The story that leads to the creation of Tiger Paw Pro begins nearly a decade before it actually opened its doors for action.
In 1993, future World Champion Todd Michaelson competed in a company known as Southern California Championship Wrestling. He worked a match on Super Bowl weekend that was quite well received against a journeyman wrestler from Japan named Hiroshi Takata. Takata was working a tour of the United States, more of a vacation than an actual working trip, and this was his final stop before returning to Japan. Michaelson was intrigued by Takata’s style, thanking him repeatedly after the match. The future AWA owner became rabid about the Japanese style, becoming an avid tape trader on the Internet, getting countless tapes from Japan to watch all sorts of promotions.
In late 1993, the world of tape trading would help Michaelson in another way as one of his matches with a wrestler named Dr. Pain became one of the hottest traded tapes online. One of those tapes found their way to Japan where Hiroshi Takata caught wind of what that young gaijin he’d met earlier in the year was doing. Takata put in a good word regarding Michaelson’s talent and potential with his home promotion – Rising Sun Superstars.
As 1994 began, Todd Michaelson received an offer that would change his life – a tour of Japan for Rising Sun Superstars. Leaving in March for the tour, Michaelson began a three month stay where he immersed himself in the Japanese culture, loving every minute of it as he got pounded in the ring night after night after night but kept coming back. Halfway through the tour, he had a rematch with Takata in the Odyssey Gymnasium, a semi-large venue in Osaka. The crowd was thrilled by the encounter which ended with Michaelson scoring a pinfall with a top rope butterfly suplex. Later, Todd found out that Takata had personally asked for the match to see how he had progressed. Todd was very grateful and expressed that gratitude to Takata, offering to do whatever he could to thank him – an offer Takata would later take him up on.
Fast forward to 2003 where Todd Michaelson was now unemployed. The EMWC had gone under and Michaelson was drifting in a pro wrestling world that no longer seemed to have a place for the outspoken retired wrestler turned commentator. Sitting on a substantial pile of money, Michaelson traveled in October of 2003 to Japan to visit some old friends, including Takata. It was during a late night dinner (and lots of drinks) with Takata that Michaelson began pitching the idea of opening a small promotion in Japan. Takata tried to warn his friend off the idea, citing the glut of promotions throughout Japan that seemingly filled every niche.
But the ever-stubborn Michaelson could not be swayed. He set up meetings with several high-level wrestling executives all over the country, including some members of the former G-Pro promotion – widely considered the best promotion to ever put on a show in Japan. Almost five years removed from G-Pro’s last show, many staff and roster members were intrigued by the idea of a new promotion started up by a man so reverent of what G-Pro meant to the business. Michaelson told everyone of a vision that centered on athleticism and skill rather than the soap opera stories and cartoonish gimmicks that plagued wrestling in the States. He called the idea J*STAR and began marketing the idea around to various contacts in the industry. But the finances could never be fully locked in and as 2004 began, Michaelson returned back to the United States, depressed by his failings to kick this promotion into existence.
The idea seemed to take root in the minds of Hiroshi Takata and many others though. While Todd Michaelson went on a few months later to open a pro wrestling training school and his own Southern California-based independent promotion, Takata continued to talk up the J*STAR idea to anyone in the Japanese wrestling scene who would listen. Finally, he found the right ear and in the summer of 2004, Takata reached an agreement with the Korugun Corporation to open a new promotion.
An ecstatic Takata reached out to Michaelson to tell him the news but learned that Michaelson was happy in the States… and was planning to use the J*STAR name for a supercard that summer. Takata was devastated by the news but happy for his friend. They agreed to keep in touch on their projects and Michaelson gave Takata his blessing to go on without him. Hiroshi Takata – along with a locker room and front office filled with former G-Pro talent – and backed by the finances of the Korugun Corporation launched Tiger Paw Pro in July 0f 2004.
In a further show of friendship between Takata and Michaelson, Takata sent one of the brightest prospects in Japan, Kenta Kitzukawa, to the United States to train under Todd Michaelson in Michaelson’s M-DOJO training school.
The first Tiger Paw Pro show was held in Osaka in August of ’04, headlined by Japanese legend LION Tetsuo – a major free agent signing – versus
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In 2006, Tiger Paw Pro was overrun by one of the largest, most talented gaijin ever to hit Japan – “Big Bad” Bruno Bradley. A former bounty hunter, Bradley’s colorful nature, incredible agility, and massive size had Japanese crowds in awe from the get-go. He began training in the Dojo in early ’06 but it didn’t take long for the front office to shove him onto the shows. Bradley was an instant hit, rocketing up to the top of the promotion. He captured the Tiger Paw Pro Grand Crown Championship on New Year’s Eve 2006, defeating Yuji Sakai with a top rope splash.
