Yoshi-Hashi

Yoshi-Hashi in May 2022

###

Togo, Aichi, Japan

**Nobuo Yoshihashi** (吉橋 伸雄 Yoshihashi Nobuo, born May 25, 1982) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling as **Yoshi-Hashi** (stylized in all capital letters), where is currently one-half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions in his third reign, while also being a former two-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions and co-winner of the 2021 and 2022 World Tag League.

Yoshi-Hashi made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) on July 6, 2008, and worked as a "Young Lion" over the following two years. In 2010, Yoshi-hashi was sent to the Mexican Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) promotion to further his wrestling training and gain international experience, a tradition with NJPW "Young Lions", before returning to NJPW in January 2012, as part of the CHAOS stable.

Over the following years, he worked as an undercarder without any major championship wins, but began gathered a cult, after he formed Bishamon with Hirooki Goto, culminating in him winning his first title in the promotion, the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. Yoshi-Hashi has since won the title one more time, the IWGP Tag Team Championship three times and the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship once.

## Professional wrestling career

### New Japan Pro Wrestling (2008–2010)

In 2005, Yoshihashi tried to earn a training spot in the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) dojo, but failed to pass an introductory test. He was eventually accepted into the dojo, after passing the test on his third attempt, and made his professional wrestling debut on July 6, 2008, losing to Tetsuya Naito. Although not competing in G1 Climax 2008 he did wrestle on many of the G1 Climax event. Yoshihashi did not pick up any wins in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2008. This is normal for rookies in New Japan Pro Wrestling. However, on making his Riki Pro debut on November 3 he teamed up with Kazuchika Okada to beat the team of Kuniyoshi Wada and Yusaku Obata. On February 12, 2009, Yoshihashi won his first match in New Japan Pro Wrestling by teaming with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yuji Nagata and defeating Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto and Shinsuke Nakamura. After this however, he lost almost all of his matches in 2009. On November 4 Yoshihahsi teamed up with Koji Kanemoto in a losing effort against the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. In 2010 Yoshihashi began winning many more matches for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He teamed up with Jushin Thunder Liger to participate in the first Super J Tag Tournament, however, the pair lost in the first round and were eliminated. He also participated in the 2010 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Yoshihashi picked up his first ever singles victory in New Japan Pro Wrestling however by winning only one match and losing the rest, therefore gaining two points, he did not progress to the semi final. His last match for New Japan before leaving was a loss with Liger against Davey Richards and La Sombra.

### Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2010–2011)

Yoshihashi joined Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in 2010 as a way to gain more experience and be exposed to a variety of wrestling syles. His first match was a six-man two out of three falls match with *La Ola Amarilla* ("The Yellow Wave"; Okumura and Taichi) losing to El Hijo del Fantasma, La Mascara, and Maximo. For the rest of 2010 and the entire year of 2011 Yoshihashi wrestled in six-man two out of three falls matches and rarely participated in anything else. He lost most of his matches for CMLL in both 2010 and 2011. Near the end of his stay in Mexico Yoshihashi started a storyline with CMLL mainstay Rush that started in six-man tag team matches and soon escalated to the point where the two agreed to both bet their hair in a *Lucha de Apuestas* ("Bet Match), which in Mexico is more important than Championship matches. On August 1, 2011, Rush defeated Yoshihashi and then forced him to have his hair shaved off as per the stipulation.

