Katsuhiko Nakajima

Nakajima in November 2023

###

Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan

**Katsuhiko Nakajima** (中嶋 勝彦, *Nakajima Katsuhiko*, born March 11, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), as a freelancer, where he is the current Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion in his first reign.

He is best known for his work in Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was a former two-time GHC Heavyweight Champion, six-time GHC Tag Team Champion, one-time GHC National Champion, and three-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion. He started his career in Kensuke Sasaki's Kensuke Office (later renamed to Diamond Ring) dojo and agency. In AJPW, he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion. A former amateur karateka, his style is based upon strong, fast kicks and strikes; his style has been dubbed by Nakajima as **"Toukon Style"** (闘魂 STYLE, *Tōkon sutairu*).

Having made his professional debut aged 15 in a mixed martial arts contest, Nakajima has already made a significant impact on puroresu, earning the nickname **"Supernova"** and facing Hall of Famers such as Kenta Kobashi, Satoru Sayama, Jushin Thunder Liger, and Tatsumi Fujinami. He has competed in several notable Japanese promotions, including New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Inoki Genome Federation, Pro Wrestling Zero1, Michinoku Pro, Dragon Gate, and Pro Wrestling Noah.

He has set several age records over his short career, including being the youngest wrestler to compete in AJPW's Champion Carnival tournament and the youngest to hold the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. He won the Tokyo Sports "Rookie of the Year" award in 2004 and the Fighting Spirit award in 2005. Having worked for Noah for most of his career, both as a representative of Diamond Ring and as a freelancer, he officially signed with the promotion in December 2015. He left in October 2023 and, later, found himself as AJPW's Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion after defeating Yuma Aoyagi the next month.

## Professional wrestling career

### Fightning World Japan (2002-2004)

An accomplished karateka, Nakajima was hired by Riki Choshu's World Japan promotion in December 2002 at the age of 14. He debuted for World Japan (WJ) in September 2003, facing American fighter Jason Leigh in an MMA fight, winning via knockout in one minute and thirty-five seconds. His true professional wrestling debut came on the main event of World Japan's "RESOLUTION" card on January 5, 2004, losing via submission to Tomohiro Ishii.

### Diamond Ring/Kensuke Office (2004–2013)

Nakajima continued to wrestle for WJ for a short time, even wrestling the original Tiger Mask Satoru Sayama before signing with Kensuke Office in April. This led to his debut with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, facing legendary junior heavyweight Jushin Thunder Liger in the Tokyo Dome on May 3. He made his debut with All Japan Pro Wrestling the next day, successfully teaming with Toshiaki Kawada in a six-man tag team match. He continued to wrestle for both promotions extensively throughout the year, even competing in Block B of NJPW's Best of the Super Juniors tournament, finishing with two points by defeating Curry Man and reaching the finals of the Young Lion *Toukon* (*fighting spirit*) tournament, losing to Ryusuke Taguchi.

On June 12, in AJPW, Nakajima received the first championship match of his career, teaming with Kensuke Sasaki to unsuccessfully challenge Masanobu Fuchi & Genichiro Tenryu for the All Asia Tag Team Championship. On September 17, Nakajima made his debut in Dragon Gate on their pay-per-view *Gate of Sanctuary*, losing to Masaaki Mochizuki. The following month, Nakajima entered the Osaka Pro *Tenno-zan* single-elimination tournament, losing to eventual winner Big Boss MA-G-MA in the first round. Nakajima and Sasaki teamed up in the World's Strongest Tag Determination League in November and December, finishing with four points in Block B.

Nakajima received his first opportunity at a singles championship on April 20, 2005, losing to World Junior Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku. His appearances in NJPW became much more sporadic around this time, with his final match to date taking place on April 24, 2005, a loss to 6-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Tatsumi Fujinami.

On May 7, Katsuhiko participated in the 2005 Differ Cup, a biennial cross-promotional junior heavyweight tag team tournament, teaming with Osaka Pro's Takehiro Murahama; the two lost to Super Shisa and Tiger Emperor in the first round. He also teamed with Tomoaki Honma in a tournament throughout June to decide the vacant All Asia Tag Team Championship, making it to the finals before losing to Shuji Kondo and "brother" YASSHI. Just over one month later on July 26, Nakajima and Kensuke Sasaki defeated Kondo and YASSHI for the titles in their second defense, giving Nakajima his first championship. They would continue to defend the titles through 2005, against such teams as Arashi and Ryuji Hijikata and Buchanan and D'Lo Brown.
Nakajima made his debut for Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX on July 9, winning a six-man junior tag team match. He went on to defeat Osamu Namiguchi on August 31 for his first singles title, the WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship, though whether this can be considered part of the title's official lineage is disputed. He held it until June 24, losing the title to premier ZERO1-MAX junior Tatsuhito Takaiwa. This is to date Nakajima's last appearance with the promotion.

On February 11, 2006, at a Kensuke Office show celebrating Kensuke Sasaki's 20th career anniversary, Nakajima teamed with Genichiro Tenryu against the "dream team" of Kenta Kobashi and Kensuke Sasaki, falling to a Sasaki lariat. On March 21, Nakajima won a three-way elimination match in AJPW, defeating both Tomoaki Honma and NOSAWA Rongai to earn a spot in Block B of the prestigious 2006 Champion Carnival, becoming the youngest man to participate in the tournament. Nakajima finished in last place in the block with two points by defeating D'Lo Brown. On April 19, 2006, Nakajima entered Big Mouth Loud (BML), losing to company ace Katsuyori Shibata. The following month, Nakajima and Kensuke Sasaki battled in Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), defeating Big Japan's Daisuke Sekimoto and Dramatic Dream Team's (DDT) Daichi Kakimoto in a tag team match when Nakajima pinned Kakimoto.