While the heavyweights were experiencing a changing of the guard in ’06, the light heavyweight division was making headlines all over the wrestling world as Tiger Paw Pro treated the fans to a thrilling series of matches between the masked Blue Tiger and former tag team partner Akira Goto.
Tiger and Goto were a successful young tag team in their early days, when Tiger competed unmasked under his real name of Koji Yamamura, often challenging for the Global Crown Tag Team Titles and reaching the Finals of the 2005 Global Crown Tag League before falling in defeat to ULTIMATE CRUSH. Many fans of the high flying duo were disappointed when they opted to enter the SkyCrown Tournament as singles wrestlers in early 2006, reaching the Finals where Goto captured his first tournament win and first singles title. As Junior SkyCrown Champion, Goto offered to defend against his tag team partner on a major March supercard. Goto was victorious and Yamamura was seething.
After a May rematch saw the same result, Yamamura assaulted his partner violently after the match. He would later reveal his new persona – the Blue Tiger – and go on to a series of matches that became one of the hottest sellers in the wrestling world. Blue Tiger captured the title on New Year’s Eve 2006 in a match where neither could challenge the other for title for one whole year afterwards.
As 2007 began…
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In early 2008, Tiger Paw Pro reached an agreement with the relaunched California-based Pro Wrestling Revolution – owned and operated by long-time TPP supporter, Todd Michaelson – for talent exchanges and mutual promotional support. At the same time, TPP formed a similar pact with SouthWest Lucha Libre based out of Mexico to form a “Triangle Of Talent.”
At PWR’s return (and final) show, Blue Tiger made his United States debut. Kenta Kitzukawa also appeared on the show and rumors swirled that he would be pursuing a full-time career in the United States this time around. Both talents appear to be major parts of PWR’s future plans but PWR’s return was short-lived as Todd Michaelson received an offer he couldn’t refuse.
With PWR’s purchase by the American Wrestling Alliance and Todd Michaelson becoming a co-owner of that promotion, TPP offered to extend their talent exchange deal to the AWA who happily accepted.
To celebrate the Triangle Of Talent, Tiger Paw Pro promptly sent the highflying Hikarimono and hard-hitting Kenta Kitzukawa to compete in the early days of the AWA. Kitzukawa would ultimately compete in the AWA National Title Tournament, losing to Mark Shaw in the opening round.
In July of 2008, one of Tiger Paw Pro’s top stars, Naitomea, is signed to a contract by AWA officials. The TPP front office gave their blessing to the signing, hoping the deal would bring more attention to their product. The AWA pours on the hype behind this signing, showing several weeks of promotional videos including an August 16th airing of Naitomea’s final Tiger Paw Pro match, taking on 19 year old Tiger Paw Pro Dojo graduate Hana Kazuyo. Naitomea won that farewell encounter and debuted at the end of September in the AWA.
That fall, Blue Tiger came from Japan to rejoin his long-time partner in an attempt to compete in the tournament to crown the very first AWA National Tag Team Champions. Although they were unable to capture the titles, being eliminated in the first round by The War Pigs, many saw this a sign of deeper involvement between the two companies.
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In July of 2011, American manager William Payne brings Mad Hayashi and Asama Inoue to the United States to compete in the AWA’s Stampede Cup tournament. The duo reaches the second round before falling to Violence Unlimited.
As September rolled around, Kenta Kitzukawa was riding high as the Global Crown Champion, defeating all challengers for his title… until a rare champion vs champion match was booked, pitting Kitzukawa against Junior SkyStar Crown champion LION Tetsuo. Many believed Tetsuo was too small to compete against Kitzukawa in their title match on September 9th but Tetsuo would prove everyone wrong, using his Lion’s Bite double stomp off the top to defeat Kitzukawa and become the Global Crown Champion.
The Junior SkyStar Crown was immediately vacated but mere days later, Yoshinari Taguchi defeated Tetsuo by submission to the STF to capture the Global Crown Championship in what many at the time deemed a major upset. This would be the first title reign for Taguchi who would go on to become one of TPP’s most famed competitors.