### Return to NJPW (2012–present)

In late 2011, it was announced that Yoshihashi would be returning to NJPW on January 4, 2011, at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, now working under the ring name "Yoshi-Hashi" (stylized in all capital letters). Prior to his return, Yoshi-Hashi announced that he had joined the CHAOS stable due to becoming accustomed to portraying a *rudo* (a villain) in Mexico. On January 4, 2012, Yoshi-Hashi was defeated in his return match by his old nemesis from his early career, Kazuchika Okada, who won the match in under five minutes. Yoshi-Hashi appeared at The New Beginning and NJPW 40th Anniversary Show teaming with members of Chaos and won both matches. On April 1, he was defeated by La Sombra in the first round of the New Japan Cup. At Wrestling Dontaku 2012, Yoshi-Hashi along with Jado and Tomohiro Ishii defeated Captain New Japan, Strong Man and Tama Tonga. At Dominion 6.16, Yoshi-Hashi teamed with Tomohiro Ishii and Rocky Romero defeated Captain New Japan and Seigigun members Wataru Inoue and Yuji Nagata. From November 20 to December 1, Yoshi-Hashi took part in the round-robin portion of the 2012 World Tag League, alongside stablemate Kazuchika Okada under the team name "Chaos Ride the Lightning". The team finished with a record of three wins and three losses, with a loss to "Sword & Guns" (Karl Anderson and Hirooki Goto) on the final day, costing them a spot in the semifinals of the tournament. Yoshi-Hashi and Okada reunited a year later for the 2013 World Tag League, this time finishing second to last in their block with a record of two wins and four losses. On September 5, 2014, Yoshi-Hashi picked up a major win, when he led Chaos to a ten-man elimination tag team match win over their rival Bullet Club stable. Following the win, Yoshi-Hashi was granted a shot at two different championships held by Bullet Club; the NEVER Openweight Championship and the IWGP Tag Team Championship. On September 21 at Destruction in Kobe, Yoshi-Hashi and Kazuchika Okada unsuccessfully challenged Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. Two days later at Destruction in Okayama, Yoshi-Hashi also failed to capture the NEVER Openweight Championship from Yujiro Takahashi. In November, Yoshi-Hashi once again teamed up with Okada for the 2014 World Tag League. The team finished their block with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals.

In mid-2016, through Chaos' rivalry with the *Los Ingobernables de Japón* (L.I.J.) stable, Yoshi-Hashi found himself a rival in NJPW newcomer SANADA. The two had a history dating back to 2005, when they took part in NJPW's introductory test together. While both failed to pass the test, Yoshi-Hashi felt that Sanada was a quitter for seeking employment in another promotion (All Japan Pro Wrestling), while he himself repeated the test until passing it in his third attempt. On June 19 at Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall, Yoshi-Hashi scored arguably the biggest win of his career at that point by submitting Sanada in a tag team match, where he teamed with Chaos stablemate Tomohiro Ishii and Sanada with L.I.J. stablemate BUSHI. Following the win, Yoshi-Hashi was granted entry into the 2016 G1 Climax, his first G1 Climax tournament. In his opening match in the tournament on July 22, Yoshi-Hashi scored another big win over Kenny Omega. On August 13, he finished the tournament last in his block with a record of three wins and six losses. Despite this, Yoshi-Hashi's opening match win resulted in Omega, after winning the entire tournament, nominating him as his first challenger for the Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship match contract. On September 22 at Destruction in Hiroshima, Yoshi-Hashi unsuccessfully challenged Omega for the contract. On November 5 at Power Struggle, Yoshi-Hashi teamed with Tomohiro Ishii to unsuccessfully challenge Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. At the end of the year, Yoshi-Hashi and Okada took part in the 2016 World Tag League, finishing third in their block with a record of four wins and three losses. On January 5, 2017, Yoshi-Hashi pinned Bullet Club member and reigning Ring of Honor (ROH) World Champion Adam Cole in a six-man tag team match, seemingly putting himself in line for a shot at the title. Through NJPW's relationship with Revolution Pro Wrestling, Yoshi-Hashi made his debut for the British promotion on January 21, defeating Pete Dunne. On February 27, during the second of the Honor Rising: Japan 2017 events, Yoshi-Hashi unsuccessfully challenged Adam Cole for the ROH World Championship. On June 26, Yoshi-Hashi unsuccessfully challenged Minoru Suzuki for the NEVER Openweight Championship. At the end of the year, Yoshi-Hashi teamed with Hirooki Goto in the 2017 World Tag League. Finishing with a record of four wins and three losses, the team failed to qualify for the finals, after losing to EVIL and SANADA in their final round-robin match. From July 14 until August 10, 2018, Yoshi-Hashi took part in the 2018 G1 Climax, where he finished the tournament with a record of three wins and seven losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament.

