Suwama

Suwama in July 2022

###

Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan

**Kohei Suwama** (諏訪間 幸平, *Suwama Kohei*) (born November 23, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known simply as **Suwama** (諏訪魔). He is best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former eight-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion and a former seven-time World Tag Team Champion. Suwama holds the record for most reigns as the Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, with eight reigns. He has also won AJPW's premier tournament, the Champion Carnival on one occassion (2008). He is also part of the promotion's board of directors and also works as Executive Officer for the promotion.

Through AJPW's working agreement with Tenryu Project, Suwama as held the Tenryu Project Six Man Tag Team Championship and the United National Tag Team Championship.

## Professional wrestling career

### All Japan Pro Wrestling (2004-Present)

#### Early days and Voodoo Murders (2004–2008)

Suwama was scouted and recruited to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) by Hiroshi Hase, particularly because of his amateur wrestling background. He joined the All Japan Dojo on March 1, 2004, and teamed with AJPW president Keiji Mutoh early in his career, defeating many of his seniors. In 2005, he defeated Mutoh in the 2005 Champion Carnival. Suwama aligned himself with the Voodoo Murders stable on January 8, 2006, following a Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship match between Satoshi Kojima and stable leader TARU. Upon joining the group, he officially changed his name to Suwama, which translates to "Suwa evil spirit".

He formed a team with RO'Z in early 2007, as the two set their sights on the vacant World Tag Team Championship. Their pursuit would be unsuccessful, as Toshiaki Kawada and Taiyō Kea defeated them in a decision match for the vacant belts on February 17, 2007. Suwama was sent by the group to Orlando, Florida on July 2, 2007, in order to secure Total Nonstop Action Wrestling star Scott Steiner for All Japan's Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku, Vol. 3 event in Sumo Hall on August 26, 2007. Suwama had observed Steiner's match and shortly afterwards came to an agreement with Steiner to team with him and challenge the team of The Great Muta and TAJIRI. They were unsuccessful in the challenge.

For the rest of the year, Suwama mainly competed in 6-man tags with TARU and Satoshi Kojima (who joined the group in July), but also had a short feud with rookie gaijin Joe Doering. Suwama teamed with Kojima in the 2008 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, where they defeated Toshiaki Kawada and Kensuke Sasaki to reach the finals, but lost to Keiji Mutoh and Joe Doering. Suwama and Kojima scored 10 points.

#### All Japan Ace (2008–2022)

At All Japan's New Year's Shining Series show on January 3, 2008, Suwama saved Keiji Mutoh and Joe Doering from a post-match attack by the VooDoo Murders stable. After Suwama tore off his VooDoo Murders shirt, he shook hands with Mutoh and signaled his return to the All Japan Seikigun. On March 1, 2008, Suwama defeated TARU at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku, Vol. 4. From April 5–9, Suwama participated in All Japan's annual Champion Carnival tournament, which he ultimately won on April 9 by defeating New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) star Hiroshi Tanahashi in the finals. Suwama finished the Carnival with 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, which earned him 7 points. On April 29, 2008, Suwama defeated Kensuke Sasaki to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.

Suwama first defended the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship on June 28, 2008 against Osamu Nishimura, beating Nishimura with the Last Ride. Suwama challenged Taiyo Kea and Minoru Suzuki on August 3, 2008 for the World Tag Team Championship teaming with Osamu Nishimura but did not win the belts. Suwama's second defense of the Triple crown was on August 31, 2008 versus Taiyo Kea it went to a 60-minute time limit draw. Suwama team up with Ryuji Hijikata in the All Asia Tag Team Championship tournament on January 2–3, 2009 to crown new All Asia Tag Team Champions. Suwama and Hijikata got eliminated in the first round of the tournament by losing to Satoshi Kojima and KAI when Kojima used a lariat on Hijikata. Suwama and Shuji Kondo defeated Joe Doering and ZODIAC on March 1, 2009 to become the number one contenders for the World Tag Team Championship, but did not win the championship from Taiyō Kea and Minoru Suzuki. On August 29, 2010, Suwama defeated Minoru Suzuki to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the second time. He would go on to lose the title to Jun Akiyama on October 23, 2011.