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The AWA sends a small group of talent in October of 2011 to compete in Tiger Paw Pro including Rex Summers, the Lynch Brothers, and the current National Tag Team Champions, Violence Unlimited.
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Outside of the ring, the early part of 2012 saw the end of the Korugun Corporation’s ownership of Tiger Paw Pro. During a period of financial hardship for the company, they started unloading assets at a quick pace to any interested seller. Tiger Paw Pro saw its funding dramatically cut in late 2011, ending the stay in the promotion of potential future stars like Rock Hayashi who jumped ship to rival promotion, Total Japan Pro Wrestling. The sale of the company saw the financial situation stabilize however many in the locker room were upset when the winning bid came from the Taguchi family. In hindsight, many wondered if Taguchi’s victory in the fall of 2011 was a favor to the family from the Korugun Corporation during negotiations. The new ownership promised no favoritism for Yoshinari Taguchi but the future would tell a different story.
In March of 2012, the AWA sent over The Antons, The Skullcrushers, and MAMMOTH Mizusawa to take part in a special charity show organized by Tiger Paw Pro to benefit those affected by the Tohoku earthquake one year prior. The benefit show was on March 11th from Korakuen Hall and saw a featured match pitting The Antons against MAMMOTH Mizusawa and the American Mastodon. One day later in Saitama, the Mastodon would violently assault Mizusawa, injuring him in the process with cracked ribs and a punctured lung. The attack sidelined Mizusawa for several months and damaged relations between Tiger Paw Pro and the American Wrestling Alliance.
To try and soothe those relations, Tiger Paw Pro elected to send the Global Crown Champion, Yoshinari Taguchi, to compete in the AWA World Title Tournament in the summer of 2012. He appeared on a few AWA shows to promote his participation in the tournament.
However, the controversial Joe Petrow and Mark Langseth – on suspension from the AWA – appeared in a rival Japanese promotion, Evolution Minus One, during this time period. Langseth defended the unsanctioned AWA National Title for EMO, an offense that Tiger Paw Pro management found to be most unacceptable. They promptly pulled Taguchi from the tournament and relations between TPP and the AWA chilled for a lengthy period of time. In a surprising move, Kenta Kitzukawa chose loyalty to his trainer over loyalty to his home promotion and appeared for the AWA during this time, a decision that earned the ire of the front office for quite some time.
During a trip to Japan to try and soothe relations between the AWA and TPP, Todd Michaelson meets with and persuades former EMWC star, November, to return to the United States with him and sign a deal with the AWA. November agrees to compete in the World Title Tournament and then make a decision from there. This move is seen as another affront by the AWA to Tiger Paw Pro officials who declare a full freeze of all Tiger Paw Pro/AWA relations for several months.
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In September of 2012, Jun Komachi and Shigehiro Ishikura – together known as Team SAMURAI! – won the Global Crown Tag Team Titles in impressive fashion but before long, they found themselves embroiled in a violent feud with a trio of new teams – 666, MEGA Gurentai, and Kyouji KONG and CURIOUS Gondazaemon, collectively known as The Monkey Bar Heroes.
These four teams traded the titles throughout the early part of 2013. During one reign with the titles, Team SAMURAI! were sent to the AWA for a short tour, the first sign of thawing in the cold war between the front offices of both promotions.
Shortly after, Tiger Paw Pro was invited to take part in the 2013 Stampede Cup by sending Japanese hero LION Tetsuo to team with one of the top junior heavyweights in the world (and former Japanese superstar) November.
Following a short-lived stint in the AWA, second-generation competitor Jeff Jagger came to Tiger Paw Pro where he quickly found success, using his Carolina Clutch sleeper hold to run off a three month undefeated streak before he ran into the returning MAMMOTH Mizusawa. The Japanese giant returned to Tiger Paw Pro in August of ’03, quickly dispatching of the gaijin Jagger, hospitalizing him in the process after a MAMMOTH Slam.
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In late 2013, Kyouji KONG and CURIOUS Gondazaemon – The Monkey Bar Heroes – were sent to the AWA for a short tour. They competed on a few Saturday Night Wrestling episodes before returning to Japan.
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Throughout February and into March, Tiger Paw Pro hosted the annual G-Crown Tag Team Tournament where the tag team titles are taken off the current champions and put upon the winner of a grueling six week tournament. Featuring such top flight tag teams as The Antons, the Monkey Bar Heroes, Team SAMURAI, the War Pigs, and Violence Unlimited, many were stunned when the fan favorite duo of the Shadow Star Legion outlasted them all, defeating the War Pigs in the Finals to become the 2014 G-Crown Tournament winners, winning the Global Tag Crown Titles in the process.
