Kenzo Iwatani

**Debut** | 2010

**Kenzo Iwatani** (岩谷賢三, *Iwatani Kenzō*) is a Japanese Professional Wrestler currently signed to Puroresu INFINITY.

## Early Life:

Kenzo Iwatani was born in the farming village of Tsuruoka in the Yamagata Prefecture. He attended Yamagata Chūō High School where he partook in Kendo, Judo, and Amateur Wrestling. He explained in interviews that he grew up with a very Shintō religious family that partook in the festivals of Yamagata and would regularly attend the local shrines, primarily the Dewasanzan-jinja. To this day, he incorporates it into his wrestling persona to honor his family.

## Professional Wrestling career:

### Early Career:

Kenzo began his wrestling career with a persona inspired by Miyamoto Musashi, a Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer and rōnin.

### Puroresu INFINITY (2020 - Present):

Kenzo Iwatani made his Puroresu INFINITY debut at the Brave New World event on September 28th, 2020 teaming with Naoki Endo and Goro Kusanagi to defeat Takuya Nishimura, Jason Ishikawa and YO! YO! Tanaka.

## In-Wrestling:

* **Finishing Moves:**
	+ *Amaterasu Solar Noon* (Rolling Grounded Manji Gatame)
	+ *Amaterasu Sunrise* (Manji Gatame, occasionally with both arms trapped)
	+ *Ancient Dragon Suplex* (Bridging Wrist Clutch Three-Quarter Nelson Suplex)
	+ Dragon Suplex 2010-2014; used as a signature thereafter
	+ *Fūjin Hurricane* (Imanari Roll into a Inverted Figure-Four Kneebar)
	+ *Izanagi Special* (Rolling Omoplata Scissored Armbar)
	+ *Kamigami No Ikari* (Straight-Jacket Scoop Brainbuster)
	+ *Ryūjin Maelstrom* (Stretch Muffler / Neck Scissors / Armbar combination)
	+ *Susanoo Shiki* (Cross-Legged STF floated over into a Cradle)
	+ *Tsukuyomi Midnight* (Grounded Manji Gatame / Single Leg Boston Crab combination)
* **Signature Moves:**
	+ Apron Dive Forearm Smash
	+ *Aramusha Cross* (Shining Wizard, occasionally to the back of the head)
	+ *Ashura Blade* (Double Knee Facebreaker, occasionally while diving)
	+ Brainbuster, sometimes to an opponent on the apron
	+ Cross Armbreaker
	+ Death Valley Driver
	+ *Dishonorable Slash* (Double Knee Backbreaker, occasionally while diving)
	+ Diving Double Foot Stomp
	+ Diving Missile Dropkick
	+ Dragon Screw Leg Whip
	+ European Uppercut
	+ Figure-Four Leg Lock, occasionally transitioned from a Wheelbarrow Roll
	+ Heel Hook
	+ *Izanagi Special II* (Oklahoma Roll into a Japanese Leg Roll Clutch)
	+ *Last Archery* (Half Nelson Pumphandle Driver)
	+ Jumping Knee Drop, occasionally a feint for a stomp to the head
	+ *Manji Dragonfly* (Spinning Headscissors takedown twisted into a Single Arm DDT)
	+ Multiple Suplex variations:
		- Dragon
		- German
		- Hammerlock Back
		- Leg-Trap German
		- Northern Lights, usually followed by Cross Armbreaker
		- Snap Underhook
		- *Sandai Kitetsu* (Cut-Throat Wrist-Clutch Bridging)
	+ *Puesta De Sol* (Rope-Hung Manji Gatame)
	+ Reverse Dragon Screw Leg Whip
	+ Rolling Ankle Lock
	+ Running Forearm Smash to an opponent seated in the corner
	+ *Sheath Blader* (Falcon Arrow dropped into an Inverted DDT)
	+ Single Leg Boston Crab
	+ Sliding Elbow Strike
* **Nicknames:**
	+ Bushido Spirit
* **Entrance Music:**
	+ "Samurai Soul"

**"Samurai Soul"**

Kenzo Iwatani Theme Song