Apollo 55

Apollo 55
Tag team
Members Prince Devitt
Ryusuke Taguchi
Name(s) Apollo 55[1]
Heights Devitt:
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Taguchi:
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[3]
Combined
weight		 172 kg (379 lb)[2][3]
Debut January 30, 2009[4]
Disbanded April 7, 2013[5]
Years active 2009–2013
Promotions NJPW[1]
DDT[6]
K-Dojo[7]
Noah[8]
Riki Pro[9]

Apollo 55 (アポロ・ゴー・ゴー Aporo Gō Gō) was the professional wrestling tag team of Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi. One of the most accomplished junior heavyweight tag teams in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) history, the team held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship four times and successfully defended it during their second reign record-setting seven times. While members of Apollo 55, Devitt and Taguchi also accomplished several singles achievements with Devitt holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship three times, while both he and Taguchi managed to win the annual Best of the Super Juniors tournament. After four years of teaming together, the team disbanded in April 2013.

History

Formation (2009)

Ryusuke Taguchi

On January 4, 2009, at New Japan Pro Wrestling's (NJPW) Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome, The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), representatives of American promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), defeated No Limit (Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[10] Following the event, several teams emerged as candidates to bring the title back to NJPW.[4] After two of these teams, No Limit and Unione (Milano Collection A.T. and Taichi), wrestled to a draw on January 30, former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Ryusuke Taguchi entered the ring alongside Irish wrestler Prince Devitt to announce that the two were also entering the race for a shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[11] Devitt's longtime tag team partner Minoru had recently left NJPW, leading to the promotion putting him and Taguchi together because of their similarities in both age and size, despite the fact that neither of them could speak the other's language.[12][13] On February 15, Devitt and Taguchi failed to earn a shot at the title, when they were defeated in a four-way number one contender's match by No Limit.[14] After No Limit failed to regain the title from The Motor City Machine Guns, NJPW announced that Devitt and Taguchi were next in line for a shot at the title.[15] On April 1, Devitt and Taguchi held a public training session, during which they announced that in the future their tag team would be known as "Apollo 55" (pronounced "Apollo Go Go"), while also presenting their first two double-team finishing maneuvers.[1] Devitt has stated that he came up with the team name, combining his love of sci-fi and space with Taguchi's nickname "Funky Weapon a Go Go" ("Go" also being Japanese for the number five).[12][13] Apollo 55 received their title shot on April 5, but were defeated by The Motor City Machine Guns.[16][17]

Junior heavyweight tag team domination (2009–2012)

On June 20, 2009, at Dominion 6.20, Apollo 55 defeated Unione to earn another shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship and,[18] on July 5, they defeated The Motor City Machine Guns in a rematch to win the title, bringing it back to NJPW.[19][20] Apollo 55 made their first successful title defense just fifteen days later against Unione.[21] On September 13, Apollo 55 defeated The Motor City Machine Guns in a rubber match for their second successful title defense.[22][23][24] On October 17, Apollo 55 entered the 2009 G1 Tag League,[25] where they made it all the way to the finals on November 1, before losing to the heavyweight tag team of Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson.[26] Before the end of the year, Apollo 55 made another successful defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, when they defeated Koji Kanemoto and Nobuo Yoshihashi on December 4.[27] The team started off 2010 with their fourth successful defense, defeating the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) tag team of Averno and Último Guerrero on January 4 at Wrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome.[28][29][30] On February 14, Apollo 55 made their fifth successful defense against Dick Togo and Gedo.[31][32] Afterwards, Devitt was sidelined with an injury, which resulted in Taguchi vacating the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on April 21.[33] Devitt was, however, able to make his return for the Super J Tag Tournament 1st, a one-night, eight-team tournament used to determine the new champions. In the tournament, Apollo 55 made it all the way to the finals, before being defeated by El Samurai and Koji Kanemoto.[34] Following the tournament, Devitt began breaking out as a singles wrestler, first winning the 2010 Best of the Super Juniors tournament on June 13 and then defeating Naomichi Marufuji for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on June 19 at Dominion 6.19.[35][36] On June 30, Devitt, Taguchi and Hirooki Goto, billed together as "Apollo 555", won the three-night J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament.[37][38] On July 19, Devitt and Taguchi defeated El Samurai and Koji Kanemoto to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[39][40] However, after only one successful defense, they lost the title to DDT Pro-Wrestling representatives, Golden☆Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi), on October 11 at Destruction '10.[41] Apollo 55 received a rematch for the title on November 14 at a DDT event, but were again defeated by the Golden☆Lovers.[6]

