Ryuji Shota

Ryuji Shota

"The Outsider"

Hall Of Fame

From: Japan

Debut: UW5 (1964)

Last Appearance: UW25 (1984)

Appearances: 21

Stage 2 Attempts: 16

Stage 3 Attempts: 10

Stage 4 Attempts: 2

First Place Finishes: 3

Ryuji Shota debuted in 1964's UW5, reaching Stage 3's Body Prop. This breakout run gifted him a small following as he gladly appeared in media promotions, being framed as the successor to Kazuki Suzuki's role as the champion of Japan. The two Japanese competitors were often paired together, though Suzuki would show opposition to this, to Shota's dismay.

Heading in to UW6, the odd situation between Shota and Suzuki had already distanced Shota from the other marketed competitors, who had gelled together as the early years had gone on. Shota was quoted in Champion Magazine, saying: "I'm not really at liberty to talk about it. I'm not happy about it, and I don't really understand it." Shota would reach Stage 3 once again, failing the Body Prop again. After this result, Shota would be featured more and more in the media events of the show, being invited for the Micro Course world tour alongside the other stars of the show. It was at one of these events, in Berlin, where Shota would be quoted at a press conference, saying: "Some people don't seem to like that a Japanese competitor is gaining so much attention in the media, so to those people I would like to say, \*\*\*\* you. I'm calling any Japanese competitor who has ever wanted to compete to show up and join the Japan Wave."

Despite his call to action, no other Japanese competitors outside of Shota and Suzuki would be granted entrance into UW7, despite several applicants. Knee Inc would state that despite the influx of Japanese applicants, none of them passed the trial stage, therefore not qualifying for the competition. Shota implied that he disputed this statement, but never spoke out directly. He entered UW7 with a reputation as a loudmouth, a heart throb, and an outsider, but conquered all of the naysayers and critics, reaching the final stage, and gaining a First Place Finish.

During the Champion Challenge world tour of 1967, rumors began to emerge that Shota had been in an altercation with one of the other top competitors. Many have speculated that it was Bob Toone who was involved in the altercation, and though nothing has ever been stated by Knee Inc, Toone was forced to qualify for UW8, his invitation being mysteriously revoked. UW8 was also notably marketed in such a way that it pitted Shota against the other stars, framing the competition as the new blood attempting to dethrone the old guard, a theme the show would revisit multiple times in the future. Shota put up another great run amidst the controversy, reaching Stage 3 for his 4th consecutive time, failing the Body Prop yet again.

Shota's star was bright heading into UW9, but he injured himself while competing in a charity event. It was unknown if Shota would be ready to compete in time for the tournament, but he turned up on the day of the event, and claimed he was healthy. It was later revealed that Shota had not been cleared by his doctor, and he was fined by Knee Inc. During his run, he would reinjure himself on the Jump Hang, causing him to struggle with climbing the Final Rope, and he timed out at the finish line.

This theme of injury would repeat for Shota the following year, this time injuring himself on the Rolling Log, timing out at the finish line once more, and in UW11, he would fail the Rolling Log, despite him claiming he was uninjured.

As the 1970s began, more and more Japanese competitors followed in Shota's footsteps as we saw competitors such as Yuujin Aizawa, Dai Shimura, and Yusuke Kamori appear in UW12. Shota had not cleared Stage 1 in 3 years, and it seemed that Aizawa had claimed that which Shota claimed from Suzuki. However, Shota would rally himself in 1971, clearing Stage 1 in UW12, but would fail Stage 2 for his first time.

In UW13, perhaps due to the past controversies and his waning popularity, Shota was forced to qualify for the event, where he would gain entrance only to fail the Rolling Log again on Stage 1.

Shota would be forced to qualify once again for UW14, where he would gain entrance and clear Stage 1 for his 6th time, failing the balance tank.

In UW15, at 27 years of age, Shota would be invited back, and he would return to Stage 3 after a 6 year absence, and though he would fail early on the Stage, Shota's fans rejoiced at his return to form.

In UW16, Shota would return to Stage 3, marking his 6th appearance on the Stage, and would fail the new Shin-Cliffhanger.

Shota's recent return to form would be enough for Knee Inc to declare him an All Star following Steve McCloud's Total Victory, partially due to the champion's recommendation. This was seen as a bit of a gamble, as nobody knew if Shota could recapture his former consistency, but he proved himself worthy of the title in UW17, reaching Stage 3 for a 3rd consecutive tournament.

UW18 would see the all star reach Stage 3 yet again, failing the final jump of the stage, which was enough to net him his second FPF.

Shota would be stopped short on Stage 2 in UW19, but in UW20, Shota rose to the top once more, clearing Stage 3 for his second time, and coming within seconds of total victory, and netting his third FPF. This would be Shota's final Stage 4 attempt, as well as his final FPF. Many point to UW20 as being Shota's final tournament in his prime.

UW21 would see Shota fail Stage 1 once again, and he would fail Stage 2 in UW22 and UW23.

Shota, now 36 years old, began to struggle with conditioning, opting out of competing in the Champions Tour for the first time. Shota reached Stage 3 in UW24 for his 10th and final time, failing the Neo-Cliffhanger.

He would declare in early 1984 that UW25 would be his final tournament, and he was given position 25. A long way from being the upstart outsider, Shota cleared Stage 1 to a standing ovation, and after failing the Balance Tank on Stage 2, he celebrated with the other All Stars, including his friend, Steve McCloud, who flew out to the tournament just to see his final run.

Despite some mid career struggles, Shota was the epitome of what an All Star should be in his prime. From rejected outsider, to Hall of Fame legend, Shota's mark on the course will never be forgotten.