| Masayuki Kono | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Masayuki Kono KONO |
| Billed height | 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in) |
| Billed weight | 108 kg (240 lb) |
| Born | April 12, 1980 Hokkaido, Japan |
| Trained by | All Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo Keiji Mutoh Hiroshi Hase Animal Hamaguchi[1] |
| Debut | March 28, 2003 vs. Nobutaka Araya[2] |
| Masayuki Kono | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 12, 1980 Hokkaido, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 108 kg (240 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Years active | 2005–2008 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 8 |
| Wins | 3 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 2 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Masayuki Kono (河野 真幸 Kōno Masayuki, born April 12, 1980 in Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, currently working in All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Contents |
Career [edit]
All Japan Pro Wrestling (2003–2005) [edit]
Kono trained in the All Japan Dojo and made his debut on March 28, 2003 in a losing effort to Nobutaka Araya.[1] For the next two years, Kono largely was in opening matches where he worked with fellow newcomers and aging wrestlers as he paid his dues. During this time, Kono had no title matches or took part in any tournaments. In 2005, Kono left All Japan and professional wrestling to focus on Mixed Martial Arts.
Mixed martial arts (2005–2008) [edit]
In early 2005, Kono began a MMA career fighting for Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling. He won his first fight at Pancrase – Spiral 5 on July 10, 2005 defeating Yukio Kawabe by Technical Submission. He then lost to Aslan Dzeboev by Knockout at Pancrase – Spiral 8 on October 2. He then went on a two fight win streak defeating Teymur Aliyev at Pancrase – Blow 4 and Daniel Lyons at Pancrase – Blow 7 both by TKO. Kono then lost his last four fights, losing to Mu Bae Choi by Technical Submission at Pancrase – Blow 10, then to Tetsuya Mizuno at Pancrase – Rising 9 by TKO. His next appearance was at Warrior Realm 12 where he lost to Brad Morris by Submission. His most recent fight was a loss to Stanislav Nedkov at Pancrase – Shining 10 by TKO.
Return to All Japan (2009–present) [edit]
By early 2009, Kono ended his MMA career and returned to professional wrestling. He spent the first few months of 2009 in Canada, wrestling on the independents[3] before finally returning to All Japan in May 2009. Upon his return, Kono had an immediate impact as he teamed Keiji Mutoh to defeat Satoshi Kojima and Suwama with Kono submitting Kojima.[4] Throughout the spring and summer, Kono fought for the All Japan army and occasionally team with Mutoh. On July 5, 2009, Kono received his first title shot when he teamed with Mutoh to challenge Minoru Suzuki and Taiyo Kea for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship but they came up short.[5] In the fall of 2009, Kono teamed with Suwama in the 2009 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. The two were able to make it to the finals but lost to Mutoh and Masakatsu Funaki.[6]
In his first big victory of 2010, Kono defeated Suwama at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 9 on March 21, 2010. In the spring, Kono entered the 2010 Champion Carnival. He finished secon in his block with 5 points which allowed him to advance in the semi-finals where he fell to Funaki.[7] Following the Champion Carnival, Kono joined the New Generation Force stable with Suwama, Ryota Hama, Seiya Sanada, and Manabu Soya and from there began a feud with the Partisan Force stable (Minoru Suzuki, Masakatsu Funaki, Akebono, and Taiyo Kea). On July 4, 2010, Kono challenged Suzuki for the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship but lost.[8] At Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 10 on August 29, Kono faced Masakatsu Funaki and lost by Knockout.[9] In September 2010, The New Generation Force broke up, and shortly afterward, Kono joined the Voodoo Murders and began using the ring name KONO. On November 5, 2010, KONO teamed with Minoru to win a Number 1 Contenders tournament for the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship, but lost the following the day in the title match against Seiya Sanada and Manabu Soya.[10] In late November, KONO entered the 2010 World's Strongest Tag Determination League teaming with KENSO. The two emerged victorious, defeating Suwama and Ryota Hama in the finals.[11]
