Stinger

**Stinger** (スティンガー, *Sutingā*) is a professional wrestling stable in Pro Wrestling NOAH (NOAH) formed by Kotaro Suzuki, Yoshinari Ogawa, and YO-HEY on December 16, 2018, starting a feud with RATEL'S. During their feud, Stinger was shortly joined by HAYATA, who defected RALTEL'S, but rejoined them shortly after. In the process, Suzuki held the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship and with Ogawa, both held the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

YO-HEY would be kicked out of the stable on May 19, after expressing his intentions of teaming with HAYATA for the Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League, with Ogawa and Suzuki winning the tournament. Afterwards, Stinger added two new members; Chris Ridgeway who replaced YO-HEY and Atsushi Kotoge, who quickly brought the IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship to the stable. In March 2020, Suzuki turned on Ogawa disbanding the stable, for a brief time, before reuniting on May, with the addition of HAYATA, who rejoined the stable. The following day, HAYATA and Ogawa captured the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, meaning that Stinger held all two of Noah's junior heavyweight championships simultaneously, with Suzuki also holding the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. In October, HAYATA and Ogawa turned on Suzuki, leading him to be replaced by two new members; Yuya Susumu and Seiki Yoshioka, who also won the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

Since October 2020, Stinger began feuding with the *Los Perros del Mal de Japón*. However, following the stable's dissolution, Ogawa began alligning himself with the stable's former member Eita, which led to Ridgeway and HAYATA being unsured about their alliance. In May 2023, Ogawa announced the "new Stinger", composing of him, Ridgeway and Daga, who replaced HAYATA, after he was expelled from Stinger by Ogawa.

## History

### Formation (2018)

In October 2018, Kotaro Suzuki started feuding with RATEL'S, he would be joined by Yoshinari Ogawa. On October 30, Suzuki defeated RATEL'S leader Daisuke Harada to win GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. Harada would demand a rematch, but Suzuki would only grant it, under the stipulation that of Harada lost RATEL'S would be forced to disband. On December 16 at Great Voyage in Yokohama vol.2, Suzuki lost the title to Harada. After the match, YO-HEY turned on RATEL'S siding with Suzuki and Ogawa. The three dubbed themselves as "Stinger".

### Feud with RATEL'S (2018–2020)

On February 1, 2019, Stinger would be joined by another RATEL'S member HAYATA, who turned on RALTEL'S. On February 24, Ogawa and Suzuki defeated Hajime Ohara and Hitoshi Kumano to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. After the match, HAYATA turned on Stinger and rejoined RATEL'S. HAYATA along with Tadasuke challenged Ogawa and Suzuki to a title match. On March 10, Ogawa and Suzuki successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against HAYATA and Tadasuke. Shortly after, Ogawa began offering Harada a handshake either before or after their matches, and Harada did once shake his hand. Tadasuke tried to stop him. After the third handshake, Harada attacked Ogawa. YO-HEY would later be hospitalized after suffering a collapsed lung, with HAYATA visiting YO-HEY in the hospital. YO-HEY would later announce he wanted to team with HAYATA to win their third consecutive Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League. On May 19, Stinger turned on YO-HEY, due to YO-HEY indirectly declaring war on them. Afterwards, YO-HEY would be saved by RATEL'S. From May to June, Ogawa and Suzuki took part of the 2019 Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League, finishing the tournament with a record of six wins, one loss, and one draw, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On June 9, Ogawa and Suzuki defeated HAYATA and YO-HEY to win the tournament. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, Chris Ridgeway was announced as the newest member of the stable.

From June until July, all members of Stinger took part in the 2019 Global Junior League with Ogawa wrestling in block A, while Suzuki and Ridgeway wrestled in block B. All three failed to advance from their blocks with Suzuki and Ogawa finishing second in their respective blocks, while Ridgeway finished third. Suzuki had a chance to the advance to the finals, but lost to HAYATA in a decision match, to decide who was going to advance from their block. On August 3, Ogawa and Atsushi Kotoge defeated Daisuke Harada and Tadasuke in Kotoge's return match to the junior heavyweight division. Afterwards, Ogawa announced Kotoge as the newest member of the stable. Later that month, Ridgeway feuded with Daisuke Harada, after Ridgeway submitted Harada in multiple occasions, leading to a match on August 25, for IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship, which Ridgeway unsuccessfully challenged Harada for his title. Following the match, Kotoge challenged Harada to a match for the IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship. On September 16, Kotoge defeated Harada to win IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship. On November 2 at Noah the Best 2019, Suzuki and Ogawa lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to RATEL'S (Daisuke Harada and Tadasuke). On November 16, Kotoge lost the IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship back to Daisuke Harada. On November 26, Kotoge and Suzuki defeated Harada and Tadasuke to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

On January 4, 2020, at New Sunrise, Ogawa defeated HAYATA to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. Later that month, all members of Stinger took part in the 2020 Global Junior League, wrestling in separate round-robin blocks. Kotoge and Suzuki finished their blocks with a record of two wins and one loss and Ridgeway finished his block with one win and two losses. Meanwhile, Ogawa won his block with a record of two wins and one draw, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On January 30, Ogawa was defeated by Dick Togo in the semifinals.

