Yuji Okabayashi Explained
Yuji Okabayashi |
Names: | Gregory Okabayashi[1] Shining Tiger Big Buddy[2] Yuji Okabayashi |
Height: | 175 cm[3] |
Weight: | 120 kg |
Birth Date: | October 31, 1982 |
Birth Place: | Nankoku, Kōchi |
Trainer: | Big Japan Pro Wrestling dojo |
Debut: | June 27, 2008 |
[4] is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler. He is currently signed to Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) in the Strong BJ division, but is on an indefinite absence. Known as "The Golem", he has been working in BJW since his debut in June 2008, and is best known as part of a tag team with Daisuke Sekimoto, with whom he has held the BJW Tag Team Championship, All Japan Pro Wrestling's (AJPW) World Tag Team and All Asia Tag Team Championships and DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT)'s KO-D Tag Team Championship. As a singles wrestler, he is notably a four-time BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion.
Professional wrestling career
Big Japan Pro Wrestling (2008–present)
Okabayashi is a former member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and had a sports background in judo and weightlifting,[4] [2] when he joined Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) in 2008 for a new career in professional wrestling.[3] He made his debut for the promotion against Katsumasa Inoue on June 27, 2008.[4] [3] Okabayashi joined the promotion's non-deathmatch division, Strong BJ, eventually becoming one of its cornerstones alongside the likes of Daisuke Sekimoto and Yoshihito Sasaki.[5] Four months after his debut, Okabayashi made his American debut, when he, along with several other BJW wrestlers, took part in the Global Gauntlet events held by the Chikara promotion.[6] [7]
Back in BJW, Okabayashi formed a tag team with Daisuke Sekimoto, which led to him winning his first title on July 27, 2009, when the two defeated Isami Kodaka and Masashi Takeda for the BJW Tag Team Championship.[8] After a five-month reign, they lost the title to Shinya Ishikawa and Yoshihito Sasaki.[8] On January 9, 2010, Okabayashi made his debut for Osaka Pro Wrestling, when he and Sekimoto unsuccessfully challenged Hideyoshi and Masamune for the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship.[9] The following April, Okabayashi returned to Chikara to represent BJW in the 2010 King of Trios tournament, where he formed a trio with Sekimoto and Kankuro Hoshino.[10] They made it to the semifinals, before being eliminated by Bruderschaft des Kreuzes (Ares, Claudio Castagnoli and Tursas).[11] At the end of 2010, Tokyo Sports named Okabayashi Japanese professional wrestling's Rookie of the Year.
The following year, Okabayashi and Sekimoto began making appearances for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where they won the All Asia Tag Team Championship twice.[12] During the year, they also won the Big Japan Tag League. At the end of the year, Tokyo Sports named Okabayashi and Sekimoto the 2011 Tag Team of the Year.[13] During 2012, Okabayashi set his sights on the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship, a new title intended for the Strong BJ division.[14] He received his first shot at the title on June 21, but was defeated by Yoshihito Sasaki. The following month, Okabayashi regained the BJW Tag Team Championship, this time teaming with Shinobu.[15] After a four-month reign, they lost the title to Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto in the finals of the 2012 Big Japan Tag League.[8] On March 31, 2013, Okabayashi received another shot at the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship, unsuccessfully challenging longtime tag team partner Daisuke Sekimoto.[16]
Okabayashi missed most of 2014 with a left shoulder injury, which he suffered while wrestling in Germany in January.[17] He returned from the injury on December 21.[18] His first big match since his return took place on February 2, 2015, when he unsuccessfully challenged Shuji Ishikawa for the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship.[19] On February 15, Okabayashi and Sekimoto won another tag team title, when they defeated Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo to win the DDT Pro-Wrestling promotion's KO-D Tag Team Championship.[20] On July 20, Okabayashi scored his first-ever win over Sekimoto, when he defeated him to become the new BJW World Strong Heavyweight Champion, winning the first singles title of his professional wrestling career.