On January 3, 2011, KONO and KENSO challenged Taiyo Kea and Akebono for the AJPW World Tag Team Titles but lost.[12] On February 6, Kono and Joe Doering defeated Taiyo Kea and Akebono to win the AJPW World Tag Team Title. On June 3, 2011, in the aftermath of a backstage fight between Yoshikazu Taru and Nobukazu Hirai, which resulted in Hirai suffering a stroke, All Japan Pro Wrestling disbanded Voodoo Murders, suspended all of its Japanese members, including Kono, and vacated the Unified World Tag Team Championship.[13] Kono was suspended specifically for not attempting to stop Taru's assault on Hirai.[14] Kono's suspension was lifted on June 30. At the press conference Kono announced that he would be returning to performing under his real name.[15] Kono made his return to All Japan on October 10, 2011, teaming with Joe Doering and Osamu Nishimura in a six man tag team match, where they were defeated by Akebono, Masakatsu Funaki and Ryota Hama. On January 4, 2012, Kono made a special appearance for New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, where he teamed with Masakatsu Funaki to defeat the Blue Justice Army of Yuji Nagata and Wataru Inoue.[16]
In wrestling [edit]
- Signature moves
Championships and accomplishments [edit]
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (1 time)- with Joe Doering
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2010) - with Kenso
Mixed martial arts record [edit]
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 8 matches | 3 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 3 |
| By submission | 1 | 2 |
| By decision | 0 | 0 |
| Draws | 0 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 3–5 | Stanislav Nedkov | TKO (punches) | Pancrase – Shining 10 | December 7, 2008 | 1 | 1:35 | ||
| Loss | 3–4 | Brad Morris | Submission (punches) | WR 12 – Warriors Realm 12 | February 9, 2008 | 1 | 1:32 | ||
| Loss | 3–3 | Tatsuya Mizuno | TKO (punches) | Pancrase – Rising 9 | November 28, 2007 | 1 | 3:28 | ||
| Loss | 3–2 | Mu Bae Choi | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Pancrase – Blow 10 | December 2, 2006 | 2 | 2:36 | ||
| Win | 3–1 | Daniel Lyons | TKO (punches) | Pancrase – Blow 7 | September 16, 2006 | 1 | 3:46 | ||
| Win | 2–1 | Teymur Aliyev | TKO (punches) | Pancrase – Blow 4 | May 2, 2006 | 1 | 4:09 | ||
| Loss | 1–1 | Aslan Dzeboev | KO (punch) | Pancrase – Spiral 8 | October 2, 2005 | 1 | 4:12 | ||
| Win | 1–0 | Yukio Kawabe | Technical Submission (kimura) | Pancrase – Spiral 5 | July 10, 2005 | 1 | 1:10 |
References [edit]
- ^ a b c The Internet Wrestling Database. Cagematch. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ a b c d e f Masayuki Kono. Puroresucentral.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ The Internet Wrestling Database. Cagematch. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ All Japan Pro-Wrestling – "RISE UP TOUR 2009". Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ AJPW World Tag Team Title. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ Real World Tag League 2009 (23.11.2009 bis 06.12.2009). Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ Champion Carnival 2010 (03.04.2010 bis 11.04.2010). Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ Triple Crown. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ All Japan Pro-Wrestling – "SUMMER IMPACT 2010". Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ All Japan Pro-Wrestling – "PRO-WRESTLING LOVE IN TAIWAN 2010". Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ Real World Tag League 2010 (20.11.2010 bis 07.12.2010). Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ All Japan Pro-Wrestling – "NEW YEAR SHINING SERIES 2011". Purolove.Com. Retrieved on 2011-01-26.
- ^ "All-Japan News: More Hirai Fallout-The End Of VM And More". Puroresy Representin'. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ "All-Japan News: Former Voodoo Murders Members Reinstated, More". Puroresy Representin'. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
- ^ "All Japan: Suspendierungen aufgehoben". Purolove (in German). 2011-06-30. Archived from the original on 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ "NJPW 40th anniversary Tour. レッスルキングダムⅥ in 東京ドーム". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ ""PWI 500": 101–200". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
External links [edit]
- Professional MMA record for Masayuki Kono from Sherdog
- Cagematch profile
- Sherdog profile
- Purolove profile
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