Prince Devitt

After Devitt successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Ibushi on January 4, 2011, at Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome,[42] he and Taguchi were granted another shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship and, on January 23 during the Fantastica Mania 2011 weekend, defeated the Golden☆Lovers to win the title for the third time.[43] During the next nine months, Apollo 55 successfully defended the title seven times, setting a new NJPW record.[44] During the reign they also made successful defenses in the Kaientai Dojo promotion against Little☆Galaxy (Makoto Oishi and Shiori Asahi) and in the United States, during NJPW's Invasion Tour, against the Strong Style Thugz (Homicide and Low Ki).[7][45] On June 23, Apollo 555 also won the second J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament.[46] After a reign of 260 days, Apollo 55 lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards and Rocky Romero) in their eighth title defense on October 10, 2011, at Destruction '11.[47] In December, Devitt made successful defenses of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against both Richards and Romero,[48][49] which resulted in another IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match on January 4, 2012, at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, where Apollo 55 defeated the No Remorse Corps to win the title for the fourth time,[50][51][52] meaning that they now shared the record for most reigns as a team with Jado & Gedo (a record which has since been broken by The Young Bucks).[53] However, just a month later on February 12 at The New Beginning, Apollo 55 lost the title back to the No Remorse Corps in their first defense.[54] Devitt and Taguchi continued teaming together throughout 2012, though both were also involved in the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship picture with Taguchi most notably winning the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors.[55] On November 2, Apollo 55 made it to the finals of the 2012 Super Jr. Tag Tournament, before losing to the Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida).[56][57]

Dissolution and aftermath (2013–2014)

See also: Bullet Club
Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi during their final match against each other at Invasion Attack 2014

On January 4, 2013, at Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, after Devitt had successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in a three-way match against Low Ki and Kota Ibushi, Taguchi entered the ring to formally challenge his tag team partner to a future title match, which Devitt accepted.[58] The title match between the two Apollo 55 members took place on February 10 at The New Beginning and saw Devitt retain his title.[59][60] Shortly afterwards, after losing a high-profile non-title main event against IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi on March 3,[61][62] Devitt began portraying a more cocky and villainous persona, regularly disrespecting both partners and opponents, with the exception of Taguchi, whom he tried to get to go along with his new attitude.[63][64] On April 7 at Invasion Attack, Apollo 55 unsuccessfully challenged the Time Splitters for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Post-match, Devitt attacked Taguchi with help from Bad Luck Fale, signaling the end of one of the most accomplished junior heavyweight tag teams in NJPW history.[5][65]