Nakajima then participated in the 2006 Junior League tournament from June 25, 2006, to July 3, 2006, to decide a challenger for the Junior Heavyweight Championship; Katsuhiko won his block with five points, before losing in the final to Kaz Hayashi. On July 2, Nakajima's partner Kensuke Sasaki suffered a left eye fracture in a match against Katsuyori Shibata in BML, taking him out of action for the foreseeable future and forcing the team to vacate the All Asia Tag Team Championship on October 29, after holding the titles since July 2005.

On October 15, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kaz Hayashi were announced as one of seven teams in the 2006 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, to take place in December 2006. They had a strong showing in the tournament, defeating such teams as NOSAWA Rongai & Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Minoru Suzuki and RO'Z and Suwama and drawing with Taiyō Kea and TAKA Michinoku, finishing with 5 points overall. On November 14, 2006, Nakajima wrestled in the main event of the debut show of the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance, a cooperation of several different promotions, teaming with NOAH's Go Shiozaki and El Dorado's Takuya Sugawara to defeat ZERO1-MAX's Ryouji Sai, Dramatic Dream Team's HARASHIMA and Kaientai Dojo's KAZMA.

Kensuke Sasaki made his return from injury on January 2, 2007, teaming with Nakajima to defeat TARU and "brother" YASSHI. The following day Nakajima faced YASSHI in a match to determine Shuji Kondo's next challenger for the Junior Heavyweight Championship, winning via disqualification when Kondo himself interfered. He made his challenge on February 17, defeating Kondo to end his 16-month reign, and becoming the youngest junior heavyweight champion in history. Nakajima made his first defense of the title on April 30, defeating Kondo's Voodoo Murders partner "brother" YASSHI, as well as Ryuji Hijikata on May 27.

Nakajima once again participated in the Junior League in June, finishing in third place for his block with four points, behind Hijikata and Kondo. The league was won by American wrestler Chris Sabin, setting up a title match between Sabin and Nakajima on August 26, in which Nakajima was victorious. On September 19, 2007, Nakajima was pinned in a tag team match by visiting luchador Silver King, who then challenged Nakajima to a future junior heavyweight title match. The match was made official for October 18, 2007, at All Japan's 35th anniversary show; on October 8, Nakajima suffered a fractured navicular bone in his right hand, forcing him off of several shows on the tour, though he defended the title as scheduled. When the match came, Nakajima and Silver King fought to a no contest, forcing PWF commissioner Hiroshi Hase to hold up the title belt, although Nakajima remained the official champion. Katsuhiko then took time off to nurse his injured hand.

Nakajima returned from injury on February 11, 2008, at Kensuke Office's first anniversary show, defeating fellow Kensuke Sasaki protégé Ryuji Yamaguchi; he would follow this up with victories over two more Kensuke trainees in Kento Miyahara and Takashi Okita on February 16,, and March 9, 2008, respectively, held in the Kensuke Office exercise hall. On March 1, in a rematch from their October encounter, Nakajima lost to Silver King in a match to decide the vacant junior heavyweight title. Later that month, Nakajima teamed with Ryuji Hijikata to participate in the six-team Junior Tag League, winning the tournament with six points by defeating the teams of Silver King and Shuji Kondo, MAZADA and NOSAWA Rongai, and T28 and KUSHIDA, as well as Kaz Hayashi and El Samurai in the final, who had defeated them in the group stage. On March 28, Nakajima faced and defeated Osaka Pro and Dragon Gate wrestler Magnitude Kishiwada on Kensuke Office's first event in the Fukuoka region.

On May 25, in AJPW, Nakajima and Sasaki lost to Taiyō Kea and Minoru Suzuki in a match to determine the #1 contenders to the World Tag Team Championship. On June 13, at Kensuke Office's "Take the Dream Vol. 5", Nakajima faced NOAH's Kenta, losing the contest after 27 minutes. The following night in NOAH, Sasaki and Nakajima faced Kenta Kobashi and Kenta, wrestling to a 30-minute time limit draw. On June 29, Nakajima wrestled what would be his last match in AJPW for the time being, teaming with Kaz Hayashi to defeat Ryuji Hijikata and T28.

### Pro Wrestling Noah (2005, 2007, 2008–2023)

On July 18, 2005, Nakajima made his debut in Pro Wrestling Noah, wrestling in a six-man tag team match in the Tokyo Dome. He would continue by teaming with Kensuke Sasaki against Kenta Kobashi and his own protégé Go Shiozaki in an inter-generation tag team match on November 5, 2005, with Sasaki pinning Shiozaki after a lariat. This match was rated 4 out of 5 stars by wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, one of only eight NOAH matches to receive that or a higher rating. On September 1, 2007, Nakajima challenged Pro Wrestling Noah's Takeshi Morishima for his ROH World Championship in the main event of a Kensuke Office show, putting up a good fight but losing in the end.

