KENSO

**Kenzo Suzuki** (鈴木 健三, *Suzuki Kenzō*, born July 25, 1974) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with New Japan Pro Wrestling and in the United States with WWE, where he was a one-time Tag Team Champion in the latter company. He currently performs for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) under the ring name **KENSO**, where he is a one-time World Tag Team Champion and a one-time Gaora TV Champion.

## Early career

Suzuki was a rugby union player, playing at the international level for Japan prior to his professional debut as a wrestler in January 2000.

## Professional wrestling career

### New Japan Pro Wrestling (2000–2003)

Suzuki debuted on January 4, 2000, at New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestling World 2000 event at the Tokyo Dome, replacing Bill Goldberg and losing to Manabu Nakanishi. Later that year, Suzuki won NJPW's Young Lion Cup tournament, defeating Shinya Makabe. He also won Rookie of the Year honors from NJPW in the same year. Following this, he would go on to become the only man to win the Young Lion Cup twice after defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi in 2002 and later formed a tag team with Tanahashi known as The Kings of the Hills.

### World Japan and excursion (2003)

In 2003, Suzuki resigned from NJPW, choosing to follow his mentor and trainer, Riki Choshu, to Choshu's World Japan promotion. Later in the year, he left to wrestle in the United States. It is speculated that he was forced to resign because a wrestler he was helping to train, Giant Ochiai, died while training on his watch. As a result, this led to Suzuki venturing to the United States' independent circuit, where he worked for the MLW and TNA promotions during 2003 before ultimately quitting World Japan, citing a lack of competition within the latter promotion.

### World Wrestling Entertainment (2004–2005)

In early 2004, Suzuki signed a developmental deal with WWE and was assigned to their developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in February. Originally, Suzuki was scheduled to debut on the Raw brand in May under the ring name Hirohito, a Japanese patriot who held anti-American views. However, the gimmick was dropped, and Suzuki as well as his valet and legitimate wife Hiroko were instead moved to the SmackDown! brand. Together, they made their television debut on the June 10 episode of *SmackDown!*, where Suzuki defeated Scotty 2 Hotty. Suzuki then began a short feud with Billy Gunn, which ended with Suzuki defeating Gunn at The Great American Bash.

On the September 9 episode of *SmackDown!* Suzuki and René Duprée won the Tag Team Championship, defeating Billy Kidman and Paul London. Beginning with their title reign, Suzuki adopted a comedic pro-American gimmick that saw him poorly sing popular songs. Suzuki and Duprée later lost the title to Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio on the December 9 airing of *SmackDown!*. Van Dam and Mysterio retained the title in a rematch at Armageddon. In singles action he briefly feuded with John Cena for the United States Championship, at one point challenging him to a battle rap on the January 6, 2005 episode of *SmackDown!*. Ultimately, Suzuki was unsuccessful in defeating Cena for the title.

He was soon injured with a collapsed lung and returned to Ohio Valley Wrestling immediately after his recovery, where he continued his training until he was ready to return to the main roster. Suzuki and Hiroko were traded to the Raw brand on June 30, 2005 at the end of the Draft Lottery. On July 6, 2005, both Suzuki and Hiroko were released from the company without ever making their debuts on the brand.

### Hustle and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2005–2006)

After leaving WWE, Suzuki returned to Japan, where he began performing for Hustle and wrestled in a number of humorous matches against the likes of Liosazer and Razor Ramon HG. In addition to Hustle, Suzuki also began performing for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) alongside fellow WWE alumnus Mark Jindrak, who began performing as Marco Corleone. Together, they were put into a feud with Shocker and Universo 2000, which led to Suzuki and Corleone losing a hair vs. hair match on June 12 and thus being forced to have their heads shaved. Following this, Suzuki was used sparingly before eventually leaving CMLL.

### Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (2007–2010, 2015)

On March 13, Suzuki was seen on Asistencia Asesoría y Administración after jumping from the rival CMLL. He is a part of the Legion Extranjera with Konnan as the ring leader. On July 7, Suzuki lost his hair in the main event of AAA's Triplemanía XV. Sean Waltman was also in the match with his fiancee, Alicia Webb. Suzuki has been an active member of Konnan's Legion Extranjera since his debut and he had an opportunity for the AAA Mega Championship against Cibernético. He has teamed up with the returning Electroshock who is also a member of the Legion Extranjera. They have feuded with La Parka and Octagón. As of Triplemania XVI he has received a mini who accompanied him to the ring for a six-man tag match teaming with Electroshock and Bobby Lashley to take on Chessman, La Parka, and the returning Silver King. Suzuki's team won in the end. Suzuki was part of the 2009 Rey de Reyes, losing to La Parka on March 15.

After Triplemania XVII, Konnan's Legion Extranjera lost control of AAA; Konnan was suspended from Mexican wrestling for an indefinite time. At this time Legion Extranjera was dissolved leaving only Electroshock, Chessman, and Suzuki. Suzuki made an alliance with El Oriental and they formed their own team with Sugi San getting victories in their debut. They would lose to the Psycho Circus at Verano de Escandalo. In December 2009, Suzuki re-joined La Legión Extranjera before leaving the promotion in mid-2010.