[21] [22] On August 23, Okabayashi and Sasaki lost the KO-D Tag Team Championship to Daisuke Sasaki and Kota Ibushi.[23] [24] On October 29, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated Kohei Sato and Shuji Ishikawa in the finals to win the 2015 Saikyo Tag League and the BJW Tag Team Championship.[25] [26] They lost the title to Hideyoshi Kamitani and Ryota Hama on December 30.[27] On June 8, 2016, Okabayashi won another tag team title, when he and Yasufumi Nakanoue defeated Kazma Sakamoto and Yuji Hino for the Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship.[28] [29] A week later, Okabayashi and Daisuke Sekimoto defeated Bodyguard and Zeus to win AJPW's World Tag Team Championship.[30] [31] On July 24, Okabayashi lost the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship to Hideyoshi Kamitani in his fourth defense.[32] [33] On July 29, Okabayashi and Nakanoue lost the Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship to Jun Kasai and Manabu Soya in their second defense.[34] [35] On October 31, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto to win their second Big Japan Saikyo Tag League in a row.[36] On November 27, Okabayashi and Sekimoto lost the AJPW World Tag Team Championship back to Bodyguard and Zeus.[37] [38] On December 14, Okabayashi and Sekimoto won their second Tag Team of the Year award from Tokyo Sports.[39] On January 2, 2017, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated Kohei Sato and Shuji Ishikawa to win the BJW Tag Team Championship for the third time.[40] [41] They lost the title to Abdullah Kobayashi and Ryuji Ito in their fifth defense on July 17.[42] [43] On August 27, Okabayashi and Sekimoto defeated Kai and Naoya Nomura to win the vacant AJPW World Tag Team Championship for the second time.[44] [45] They relinquished the title on October 16 after Okabayashi suffered a shoulder injury.[46] [47] It was later announced that Okabayashi would be undergoing surgery the following December, which would sideline him for up to a year.[48]
In October 2018, BJW announced that Okabayashi would be returning from injury at Ryōgokutan 2018.[49] On November 11, he lost Ryuichi Kawakami in his return match.[50] On December 9, Okabayashi and Sekimoto unsuccessfully challenged Ryota Hama and Yasufumi Nakanoue for the BJW Tag Team Championship.[51] On January 13, 2019, they won the AJPW World Tag Team Championships for a third time, defeating Shuji Ishikawa and Suwama.[52] They defended their titles against Jake Lee and Ryoji Sai on February 24[53] before losing the titles back to Ishikawa and Suwama on March 19.[54] In April, Okabayashi won a tournament to determine the number one contender for the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship by defeating Daichi Hashimoto in the finals on April 14.[55] On May 5, for a second time, he defeated Sekimoto to win the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship.[56] He lost the title to Kohei Sato on August 25 after two title defences.[57] In November, he won the Zero1 Furinkazan Tag Tournament with Yuji Hino and the BJW Saikyo Tag League with Shigehiro Irie.[58] [59] On January 1, 2020, he unsuccessfully challenged Hino for the Zero1 World Heavyweight Championship.[60] The following day, he also unsuccessfully challenged Daichi Hashimoto for the BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship.[61] On January 13, he won the World Is Not Enough ~ Six Man Tag Team Tournament with Hino and Akira Hyodo. On March 3, Okabayashi and Irie unsuccessfully challenged Sekimoto and Sato for the BJW Tag Team Championship.[62] On March 25, he won the 2AW Openweight Championship from Shu Asakawa.[63] Also in March, Okabayashi had been entered into the 2020 Ikkitousen Strong Climb as part of the C Block; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several events scheduled to showcase the Ikkitousen Strong Climb were cancelled and all remaining matches were adjudged as draws, causing Okabayashi to miss out on the finals. On July 5, he lost the 2AW Openweight Championship to Ayato Yoshida.[64] On October 21, Okabayashi won his third BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship by defeating Daichi Hashimoto.[65] He lost the title to Yasufumi Nakanoue on January 2.[66]
Personal life
Okabayashi married his partner of two years, Mika Mukai, in July 2012.[67]
Championships and accomplishments
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Into the Indies 01.12.10: Romeo vs. Juliet . Byers . Ryan . January 12, 2010 . July 25, 2015 . 411Mania.
