Katsuya Kitamura

Kitamura in July 2017

###

Suginami, Tokyo, Japan

**Katsuya Kitamura** (北村 克哉, *Kitamura Katsuya*, born December 14, 1985 – October 12, 2022) was a Japanese professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler trained by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the winner of the 2017 Young Lion Cup.

## Early life

Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Kitamura was a highly accomplished amateur wrestler, known for being one of the largest wrestlers in all of Japan. Because of his size and physique, he earned the nickname "Wrestling Monster". He attended Senshu University, where he was a part of their wrestling team. In 2006, he won the All Japan Wrestling Championship in the 120 kg category, and later on in the same year represented Japan in the World Championships. Throughout his amateur career, Kitamura would go on to win three national championships and represent Japan on a global level twice. As well as amateur wrestling, Kitamura took part in the 2015 Ganryū-jima fighting Tournament, where he defeated a Mongolian Sumo wrestler.

### Steroids and ban

On June 13, 2011, Kitamura was banned from amateur wrestling for two years after testing positive for anabolic steroids, specifically, the illegal muscle building drug drostanolone. Kitamura was being tipped as a possible member of Japan's Olympic wrestling team for the 2012 London Olympic Games, but the ban ruled him out of participation. He did not appeal against the ban, but said that he *"took them by accident after buying some supplements from abroad"*.

## Professional wrestling career

### New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2015–2019)

Kitamura began training in the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) dojo in 2015. His first match in NJPW was not a traditional professional wrestling match, but rather a dark shoot amateur wrestling exhibition where he wrestled fellow trainee Tomoyuki Oka to a time limit draw. After undergoing further training, Kitamura wrestled his first ever professional match on September 1, 2016, another dark match where he and Oka once again wrestled to a draw. On March 13, 2017, he made his televised debut, teaming with Oka in a loss to the Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa). The following day, Kitamura teamed with Katsuyori Shibata and Yuji Nagata in a loss to Tencozy (Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan) and Juice Robinson. The day after that, he once again lost to Tonga and Roa, this time teaming with Nagata. On June 24 2017, three months after his debut, Katsuya won the first match in his career when he teamed with Tomoyuki Oka to defeat Manabu Nakanishi and Tetsuhiro Yagi in a tag match. Kitamura and Oka continued teaming regularly, eventually dubbing their team "Monster Rage". On October 12th, Kitamura entered The Young Lion Cup and won his first singles match when he defeated Tetsuhiro Yagi at Lion's Gate Project 8.
Kitamura and Oka continued teaming regularly, eventually dubbing their team "Monster Rage". From October 12 to December 21, Kitamura took part in the 2017 Young Lion Cup, which he won with a clean record of five wins and zero losses. On January 5th at New Year's Dash, Katsuya began a Seven Trial series of matches where he would face seven different wrestlers. He lost his first of seven matches to Jay White at New Year Dash. At the New Beginning in Sapporo he lost his second match of seven to Michael Elgin and his third the following day to Juice Robinson. At the Road to The New Beginning event from Korakuen Hall he lost his fourth match against Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and the fifth against Manabu Nakanishi. At The New Beginning in Osaka on February 10, he lost match #6 against Yuji Nagata. At The New Beginning in Hiroshima he was scheduled to face Manabu Nakanishi, but he suffered a cerebral concussion and was unable to compete. It was reported that the severity of the injury may force him to retire. Around that time it was reported Kitamura suffered a severe leg injury that was caused by a scooter accident alongisde a cerebral concussion would lead to his departure from the promotion on January 31, 2019.

## Death

On October 12, 2022, Kitamura felt a change in his physical condition and was taken to an hospital, after which Kitamura himself called the ambulance. However, his condition would suddenly get worse after being taken, and would pass away at the next day at the age of 36, with cause of death being unknown. During the same day, Kitamura's former workmates, Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare would pay tribute to him with O-Khan and Henare doing his pose and later being emotional over his passing in a backstage promo.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Jackhammer* (Delayed vertical suplex powerslam)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Argentine backbreaker
	+ Arm drag
	+ Boston crab
	+ Gutwrench suplex
	+ Knife edge chop
	+ Lariat
	+ Powerslam
	+ Spear
* **Nicknames**
	+ "Wrestling Monster"

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro-Wrestling**
	+ Young Lion Cup (2017)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Katsuya Kitamura . Retrieved on 2017-03-16.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Katsuya Kitamura – 北村克哉 - NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING . Retrieved on 2017-04-22.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://www.njpw1972.com/4464
4. ↑ https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL3E7HD1Z920110613
5. ↑ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=145830
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=159894
7. ↑ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=170722
8. ↑ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=170812
9. ↑ ローソンチケット Presents G1 Climax 27  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-09-24.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lion's Gate Project10  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-12-21.
11. ↑ Katsuya Kitamura podría no volver a luchar tras una importante lesión  (2018-09-20).
12. ↑ katsuya kitamura on Instagram: “私、北村克哉は2019/1/31をもちまして新日本プロレスを退団いたしました。 昨年3月の欠場以来、北村の復帰を願い待っていて下さったファンの皆様には本当に申し訳ない気持ちでいっぱいです。 復帰に向けて自分なりに必死にトレーニングに取り組んで来ました。…” . Retrieved on 2019-02-06.
13. ↑ 北村克哉 . Retrieved on 2019-02-06.
14. ↑ Solowrestling 2019-02-05. Katsuya Kitamura abandona NJPW . Retrieved on 2019-02-06.
15. ↑ "元新日本プロレスの北村克哉さんが３６歳で急死　退団後はＲＩＺＩＮでボビー・オロゴンとも対戦". Tokyo Sports. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.

## External links

* **Katsuya Kitamura** on NJPW's official Japanese website
* **Katsuya Kitamura** on NJPW's official English website
* **Katsuya Kitamura** on cagematch