Suzuki returned to AAA on May 24, 2015, when he, Masamune and Tiger Mask III formed a trio for the Lucha Libre World Cup. They were defeated in the first round of the tournament by Team MexLeyendas (Blue Demon Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr. and El Solar).

### Dragon Gate (2007)

On November 7, 2007, Suzuki made his debut in Dragon Gate as the surprise member of the Muscle Outlaw'z unit. He came out to Anthony W. Mori's entrance theme to trick the Typhoon unit into believing one of their own betrayed them. Suzuki competed in a six-man tag team match with new teammates Genki Horiguchi and Yasushi Kanda against CIMA, Dragon Kid, and Ryo Saito that resulted in a disqualification loss for his team after assaulting the referee. Afterward, he and the rest of the MO'z assaulted Dragon Kid and removed the ring ropes to be used against him. This set up a match between Suzuki and Dragon Kid at the big November 25 show in Osaka. He faced on November 18 Kenichiro Arai in Fukuoka in his first match for the promotion.

### All Japan Pro Wrestling (2010–present)

On July 25, 2010, Suzuki, disguised under a La Parka mask, made his debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), helping the Voodoo Murders put Keiji Mutoh through a table. Afterwards, Suzuki unmasked himself, adopted the ring name Kenso and joined the heel group, which also included his former tag team partner René Duprée. On November 20, 2010, Kenso entered the World's Strongest Tag Determination League, teaming with fellow Voodoo Murders member KONO. After winning six out of their eight round robin stage matches, Kenso and Kono finished first in the group and on December 7 defeated Ryota Hama and Suwama in the finals to win the 2010 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. Kenso and Kono received their shot at the World Tag Team Championship on January 3, 2011, but were defeated by the defending champions, Akebono and Taiyō Kea. Shortly afterwards Kenso left the Voodoo Murders, turning face and on February 13, 2011, defeated Kono and Akebono in a three-way match to become the number one contender to the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, held by Suwama. On March 21 Kenso failed in his challenge for the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. On June 19, Kenso and The Great Muta defeated Akebono and Ryota Hama to win the vacant World Tag Team Championship. After losing the title to Dark Cuervo and Dark Ozz on October 23, Muta turned on KENSO. The turn was part of a storyline, where other AJPW wrestlers did not take KENSO seriously and refused to team with him as part of his Kenso Kakumei ("Kenso Revolution") stable. After failed attempts to form new partnerships with Kaz Hayashi and The Great Sasuke, Kenso announced on November 18, 2013, that he had decided to join Go Shiozaki's new Xceed unit. However, in the two's first match together three days later, KENSO turned on Shiozaki and announced he was forming a new heel stable named Dark Kingdom (DK) with foreigners Bambi Killer and D'Lo Brown. On April 23, 2014, Kenso introduced AJPW outsiders Bear Fukuda, Kengo Mashimo, Kenichiro Arai, Mitsuya Nagai and Takeshi Minamino as the newest members of DK, proclaiming this the "real beginning" of the stable. On December 14, Kenso won his first singles title in AJPW, when he defeated Kotaro Suzuki for the Gaora TV Championship. He lost the title to Sushi in his fourth defense on June 4, 2015. On July 31, it was announced that Kenso would begin freelancing following the expiration of his AJPW contract. He would, however, continue working for AJPW as a freelancer.

## Personal life

Suzuki is married to Hiroko Suzuki, who acted as his valet during their time in WWE.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Chokeslam – 2007
	+ *DK Lock* (Rolling Gedo Clutch) – 2014
	+ *Hagakure* (Leg lariat to the face of a kneeling opponent while using their knee for leverage)
	+ *Hagakure II* / *Rising Sun* (Clawhold STO)
	+ Inverted facelock backbreaker – 2004
	+ Spear – 2000–2003
* **Signature moves**
	+ Belly-to-back suplex
	+ Brainbuster
	+ Double knee drop, sometimes from the top rope
	+ Nerve hold
	+ Shining Wizard
	+ Springboard moonsault
* **Managers**
	+ Hiroko
* **Nicknames**
	+ "The Bronze Warrior"
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Kamigami No Uta" by Himekami (CMLL)
	+ "Butterfly" by Smile.dk (AAA)
	+ **"Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)"** by Teriyaki Boyz (AAA / AJPW)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ Gaora TV Championship (1 time)
	+ World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Great Muta
	+ World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2010) – with KONO
* **Dramatic Dream Team**
	+ KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Danshoku Dino and Super Sasadango Machine
	+ King of Dark Championship (1 time)
* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ Young Lion Cup (2000, 2002)
* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him #**392** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2010
* **Tokyo Sports**
	+ Rookie of the Year (2000)
* **VKF Battle Entertainment**
	+ VKF Championship (1 time)
* **World Wrestling Entertainment**
	+ WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with René Duprée