In March and April 2008, Nakajima and Sasaki participated in Pro Wrestling Noah's Global Tag League, a 9-team round-robin tag team tournament. The two finished tied in 5th place with 8 points, defeating the teams of Jun Akiyama and Takeshi Rikio, D'Lo Brown and Buchanan, and Go Shiozaki and Akira Taue, and drawing with Takeshi Morishima and Muhammad Yone, and GHC Tag Team Champions Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura. Nakajima began to wrestle consistently with NOAH starting July 2, 2008, and it was announced the following week that he and the rest of Kensuke Office would be lending their support to NOAH instead of All Japan for the foreseeable future. Among Nakajima's first matches in NOAH were singles contests against former GHC Heavyweight Champion Jun Akiyama and Mitsuharu Misawa on July 5, and July 13, respectively, losing both matches.

From August until September, Nakajima entered NOAH's annual NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League, teaming with DDT's Kota Ibushi in the 8-team tournament. The two finished in fifth place with eight points, including a victory over 2007 winners, as well as the eventual 2008 winners, Kenta and Taiji Ishimori. Nakajima and Ibushi would team once more on September 8, on a co-production between DDT and SEM, NOAH's offshoot promotion for younger wrestlers, against DDT's HARASHIMA and Antonio Honda. The match originally went to a 20-minute time limit draw, but was restarted and Nakajima pinned Honda shortly thereafter.

On September 14, Nakajima participated in American promotion Ring of Honor's second tour of Japan, teaming with Naomichi Marufuji against Kenta and Kota Ibushi in a special tag match. The two teams went to a 30-minute time limit draw; the match was restarted, but ended once more in a draw after an additional five minutes expired. The following week on September 20, Nakajima wrestled his first match in the United States, challenging GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion Bryan Danielson at ROH's *Glory by Honor VII*. Danielson would retain his title, making Nakajima submit to the Cattle Mutilation. On November 13, Nakajima made his return to Ring of Honor in Novi, Michigan, in a losing effort against Kenny Omega. The next night in Mississauga, Ontario he was victorious against El Generico in a match that was hard hitting and fast paced. The fans in turn gave Nakajima the "please come back" chant.

Nakajima went to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship from Kenta on February 11, 2009, ina Kensuke Office event. A notable fact is that this was the second time Nakajima and Sasaki held the Jr. Heavyweight and Heavyweight titles of the same promotion at the same time, the first being All Japan. He would then lose the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship back to KENTA on March 1 in Pro Wrestling Noah; coincidentally, Sasaki would lose the GHC Heavyweight Title later that night.

On September 23, 2011, Nakajima defeated Kotaro Suzuki to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship for the second time. However, he was forced to vacate the title just nine days later, after undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis. Nakajima returned on November 27 and defeated Ricky Marvin in a decision match to regain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. On May 9, 2012, Nakajima lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to Yoshinobu Kanemaru, ending his third reign at 164 days. Nakajima along with his mentor Kensuke Sasaki reached the 2013 Global Tag League final, but lost to the team of KENTA and Yoshihiro Takayama. Nakajima then took part in a brief feud with Maybach Taniguchi which culminated at Great Voyage in Tokyo. Also at the event, Naomichi Marufuji recruited Nakajima into is faction "Brave". On February 11, 2014, Nakajima earned his first win over his mentor Kensuke Sasaki in the main event of a show celebrating his tenth anniversary in professional wrestling. The match turned out to be Sasaki's retirement match.

On December 24, 2015, Noah held a press conference announcing that Nakajima would be ending his days as a freelancer and officially joining the promotion on January 1, 2016. On February 24, 2016, Nakajima picked up the biggest win of his career by defeating Minoru Suzuki in the main event of Noah's show in Korakuen Hall. As a result, Nakajima was granted a shot at the GHC Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated by Takashi Sugiura on March 19. From July 22 to August 13, Nakajima took part in NJPW's 2016 G1 Climax, where he finished tied third in his block with a record of five wins and four losses, failing to advance to the finals. On October 23, Nakajima defeated Takashi Sugiura to win the GHC Heavyweight Championship for the first time. Nakajima made his first title defense in a match against the 2016 Global League winner, Minoru Suzuki, at One Night Cruise in Korakuen on December 2. Nakajima's second title defense was on December 24 as a part the Winter Navigation tour where he defended his title against his ally and occasional tag team partner, Masa Kitamiya. Following the match, Sugiura challenged Nakajima to a rematch for the title. This rematch would take place on January 7, 2017, which was the first show of Noah's first tour of 2017 "The First Navigation." Nakajima ultimately defeated Sugiura thus marking his third title defense. Nakajima defeated Go Shiozaki at Great Voyage in Yokohama on March 12, marking his fourth title defense. On June 4, at "Navigation with Breeze", Nakajima made his fifth title defense against Muhammad Yone. He followed it up with his sixth successful defense against Atsushi Kotoge on June 25. Nakajima made his seventh title defense against Brian Cage on July 27. On August 26, Nakajima lost the title to Eddie Edwards.

On March 11, 2018, Nakajima and Kitamiya defeated Muhammad Yone and Quiet Storm to win the GHC Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles to Go Shiozaki and Kaito Kiyomiya on April 29 in their first title defense at the Great Voyage in Niigata, then regained it on May 29, but lost it to Naomichi Marufuji and Akitoshi Saito on July 28. In November, Nakajima took part in the 2018 Global League, where he finished the tournament with four wins and three losses. Despite finishing tied with Kenoh and Kohei Sato, Nakajima failed to advance to the finals due to losing to his partner Masa Kitamiya. Nakajima was, however, later granted entry into the finals after defeating Kenoh and Sato in a three-way match to determine Naomichi Marufuji's replacement, after he was forced to pull out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. On November 25, Nakajima was defeated in the finals by Kaito Kiyomiya. After the match, Masa Kitamiya decided to leave The Aggression, effectively disbanding the team.

