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 Title History:
IWGP Heavyweight Title (5):
IWGP Tag Team Title (7):
All Asia Tag Team Title (1):
Stampede International Tag Team Title (1):
Tohoku Tag Team Title (1):
WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title (1):
WMG Heavyweight Title (1):
Tournament History:
- Japan/U.S. All-Star Tournament (1996): Kensuke Sasaki beat Shiro Koshinaka
Signature Moves:
- Lariat
Profile: Sasaki was initated into Riki Choshu's short-lived Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion in June, 1985. This would be the start of a close relationship between the two, which lives on today. Upon Choshu's return to New Japan in June, 1987, Sasaki followed, moving into New Japan's traditional young lion system. He left on an overseas learning excursion in January, 1989, winning his first title while in Stu Hart's Stampede promotion, and would return to New Japan in March, 1990. In November of that year, he formed what would become a very popular tag team with Hiroshi Hase, the tandem having two reigns as IWGP Tag Team Champions, the first coming when they scored a huge win over Keiji Muto & Masahiro Chono. In November, 1992, Kensuke disappeared suddenly, and in his place was born the third Road Warrior, Power Warrior, who would form a successful tag team with Hawk Warrior. Under his new persona, Sasaki enjoyed two more reigns as IWGP Tag Team Champions, the Hell Raisers as they were named dominating the tag scene in New Japan. He finally put the persona to rest in December, 1994, but would use it again for special occasions in the future. In August, 1997, his career changed, when for the first time he won the G1 Climax, defeating Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the final. This sparked a major boost for his career, and set off an incredible few months for him. Later that month at the Yokohama Arena, he ended Shinya Hashimoto's long reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, winning New Japan's top prize for the first time. Having beaten one of the famous "Three Musketeers", he set out to defeat the other two, and did, making his first and second title defenses against them, defeating Chono on in October, then Muto at the Tokyo Dome in January, 1998. In January, 2000, at the Tokyo Dome, he began his second reign as champion by defeating another legend, Genichiro Tenryu. 2000 was his most dominant year yet, as he led New Japan throughout it, fending off some strong challenges. His pinnacle came in August, 2000, when he won the G1 Climax, defeating Manabu Nakanishi in the final, holding a monopoly of New Japan's two heavyweight singles crowns. He watched as Choshu quit New Japan in April of 2002, but continued to fight hard in the company, and after losing an IWGP Heavyweight Title challenge to Yuji Nagata on in June, formed a new group called SWING-LOWS with three promising young lions, Kenzo Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Blue Wolf. After a falling out with company management in late 2002, Kensuke ended a glorious career in New Japan, handing in his resignation. At the beginning of 2003, Kensuke joined his mentor, Choshu, in his new World Japan promotion, but despite leading the company, it failed. In January, 2004, he returned to New Japan as a "heel", a hated betrayer of the company, and began a bloody feud with Nagata and others. Two more IWGP Heavyweight Title reigns in 2004 established him more as one of the company's most successful wrestlers ever. As well as finding success in New Japan, Kensuke has become more popular than ever by freelancing across Japan, appearing in the strangest places and entertaining many different fanbases. An incredibly powerful man and seemingly invincible fighter at times, adorned many times in the gold of New Japan, Kensuke utilizes a blend of brute force, throws, and submissions, creating an elite warrior.
AKA Power Warrior
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