Yuji Nagata 

Height: 6'0" (183cm) Weight: 238lbs (108kg) Date of Birth: 4/24/68 Place of Birth: Togane City, Chiba Debut: September 14th, 1992 (vs. Hiroyoshi Yamamoto)

Profile:

Yuji Nagata was an accomplished amaresu combatant before entering professional wrestling, winning many championships and becoming one of Japan's top young wrestlers. He joined New Japan in April, 1992, and debuted later that year against career-long rival, Hiroyoshi Yamamoto (Tenzan). He began to distinguish himself with sharpness; sharp kicks and sharp suplexes. During the famous New Japan vs. UWF-I series, Nagata turned heads by leading New Japan's young lions into war with great results. It was at this point that many saw Nagata as a future star, his all-around ability impressing. In February, 1997, Nagata left on a long overseas expedition to leading American promotion, WCW, picking up more knowledge and challenging for various titles. In August, 1998, he made a triumphant homecoming at the Osaka Dome, and a month later made his first challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Shortly after winning his first New Japan gold in August, 1999, the IWGP Tag Team Title (with close friend, Manabu Nakanishi), Nagata formed his own army. In March, 2000, Fighting Club G-EGGS was created, comprised of Nagata, Nakanishi, Yutaka Yoshie, Brian Johnston, and the late Masakazu Fukuda. Nagata assumed a stronger role in the company, along with Nakanishi, and the two represented New Japan brilliantly in May of 2000 at the Fukuoka Dome, when they successfully defended their IWGP Tag Team Title against the mighty UFO fighter, Naoya Ogawa, and his partner, Kazunari Murakami. Nagata's growth continued in 2001, with strong performances against top name vale tudo fighters like Kazuyuki Fujita and Mark Coleman. He reached the next level in August of that year when he defeated Keiji Muto to win the 2001 G1 Climax, elevating Nagata to main event. Coinciding with the closure of G-EGGS, he became the new generation ace of New Japan, and headlined the Tokyo Dome for the first time in October, 2001. Nagata's first vale tudo match on New Year's Eve of 2001 was a crushing defeat to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. Nagata slumped, with critical singles losses to Jun Akiyama and Tadao Yasuda. In April though, he found form, and toppled Yasuda to win New Japan's richest prize, the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Nagata proved himself to be a true ace for over a year as champion, defeating a broad range of pro wrestlers and vale tudo fighters, including former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Josh Barnett. When he finally relinquished his grip on the title, he was established as one of wrestling's elite. In April, 2005, after a barren spell, Nagata finally snapped, becoming an enemy of the young generation, leaving the regular army, and forming Team JAPAN with fellow amaresu graduates, Fujita, Nakanishi, and Kendo Kashin. Yuji Nagata has won the respect of wrestlers and fans alike for his brilliant performances. He boasts a beautiful range of submissions, suplexes, and some of the sharpest kicks ever seen in wrestling. He is a proud and distinguished fighter with great fire and determination, and a leading member of New Japan.

Signature Moves:

- Backdrop hold (Back suplex w/Bridge pin) - Enzuigiri - Exploder - Front neck lock - Front suplex (aka Belly to belly overhead suplex) - Kneel kick (Spinning heel kick) - Nagata Lock (Crooked figure four leg lock) - Nagata Lock II (Single arm crossface hold) - Nagata Lock III (Rings of Saturn) - Northern Light suplex hold - Reverse Nagata Lock III (Rings of Saturn hold turned into a cradle) - Thunder Death Driver (Spinning vertical brainbuster) - Wrist-clutch Exploder (Exploder'98)

Title History:

IWGP Heavyweight Title (1): - Tadao Yasuda (4/5/02) / Yoshihiro Takayama (5/2/03)

IWGP Tag Team Title (1): - (w/ Manabu Nakanishi) Tatsutoshi Goto & Michiyoshi Ohara (8/28/99) / Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (7/20/00)

AJPW World Tag Team Title (1): - (w/ Kendo Kashin) Satoshi Kojima & Kaz Hayashi (6/12/04) / Vacated (12/17/04)

GHC Tag Team Title (1): - (w/ Hiroshi Tanahashi) Kenta Kobashi & Tamon Honda (11/30/03) / Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa (1/10/04)

Tournament History:

- WCW Tag Team Title Contender Tournament (1998): Kensuke Sasaki & Yuji Nagata beat Shinya Hashimoto & Kazuo Yamazaki (17:09) when Nagata used a cross armbreaker on Yamazaki. - G1 Tag League 2000: Takashi Iizuka & Yuji Nagata beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (19:09) when Nagata used a backdrop hold on Tenzan. - Naeba Cup Tag Tournament 2001: Yuji Nagata & Jushin Thunder Liger beat Kensuke Sasaki & Minoru Tanaka (13:35) when Nagata used the Nagata Lock II on Tanaka. - G1 Climax 2001: Yuji Nagata beat Keiji Muto (22:03) with the Nagata Lock II. - Samurai! TV Openweight Tag Tournament (2005): Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto beat Shinsuke Nakamura & Wataru Inoue (21:03) when Goto used the Go To Heaven on Inoue.