- Web site: Yuji Okabayashi . July 25, 2015 . Puroresu Central.
- Web site: http://www.w-1.co.jp/player/okabayashi.php . ja:岡林 裕二 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://bjw.co.jp/fighter_detail.php?id=33 . ja:岡林 裕二 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/227914/ . ja:ケガ人続出の大日本が門戸開放を宣言 . January 26, 2014 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: The Global Gauntlet - Night 1 . July 25, 2015 . Chikara.
- Web site: The Global Gauntlet - Night 2 . July 25, 2015 . Chikara.
- Web site: BJW Tag Team Title . July 25, 2015 . Wrestling-Titles.com.
- Web site: http://www.osaka-prowres.com/result/?m=20100109 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224155635/http://www.osaka-prowres.com/result/?m=20100109 . ja:1月9日試合結果 . December 24, 2013 . January 9, 2010 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: Biggest wrestling tournament of the year kicks off Friday at ECW Arena: 2010 Chikara King of Trios this weekend . Johnson . Mike . April 19, 2010 . July 25, 2015 . Pro Wrestling Insider.
- Web site: Chikara King of Trios finale live report from Philadelphia . Higham . Joshua . April 26, 2010 . July 25, 2015 . Pro Wrestling Insider.
- Web site: https://www.all-japan.co.jp/archives/titleholder/アジアタッグ王座/ . ja:アジアタッグ王座 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/61358/ . ja:実績とチームとしての完成度の高さを評価 . December 15, 2011 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: 「一騎当千」優勝の佐々木義人がベルト新設を要求 5.5横浜でアブ小林vs.石川のデスマッチ戦開催へ . https://web.archive.org/web/20120329131810/http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/live/2012/2012032601/index.html . March 29, 2012 . March 26, 2012 . July 25, 2015 . Sports Navi . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/363030/ . ja:岡林裕二、忍組が至宝奪還 . July 16, 2012 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/128645/ . ja:関本が挑戦者に大森指名「ワイルドなら出てこい」 . April 5, 2013 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: February 18, 2014. 左肩手術の岡林"院内筋トレ"敢行へ. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/348079/ . ja:大日本・岡林が復帰後初勝利 . December 22, 2014 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/363030/ . ja:復帰岡林が王者・石川に善戦 . February 3, 2015 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/367723/ . ja:KO―Dタッグは関本、岡林組が新王者 . February 16, 2015 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://battle-news.com/?p=11863 . ja:大日本 7.20両国大会 関本vs.岡林のストロングBJ戦、アブ小vs.伊東のデスマッチヘビー級戦、ツインタワーズvs.ヤンキー二丁拳銃のタッグ王座戦 . July 20, 2015 . July 25, 2015 . Battle News . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/424098/ . ja:関本撃破!岡林ストロング王座初戴冠 . July 21, 2015 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://battle-news.com/?p=13219 . ja:DDT 8.23両国大会 Kudovs.坂口のKO-D無差別級戦、Harashimavs.棚橋、LiLiCoプロレスデビュー戦 . August 23, 2015 . August 23, 2015 . Battle News . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/439010/ . ja:【DDT両国】飯伏タッグ奪回したが…「防衛戦はしません」 . August 24, 2015 . August 24, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://bjw.co.jp/event_detail.php?id=668 . ja:「最侠タッグリーグ2015優勝決定戦」後楽園ホール大会 . October 29, 2015 . October 29, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/466192/ . ja:大日本「最侠タッグ」優勝!