In later 2012, Suwama formed the Last Revolution tag team with Joe Doering, which in early 2013 was also joined by Kaz Hayashi, Shuji Kondo and Yasufumi Nakanoue. On March 17, Suwama defeated Masakatsu Funaki to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the third time. In June, Suwama and Doering disbanded Last Revolution, when Kaz Hayashi and Shuji Kondo announced their resignation from All Japan following Nobuo Shiraishi taking over as the new president of All Japan and Keiji Mutoh leaving the promotion. While several other wrestlers also quit All Japan following the change in management, Suwama emerged as one of the first wrestlers to publicly show his support to Shiraishi, announcing that he was going to be staying in the promotion. In September, Suwama came back together with Joe Doering, with the two forming a tag team named "Evolution". On October 22, Evolution defeated Burning (Go Shiozaki and Jun Akiyama) to win the World Tag Team Championship, making Suwama the first "Quintuple Crown Champion" in 12 years. However, just five days later, Suwama lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to Akebono. On December 8, Evolution defeated Xceed (Go Shiozaki and Kento Miyahara) in the finals to win the 2013 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. On February 16, 2014, Hikaru Sato joined Suwama and Doering, turning Evolution into a stable. On June 28, Suwama and Doering lost the World Tag Team Championship to Wild Burning (Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori). However, the next day, Suwama defeated Omori to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the fourth time. That same day Suwama was made a part of All Japan's new board of directors. He was later also given the title of "senior managing director". On July 27, Suwama lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to his Evolution stablemate Joe Doering. In December 2015, Suwama resigned from his senior managing director role. On January 2, 2016, Suwama defeated Jun Akiyama to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the fifth time. However, Suwama was stripped of the title only ten days later after suffering an achilles tendon rupture.

Suwama returned to the ring on July 14, 2016. On September 19, Suwama defeated Zeus in the finals to win the 2016 Ōdō Tournament. Suwama would then unsuccessfully challenge the Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Kento Miyahara on November 27. On September 23, 2017, Suwama won his second Ōdō Tournament in a row. On October 9, Suwama defeated Kento Miyahara to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion for his sixth time, thus also breaking the record of most time reigns. On October 21 Suwama lost the title to Joe Doering again. In December Suwama took part of the 2017 World's Strongest Tag Determination League alongside Shuji Ishikawa, finishing the tournament with a record of six wins and three losses, advancing to the finals. On December 12, Suwama and Ishikawa defeated Hideoyoshi Kamitani and Daichi Hashimoto in the finals to win the tournament. On January 3, 2018 Suwama and Ishikawa defeated Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori for the World Tag Team Championships. They lost the titles to Kento Miyahara and Yoshitatsu on February 3, they would regain it on June 30, after defeating Dylan James and Ryoji Sai. From November 13 to December 11, Suwama and Ishikawa took part in the World's Strongest Tag Determination League, finishing the tournament with a record of seven wins and three losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On December 11, Suwama and Ishikawa were defeated by Dylan James and Joe Doering in the finals. On January 13, 2019, Suwama and Ishikawa lost the titles to Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuji Okabayashi. On March 19, 2019 They won the titles back from them. On September 3, they lost the titles to Zeus and Ryoji Sai, they regained the titles on January 2. On March 23, Suwama defeated Kento Miyahara to win the Triple Crown heavyweight Championship for his seventh time, becoming a quintuple crown champion in the process. In September, Suwama took part of the 2020 Champion Carnival, finishing the tournament with a record of one win and three losses, failling to advance to the finals of the tournament. From November 22 until December 7, Suwama and Ishikawa took part in the 2020 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, finishing the tournament, with a record of four wins and three losses, failling to win the tournament.