In December 2018, Nakajima and Go Shiozaki formed a team, and the duo took part in a tournament for the vacant GHC Tag Team Championship. On December 7, Nakajima and Shiozaki defeated Kenoh and Masa Kitamiya in a tournament final to win the vacant GHC Tag Team Championship. Afterwards, Nakajima and Shiozaki were challenged by Hooligans (Maybach Taniguchi and Yuji Hino) to a match for their titles. On December 16 at The Great Voyage 2018 in Yokohama vol.2, Nakajima and Shiozaki lost the GHC Tag Team Championship to Hooligans. On January 6, 2019, Nakajima and Shiozaki received their rematch for GHC Tag Team Championship losing to Taniguchi and Hino, after their Hooligans stablemates interfered in the match. Later in January, Nakajima and Shiozaki named their team "AXIZ". Afterwards, on February 12, AXIZ faced GHC Tag Team Champions 50 Funky Powers Muhammad Yone and Quiet Storm in a non-title match. Nakajima would scored the victory for AXIZ, after Nakajima pinned Storm. After Atsushi Kotoge and Eddie Edwards couldn't challenge for the GHC Tag Team Championship, due to Kotoge's shoulder injury, Noah announced AXIZ as the next challengers to the GHC Tag Team Championship. On February 24, 2019, AXIZ defeated 50 Funky Powers' Muhammad Yone and Quiet Storm to win the GHC Tag Team Championship for the second time. From April 7 until April 30, AXIZ took part in the 2019 Global Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of five wins, one loss, and one draw, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On May 4, AXIZ was defeated in the finals by Sugiura-gun (Takashi Sugiura and Kazma Sakamoto). On June 13, AXIZ lost the GHC Tag Team Championship to Sugiura-gun, befor defeating them in rematch on June 27 to win the GHC Tag Team Championship for the record-breaking third time. Afterwards, AXIZ were challenged by Kaito Kiyomiya and Shuhei Taniguchi to match for their titles. Nakajima accepted Kiyomiya and Taniguchi's challenge for their titles on the condition that Kiyomiya would defend the GHC Heavyweight Championship against him. On July 21, AXIZ defeated Kiyomiya and Taniguchi to make their first successful of the GHC Tag Team Championship. Six days later, Nakajima unsuccessfully challenged Kaito Kiyomiya for the GHC Heavyweight Championship.

On January 5, 2020, at Reboot, AXIZ lost the GHC Tag Team Championship to Masaaki Mochizuki and Naomichi Marufuji. Afterwards, AXIZ began focusing on their singles careers, after Nakajima defeated Daiki Inaba to win the Wrestle-1 Championship on January 12 as part of a working relationship between Noah and Wrestle-1. Nakajima lost the title to Kaz Hayashi on March 15. The following month, AXIZ took part in the 2020 Global Tag League, making to their second consecutive Global Tag League final by winning their block in the 2020 tournament with a record of two wins and one loss. On April 18, they were defeated in the finals of the tournament by Sugiura-gun International (Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Rene Dupree). On May 9, Nakajima defeated Takashi Sugiura to win the GHC National Championship, meaning that AXIZ held both Noah's singles championships. On August 4, on the first night of Departure, Nakajima lost the GHC National Championship to Kenoh.

On August 20, AXIZ faced Sugiura-gun (Kazushi Sakuraba and Takashi Sugiura) in a losing effort for the vacant GHC Tag Team Championship. Afterwards, Nakajima turned on Shiozaki in order to join KONGOH, effectively disbanding AXIZ. From September 18 and October 11, Nakajima took part in the 2020 N-1 Victory, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins, and one loss to advance to the finals of the tournament. On October 11, Nakajima defeated Kaito Kiyomiya in the finals to win the 2020 N-1 Victory. This led on November 23 at NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 4, Nakajima unsuccessfully challenging Go Shiozaki for the GHC Heavyweight Championship. Following KONGOH's feud with Sugiura-gun, on January 31, Nakajima and Masa Kitamiya faced Sugiura-gun members Takashi Sugiura and Kendo Kashin in a winning effort. After the match, Nakajima and Kitamiya challenged Sugiura and his partner Kazushi Sakuraba to a title match for the GHC Tag Team Championship. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, Nakajima confirmed the reunion of the The Aggression. On March 7, 2021, at Great Voyage in Yokohama, Nakajima and Kitamiya defeated Sugiura-gun's Kazushi Sakuraba and Takashi Sugiura to win the GHC Tag Team Championship for the third time. On May 31, following a GHC Tag Team Championship title defense, Kitamiya turned on Nakajima, leaving KONGOH due to his hatred towards Nakajima, effectivelly ending their partnership. This led to Noah announcing a steel cage *Lucha de Apuestas*, hair vs. hair match on June 26. At the event Cage War, Nakajima was forced to shave his hair afer being defeated by his former partner Kitamiya and would instruct his KONGOH stablemate Kenoh to fully shave his head. Despite their breakup, Nakajima and Kitamiya were recognized as GHC Tag Team Champions, until on June 30, Nakajima and Kitamiya decided to face each other for the vacant titles, with Nakajima teaming with Soya and Kitamiya with Kaito Kiyomiya. On July 22, Nakajima and Soya were defeated by Kitamiya and Kaito Kiyomiya for the vacant GHC Tag Team Championship.