## References

1. ↑ Famous Ruggers by Wes Clark and others, retrieved 19th August, 2009
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Puroresu Spirit profile .
3. ↑ Deceased Superstars - Giant Ochiai
4. ↑ http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=15000
5. ↑ Daydream Believer: WWE's New Wave Of Characters .
6. ↑ Lance goes Stormin' out By TJ MADIGAN - Calgary Sun .
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Constructive Criticism: Where In The World Has Rikishi Been Lately? .
8. ↑ Smackdown Reax: First batch of reaction to final hype for Great American Bash PPV .
9. ↑ KELLER'S SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/14: Ongoing "virtual time" analylsis of broadcast .
10. ↑ 2/19 WWE Velocity review: Giebink's detailed match analysis and grades .
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 KELLER'S WWE ARMAGEDDON PPV REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (12-12-04): JBL vs. Eddie vs. Taker vs. Booker T, John Cena vs. Jesus Aguilera .
12. ↑ "Smackdown Rebeak for January 6, 2005". weeklyvisitor.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 1/9 WWE Smackdown in Orlando, Fla: Undertaker vs. Angle in casket match, Show vs. JBL .
14. ↑ Boutwell, Josh 2015-05-24. AAA Lucha Libre World Cup Results - 5/24/15 (Live results) . *Wrestleview*. Retrieved on 2015-05-24.
15. ↑ AJPW Excite Series 2011 . *Purolove*. Archived from the original on 2011-02-15. Retrieved on 2011-02-15.
16. ↑ http://www.puroresuspirit.com/2011/06/19/results-for-june-19th-2011/
17. ↑ 『プロレスLove in 両国 vol.13』  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2011-10-23). Retrieved on 2011-10-23.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Kenso  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-09-12.
19. ↑ 潮﨑選手が新ユニット「Xceed」結成を宣言！！  (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2013-11-18). Retrieved on 2013-11-21.
20. ↑ Xcced初陣でKensoがいきなり潮崎を裏切り、全日本に反旗！前哨戦で三冠王者と世界ジュニア王者が揃って挑戦者に完敗！  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2013-11-22). Retrieved on 2013-11-21.
21. ↑ Kensoの"王道破壊革命"進行中  (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2013-12-06). Retrieved on 2013-12-07.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 【全日本プロレス】チャンピオン・カーニバル、諏訪魔vsカシン、潮崎vsゼウスほか  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2014-04-23). Retrieved on 2014-04-23.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 *ja:全日本12.14後楽園大会　和田京平レフェリー40周年＆還暦記念大会、全試合を京平レフェリーがプロデュース* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2014-12-15). Retrieved on 2014-12-14.
24. ↑ *ja:【6.4】 2015ダイナマイト・シリーズ　開幕戦・後楽園大会* (in Japanese). *All Japan Pro Wrestling* (2015-06-04). Retrieved on 2015-06-04.
25. ↑ *ja:Kensoが8月1日よりフリーに！今後も全日本プロレスには参戦予定* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2015-07-31). Retrieved on 2015-07-31.
26. ↑ HUSTLE Results: 2007  (in German). PuroLove.com. Retrieved on 2014-08-12.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Kenzo Suzuki . *Online World of Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-09-12.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Puroresu Central profile .
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 1/1 WWE Velocity review: Kidman vs. Chavo, Suzuki vs. London, Haas & Holly vs. Jindrak & Reigns .
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 8/7 Velocity review: New SummerSlam match announced, Booker T vs. Billy Gunn, Kenzo Suzuki vs. Shannon Moore .
31. ↑ 6/27 WWE Great American Bash PPV review: Sower's "alt. perspective" report on event .
32. ↑ THIS DAY IN HISTORY: TRIPLE H BEATS VINCE MCMAHON, MISS KITTY GOES TOPLESS, KURT ANGLE BEATS SANTA CLAUS AND MORE By Buck Woodward .
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Entrance themes .
34. ↑ AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship history .
35. ↑ AJPW tournament winners .
36. ↑ 新春お年玉スペシャル！ 全席2000円興行!! 2016  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2016-01-03.
37. ↑ 友情、努力、勝利 in Nagoya 2015～秋～  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-11-03.
38. ↑ NJPW event results in 2000 .
39. ↑ NJPW event results in 2002 .
40. ↑ "PWI 500": 301–400 . *Pro Wrestling Illustrated* (2010-07-27). Retrieved on 2010-07-31.
41. ↑ Suzuki's awards in the 2000s .
42. ↑ 矢郷を下してVKF王者となったKensoにGentaroが「復帰したら闘わせて」望月と組んだ木村が朱里と危険な初遭遇！  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2013-08-28). Retrieved on 2013-08-28.
43. ↑ Kenzo Suzuki and Rene Dupree's first Tag Team Championship reign .
44. ↑ December 2006 PPV "Sin Piedad" . Pro Wrestling History (2006-12-15). Retrieved on 2010-02-19.
45. ↑ TripleMania XV . ProWrestlingHistory.com (2007-07-15). Retrieved on 2009-02-19.

## Notes

1. ↑ Steel Cage match that also included Charly Manson, Chessman, X-Pac, and El Mesias.