岡林 涙の“2冠王” . October 30, 2015 . October 30, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://bjw.co.jp/event_detail.php?id=670 . ja:後楽園ホール大会 . December 30, 2015 . December 30, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: 「Wrestle-1 Tour 2016 Outbreak」 . June 8, 2016 . June 8, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: http://battle-news.com/?p=21782 . ja:6・8 Wrestle-1後楽園ホール大会 【W-1王座】Kaivs芦野 【W-1タッグ】火野&Kazumavs中之上&岡林 【UWA6人タッグ】Tajiri&カズ&稔vs河野&Yasshi&村瀬 【クルーザーディビジョン】鼓太郎vsAkira . June 9, 2016 . June 9, 2016 . Battle News . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/553859/ . ja:世界タッグ奪取 関本&岡林組が次期挑戦者に小鹿を指名 . June 16, 2016 . June 16, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/1663756.html . ja:関本大介、岡林裕二組が初のタッグ王者に 全日本 . June 16, 2016 . June 17, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201607240010-spnavi . ja:星野が伊東破り涙のデスマッチ王座戴冠 岡林が新鋭・神谷に敗れ王座転落 . Takagi . Hiromi . July 24, 2016 . July 25, 2016 . Sports Navi . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/570359/ . ja:<大日本>神谷が大金星!岡林下し初戴冠 . July 25, 2016 . July 25, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: 「Wrestle-1 Tour 2016 Symbol」 . July 29, 2016 . July 29, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/572946/ . ja:征矢がW-1タッグ王座奪取 . July 30, 2016 . July 30, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/612077/ . ja:【大日本】“ヤンキー二丁拳銃”撃破!関本&岡林が最侠タッグ3度目V . November 1, 2016 . November 1, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/622266/ . ja:ゼウス組が関本組から世界タッグ王座奪還 . November 28, 2016 . November 28, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: AJPW Sumo Hall results: Miyahara vs. Suwama for the Triple Crown . Rose . Bryan . November 27, 2016 . November 27, 2016 . Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/628673/ . ja:【プロレス大賞】最優秀タッグは大日本・関本&岡林組 5年ぶり2度目 . December 14, 2016 . December 14, 2016 . . ja.
- Web site: http://bjw.co.jp/event_detail.php?id=1396 . ja:「新春」後楽園ホール大会 . January 2, 2017 . January 2, 2017 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2017/01/02/0009799087.shtml . ja:頭突きで血が飛び出しても勝った!関本&岡林がBJWタッグ奪回 . January 2, 2016 . January 2, 2016 . Daily Sports Online . . ja.
- Web site: http://bjw.co.jp/event_detail.php?id=1332 . ja:「両極譚~Ryogokutan~2017」 . July 17, 2017 . July 17, 2017 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/710161/ . ja:【大日本】小林&伊東組 BJWタッグ王座奪取も早くも仲間割れ? . July 18, 2017 . July 19, 2017 . . ja.
- Web site: https://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2017/08/28/0010501086.shtml . ja:関本&岡林が世界タッグ返り咲き!秋山&大森が挑戦名乗り「胸貸してくれ」 . August 28, 2017 . August 27, 2017 . Daily Sports Online . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/747312/ . ja:【全日本】関本、岡林組が世界タッグ奪還 . August 28, 2017 . August 28, 2017 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.all-japan.co.jp/岡林裕二選手欠場に伴い、世界タッグ王座返上の . ja:岡林裕二選手欠場に伴い、世界タッグ王座返上のお知らせ . October 16, 2017 . October 16, 2017 . . ja.
- Web site: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/798292/ . ja:【全日】岡林負傷で世界タッグ王座返上 秋山&大森は関本&伊東と決定戦 . October 16, 2017 . October 17, 2017 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.bjw.co.jp/news_detail.php?id=2966 . ja:※岡林裕二選手 現在の状態に関して . November 9, 2017 . November 9, 2017 . . ja.
- Web site: October 26, 2018. 【大日本】11.11両国大会で復帰戦の岡林裕二、対戦する河上隆一がコメント!岡林「叩き潰しにいきます」河上「腕の一本ぐらいいただきますよ」<10.25会見>. February 7, 2021. Proresu Today. Japanese.