In September, Nakajima took part in the 2021 N-1 Victory, winning his block with a record of two wins and one loss, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On October 3, Nakajima defeated Masakatsu Funaki and then fellow KONGOH stablemate Kenoh, in the semifinals and finals, respectively, to win the N-1 Victory for the second year, earning a shot at the GHC Heavyweight Championship. On October 10, Nakajima defeated Naomichi Marufuji to win the GHC Heavyweight Championship for the second time. On November 13, Nakajima was challenged by stablemate Kenoh to a double title-match for the GHC Heavyweight and GHC National Championships on November 28 at Noah the Best. At the event, Nakajima faced Kenoh in a 60-minute time limit draw to retain the GHC Heavyweight Championship and unsuccessfully challenging Kenoh for the GHC National Championship. Afterwards, Go Shiozaki made his return from injury challenging his former AXIZ teammate Katsuhiko Nakajima to a title match for the GHC Heavyweight Championship on January 1, at Noah The New Year. On December 27, following a victory in a ten-man tag team match, where Nakajima pinned Shiozaki, he stated that if lost to him at NOAH The New Year, Shiozaki should never repeat his catchphrase "I am Noah" again. At a press conference the following day, Shiozaki agreed to Nakajima's condition of never using his catchphrase "I am Noah" again, on the condition that if he won, Nakajima would be forced to reunite AXIZ with him. At the event, Nakajima successfully defended the GHC Heavyweight Championship against Shiozaki, forcing him to abandon his "I am Noah" catchfrase. On January 16 at Bumper Crop In Sendai, Nakajima made his fourth successful title defense against Masa Kitamiya. On February 23, Nakajima lost the GHC Heavyweight Championship to Kazuyuki Fujita in his fifth title defense. In August, Nakajima took part in the 2022 N-1 Victory, where he finished with a record of five wins and two losses, same as block winner Kaito Kiyomiya, but failed to advance to the finals due to losing to Kiyomiya in their head-to-head match.

On March 19, 2023 at Great Voyage in Yokohama, after Jake Lee defeated won the GHC Heavyweight Championship, Nakajima confronted Lee following the match, and challenged him to a title match at Green Journey in Sendai, on April 16, which he accepted. This promoted a feud between Good Looking Guys and KONGOH. On April 16, Nakajima unsuccessfully challenged Jake Lee for the GHC Heavyweight Championship. On May 4, at Majestic, Nakajima decided to leave KONGOH, to reform AXIZ with Go Shiozaki. AXIZ made their return match on May 14, losing to Kenoh and Manabu Soya. Nakajima's exit of KONGOH led to a singles match against Kenoh on May 31, which ended in a draw. On June 17, Nakajima announced that he was going to do something interesting, and this led him to challenge one of his trainees, All Japan Pro Wrestling's *ace*, Kento Miyahara, to a singles match at One Night Dream. Their match was made official on June 21 in a press conference, with Miyahara slapping Nakajima to the floor. To Nakajima, Miyahara's behavior stemmed from jealousy, which he said was a "hindrance", to Miyahara it was a sense of incompatibility and a battle to overcome his senior for the position in wrestling he had seen Nakajima hold for so long. At One Night Dream, Nakajima defeated Miyahara. In August, Nakajima took part in the 2023 N-1 Victory, finishing the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses, with a loss against his partner Shiozaki on the final day costing him a spot in the finals of the tournament.

On September 26, in a press release, it was announced that Nakajima would be terminating his contract with the promotion at the end of September, with his last match being on October 28. On October 28 at Demolition Stage In Fukuoka, Nakajima made his last match in Noah teaming with AXIZ partner Go Shiozaki in a losing effort against Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura.

### Return to All Japan Pro-Wrestling (2023–Present)

On October 12, Nakajima made his return to All Japan Pro Wrestling, confronting Yuma Aoyagi and Kento Miyahara, after a title match for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, between the two. Nakajima appeared with a bouquet of flowers, saying that these flowers were for Miyahara if he won the belt, before smashing them over him. Afterwards, in a backstage interview, Nakajima revealed that he was announced that he was pursuing the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. On October 31, Nakajima appeared in AJPW office, confronting President Tsuyoki Fukuda, to nominate himself as the next challenger for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, claiming that he wanted to "takeover the title as well as All Japan". Nakajima, with the title match being on November 5. President Fukuda stated that he would leave the challenge up to Yuma Aoyagi, who accepted the title match later that night. On November 5, Nakajima defeated Yuma Aoyagi to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. Afterwards, Hokuto Omori asked Nakajima to team with him for the upcoming World's Strongest Tag Determination League, but Nakajima said that he was not interested. However, Omori kept asking Nakajima to be his partner, despite Nakajima's refusal, leading AJPW to force them team up for the tournament. After not being pleased by Omori, Nakajima started training him, which proved to be effective, leading them to win the World's Strongest Tag Determination League. Afterwards, Omori proclaimed announced their intentions to challenge for the World Tag Team Championship.

