Ryushi Yanagisawa

###

Aomori, Japan

**Ryushi Yanagisawa** (柳澤 龍志, *Yanagisawa Ryūshi*, born June 22, 1972) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Inoki Genome Federation.

## Career

Yanagisawa debuted in wrestling in 1992 originally competing for Pro Wrestling Fujiwawa Gumi but made no impact on the promotion. By 1993, Yanagisawa left the promotion, following Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki to Pancrase.

Ten years after debuting in wrestling, Yanagisawa returned to the sport when he joined New Japan Pro Wrestling. He originally debuted on August 8, 2002 under a mask as he attacked Masahiro Chono. After unmasking, he joined Tadao Yasuda's Makai Club stable which feuded with New Japan. In November 2002, Yangisawa teamed with Yasuda and Makai #1 in the Triathlon Survivor Tournament but the group finished in last place with 1 point. On December 10, 2002, Yanagisawa teamed with Yasuda to challenge Cho-Ten for the IWGP Tag Team Championship but they lost.

At *Wrestling World 2003*, Yanagisawa entered the Young Generation Cup tournament. He would emerge victorious, defeating Kenzo Suzuki in the semi-finals and then Yutaka Yoshie in the finals to win the cup. On February 1, 2003, Yanagisawa entered the Teisen Hall Six Man Tag Team Tournament teaming with Makai #1 and Makai #2 but the team lost in the first round to eventual winners: Hiro Saito, Tatsutoshi Goto, and Shinsuke Nakamura. A few weeks later on February 16, Yanagisawa challenged Yoshihiro Takayama for the NWF Heavyweight Championship but came up short. After the NWF Title match, Yanagisawa largely went into the midcard for the next year and a half continuing to represent the Makai Club. After the Club broke up, Yanagisawa joined Masahiro Chono's new stable: Black New Japan. He continued to remain in the midcard with his only notable moment was when he competed in the 2005 New Japan Cup but lost in the first round to Koji Kanemoto. Yanagisawa would continue to compete in New Japan until leaving January 2006. Since leaving New Japan, Yanagisawa has wrestled once for Antonio Inoki's new promotion: Inoki Genome Federation on their December 20, 2007 show losing to Chris Moore.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Cross armbreaker
* **Signature moves**
	+ High kick
	+ Jumping knee kick
	+ Sleeper hold
	+ *Willow Lock* (Full nelson)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ Young Generation Cup (2003)

## References

1. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. Ryushi Yanagisawa « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
2. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. Ryushi Yanagisawa « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
3. ↑ Strong Style Spirit .
4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `prowrestlinghistory.com`
5. ↑ Strong Style Spirit .
6. ↑ Strong Style Spirit .
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Strong Style Spirit .
8. ↑ Purolove.Com . Retrieved on 2017-05-17.
9. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. Ryushi Yanagisawa « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Kreikenbohm, Philip. Ryushi Yanagisawa « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database .
11. ↑ Strong Style Spirit .