On January 2, 2021, Suwama and Ishikawa lost the World Tag Team Championship to Kento Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi. Afterwards, Suwama and Ishikawa decided to disband the Violent Giants, as a result of their title loss. Afterwards, Suwama recruited Koji Iwamoto and Shotaro Ashino to Evolution, feuding with Enfants Terribles, that later renamed to Total Eclipse. From April 9 to May 3, Suwama took part in the 2021 Champion Carnival finishing the tournament with a record of six wins and four losses. In August, Suwama took part in the 2021 Ōdō Tournament, which he eventually won, defeating his fellow Evolution stablemate Shotaro Ashino in the finals on August 29, 2021 to win the tournament for his third time in a row. On September 7, Suwama and Ashino defeated Miyahara and Yuma Aoyagi to win the World Tag Team Championship.

#### Return to Voodoo Murders and Evolution (2022–present)

On February 23, in a pre-taped vignette, TARU announced the return of Voodoo Murders (VDM), as part of AJPW's 50th anniversary, with the stable making its return on March 21. Suwama who had previously represented the stable, requested to be part of VDM's revival as he wanted to face AJPW's top heel group Total Eclipse led by Jake Lee, as such, AJPW announced that VDM represented by TARU, Kono, Shuji Kondo, and Toshizo would be facing Total Eclipse on March 21. At event, VDM faced Total Eclipse in a no contest. On May 15, Taru announced that VDM would return to AJPW on May 29, and he challenged Suwama's Evolution stable to a match. On May 25, Suwama appeared in his VDM style attire, and left Evolution as he requested to join VDM, which was accepted by TARU. On June 19, Suwama challenged newly crowned Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Jake Lee to a title match. On July 14, Suwama won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship from Jake Lee with the help from Minoru and Toshizo. Four days later, Suwama announced that we would not compete in the 2022 Ōdō Tournament, due to holding the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, and instead Taru would compete in his place. Later that month, Suwama began trying to recruit Kento Miyahara to rejoin VDM. Meanwhile, VDM began feuding with Shotaro Ashino, Seigo Tachibana, Ryuki Honda, TAJIRI and Yusuke Kodama, following a tag team match between Suwama and Kono and Ashino and Honda that ended in a no contest. On August 7, after TARU lost to Miyahara in the first round of the Ōdō Tournament, Suwama again tried to recruit Miyahara. After Miyahara, attacked his partner Rising HAYATO, Suwama went for an handshake, only for Miyahara to attack him as well, refusing to join VDM. On September 18, Suwama lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to Kento Miyahara. On October 23, Suwama and Kono defeated Ryuki Honda and Shotaro Ashino to win the World Tag Team Championship.

