019 "Kings of the Air" tournament.
  27. Web site: Último Guerrero rapa a Máscara Año 2000 en "Juicio Final" . Último Guerrero takes the hair of Máscara Año 2000 at "Final Justice" . es . ESTO . June 1, 2019 . June 1, 2019.
  28. Web site: Los Guerreros Laguneros, Amapola y Virus los grandes ganadores del Juicio Final . Los Guerreros Lagunero, Amapola and Virus are the big winners at Juicio Final . June 1, 2019 . June 1, 2019 . Alfonso . Lizárraga . The Gladiatores . es.
  29. Web site: Kawato San >> Matches >> 2019 . CageMatch . January 13, 2019.
  30. Web site: CMLL Informa 6 de noviembre de 2019 . November 6, 2019 . November 9, 2019 . Informa . . es . . CMLL Informat November 6, 2019.
  31. Web site: Kawato San >> Matches >> Against Dulce Gardenia . February 12, 2020 . CageMatch.
  32. Web site: Místico sigue en busca de Mephisto y Templario es el Rey del Aire 2020 . Místico is looking for Mephisto and Templario is the King of the Air 2020 . es . The Gladiatores . January 15, 2020 . January 20, 2020 . Alfonso . Lizarranga.
  33. Web site: CMLL: Templario es el Rey del Aire 2020 . CMLL: Templario is the King of the Air 2020. January 17, 2020 . January 20, 2020 . . Dark Angelita.
  34. Web site: July 3, 2020. Master Wato Coming soon!. YouTube.
  35. Web site: 2020-08-27. NJPW Summer Struggle results: Final build to Jingu Stadium. 2021-01-05. WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. en.
  36. Web site: 2020-08-29. NJPW Summer Struggle in Jingu live results: EVIL vs. Tetsuya Naito. 2021-01-05. WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. en.
  37. Web site: Andrew Thompson. 2020-11-12. Yoshinobu Kanemaru out of Best of the Super Juniors due to injury. 2021-01-05. POST Wrestling WWE NXT AEW NJPW UFC Podcasts, News, Reviews. en-US.
  38. Web site: 2020-12-06. NJPW WTL and BOSJ results: Final block matches. 2021-01-05. WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. en.
  39. Web site: January 5. Jake. 2021-01-05. 1/5 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 results: Powell's review of Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships, Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Championship, Evil vs. Sanada, Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb for the Never Openweight Title. 2021-01-05. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. en-US.
  40. Web site: NJPW. 2021.01.06 NEW YEAR DASH!! NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING. 2021-10-30. NJPW. en.
  41. Web site: NJPW. 2021.02.10 THE NEW BEGINNING in HIROSHIMA NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING. 2021-10-30. NJPW. en.
  42. Web site: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night two live results: Okada vs. Ospreay . 5 January 2022 .
  43. Web site: 2022.02.19 New Years Golden Series | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING .
  44. Web site: NJPW New Japan Cup 2022 Night 4 Results, Night 5 Card .
  45. Web site: Hyper Battle'22 – 東京・両国国技館 .
  46. Web site: NJPW Reveals Full Card for Wrestling Dontaku, Six Championships to be Defended | Fightful News .
  47. Web site: NJPW Best of Super Juniors 29 Lineup Announced, Including Champions from ROH, IMPACT & GLEAT . May 2022 .
  48. Web site: NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 29 finals live results: Hiromu vs. El Desperado . 3 June 2022 .
  49. Web site: Francesco Akira & TJP capture IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles . 20 June 2022 .
  50. Web site: Three title matches set for NJPW Burning Spirit in Kobe . 22 August 2022 .
  51. Web site: NJPW Declaration of Power Results 10/10/22 . 10 October 2022 .
  52. Web site: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 Results . 4 January 2023 .
  53. Web site: NJPW the New Beginning in Osaka live results: Okada vs. Shingo . 11 February 2023 .
  54. Web site: Best of the Super Jr. 30 lineup revealed! | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING .
  55. Web site: NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Tournament Update: Semi-Finals Set . 26 May 2023 .
  56. Web site: Finals set for NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 30 . 26 May 2023 .
  57. Web site: NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 30 Block Finals Results & Review . 24 May 2023 .
  58. Web site: NJPW Dominion live results: Seven title matches . 4 June 2023 .
  59. Web site: Kawato San nuevo Campeón de Peso Super Ligero del CMLL . Kawato San new CMLL super lightweight champion . June 30, 2019 . January 13, 2020 . W Radio . es.
  60. Web site: NJPW New Years Golden Series 2022 - Tag 14 - TV-Show @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. February 19, 2022. February 20, 2022.
  61. Web site: PWI 500 2022 List Rankings Full List Male And Female Wrestlers. thesportsgrail.com. Abhishek. Dilta. September 16, 2022. October 1, 2022.
  62. Web site: Dulce Gardenia abre el 2020 con la cabellera de Kawato San . Dulce Gardenia begins 2020 with the hair of Kawato San . es . January 2, 2020 . January 2, 2020 . MedioTiempo.