Kotoka

Kotoka in September 2017

###

Aso, Kumamoto, Japan

**Kotoka Shiiba** (椎葉琴香, *Shiiba Kotoka*, born August 1, 1990) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name **Kotoka** (コトカ, *Kotoka*, fomerly 琴香 *Kotoka*) who worked for Dragon Gate since his debut in 2009, and has also competed in Russia for the Independent Wrestling Federation. He is a former one-time Open The Brave Gate Champion. In 2015 Kotoka had a transformation gimmick changing is attire style and new catchfrase that was Veeehhhh! and wearing a facepaint. Upon the turning face, Kotoka retained the attire style and the catchphrase for the rest of his career. Kotoka got retired in March 2018, where he defeated his younger brother Oji in his retirement match.

## Professional Wrestling Career

### Dragon Gate

#### Debut (2009–2013)

On March 6, 2009 Kotoka debuted with his real name Kotoka Shiiba at the Dragon Gate NEX Sanctuary.45 losing to Super Shisa. On October 12 Kotoka Shiiba got his first win when he and PAC defeated Real Hazard (Kenichiro Arai and Yasushi Kanda). The following day, Kotoka Shiiba joined the stable World-1 and he renamed himself to just Kotoka. On December 5, 2010 Kotoka participated in a Hair vs. Hair Captain's Fall Tag Team Match with BxB Hulk, where they lost to Kzy and Yasushi Kanda, as a result, Kotoka's hair was shaved. On April 14, 2011 Susumu Yokosuka, BxB Hulk and PAC failed to win the Open The Triangle Gate Championship from Blood Warriors (CIMA, Dragon Kid and Ricochet) and as a result World-1 was forced to disband. On August 17, 2012 Kotoka renamed himself to CIBA because of CIMA and Shiiba that is surname, just for that night, lost to MAD BLANKEY (Akira Tozawa and BxB Hulk). Later in 2012 Kotoka asked Masato Yoshino to join World-1 International and Yoshino refused and instead Kotoka formed a stable with Keni'chiro Arai, K-ness, Super Shisa and Shisa BOY named WindowsMG.

#### Exurcision and Return (2013–2015)

On May 2013 Kotoka had an excursion to Russia at the Independent Wrestling Federation, where he was given an opportunity for IWF Lightheavyweight Championship. Kotoka came short and lost. After his excursion he returned to Dragon Gate and shortly after his return on July 22, 2013. WindowsMG disbanded when Arai and Shisa joined We Are Team Veteran. On August 23 Kotoka started to working as CIBA and participated at the Open The Brave Gate Championship tournament where CIBA was eliminated in the finals by Kzy. On December 5 CIBA, CIMA and Ryotsu Shimizu participated at the One Night Tournament in 2 Count and 3 Rope Escapes Rules for the #1 Contendership for the Open the Triangle Gate Championship, where they lost in the finals by Millenials (Eita, Flamita and T-Hawk). On December 22 CIBA received his first championship chance for the Open the Brave Gate Champion but lost to the champion Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!. CIBA's last match was against CIMA, where he lost. He later renamed himself to Kotoka.

In 2014 Kotoka and Ryotsu Shimizu turned on CIMA and wanted to join Mad Blankey but Mondai Ryu and Kzy dressed as Dr. Muscle and Metal Warrior attacked them and refused them to join the unit and later returned to CIMA's wing with Ryotsu Shimizu again, he also tried to join MONSTER EXPRESS but Ryo "Jimmy" Saito came forward and offered Kotoka to join to Jimmyz, but to do so he would have rename himself to Jimmy Kotoka, even though, the Jimmyz refused him to become a member. Later that year, Kotoka teamed with CIMA and lost to Gamma and Ryotsu Shimizu. After the match Kotoka announced that he would continue as Kotoka. Later that year Kotoka changed his nickname for "Mr. High Tension" and CIMA announced a match between Kotoka and Chihiro Tominaga, where loser would have a Punch perm hairstyle. Kotoka managed to win the match with Tominaga having the Punch perm hairstyle. Kotoka participated in the 2014 Summer Adventure Tag League with Ryotsu Shimizu, during the tournament, Kotoka was injured. On their last match, he was replaced by Yuga Hayashi and finished the tournament losing all of their matches, without a single win. On January 11, 2015 Kotoka participated in the tournament for the Open the Brave Gate Champion, only to lose to Eita in the first round.