On January 2, 2023, Suwama and Kono lost the World Tag Team Championship to Kento Miyahara and Takuya Nomura. From April 8 and May 7, Suwama took part in the 2023 Champion Carnival, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. On May 29, Suwama and Rei Saito unsuccessfully challenged Pro Wrestling Noah's KONGOH (Kenoh and Manabu Soya) for the World Tag Team Championship, after Rei and Suwama were involved in several miscues which ultimately cost Suwama the match. Afterwards, TARU came out and sent Jun and Rei to put Suwama into a body bag kicking him out of the stable. Following the match, Shuji Ishikawa and Satoshi Kojima came out to make the save, though Suwama refused it after suffering another humiliating setback. On June 11, Suwama and Kojima fsced Saito Brothers in a double count out, before humiliating Suwama again by placing him in a body bag. Shortly after, Suwama announced his return to Evolution, as he announced their self-promoted show on July 8, despite still feuding with Voodoo Murders. At Evolution's return match on July 8, Suwama, Dan Tamura and Hikaru Sato defeated Jun Saito, Rei Saito and Toshizo, ending their feud with Voodoo Murders. On July 16, Suwama and Tamura defeated Yuma and Atsuki Aoyagi to win the Tenryu Project's United National Tag Team Championship. On August 10, Suwama told Tokyo Sports, he would be attending a DDT Pro-Wrestling show in order to confront Jun Akiyama. Back in 2017 Suwama took part in an Explosion Death Match with Atsushi Onita, Akiyama who was the AJPW president at the time, criticised him for taking part in the match. So when Akiyama accepted a challenge from Onita to take part in a similar death match, he felt he had to confront Akiyama. This led to interpromotional rivalry between AJPW and DDT, and on September 8, after Evolution was defeated by Akiyama, Sanshiro Takagi and Yusuke Okada. Suwama and Akiyama confronted each other, leading to a brawl between Suwama and DDT's Yukio Naya. On October 12, Suwama, Mayumi Ozaki and Maya Yukihi defeated Hideki Okatani, Saki Akai and Yukio Sakaguchi to win the AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Team Championship. In November, issues began arising in Evolution, during a tag team match, where Suwama was distracted by Hokuto Omori in a tag team match, causing Dan Tamura to question Suwama's allegiances, with him or with Mayumi Ozaki and Maya Yukihi, leading Brute Issei to try to help them come together again. In November, Suwama formed an alliance with Hideki Suzuki with both taking part in the 2023 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. They finished the tournament with a record of five wins and four losses, failing to win the tournament.

## Personal life

On June 20, 2021, Suwama tested positive for COVID-19 amid its pandemic in Japan as result he had to forfeit his Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.

His son, Kosei Suwama, is a soccer player who graduated from the youth team of Yokohama F. Marinos, which happens to be Suwama's favorite club. Kosei is currently enrolled to Tsukuba University, where he is also the part of their soccer team.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Ankle lock (Sometimes holding both ankles)
	+ Backdrop Hold (Bridging belly-to-back suplex)
	+ Bridging German suplex
	+ *Last Ride* (Elevated powerbomb)
	+ *Manriki Sleeper* (Modified sleeper hold)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Double forehand chop
	+ Frog splash
	+ Lariat, sometimes while rolling
	+ Multiple suplex variations
		- Capture
		- Deadlift release German
		- Half nelson
		- Release belly to belly
		- Trapping
		- Vertical
	+ Release powerbomb
	+ Running front powerslam
	+ Running shoulder block, sometimes from the top rope or from the apron to the outside
	+ Turning belly to belly slam
* **With Shuji Ishikawa**
	+ *Last Mountain* (Double elevated crucifix powerbomb)
* **Theme songs**
	+ **"Dramatic Distance Suwama"** by Osamu Suzuki

### Wrestlers trained

* Brute Issei
* Ryota Hama
* Seiya Sanada

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (8 times)
	+ World Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with Joe Doering (1), Shuji Ishikawa (4), Shotaro Ashino (1) and Kono (1)
	+ AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Mayumi Ozaki and Maya Yukihi
	+ Champion Carnival (2008)
	+ January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (2005)
	+ Mika Kayama Cup (2010) – with Shuji Kondo
	+ Ōdō Tournament (2016, 2017, 2021)
	+ Taiwan Cup (2009)
	+ World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2013) – with Joe Doering
	+ World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2015) – with Kento Miyahara
	+ World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2017, 2019) – with Shuji Ishikawa
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ PWI ranked him #**14** of the best 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011
	+ PWI ranked him #**18** of the best 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021
* **Tenryu Project**
	+ United National Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Dan Tamura
	+ Tenryu Project Six Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Arashi and Tomohiro Ishii
* ***Tokyo Sports***
	+ Outstanding Performance Award (2010)
	+ Tag Team Of The Year (2006) with TARU, Shuji Kondo, and "brother" YASSHI
	+ Tag Team of the Year (2017, 2018, 2019) with Shuji Ishikawa

