UTAMARO

###

Motosu, Gifu, Japan

**Hiroki Murase** (ひろき 村瀬, *Murase Hiroki*, born December 16, 1987) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling under the ring name **UTAMARO**. He was best known for the time he worked for the Wrestle-1 promotion under his real name.

## Professional wrestling career

### Wrestling New Classic (2013–2014)

On 2013 he became the Trainee on Wrestling New Classic and he became a disciple of Animal Hamaguchi and Tajiri. Swallow soon to be a "large rookie" it was expected from Tajiri.. On January 25 he had is first match against Yoshihiro Douguchi and the ended in a time limit draw. Later in November Murase entered in the Dave Finlay Cup losing to Yoshikazu Yokoyama. Later in 2014 WNC would close.

### Wrestle-1 (2014–2017)

On March 1 2014 Murase made his debut in Wrestle-1 losing to Daiki Inaba On July 1 he signed a contract with Wrestle-1 ending is days of freelancer.. At the begining of 2015 he took part of the Road to Keiji Muto tournament he lost to Jiro Kuroshio at the first round, On August 2 he participated at the Wrestle-1 Grand Prix and he lost at the first round to Mazada.

On September 22 he and Shotaro Ashino entered in a storyline with Team 246 (Kaz Hayashi and Shuji Kondo) and they lost to Team 246 in their first match, their second match ended in a double count out, the third match he and Ashino defeated Team 246. On October 9 Murase and Ashino were against Hayashi and Kondo. During the match Kondo turned on Hayashi and broke off his alliance with Hayashi and formed an alliance with Murase and Ashino and Masayuki Kono came out as he joined the new group as well and it was stated that it is their mission to rebuild Wrestle-1. On October 13 Mrase, Ashino, Kono, Kondo were interviewed and made some questions and asked them what would be the team's name but they do not say and Murase, Ashino, Kono and Kondo announced they wanted to gain a monopoly of titles and Murase and Ashino were given an opportunity for the Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship.. On October 31 Hiroki Murase changed is look and entrance and he, Kono, Kondo and Ashino announced that their group name is TriggeR.On November 3 Murase and Ashino failed to capture the Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship. On February 10, 2016 TriggeR started a feud with Real Desperado when Kondo challenge Yuji Hino for the Wrestle-1 Champion, Kazma Sakamoto and Yuji Hino challenge Kondo and Kono for the Wrestle-1 Tag Team Champions. TriggeR would the attack Real Desperado several times. On March 27 Murase, Ashino and Kono were granted a oppurtunity for the UWA World Trios Championship but lost for the defending champions Kaz Hayashi, Minoru Tanaka and Tajiri.

On July 1 Murase was kicked out of TriggeR. Later Murase would align with KAI and Shota. The trio would even unsuccessfully challenged for the UWA World Trios Championship and Murase and KAI would also unsuccessfully challenged for the Wrestle-1 Tag Team Championship. At the beginning of 2017, Murase would take in the tournament to crown the inaugural Wrestle-1 Result Championship, losing in the finals Koji Doi. On March 31, Murase left Wrestle-1, after choosing to not renew his contract.

### Freelancer (2017–2019)

After leaving Wrestle-1, Murase changed his ring name to "UTAMARO", a gimmick based on his trainers Keiji Mutoh and TAJIRI. In May 2017, UTAMARO began competing in the international independent circuit working for promotion in the United States such as Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, the United Kingdom such as All-Star Super Slam Wrestling and Mexico such as International Wrestling Revolution Group, before returning to Japan in the following year. After returning to Japan, UTAMARO went on to work for various promotions across Japan most notably Asuka Project.

### All Japan Pro Wrestling (2019–Present)

Since May 2019, UTAMARO started working regularly for All Japan Pro Wrestling. In September, UTAMARO began a short feud with Yoshitatsu, after challenging him to a match for the Gaora TV Championship. On October 9, UTAMARO unsuccessfully challenged Yoshitatsu for the Gaora TV Championship. Afterwards, UTAMARO began showing heel signs, after refusing to shake Yoshitatsu's hands. In December, UTAMARO formed a partnership with Shigehiro Irie. Later that month, on December 17, UTAMARO kidnapped Atsushi Maruyama, after he lost his match against Susumu Yokosuka in the first round of the tournament to crown the new World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Afterwards, UTAMARO brainwashed Maruyama, who renamed himself Izanagi. On December 21, UTAMARO alongside Izanagi and Irie announced the formation of a new stable, which was later named "Purple Haze", after Zeus joined them, consolidating them as a heel stable.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Moonsault Press
	+ *Checkmate* (Overdrive hold spun into a Short-Range Lariat)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Dropkick
	+ DDT
	+ *UTAMARO Drop* (Diamond cutter)
	+ Inverted horizontal chop

## References

1. ↑  WNC, large rookie appeared! expectations] JAPANESE BUZZSAW.COM January 16, 2013 H M 1 .
2. ↑ [http: // battle-news ? .com / index.php QBlog-20140704-4 W-1 of 7.6 to Sanada vs Muta is a non-title fight to take place in both countries tournament! Murase Hiroki becomes the W-1 belongs July 1 ]. Battle News (2014-07-04). Retrieved on 2014-07-04.
3. ↑ TriggeR Source 3  (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Wrestle-1 (2015-10-24). Retrieved on 2015-10-24.
4. ↑ TriggeR Source 5  (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Puroresu Spirit (2015-10-31). Retrieved on 2015-10-31.
5. ↑ TriggeR Source 6  (in Japanese). *Sports Navi*. Puroresu Spirit (2015-11-03). Retrieved on 2015-11-03.
6. ↑ Wrestle-1 Tour 2016 Impact  (in Japanese). *Wrestle-1* (**"Febuary 10, 2016" is not a valid date.**). Retrieved on **"Febuary 10, 2016" is not a valid date.**.