The Top Ten Moves of Koji Kanemoto

Rolling right along, no hype clips this time around.



Koji Kanemoto has been a mainstay of the New Japan Jr. Heavyweight division for the past seventeen years. Originally competing as Tiger Mask III, he lost the mask in a Mask vs. Mask Match against Jushin "Thunder" Lyger. Ironically, he would feud with Lyger extensively for the next couple of years. In 1995, Kanemoto won his first IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title, though the reign was short. He would regain the belt a few months later from Sabu, and this time, he was able to hold the title for quite some time. He also forged an alliance with Shinjiro Ohtani, and together, the two kicked the crap out of most of the Jr. Heavyweight division. In 1997, Kanemoto ran through the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, but fell to El Samurai in the finals of the tournament, though they got rave reviews for their spectacular match. One year later, the dream would come true, as Kanemoto defeated Lucha Libre superstar Dr. Wagner, Jr. to finally win the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. The following year, he defeated Lyger for another reign as the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. In 2000, he at last completed the Jr. Heavyweight Triple Crown, when he won the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles alongside Minoru Tanaka. He would also add another IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title to his list of accomplishments, defeating the same man he would the tag team belts with two years prior. Around this time, he formed a somewhat long standing tag team with fellow veteran Lyger, and the two ran roughshod over the division, bringing the belts back from NOAH, and defending them against all challengers. He would enjoy one last reign in 2005 alongside Wataru Inoue, and from there, Kanemoto had sporadic success, including an appearance in the 2006 G1 Tag League. He would also challenge Masato Tanaka in 2007, but was put down by the Sliding D. 2009 turned things around, though, as Kanemoto once again won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, upsetting tournament favorite Prince Devitt in the finals. Kanemoto's style is best described as a combination of the traditional Jr. Heavyweight style, with a bit of New Japan's Strong Style tossed in to spice things up. The Sheerdrop Falcon Arrow is quite effective for a signature move, and the Tiger Suplex Hold is still there after all these years since TM III. There are no words to describe the brutality of the Poisoned Rana. The Ankle Hold is Kanemoto's preferred finishing move, and it's one that has put down even the best over the years.

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[LCSguru]

maybe i'm thinking of someone else but did'nt this guy invent the Koji clutch?

[TheSuicidalDragon]

Indeed he did, but I've never seen Koji use it.

[unloksouls1]

koji vs angle

submission match

Thats all i can say lol

[DarrenWiler]

That double ankle lock idea is genius.

[JonathanVonErich]

One of my favorites in Fire Pro Returns !

[dswett16]

@JHugh125 Kanemoto got engagued to joshi wrestler Hikaru in 2009.

[JHugh125]

@reivenlocke

Not necessarily. At that point it was already an "open secret" with the wrestlers and many of the fans. It was as much a secret as Beth Phoenix and CM Punk being a couple.

[WeaponX3521]

Double Ankle Lock.....very interesting!

[DanBruett82]

Poisoned Frankensteiner looks more painful everytime I see it.

[antiembishop07]

Poor Samurai...exposed and everything.

[abacabb138]

@chainsawproof99 Taguchi is amazing. I'm glad to see he and Devitt back with the Jr. Heavyweight tag titles. Funky Weapon!

[leggsgreggs]

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