Nakajima made his first title defense of the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against Kento Miyahara on December 31 and his second against NXT's Charlie Dempsey on January 3, 2024. Following the match, Nakajima stated that he would like to take the title to NXT momentarily, before being challenged by Shotaro Ashino to a title match later that month. On January 14, Nakajima and Omori unsuccessfully challenged The Saito Brothers (Jun and Rei Saito) for the World Tag Team Championship. Afterwards, Nakajima stated that a "coup was about to occur." On January 27, Nakajima made his third successful title defense against Ashino. Afterwards, Nakajima was challenged by Rei Saito to a title match.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Diamond Bomb* (Fireman's carry scoop brainbuster) – 2014-present
	+ *Northern Lights Bomb* (Scoop brainbuster) – adopted from Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto
	+ *Toukon Fujiwara* (Kneeling high-angle *ude-hishigi-waki-gatame* / *Fujiwara armbar*)
	+ *Vertical Spike* (Vertical drop brainbuster, usually with delay) – 2015-present

* **Signature moves**
	+ Ankle lock, sometimes while grapevining the opponent's leg
	+ *Cobra Twist* (Abdominal stretch) – adopted from Antonio Inoki
	+ Dragon screw leg whip
	+ Elbow strike
	+ Forearm smash
	+ *Frankensteiner* (Spike *back tijeras* drop)
	+ Indian deathlock
	+ Knee strike to a lumped-down standing opponent
	+ Lariat
	+ *Manji-gatame* (Octopus hold)
	+ Moonsault
	+ Multiple kicks
		- Big boot, sometimes to an opponent in the corner
		- *Brutality Kick* (Soccer to a prone opponent, sometimes to an opponent on the floor from the apron)
		- *Death Roll* (Jumping spinning calf to back of the opponent's head)
		- Drop
		- Enzuigiri - adopted from Antonio Inoki
		- Jumping high
		- Low drop to the opponent's knee
		- *Mawashi-geri* (Roundhouse to the opponent's head)
		- Missile drop
		- *PK - Penalty Kick* (Running soccer to a sat-down opponent)
		- Punt
		- *R-15* *- Rolling Fifteen* (High-angle spinning heel, sometimes to an opponent on the top rope)
		- Repeated soccer kicks to a sat-down opponent's chest and back
		- Sliding low shoot to the opponent's shin – adopted from Antonio Inoki
		- Step-up enzuigiri
		- Super
	+ Multiple suplex variations
		- *Backdrop* (High-angle belly-to-back)
		- Belly-to-back
		- *German* (High-angle waist-lock belly-to-back)
			* Bridging
			* Leg-hook
			* Snap
			* Straight-jacket
			* Wheelbarrow
		- *Northern Lights* (Bridging flipping waist-lock)
		- Snap
		- *Tiger* (High-angle double-chickenwing belly-to-back)
		- Underhook
		- Vertical
	+ Open-hand palm strike(s)
	+ Over the shoulder back-to-belly piledriver
	+ *Prison Lock* (Kneeling figure four leg-lock) – adopted from Masa Saito
	+ *Showtime* (Leaning double-foot choke on a opponent on the bottom turnbuckle, with theatrics)
	+ *Twister* (Twisting brainbuster) – adopted from Masaaki Mochizuki
	+ *Twister II* (Twisting sit-out suplex slam) – adopted from Masaaki Mochizuki

* **Nicknames**
	+ "Young Volcano"
	+ "Kats"
	+ **"The Genius of the Kick"**
	+ "The Aggression"
	+ "The Dark Assassin"
	+ "The Mad Wolf"
	+ **"Kick King (蹴る王)"**
	+ **"Violence Master"**
	+ **"Waruhiko (悪 彦)"**
	+ **"Toukon STYLE (闘魂 STYLE)"**

* **Managers**
	+ Akira Hokuto
	+ **Hisashi Shinma**
	+ Kensuke Sasaki
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Katsuhiko" (AJPW; 2004-2005)
	+ "Power 08" (Diamond Ring / Noah; 2005-2016)
	+ "Genius of the Kick" (Noah / NJPW; 2016-2020)
	+ **"KICK START"** by K-FORCE (2020-present)
	+ **"Ali Bombaye (Zaire Chant) I"** by George Benson, Mandrill & Michael Masser (AJPW; 2023)
* **Trained**
	+ Jun Nishikawa
	+ Kento Miyahara
	+ Kinya Okada
	+ Ryuji Yamaguchi
	+ Satoshi Kajiwara
	+ Takashi Okita[1]

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
	+ All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kensuke Sasaki
	+ World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
	+ Junior Tag League (2008) – with Ryuji Hijikata
	+ World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2023) – with Hokuto Omori
	+ January 3 Korakuen Hall Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal (2005)
	+ SAMURAI! TV Cup Triple Arrow Tournament (2007) – with Kensuke Sasaki and Seiya Sanada

* **Michinoku Pro Wrestling**
	+ Tohoku Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kensuke Sasaki

* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ Yuko Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2004) – with Blue Wolf and Shinsuke Nakamura
	+ New Wave Award (2004)

* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him #**49** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2006
	+ PWI ranked him #**181** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2007
	+ PWI ranked him #**281** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2008
	+ PWI ranked him #**6** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2009
	+ PWI ranked him #**156** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2010
	+ PWI ranked him #**219** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013
	+ PWI ranked him #**66** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017
	+ PWI ranked him #**208** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2018
	+ PWI ranked him #**167** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2019
	+ PWI ranked him #**174** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2020
	+ PWI ranked him #**166** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021
	+ PWI ranked him #**32** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2022
	+ PWI ranked him #**120** of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2023

* **Pro Wrestling Noah**
	+ GHC Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
	+ GHC National Championship (1 time)
	+ GHC Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Masa Kitamiya (3) and Go Shiozaki (3)
	+ GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
	+ N-1 Victory (2020, 2021)
	+ Leave Cup Scramble Battle Royal (2013)
	+ Global League Tournament Outstanding Performance Award (2014)
	+ Global Tag League Outstanding Performance Award (2013) – with Kensuke Sasaki
	+ Global Tag League Outstanding Performance Award (2014) – with Naomichi Marufuji
	+ Best Tag Team Award (2019) – with Go Shiozaki
	+ Scramble Shuffle Tag Tournament (2023) – with Seiki Yoshioka