#### Millennials and VerserK (2015–2016)

   On January 16, Kotoka and Yuga Hayashi were attacked by Mad Blankey and Millennials made the save, afterwards Kotoka and Yuga Hayashi joined Millennials. On April 19, Kotoka received another chance for the Open the Brave Gate Champion, only to lose to the defending champion, Akira Tozawa. On May 5, Flamita, Kotoka and U-T receive a chance for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship in a Nine-Man Three Way Elimination where they lost. On August 6, 2015, Millennials lost a three-way match and were as a result forced to disband. Afterwards, Kotoka remained together with former Millennials stablemate Eita with the two starting a feud with T-Hawk, whom they blamed for the dissolution of the stable. Kotoka, Eita and the Open The Twin Gate Champions YAMATO and Naruki Doi, Shingo Takagi, who was kicked out of Monster Express, Mondai Ryu and Cyber Kong formed a new heel stable named VerserK. Kotoka also changed his attire to fit VerserK style and a new catchphrase Veeehhhh! and a facepaint. On September 23. Kotoka turned on Eita, along with Cyber Kong, YAMATO and Doi, kicking Eita out of the group. On October 8, Kotoka, Shingo Takagi and Cyber Kong had a chance for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, where they lost to the defending champions CIMA, Don Fujii and Gamma. On November 1, Kotoka and Naoki Tanizaki challenged the Open the Brave Gate Champion Akira Tozawa in a three-way elimination match where Kotoka was the winner, winning his first and only professional wrestling title, the Open the Brave Gate Champion. On November 25, Kotoka, Tanizaki and Kong participated in a tournament for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, where they lost in the first round to Over Generation (CIMA, Kaito Ishida and Takehiro Yamamura). On December 27 Kotoka made his first title defense of the Open the Brave Gate Champion against Eita.

On February 4, 2016 Kotoka, Naruki Doi, Shingo Takagi and YAMATO participated in a Losing Unit Disbands 12-Man Three Way Tag Team Elimination match where Dia.Hearts was forced to disband, in a match that also included Monster Express. On March 5, Kotoka lost the Open the Brave Gate Champion to Yosuke♥Santa Maria. On March 31 Kotoka, Naruki Doi and YAMATO had an opportunity for the Open The Triangle Gate Championships, where they lost to the defending champions Monster Express (Masato Yoshino, Akira Tozawa and T-Hawk). On April 7, 2016, after VerserK lost to the Jimmyz, Doi and Tanizaki decided to be on YAMATO's side while Kotoka and Kong decide to be on Takagi's side, while Mondai Ryu chose to be on both sides, leading the General manager Takayuki Yagi capitalizing on this opportunity. Six entrants were the exact number he wanted for the cage match at Dead or Alive, so all six men had entered into the match. On May 5, during the 1 Year Bald Head Steel Cage Survival Double Risk 6 Way match, all members of VerserK turned on YAMATO and kicked them out of the stable, VerserK prevented YAMATO from escaping at all times until Kzy came to his aid. He blocked a potential escape for Kotoka. Maria followed suit. Takagi got back into the cage to attack YAMATO more. Finally, BxB Hulk made his return to the ring to run off Takagi, leading YAMATO escape and Kotoka getting his hair shaved. In Kotoka's first match without hair, Kotoka used in his entrance a wig to hide his bald head. From May 8 to June 12, Kotoka participated in the 2016 King of Gate at the C Block, where he finished his block with two wins and three losses. On July 24, it was announced that Kotoka would miss the Summer Adventure Tag League due to facial injuries, leading him to be replaced by Cyber Kong.

#### MaxiMuM and Retirement (2016–2018)

On October 12, VerserK were able to defeat Monster Express in a 5 vs. 4 Loser Revival Captains Fall match, forcing Monster Express to disband. During the match, Dr. Muscle, who had cost earlier in the night El Lindaman his Open The Brave Gate title match against Eita, attacked T-Hawk and caused him to be eliminated. He would unmask himself, revealing to be the returning Kotoka who would defect from VerserK and turn face in the process. After Kotoka left VerserK he tried to return back to VerserK by challenging El Lindaman to Loser Leaves Unit match, only to ending with Shingo Takagi smashing a chair to his face and the rest of VerserK jumping Kotoka from behind. Kotoka later blamed T-Hawk and El Lindaman for changing VerserK. He would later cost VerserK all of their matches and would align with Naruki Doi, who was also kicked out of VerserK, and with Masato Yoshino who also wanted revenge on VerserK for disbanding Monster Express, with the match being set on December 1 at the Korakuen Hall. On December 1, Kotoka, Doi and Yoshino ended up losing to T-Hawk, El Lindaman and Shingo Takagi. On December 25, Kotoka, Ben-K and Masato Yoshino failed to become the Open The Triangle Gate Champions after losing to Jimmyz (Ryo "Jimmy" Saito, Jimmy Susumu and Jimmy Kanda) and VerserK (Cyber Kong, El Lindaman and Mondai Ryu) with Kotoka getting pinned by Jimmy Susumu.