On August 9, 2020, Yoshi-Hashi, Hirooki Goto, and Tomohiro Ishii defeated fellow CHAOS stablemates Okada, Toru Yano and Sho in a tournament final to win NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, winning his first professional wrestling championship in the process. From September 19 until October 17, Yoshi-Hashi took part in the 2020 G1 Climax, finishing the tournament with a record of two wins and seven losses, failling to advance to the finals of the tournament. From November 15 until December 6, Yoshi-Hashi and Goto took part in the 2020 World Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of five wins and four losses, failling advance to the finals of the tournament. In March 2021, Yoshi-Hashi took part in the 2021 New Japan Cup, losing in the second round to David Finlay on March 15. From September 19 to October 20, Yoshi-Hashi took part in the 2021 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of three wins and six losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. Yoshi-Hashi, Goto & Ishii's reign would break the record for the longest reign as champions at 454 days and the most successful title defenses with 9 defenses, before losing the titles to House of Torture (EVIL, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi) on November 6 at Power Stuggle. From November 14 to December 12, Yoshi-Hashi took part in the round-robin portion of the 2021 World Tag League, alongside Hirooki Goto. The team finished with a record of nine wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On December 15, Yoshi-Hashi and Goto defeated EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi in the finals to win the 2021 World Tag League, marking his first major tournament victory in NJPW. On January 4, 2022, on the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 16, Yoshi-Hashi and Goto defeated Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles to Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb on April 9 at Hyper Battle. On July 5, Yoshi-Hashi, Goto and Yoh defeated EVIL, Sho and Yujiro Takahashi for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. From July 20 to August 16, Yoshi-Hashi took part in the 2022 G1 Climax, finishing the tournament with a record of three wins and three losses, failing to advance to the semifinals. On September 23, Yoshi-Hashi, Goto and Yoh lost the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship back to EVIL, Sho and Yujiro Takahashi in a Tornado Dog Cage Survival match. From November 22 until December 14, Yoshi-Hashi and Goto took part in the 2022 World Tag League finishing the tournament with a record of seven wins and two losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On December 14, Yoshi-Hashi and Goto defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis) in the finals of the tournament, making them the fifth team to win the tournment in back-to-back years in World Tag League history.

On January 4, 2023, at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in Tokyo Dome, Yoshi-Hashi and Goto defeated FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the second time. They lost the titles to Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis) on April 8 at Sakura Genesis in their third title defense. On June 4 at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, Yoshi-Hashi and Goto defeated EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi and Aaron Henare and Great-O-Khan in three-way match to win the vacant IWGP and Strong Tag Team Championships. On July 4 at NJPW Strong Independence Day, Bishamon lost the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship to Gabe Kidd and Alex Coughlin. From July 15 to August 6, Yoshi-Hashi took part in the 2023 G1 Climax, where he finished the tournament with a record of two wins and five losses, failing to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. On December 8, Yoshi-Hashi and Goto defeated Gabe Kidd and Alex Coughlin and then Hikuleo and El Phantasmo, on December 10 in the semiinals and the finals, respectively, to win the 2023 World Tag League, becoming the first team to win the tournament for three consecutive years. Afterwards, they used their champions privilege to choose their opponents for Wrestle Kingdom 18, challenging the Hikuleo and Phantasmo to a match, for both IWGP and the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships in a Winner Takes All" match. At the event, on January 4, 2024, Bishamon lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship to Hikuleo and Phantasmo, in the double title match also for the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship.