* **Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX**
	+ WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship *(Disputed Branch)* (1 time)

* **Tenryu Project**
	+ Tenryu Project International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Satoshi Kajiwara

* **Tokyo Sports**
	+ Fighting Spirit Award (2005, 2016)
	+ Rookie of the Year (2004)
* **Wrestle-1**
	+ Wrestle-1 Championship (1 time)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Noah`
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `NJPW`
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Profile on PuroresuFan.com . Strong Style Spirit. Archived from the original on 2008-02-14. Retrieved on 2007-03-14. “His pro debut came in September, 2003, but not in a pro wrestling match; instead, in a steel cage and under vale tudo rules against Jason Rey, (sic) an American fighter, who 15-year-old Nakajima KO'd in 95 seconds!”
4. ↑ Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame listing . Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 NOAH results, 2005 . Green Destiny. Archived from the original on 2007-12-26. Retrieved on 2007-03-14. “Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiosaki (24:58) when Sasaki used a lariat on Shiosaki.”
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 World Japan results, 2004 . Strong Style Spirit. Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved on 2007-03-14. “Tomohiro Ishii beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (debut) (12:11) with a single-leg crab hold"; "Original Tiger Mask beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (11:44) with a Japanese leg roll clutch hold.”
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 NJPW results, 2004 . Strong Style Spirit. “Jushin Thunder Liger beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (7:27) with a crab hold"; "Young Lion Toukon Tournament - Final: Ryusuke Taguchi beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (9:41) with a crab hold.”
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 New Japan Cup results, 2005 . Strong Style Spirit. “Tatsumi Fujinami beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (3:59) with a Dragon sleeper.”
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 AJPW news, March 23 to April 17, 2006 . Shining Road. “Katsuhiko Nakajima became the youngest person to wrestle in the Champion Carnival at the age of 18.”
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Tokyo Sports Grand Prix Awards, 2000s . Puroresu.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
11. ↑ Kensuke Office profile  (in ja).
12. ↑ AJPW BAPE STA!! 2004 results . Shining Road. “Toshiaki Kawada, Ryuji Hijikata & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat TAKA Michinoku, Takehiro Murahama & Miracle Man (14:10) when Kawada used a single-leg crab hold on Miracle.”
13. ↑ Best of the Super Juniors results, 2004 . Strong Style Spirit. “Katsuhiko Nakajima [2] beat Curry Man [1] (8:20) by referee stop.”
14. ↑ AJPW Crossover results, 2004 . Shining Road. “All Asia Tag Team Title: Genichiro Tenryu & Masanobu Fuchi (c) beat Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (14:04) when Fuchi used an inside cradle on Nakajima (1st defense).”
15. ↑ Dragon Gate results, 2004  (in de). PuroLove.com.
16. ↑ Osaka Pro results, 2004  (in de). PuroLove.com.
17. ↑ World's Strongest Tag Team League results, 2004 . Shining Road.
18. ↑ Champion's Carnival results, 2005 . Shining Road. “AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: TAKA Michinoku (c) beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (17:04) with the Michinoku Driver II (5th defense).”
19. ↑ Differ Cup results, 2005 . ZEROONEUSA.com.
20. ↑ AJPW Crossover results, 2005 . Shining Road. “Shuji Kondo & "brother YASSHI" (sic) beat Tomoaki Honma & Katsuhiko Nakajima (16:30) when YASSHI pinned Nakajima after Kondo used a King Kong lariat to become the 79th champions.”
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 AJPW Summer Action Series results, 2005 . Shining Road. “Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Shuji Kondo & "brother" YASSHI (c) (12:23) when Nakajima used a German suplex hold on YASSHI to become the 80th champions.”
22. ↑ AJPW Summer Impact results, 2005 . Shining Road. “All Asia Tag Team Title: Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) beat Arashi & Ryuji Hijikata (20:30) when Sasaki used a lariat on Hijikata (1st defense).”
23. ↑ AJPW Flashing Tour results, 2005 . Shining Road. “All Asia Tag Team Title: Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) beat Buchanan & D-Lo Brown (21:24) when Sasaki used a Northern Light bomb on Buchanan (2nd defense).”
24. ↑ ZERO1-MAX Decide it Again results . ZEROONEUSA.com.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship History . Wrestling-Titles.com.
26. ↑ ZERO1-MAX Rights results . ZEROONEUSA.com.
27. ↑ AJPW results, 2006 . Shining Road. “Kensuke Sasaki 20th Anniversary: Kensuke Sasaki & Kenta Kobashi beat Genichiro Tenryu & Katsuhiko Nakajima (26:36) when Sasaki used a lariat on Nakajima.”
28. ↑ AJPW news, February 21 to March 22, 2006 . Shining Road.
29. ↑ BML results  (in de). PuroLove.com.
30. ↑ BJW results, 2006  (in de). PuroLove.com.
31. ↑ AJPW Junior League results . Shining Road. “Final: Kaz Hayashi beat Katsuhiko Nakajima (20:58) with the Final Cut”