## References

1. ↑ ジョーとの「Last Revolution」始動!!覚悟と決意の革命宣言～諏訪魔選手、会見  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2012-11-13). Retrieved on 2013-03-05.
2. ↑ *ja:諏訪魔軍に近藤修司が加入* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2013-03-05). Retrieved on 2013-03-05.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *ja:ＬＲが３０日両国で解体へ* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2013-06-23). Retrieved on 2013-06-23.
4. ↑ 2013 プロレスLove in 両国～Basic&Dynamic～  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-03-17.
5. ↑ *ja:白石社長が全日本プロレスの株式譲渡に関して中間報告！新団体設立に動く武藤にクギ！諏訪魔は全日本残留を宣言！* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2013-06-11). Retrieved on 2013-06-23.
6. ↑ 全日本プロレス10・22新潟でEvolutionの世界タッグ挑戦、10・27両国で曙の三冠挑戦＆ドリフのアジアタッグ挑戦が決定！  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2013-09-24). Retrieved on 2013-09-24.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Anniversary Tour  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
8. ↑ *ja:諏訪魔５冠！２７日・両国でダブル防衛戦も* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2013-10-23). Retrieved on 2013-10-23.
9. ↑ Anniversary Tour  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-10-27.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 *ja:2013　世界最強タッグ決定リーグ戦* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-12-08.
11. ↑ *ja:世界タッグＶ２ 諏訪魔全ベルト独占宣言* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-02-17). Retrieved on 2014-02-17.
12. ↑ 2014 ダイナマイトシリーズ　北海道・札幌テイセンホール  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-06-28.
13. ↑ 2014 ダイナマイトシリーズ　北海道・札幌テイセンホール  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-06-29.
14. ↑ *ja:３冠奪取！諏訪魔 全日取締役就任も決意* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-06-30). Retrieved on 2014-07-01.
15. ↑ *ja:「オールジャパン・プロレスリング株式会社」発足について* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-07-04). Retrieved on 2014-07-04.
16. ↑ 【全日本プロレス】諏訪魔vsドーリングの三冠戦、青木vs光留の世界Jr戦  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2014-07-28). Retrieved on 2014-07-27.
17. ↑ 諏訪魔、専務取締役辞任を公表  (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2015-12-16). Retrieved on 2015-12-15.
18. ↑ *ja:【1.2】 2016 ニューイヤーウォーズ 2Days・後楽園* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-01-03). Retrieved on 2016-01-03.
19. ↑ *ja:諏訪魔がアキレスけん断裂で三冠返上* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2016-01-12). Retrieved on 2016-01-12.
20. ↑ *ja:諏訪魔　アキレス腱断裂から復帰戦　黒星発進も３冠返り咲き誓う* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2016-07-14). Retrieved on 2016-07-14.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 9.19後楽園ホール大会[観衆1183人 ] (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2016-09-19). Retrieved on 2016-09-19.
22. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2016-11-27. AJPW Sumo Hall results: Miyahara vs. Suwama for the Triple Crown . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2017-01-23.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Shining Road ~ Spreading Oudou Love for over 3 years!
24. ↑ 後楽園大会/ *ja:【4.25】 2015 チャンピオン・カーニバル　後楽園大会* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-04-25). Retrieved on 2016-01-03.
25. ↑ Archived copy . Archived from the original on 2011-01-03. Retrieved on 2015-04-09.
26. ↑ All Japan Pro-Wrestling Results: 2010 . *Purolove*. Retrieved on 2010-12-16.
27. ↑ PUROLOVE.com .
28. ↑ *ja:【12.6】 2015 世界最強タッグ決定リーグ戦【優勝決定戦】　大阪大会* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-12-07). Retrieved on 2015-12-06.
29. ↑ "PWI 500": 1–100 . *Pro Wrestling Illustrated* (2011-08-09). Retrieved on 2011-08-09.
30. ↑ [1][*dead link*]
31. ↑ The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo : Puroresu Awards: 2000s . *Puroresu Dojo*.