## Personal life

Yoshi-Hashi is married to fellow wrestler Ayumi Kurihara.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Butterfly lock – 2016–present
	+ *Karma* (Pumphandle half nelson driver) – 2016–present
	+ *Kumagoroshi*  (Fisherman buster transitioned into a sitout side powerslam)
	+ *Loose Explosion* (High-angle senton bomb)
* **Signature moves**
	+ *Bunker Buster* (Vertical suplex dropped into a neckbreaker)
	+ *Chakram* (Inverted DDT)
	+ Cross armbreaker
	+ Dragon suplex
	+ Front dropkick to an opponent draped on the ropes
	+ *Head Hunter* (Front flip neckbreaker sometimes from the top rope)
	+ *Head Crusher* (Sitout rear mat slam)
	+ Low dropkick
	+ Running sitout powerbomb
	+ Running double knee strike usually to a kneeling opponent)
	+ Underhook suplex
* **With Hirooki Goto**
	+ **Double-team finishing moves**
		- *GYR/Shoto* (Aided neckbreaker by Yoshi-Hashi into a lariat by Goto)
		- *Naraku* (Aided whiplash spun into a double spinning headlock elbow drop)
	+ **Double-team signature moves**
		- *Gekiretsu Issen/Violent Flash* (*Ushigoroshi* (Goto) / Thrust Kick (Yoshi-Hashi) combination)
		- *Kakushi Hazama/Hidden Gap* (Counter to a move (Goto) / Superkick (Yoshi-Hashi) combination)
		- *Saruka ni Kassen/Battle in Saruka* (Grounded arm-twist (Goto)/Step-over stomp (Yoshi-Hashi)
		- *Zanmai* (Double shoulder tackle followed by a arm-drag cannonball senton followed by consecutive strikes to the opponent's back, with theatrics)
		- *Gutbuster* (*Headshot* (Goto) / *Bunker Buster* (Yoshi-Hashi) combination)
		- *Goto Goto Hunter* (Russian legsweep (Goto) / *Head Hunter* (Yoshi-Hashi) combination)
* **Nicknames**
	+ "**Head Hunter**"
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Rage from Underground" by Yonosuke Kitamura (2008–2010)
	+ "Ikari no Jushin" by Yumi Hiroki (August 1, 2011)
	+ **"Head Hunter"** by Yonosuke Kitamura (2012–present)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ IWGP Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Hirooki Goto
	+ NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii (1) and Hirooki Goto and Yoh (1)
	+ NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship tournament (2020) - with Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii
	+ Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Hirooki Goto
	+ World Tag League (2021, 2022, 2023) – with Hirooki Goto
* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him #**314** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016
	+ PWI ranked Yoshi-Hashi #**178** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017
* ***Tokyo Sports***
	+ Tag Team of the Year (2023) – with Hirooki Goto