32. ↑ AJPW news, October 14 to November 25, 2006 . Shining Road. “During Kensuke's talk show, it seems that he and Nakajima returned the All-Asia Tag Titles after one year and 3 months of holding them since Kensuke will not make his return in December.”
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 AJPW news, December 4, 2006 to February 9, 2007 . Shining Road.
34. ↑ GPWA results  (in de). PuroLove.com.
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 AJPW news, February 12 to March 9, 2007 . Shining Road. “AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Shuji Kondo (c) (24:25) with a German Suplex hold (Nakajima becomes the 24th champion).”
36. ↑ Hold Out Tour 2007 . Shining Road.
37. ↑ AJPW Rise Up 2007 tour results  (in de). PuroLove.com. “6. AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) besiegt Ryuji Hijikata (19:21) mit einem German Suplex Hold (2nd defense).”
38. ↑ AJPW Crossover 2007 tour results  (in de). PuroLove.com.
39. ↑ Junior Champion Carnival 2007 . Pro Wrestling History.
40. ↑ Summer Impact 2007 . Shining Road.
41. ↑ AJPW Flashing Tour results . Shining Road.
42. ↑ AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship title history . TitleHistories.com.
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Kensuke Office results  (in de). PuroLove.com.
44. ↑ AJPW Excite Series tour results  (in de). PuroLove.com.
45. ↑ AJPW Hold Out 2008 tour results  (in de). PuroLove.com.
46. ↑ AJPW Rise Up 2008 tour results  (in de). PuroLove.com.
47. ↑ NOAH results, 2008  (in de). PuroLove.com.
48. ↑ AJPW results, 2008 . Shining Road.
49. ↑ Observer Star Ratings List . Archived from the original on 2007-02-10. Retrieved on 2007-03-14. “11/5/05 Kenta Kobashi/Go Shiozaki vs. Kensuke Sasaki/Katsuhiko Nakajima \*\*\*\*3/4”
50. ↑ Kensuke Office Take the Dream Vol. 2 ~ A New Dream report  (in Japanese). SportsNavi. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
51. ↑ NOAH Global Tag League tour results  (in German). PuroLove.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-13.
52. ↑ NOAH Summer Navigation 2008 tour results  (in German). PuroLove.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-08.
53. ↑ NOAH Shiny Navigation tour results  (in German). PuroLove.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-09.
54. ↑ Miscellaneous independent results  (in de). PuroLove.com.
55. ↑ ☆２月１１日　後楽園ホール試合結果☆  (in Japanese). *Kensuke Office* (2014-02-11). Retrieved on 2014-02-11.
56. ↑ *ja:佐々木健介が現役引退　妻北斗晶と会見* (in Japanese). *Nikkan Sports* (2014-02-13). Retrieved on 2014-02-13.
57. ↑ *ja:中嶋勝彦選手 入団会見の模様* (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah* (2015-12-24). Retrieved on 2015-12-24.
58. ↑ Velten, Dan 2016-02-24. Tuesday: Reigns' nose, McGregor vs. Diaz, Nakajima vs. Suzuki . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-02-24.
59. ↑ Great Voyage 2016 in Korakuen  (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah*. Retrieved on 2016-03-19.
60. ↑ 2016 New Japan G1 Climax Results . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2016-08-13.
61. ↑ "NOAH results for December 2, 2016". *Puroresu Spirit*en-US. 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
62. ↑ "NOAH results for December 24, 2016". *Puroresu Spirit*en-US. 2016-12-24. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
63. ↑ "NOAH results for January 7, 2017". *Puroresu Spirit*en-US. 2017-01-07. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
64. ↑ "NOAH results for March 12, 2017". *Puroresu Spirit*en-US. 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
65. ↑ "NOAH results for June 4, 2017"Japanese. 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
66. ↑ Great Voyage 2017 in Fukushima  (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah*. Retrieved on 2017-06-25.
67. ↑ Summer Navig. 2017 vol.2  (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah*. Retrieved on 2017-08-26.
68. ↑ 丸藤V1へ黄信号　勝彦の右ハイに半失神  (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2014-07-20). Retrieved on 2014-10-27.
69. ↑ Puroresucentral.com
70. ↑ Pro Wrestling NOAH: "The Navigation in March 2012"  (in German). PuroLove.com. Retrieved on 2013-11-05.
71. ↑ Pro Wrestling SEM Results: 2009  (in German). PuroLove.com. Retrieved on 2013-11-05.
72. ↑ Pro Wrestling NOAH - "Shiny Navigation 2013 - Ark New Chapter Memorable Pro Wrestling"  (in German). PuroLove.com. Retrieved on 2013-11-05.
73. ↑ *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.
74. ↑ http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/alljap/ajtourn.htm
75. ↑ http://www.purolove.com/misc/kensuke/profiles/katsuhikonakajima.php
76. ↑ Tohoku Tag Team Championship History . Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
77. ↑ 2004 New Japan Awards . *Strong Style Spirit*. Retrieved on 2011-04-28.
78. ↑ PWI 500 2006 listing . Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved on 2007-04-22.
79. ↑ NOAH results for August 25, 2013 . *Keeping The Spirit Alive*. Retrieved on 2013-09-04.
80. ↑ *ja:「グローバル・リーグ戦 2014」各賞発表* (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah* (2014-11-09). Retrieved on 2014-11-09.
81. ↑ *ja:「グローバル・タッグリーグ戦2013」各賞発表* (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah* (2013-04-28). Retrieved on 2013-04-28.
82. ↑ *ja:「グローバル・タッグリーグ戦2014」各賞発表* (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah* (2014-04-28). Retrieved on 2014-04-28.
83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 *ja:東京スポーツ　プロレス大賞* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports*. Retrieved on 2014-01-20.