Manabu Nakanishi

Nicknamed "Yajin", or "wild guy", Nakanishi embodies the unbridled power of Japanese pro wrestling's "3rd generation" of fighters. After wrestling for his country in the Barcelona Olympics, he joined NJPW in 1992, and has seen success both in Japan and abroad. Nakanishi favors a hard hitting strong-style, employing moves like the Argentine backbreaker to wear down his opponents. In 1999, Nakanishi won the G1 Climax, beating then IWGP Heavyweight Champion Keiji Muto in the process. He then took the champion to his limits during the final Tokyo Dome event of the millennium. In the early 2000s, the lines between Japanese MMA and professional wrestling were blurred. Nakanishi would proudly represent NJPW in both fields, including having memorable matches with Bob Sapp. His efforts would finally bear fruit in 2009 when he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to become IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Though he would lose the title back to the Ace 45 days later, he carried the title with pride. After suffering a spinal cord injury in 2011, he persevered and made a full recovery, returning to the ring the following year. Nakanishi is famous for his appetite, and frequently shares photos of his gargantuan breakfasts, dubbed "Monster Mornings", online. On February 22 2020 at Manabu Nakanishi Retirement Event, Nakanishi bid farewell to his wrestling career.