On January 18, 2017 Kotoka, Yoshino and Ben-K participated at the New Years Unit War 6 Man Tag Team Tournament where Kotoka scored the win in the second round by pinning is former WORLD-1 stablemate and former Open The Dream Gate Champion BxB Hulk. Later that night, all men came into the finals where they lost to VerserK (T-Hawk, Shingo Takagi and El Lindaman), after the rest of VerserK interfered in the match. After the match, VerserK attacked Kotoka, Yoshino and Ben-K until Dr. Muscle who was later revealed to be Naruki Doi made the save and the four made an alliance against VerserK. Kotoka later got himself injured during training. On May 4, Kotoka would return joining Ben-K, Doi, Yoshino and Big R Shimizu to form the MaxiMuM stable. On January 27, 2018 Kotoka announced that he would retire on March 6, but he would still be part of MaxiMuM until his retirement. Afterwards, Dragon Gate held him a tour named *Kotoka Road to the Final*, with Kotoka being pinned in all tag team matches. On March 6 Kotoka made his retirement match facing his younger brother Oji in a winning effort.

## Personal life

Besides of wrestling, Kotoka works as a regular reporter in the ABC Television morning news show on saturdays in the program Good morning, this is ABC (おはよう朝日・土曜日です Ohayo Asahi Doyobi Desu). Kotoka also has a younger brother named Oji, who made his professional wrestling debut on December 8, 2017 , where he also trained and worked with Dragon Gate. Kotoka faced his brother Oji in his retirement on March 6, 2018.

On August 24, 2019, Kotoka opened a gym in Osaka named Training Gym Kicky, where he is currently a gym trainer. Kotoka also during this time also launched his own channel on YouTube.

## Factions

* WORLD-1 (2009–2011)
* WindowsMG (2012–2013)
* Millenials (2015)
* VerserK (2015–2016)
* MaxiMuM (2017–2018)

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Caldera* (Diving single foot stomp)
	+ Iconoclasm
	+ *Kurione* (Running tornado DDT) – adopted from BxB Hulk
	+ *Momo☆Latch* (Hurricanrana twisted into a victory roll)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Crucifix pin
	+ Forearm smash
	+ *Harmony* (Small package)
	+ Reverse DDT
	+ Suicide dive
	+ Various kick variations
		- Drop, sometimes from the top rope
		- Roundhouse
	+ *Venus* (Leaping palm strike to an opponent seated on the top rope) – adopted from CIMA
* **Nicknames**
	+ "Mr. High Tension"
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Live my dreams" by Masakazu Murada
	+ "Live my dreams (Millenial Mix) by Masakazu Murada
	+ Live my dreams (VerserK Version) by Masakazu Murada

## Championships and Accomplishments

* **Dragon Gate**
	+ Open The Brave Gate Championship (1 time)
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ PWI ranked him #**351** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016

## Notes

1 **^**  Hair vs. Hair Captain's Fall Tag Team Match, where Kzy teamed with Yasushi Kanda and Kotoka with BxB Hulk

2 **^**  This was a Hair Vs. Mask Steel Cage Survival Double Risk Six Way Match also incluing all the members of VeserK (Cyber Kong, Naoki Tanizaki, Naruki Doi, Shingo Takagi and YAMATO) and Kotoka couldn't get a flag as a result his hair was shaved.

## See also

* Open The Brave Gate Championship
* Dragon Gate
* VerserK

## References

1. ↑ Dragon Gate NEX 2009 . *IheartDG* (2009-03-06). Retrieved on 2009-03-06.
2. ↑ GATE OF VICTORY 2009 . *IheartDG* (2009-10-12). Retrieved on 2009-10-12.
3. ↑ FANTASTIC GATE 2010 . *IheartDG* (2010-12-05). Retrieved on 2010-12-05.
4. ↑ 4/14 Champion Gate - 14 Apr 2011 . *iHeartDG* (2011-04-14). Retrieved on 2011-04-14.
5. ↑ [http://www.iheartdg.com/results/satl12/ Home / Results / Summer Adventure Tag League 2012
Summer Adventure Tag League 2012 ]. *iHeartDG* (2012-08-12). Retrieved on 2012-08-12.
6. ↑ Error on call to Template:ref web: Parameters **url** and **title** (or **script-title**) must be specified'**. *Cagematch* (2013-05-21). Retrieved on 2013-05-21.**
7. ↑ Scandal Gate in Tokyo  (in Japanese). *Dragon Gate*. Gaora. Retrieved on 2015-08-07.
8. ↑ *ja:???????8.6????? ??????vs.????vs.MB??????????????????????6????3Way???* (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2015-08-07). Retrieved on 2015-08-07.
9. ↑ 08/23 Gate of Generation . *iHeartDG* (2015-08-23). Retrieved on 2015-08-23.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Kotoka Cagematch profile: Tag Teams & Stables .
11. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016 . *The Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2016-09-01.

## External links

* Cagematch Profile
* Dragon Gate Profile
* Twitter Profile