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Yoshi-Hashi  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2012-11-15.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `atat`
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Best of the Super Jr.XXIII  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-05-22.
4. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=7125&page=4&s=200
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=7125&page=4&s=100
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=7125&page=4
7. ↑ Madigan, Dan (2007). "Okay... what is Lucha Libre?", *Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling*. HarperColins Publisher, 29–40. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Quiere Rush más retos  (in Spanish). *Récord* (2011-08-04). Retrieved on 2011-08-05.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lozada, Miriam 2011-08-02. Rush Despoja de su Cabellera a Youshihashi  (in Spanish). *Cinco Radio*. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.
10. ↑ 【1.4東京ドームまで7日!】Yoshi-Hashiが“Chaos”入り宣言! オカダはふてぶてしく“頂上獲り”断言!! ダブル凱旋帰国インタビュー  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2011-12-28). Retrieved on 2016-12-12.
11. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=7125&view=&page=4&gimmick=&year=2012&promotion=&region=&location=&arena=&showtype=&worker=&text=
12. ↑ 11月20日（火)開幕!!　『World Tag League 2012』の対戦カード決定!!　TDC大会、愛知大会には桜庭＆柴田が特別参戦！  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling (2012-11-16). Retrieved on 2012-12-01.
13. ↑ NJPW 40ｔｈ anniversary Tour World Tag League 2012  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2012-12-01.
14. ↑ NJPW 40ｔｈ anniversary Tour World Tag League 2012  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2012-12-01.
15. ↑ World Tag League 2013  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-12-07.
16. ↑ 【カード変更】9.23岡山でYoshi-HashiがNever初挑戦! 永田＆中西がNWAタッグ戦! 9.21神戸はIWGPタッグに変更!!  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-09-08). Retrieved on 2014-09-08.
17. ↑ オカダ下半期は団体戦重視 Chaosでベルト総取りへ  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-09-06). Retrieved on 2014-09-08.
18. ↑ Destruction in Kobe  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-09-21.
19. ↑ Caldwell, James 2014-09-21. Caldwell's New Japan PPV results 9/21: Complete live coverage of "Destruction in Kobe" - Nakamura regains IC Title, Tanahashi vs. Shibata, A.J. Styles, new Jr. Hvt. champion, more . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2014-09-21.
20. ↑ Destruction in Okayama  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-09-23.
21. ↑ 『World Tag League 2014』出場チーム＆公式戦が決定！ 棚橋はヨシタツとタッグ結成！ 桜庭、AJ、柴田、ROH、NWAも参戦!  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-11-11). Retrieved on 2014-12-05.
22. ↑ World Tag League 2014  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-12-05.
23. ↑ 6.19大阪城ホールでタッグ激突！「Sanadaに何度負けても、ボクには諦める気持ちがまったくないんです」Yoshi-Hashiに直撃インタビュー！【DM16】  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-06-27.
24. ↑ Big day for the Briscoes, Elgin vs. Omega ladder classic, Okada vs. Naito headlines & more:New Japan Pro Wrestling Dominion 2016 report . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2016-06-27.
25. ↑ New Japan’s G1 Climax field & huge top matches announced . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2016-06-27.
26. ↑ New Japan Pro Wrestling 2016 G1 Climax day 2 report . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2016-06-30.
27. ↑ 2016 New Japan G1 Climax Results . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2016-08-13.
28. ↑ Kenny Omega G1 Climax Victory Press Conference – challenges New Japan star, talks G1 Climax win, using Styles & Balor finishers, disses Ibushi, more . *Pro Wrestling Torch* (2016-08-14). Retrieved on 2016-08-15.
29. ↑ Destruction in Hiroshima  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-09-22.
30. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2016-11-04. NJPW Power Struggle live results: Tetsuya Naito vs. Jay Lethal . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-11-05.
31. ↑ *ja:戦国炎舞 -Kizna- Presents World Tag League 2016* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2016-12-08.
32. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2017-01-05. NJPW New Year's Dash results: The return of Suzuki-gun . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2017-01-10.
33. ↑ Boon, Alan 2017-01-26. The Week In British Wrestling: Shibata defends against Riddle . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2017-01-26.
34. ↑ Honor Rising:Japan 2017  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-02-27.
35. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2017-06-26. NJPW Kizuna Road results: NEVER title on the line . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2017-06-26.
36. ↑ 鉄拳Presents World Tag League 2017  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-12-08.
37. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. YOSHI-HASHI « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
38. ↑ NJPW 40th anniversary Tour World Tag League 2012  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2012-12-18.
39. ↑ NJPW 40th anniversary Tour Road to Tokyo Dome  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2012-12-18.
40. ↑ *ja:『G1 Climax 26』メンバー＆ブロック分けが決定！ノアから丸藤、中嶋が参戦！ケニー、タマ、Sanada、Evil、Yoshi-Hashiが初出場!!【G126】* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-06-27). Retrieved on 2016-06-27.
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 *ja:新日本・携帯サイトの“着うた”で、アンダーソンの新入場曲! ベンジャミンの入場曲を8月3日（金）配信!!　真壁独占インタビューも掲載!!* (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling (2012-07-31). Retrieved on 2012-07-31.
42. ↑ Rush vs. Yoshihashi