Bone Soldier

**Bone Soldier** is the persona of several Japanese professional wrestlers. The persona was inspired by the Bullet Club logo Bone Soldier. Those who portray the gimmick are heels, being part of the Bullet Club stable, with only Japanese wrestlers who portray the gimmick. The gimmick initially was a failure and was heavily panned by critics and was consequently named 2016's "Worst Gimmick" by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The gimmick then returned in May 2018, this time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's junior heavyweight division. As of May 4, 2018, two professional wrestlers have used the Bone Soldier persona during their careers. The portrayer of usually uses a mask that looks one of Bullet Club's "Bone Soldier" shirt logo.

## History

On September 25, 2016, at Destruction in Kobe, Captain New Japan upon being denied a spot in Hunter Club, turned on Yoshitatsu and defected to Bullet Club. The following day, he was given the new ring name "Bone Soldier". He made his debut under the name on October 8. The following month, Bone Soldier entered the 2016 World Tag League, teaming with Bullet Club stablemate Bad Luck Fale. The two lost all seven of their matches in the tournament, with Bone Soldier being pinned by his rival Yoshitatsu in their final match on December 8. Bone Soldier's performance in the tournament led to Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega dubbing him an "intergalactic disaster". The gimmick would wrestle on the NJPW undercards, mostly losing matches, after being pinned or submitted by his opponents, being marred by poor performances. In the end 2016, the gimmick was heavily panned by critics and was consequently named 2016's "Worst Gimmick" by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Shortly after, Hirasawa was released by NJPW, according to Dave Meltzer, he was fired because of gambling issues.

On April 13, 2018, NJPW began promoting the return of Bone Soldier, a wrestler last seen in the promotion in January 2017. It was rumored that Taiji Ishimori would be the next Bone Soldier, this time in the junior heavyweight division. On May 4, 2018 at Wrestling Dontaku 2018, Bone Soldier was revealed to be Taiji Ishimori who returned to NJPW, who had been teased for the past several months, then proceeded to attack IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay.

## Portrayers

* Mitsuhide Hirasawa – The original portrayer of Bone Soldier
* Taiji Ishimori – Current and second portrayer of Bone Soldier

## Signature moves associated with the character

* **Finishing moves**
	+ **Hirasawa** (Bone Solider I)
		- *Bone Soldier* (Full nelson transitioned into a chokeslam)
	+ **Ishimori** (Bone Soldier II)
		- *Bloody Cross* (Lifting single underhook double knee gutbuster)
		- *Bone Lock* (Chickenwing over the shoulder crossface)

## Championships and accomplishments

* ***Wrestling Observer Newsletter***
	+ Worst Gimmick (2016)
* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – Ishimori

## References

1. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (March 6, 2017). "March 6, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2016 Awards issue, talent departing TNA, more". *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Campbell, California: 27. ISSN 1083-9593.
2. ↑ Hamakatsu presents Wrestling Dontaku 2018  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2018-05-04.
3. ↑ Destruction in Kobe  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-25.
4. ↑ 【10.8魚沼大会・全カード！】メインで本隊とJ・リーサルが初合体！セミでNEVER6人タッグが実現！Bullet新メンバー・Bone Soldierとは？  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-26.
5. ↑ New Japan Road ～がんばろう！Uonuma 2016～  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-10-08.
6. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2016-11-07. NJPW reveals full World Tag League lineup, four Wrestle Kingdom matches . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-12-08.
7. ↑ *ja:戦国炎舞 -Kizna- Presents World Tag League 2016* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-12-08.
8. ↑ NJPW World Tag League finals live results: The winners are crowned . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* (2016-12-09). Retrieved on 2016-12-10.
9. ↑ Hamakatsu presents Wrestling Dontaku 2018  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2018-05-04.
10. ↑ Larry Csonka 2018-04-26. The Latest Details on Bone Soldier Returning to NJPW . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2018-04-26.
11. ↑ Emily Pratt 2018-04-16. Let’s Speculate Wildly About The Return Of NJPW’s BONE SOLDIER . *Uproxx*. Retrieved on 2018-05-04.
12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Details on Bone Soldier`
13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `New Bone Soldier`
14. ↑ ja:戦国炎舞 -Kizna- Presents Road to Power Struggle (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved on 2016-10-27.
15. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (March 6, 2017). "March 6, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2016 Awards issue, talent departing TNA, more". *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Campbell, California: 27. ISSN 1083-9593.