- Web site: November 12, 2018. 【大日本】長期欠場から岡林復帰「ここからがスタート」. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: Dark Angelita. 2018-12-13. BJW: "Big Japan Full Metal" Ryota Hama after Sekimoto. 2021-01-18. Superluchas. English.
- Web site: January 15, 2019. 【大日本】関本&岡林が王道マット大侵攻へ. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: February 25, 2019. 【全日本】大日本・関本&岡林 世界タッグ初防衛「次はチャンピオンCで全日と全面戦争だ」. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: March 20, 2019. 【全日本】"暴走大巨人"諏訪魔&石川が世界タッグ王座奪還 次なる夢はC・カーニバルV決定戦での再会. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: 「一騎当千~DeathMatch Survivor~決勝戦」北海道・ススキノ・マルスジム大会. February 7, 2021. Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Japanese.
- Web site: May 5, 2019. 【大日本】岡林が関本との盟友対決制し王座奪取 5大タイトル戦全てベルト移動. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: August 25, 2019. 【大日本】佐藤耕平が岡林からストロング王座奪取「何とか勝てた」. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: ZERO1「第10回 真冬の祭典 風林火山2019」優勝決定戦. February 7, 2021. Pro Wrestling Zero1. Japanese.
- Web site: 【最侠タッグリーグ2019最終戦】東京・後楽園ホール大会. February 7, 2021. Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Japanese.
- Web site: ZERO1すしざんまいPresents「謹賀新年」. February 7, 2021. Pro Wrestling Zero1. Japanese.
- Web site: 「新春・年初めのデスマッチ」東京・後楽園ホール大会. February 7, 2021. Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Japanese.
- Web site: March 4, 2020. 【大日本】タッグ王座V2 関本タイトル総なめ宣言. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: March 26, 2020. 【大日本】岡林が号令 "外貨獲得"で経営難を乗り越えろ. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: 2AW Launching Business 1st Anniversary ~ GRAND SLAM In TKP Garden City Chiba. February 7, 2021. cagematch.net. English.
- Web site: October 21, 2020. 【大日本】料理に目覚めた岡林が大地破りストロング王座返り咲き!. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: January 2, 2021. 【2021年新春 東京・後楽園ホール大会. January 26, 2021. Weekly Pro Wrestling. ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/38615/ . ja:結婚!大日・岡林「子供3人欲しい」 . September 17, 2012 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: March 26, 2020. 【大日本】岡林が号令 "外貨獲得"で経営難を乗り越えろ. February 7, 2021. Tokyo Sports. Japanese.
- Web site: http://www.bjw.co.jp/pfree_pg7.php . ja:BJW世界ストロングヘビー級王座 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.bjw.co.jp/pfree_pg9.php . ja:横浜ショッピングストリート6人タッグ王座 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://bjw.co.jp/vm/game-sec_2673.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20100917062823/http://bjw.co.jp/vm/game-sec_2673.html . ja:2009年8月19日(水) . September 17, 2010 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: Dainichi-X 2011 . July 25, 2015 . Cagematch.
- Web site: D-Dash Tag Tournament . July 25, 2015 . Cagematch.
- Web site: BJW . July 25, 2015 . Cagematch.
- Web site: BJW WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH ~ Six Man Tag Team Tournament Semi Finals & Final. February 7, 2021. cagematch.net. English.
- Web site: http://battle-news.com/?p=18502 . ja:年越しプロレス12.31後楽園大会 大日本、DDT、K-Dojoから16チーム参加の年忘れ!三団体シャッフル・タッグトーナメント . January 1, 2016 . December 31, 2015 . Battle News . ja.
- Web site: Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016 . September 1, 2016 . The Internet Wrestling Database.
- Web site: ZERO1「第10回 真冬の祭典 風林火山2019」優勝決定戦. February 7, 2021. Pro Wrestling Zero1. Japanese.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past5/ . ja:東京スポーツ プロレス大賞 . July 25, 2015 . . ja.
- Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/481191/ . ja:【プロレス大賞】敢闘賞の岡林 入院中にもスクワット . December 8, 2015 . December 8, 2015 . . ja.