On March 29, Kotoge and Suzuki lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to RATEL'S members HAYATA and YO-HEY. Later that night, Ogawa successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship against Daisuke Harada, ending Stinger's feud with RATEL'S.

### Disbanding and reunion (2020)

Following the match, Suzuki turned on Ogawa. Later in a post-match interview, due to Suzuki's actions, Ogawa announced the disbanding of the stable. On April 19, Suzuki defeated Ogawa to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship for the fourth time. Afterwards, Suzuki asked to team with him, in order to challenge for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, which Ogawa accepted. On May 9, during the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championshionship, HAYATA turned on YO-HEY, joining Ogawa and Suzuki to reform Stinger. The following day, HAYATA and Ogawa defeated Tadasuke and YO-HEY to win the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, meaning that Stinger held all two of Noah's junior heavyweight championships. On August 10 at NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 3, HAYATA defeated former RATEL'S stablemate Daisuke Harada to win the IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship. Afterwards, in a backstage interview, HAYATA threw the title in a trash can, causing the title to be deactivated. On October 11, Ogawa and HAYATA lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Momo no Seishun (Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada).

### Feud with Kotaro Suzuki and *Los Perros del Mal de Japón* (2020–2022)

On October 28, Stinger were defeated by KONGOH (Haoh, Nioh, and Tadasuke), with Suzuki being pinned by Tadasuke. Afterwards, HAYATA and Ogawa turned on Suzuki, turning Stinger to a tag team. Later that night, HAYATA and Ogawa attacked and challenged Momo no Seishun (Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada) to a match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. This led on November 22 at NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 4, HAYATA and Ogawa defeating Momo no Seishun (Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada) to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the second time. On December 6 at Noah the Best, HAYATA and Ogawa faced Kotaro Suzuki and Selvaje de Oriente for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. During the match, Oriente turned on Suzuki, revealing himself to be Yuya Susumu, joining Stinger in the process.

On May 2, 2021, following a match between Stinger and Full Throttle, Seiki Yoshioka turned on Hajime Ohara, leaving Full Throttle to become the fourth member of Stinger. On May 31, HAYATA and Ogawa lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to Daisuke Harada and Hajime Ohara. On June 26 at Cage War, HAYATA won NOAH Jr. Rumble match by last eliminating YO-HEY. Afterwards, HAYATA challenged Atsushi Kotoge to a title match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. The following day at Muta The World, HAYATA defeated Kotoge to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. On August 1, Susumu and Yoshioka defeated Daisuke Harada and Hajime Ohara to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On September 12, Susumu and Yoshioka lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships to Atsushi Kotoge and Hajime Ohara. In June, Stinger began feuding with the *Los Perros del Mal de Japón* stable, leading to a title match on November 28 at Noah the Best, where HAYATA and Ogawa defeated Eita and Nosawa Rongai to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the third time.

On December 5, HAYATA successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship against Tadasuke. Following the match, during HAYATA's celebrations Ogawa pulled the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship belt off of his shoulder, and HAYATA held on to it, before Ogawa indicated himself as the next challenger for the title by pointing to it. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, HAYATA proclaimed Ogawa as his next challenger, leading Ogawa to offer an handshake, before proceeding to attack him. Their feud for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship led to a title match on January 1, 2022 at NOAH The New Year, where HAYATA successfully defended his title against Ogawa. Following the match, HAYATA offered an handshake to Ogawa, but he refuse throwing his half of the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to HAYATA. Four days later at New Sunrise, HAYATA and Ogawa successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against *Los Perros del Mal de Japón* (Kotaro Suzuki and YO-HEY). Afterwards, Ogawa appeared to have resolve his issues with HAYATA.