In March of 2014, the eyes of the wrestling world fell on Japan where the first-ever co-promoted AWA/TPP show – Rising Sun Showdown – occurred. The show was broadcast live all over Japan and on Pay Per View worldwide as well. The event featured the top stars in both promotions including Global Crown Champion Yoshinari Taguchi and Noboru Fujimoto teaming together as part of the Stampede Cup tournament. Fellow TPP stars the War Pigs and the Global Tag Crown Champions, the Shadow Star Legion also competed in the tournament. The All-Star team of Taguchi and Fujimoto reached the quarterfinals before falling to eventual winners Violence Unlimited. Danny Morton and Jackson Haynes used the momentum of winning the Stampede Cup to steamroll their opposition for the next few months.
One of the TPP acts spotlighted at Rising Sun Showdown was the dastardly group known as ACHILLES. A loss at RSS had the group fighting amongst themselves but things came to a head when November and LION Tetsuo challenged the Shadow Star Legion for the titles in May, coming up short in the process. ACHILLES blamed Tetsuo for the loss and violently booted him from the faction. With Tetsuo’s pledge to retire by the end of 2014 fresh in everyone’s mind, the stage was set for one final war with the group who turned their backs on him. Tetsuo and November feuded over the SkyStar Championship for months.
GLORY BATTLE 3 was held in August at the Budokan Hall and saw several of TPP’s major ongoing feuds addressed as Violence Unlimited challenged for the Global Tag Crown, November and LION Tetsuo met for the SkyStar Championship, and Noboru Fujimoto got his shot at Yoshinari Taguchi and the Global Crown Championship. On that night, ACHILLES reigned supreme when November bested Tetsuo in what many believed would be Tetsuo’s final shot to win gold before retirement at the end of 2014. Later in the night, Violence Unlimited dominated the Shadow Star Legion to win the titles in shocking fashion.
In the night’s Main Event, Taguchi and Fujimoto clashed in what many saw as a potential “changing of the guard” moment. It was a hard fought battle but in the end, Fujimoto’s devastating Falling Laser Lasso connected, leading to a three count and the crowning of a new Global Crown Champion.
With a new champion crowned, the TPP brass decided to showcase their hot young star to a worldwide audience, sending Fujimoto to Mexico and to the United States to compete for SWLL and the AWA respectively. Fujimoto’s appearance in the AWA coincided with the conclusion of the Wise Men story which saw Fujimoto ally himself with Miss Sandra Hayes and the rest of the Wise Men, even competing in the Cibernetico match at the Battle of Los Angeles on Team Wise Men.
TITLE HISTORIES
Global Crown Champion
Yuji Sakai – lost on 12/31/06
“Big Bad” Bruno Bradley – 12/31/06 – unknown
Kenta Kitzukawa – “riding high as GCC” in 9/11
LION Tetsuo – defeated Kitzukawa on 9/9/11
Yoshinari Taguchi (1st reign – lasts over a year) – defeated Tetsuo on 9/12/11 – reigning champion in summer of 2012 when he comes to the AWA for the World Title Tournament
Taguchi held title at some point in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Yoshinari Taguchi (3rd reign) – 11/13-8/14
Noboru Fujimoto – 8/14-present
Global Tag Crown Champions
Team SAMURAI – won in 9/12
Team SAMURAI “traded the titles” with 666, MEGA Gurentai, and the Monkey Bar Heroes in early 2013
Shadow Star Legion – 3/14-8/14
Violence Unlimited – 8/14-11/14
Air Strike – 11/14-present
Junior SkyStar Crown Champion
Akira Goto – wins SkyCrown Tournament in 1/06
Blue Tiger – defeated Goto on 12/31/06
LION Tetsuo – was reigning champion on 9/9/11 when he defeated Kenta Kitzukawa for the Global Crown Championship
VACANT – 9/9/11
November – mentioned on 8/14
Global Elite Tournament
“Late July” 2014 – Noboru Fujimoto
G-Crown Tournament
2005 – ULTIMATE CRUSH defeats Koji Yamamura and Akira Goto in the Finals
2014 – Shadow Star Legion defeats The War Pigs in the Finals
SkyCrown Tournament
January 2006 – Akira Goto defeats Koji Yamamura in the Finals