Later that month, Stinger took part in NOAH's junior heavyweight's sub-brand N Innovation U-Cup, finishing the tournament with a record of two wins and three losses, failling to advance to finals of the tournament. On January 10, HAYATA lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to Daisuke Harada. Nine days later, HAYATA and Ogawa vacated the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, after Ogawa tested positive for the COVID-19. On January 22, Susumu and Yoshioka defeated Atsushi Kotoge and Hajime Ohara to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. The titles were vacated on February 11, after Yoshioka was sidelined with an heel injury. Following the mitigation of the COVID-19 travel restrictions, on March 23, it was announced that Chris Ridgeway would be returning to the stable on April 29 at Majestic. At the event, Ogawa and Ridgeway defeated Atsushi Kotoge and YO-HEY to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. In the main event, HAYATA defeated Eita to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship, marking a clean sweep for Stinger, who left Majestic holding all of NOAH's junior heavyweight championships. On May 4, Susumu and Yoshioka attacked Ogawa and Ridgeway, before challenging them to a title match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, with HAYATA siding with them due to a previously shared background. Afterwards, Ogawa and Ridgeway attacked HAYATA, Susumu and Yoshioka, during a post-match interview. This led to a match on May 21 at Dream On Final, for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship where the losing team would be forced to leave Stinger. The match ended in a no contest, following the interference from *Los Perros del Mal de Japón*, which in turn led the stable to reconcile. On June 7, Susumu, Yoshioka and Ogawa defeated Los Perros del Mal de Japón's Eita, Kotaro Suzuki and Nosawa Rongai to win the Open The Triangle Gate Championship. The following day, Susumu, Yoshioka and Ogawa lost the titles to Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada and YO-HEY. Afterwards, Yoshioka decided to leave Stinger, which led to Susumu warn that he would not be forgiven. Susumu then began trying to convince Yoshioka to reconcile, leading to a match between on June 23, which Susumu faced Yoshioka in a winning effort. On September 25 at Grand Ship In Nagoya, Ogawa and Ridgeway lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka. On October 30 at Ariake Triumph, HAYATA lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to Ninja Mack in his seventh title defense, after the referee was forced to stop the match, due to HAYATA legitimately dislocated his left shoulder.

After concluding its feud Nosawa Rongai, on December 19, Ogawa began alligning himself with Rongai and Eita, leading his relationship with HAYATA and Ridgeway to sour over the following months, despite Ogawa ignoring Eita most of the time.

### Feud with Eita and new Stinger (2023–present)

On February 12, 2023, at Great Voyage in Osaka, after Ogawa and Eita successfully defended the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Alejandro and Junta Miyawaki, Ogawa's Stinger stablemates HAYATA and Ridgeway challenged Eita and Ogawa to a title match. On March 19, at Great Voyage in Yokohama, Ogawa and Eita retained the titles. Afterwards, Ogawa's relationship with HAYATA slightly improved, with both shaking hands, and turned on Eita, despite Ridgeway being unsure about his intentions. However, Ogawa and HAYATA's relation quickly fell off. On April 16 at Green Journey in Sendai, HAYATA defeated AMAKUSA to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. On May 4 at Majestic, Ogawa and Ridgeway faced Daga and Eita. The match ended with Daga turning on Eita, and joining Stinger. Afterwards, Ogawa announced that he, Chris Ridgeway and Daga were the "new Stinger" and that HAYATA and Eita where not considered members anymore. On May 14, Ogawa faced Eita in a no contest, after Daga and Ridgeway attacked Eita. Afterwards, HAYATA made the save, as HAYATA stated that Ogawa's era was over. On May 21, Daga faced Eita. Afterwards, Stinger once again attacked Eita, but was saved by HAYATA. On June 22, Ridgeway and Daga defeated Good Looking Guys (Tadasuke and YO-HEY) to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On September 5, Ridgeway announced that he would be leaving NOAH to return to the United Kingdom for personal reasons, leading him and Daga to vacate the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On November 4 at Demolition Stage In Niigata, Daga defeated HAYATA to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship.

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Dragon Gate**
	+ Open The Triangle Gate Championship (1 time) – with Susumu, Yoshioka and Ogawa
* **International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom**
	+ IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times) – Kotoge (1) and HAYATA (1)
* **Pro Wrestling Noah**
	+ GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship (7 times, current) – Suzuki (2), Ogawa (1), HAYATA (3) and Daga (1, current)
	+ GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (9 times) – Ogawa and Suzuki (1), Kotoge and Suzuki (1), HAYATA and Ogawa (3), Yoshioka and Susumu (2), Ogawa and Ridgeway (1), Daga and Ridgeway (1)
	+ Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League (2019) – Ogawa and Suzuki
	+ NOAH Jr. Rumble (2021) – HAYATA