Following the dissolution of Apollo 55, Prince Devitt formed the villainous Bullet Club stable with Fale, Karl Anderson and Tama Tonga, while also beginning to move out of the junior heavyweight division and even challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[66] Despite this transition, Devitt kept holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, though the title was largely pushed aside and forgotten.[67] He ended up holding the title until January 2014, when he lost it to Kota Ibushi.[68] Meanwhile, Taguchi suffered a hip injury shortly after the breakup of Apollo 55,[69] but returned in February 2014, restarting his rivalry with Devitt.[70] On April 6 at Invasion Attack 2014, one year after the dissolution of Apollo 55, Taguchi defeated Devitt in a grudge match between the two, after which they shook hands with each other.[71] The following day, NJPW announced Devitt's resignation from the promotion.[72]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 ""Apollo 55"田口＆デヴィットが新合体技を披露！/約7ヶ月ぶりの試合に臨む大森は、斧爆弾を試し斬り！". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). April 1, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  2. 1 2 プリンス・デヴィット. New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  3. 1 2 田口 隆祐. New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "ベルトを奪還するのは俺たちだ！ 2月15日両国大会直前「Jr.タッグ挑戦者決定戦 4WAYタッグマッチ」特集". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). February 12, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Invasion Attack". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  6. 1 2 大阪ベイブルーススペシャル　～おれのこと好きか？～. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "2011年4月17日（日）Kaientai Dojo 9周年記念興行 Club-K Super evolution9(東京・後楽園ホール)". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  8. ↑ Takagi, Hiromi (July 11, 2010). Ｖ３達成の杉浦に秋山が挑戦表明＝ノア 棚橋が潮崎に敗北、顔面骨折の疑い. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  9. ↑ "4月12日「Lock Up」に新日本の選手が多数参戦！ 石井vs井上の一騎打ちも実現!!". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). March 26, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  10. ↑ "フィールズPresents レッスルキングダムIII in 東京ドーム". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Circuit2009 New Japan Ism". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  12. 1 2 dubq (February 18, 2014). "Q and A with Prince Devitt". Culture Crossfire. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Q&A with New Japan star Prince Devitt". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Circuit2009 New Japan Ism". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  15. ↑ "No Limit、ベルト奪取ならず……。モーターシティ・マシンガンズ、IWGP Jr.タッグ王者として来日へ。（写真追加）". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). April 2, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Resolution '09". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  17. ↑ 詳細速報 ＜新日本４・５両国＞. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 5, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Dominion 6.20". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Circuit 2009New Japan Soul". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  20. ↑ Takagi, Hiromi (July 6, 2009). "Zero1田中が棚橋を急襲　G1へ殴り込み=新日本プロレス apollo55が至宝IWGPジュニアタッグ奪回". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Circuit 2009New Japan Soul". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Circuit 2009New Japan Generation". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  23. ↑ Takagi, Hiromi (September 14, 2009). "アポロ55が防衛V2、IWGP初のタッグ2階級制覇を宣言=新日本プロレス IWGPヘビー級王座前哨戦は真壁が中邑組に快勝". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  24. ↑ Golden, Hunter (September 13, 2009). "Rising Sun Soliloquy Newsletter #39". Wrestleview. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Circuit2009 New Japan Truth ～G1 Tag League～". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Circuit2009 New Japan Truth ～G1 Tag League～". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Circuit2009 New Japan Alive". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  28. ↑ "ユークス Presents レッスルキングダムIV in 東京ドーム". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  29. ↑ "January 4 New Japan Tokyo Dome report – legends, promotional wars". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. January 4, 2010. Archived from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  30. ↑ Takagi, Hiromi (January 5, 2010). "中邑が"帝王"高山を破りＩＷＧＰ王座Ｖ４に成功=新日本プロレス 新日本vs.ノアの対抗戦は２勝２敗もＩＷＧＰジュニア流出". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Circuit2010 New Japan Ism". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  32. 1 2 Takagi, Hiromi (February 15, 2010). 王者・中邑が中西の秘技をヒザで粉砕＝新日本プロレス 棚橋、矢野制裁直後にまさかの髪切り. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  33. ↑ "IWGP Jr.タッグ王座を返上した田口隆祐選手が現在の心境をコメント！". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). April 21, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Super J Tag Tournament 1st". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  35. 1 2 3 "Best of the Super Jr.ⅩVII　～Strike Gold～". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Dominion 6.19". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  37. 1 2 "「J Sports Crown」 ～無差別級6人タッグトーナメント～". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  38. ↑ Takagi, Hiromi (July 1, 2010). 後藤組が棚橋組を倒し６人タッグトーナメント優勝=新日本プロレス 飯塚がまたも棚橋を襲撃するも今度は不発. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Circuit2010 New Japan Soul". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  40. ↑ 詳細速報 ＜新日本７・19月寒ドーム＞. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 19, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Destruction'10". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  42. ↑ レッスルキングダムⅤ ｉｎ 東京ドーム. New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  43. 1 2 3 "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2011". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  44. ↑ "G1 Climax Special 2011". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Apollo55がフィラデルフィアの悪童コンビに快勝！ 真壁がハードコアの殿堂で咆哮！5.15アサイラム・アリーナ大会結果!!". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). May 16, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  46. 1 2 "「J Sports Crown」 ～無差別級6人タッグトーナメント～". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Destruction '11". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  48. ↑ "New Japan Alive 2011". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Road to Kingdom 1st". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  50. ↑ "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 July 5, 2013.
  51. ↑ Charlton, Chris (January 4, 2012). "1/4 NJPW Tokyo Dome results: MVP & Benjamin, Tanahashi remains IWGP Hvt. champion, Mutoh, NJPW vs. NOAH matches". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  52. ↑ "新日本プロレス「NJPW 40th anniversary Tour．レッスルキングダムＶＩ　ｉｎ　東京ドーム」". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. January 4, 2012. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  53. 1 2 "Jr. Heavy tag weight class". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  54. ↑ "The New Beginning". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  55. ↑ "NJPW 40th anniversary Tour Best of the Super Jr. XIX ～The door to the glory～". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  56. ↑ "NJPW 40th anniversary Tour Road to Power Struggle". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  57. ↑ "新日本プロレス「Road to Power Struggle」". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. November 2, 2012. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  58. ↑ "Wrestle Kingdom 7 ～Evolution～ in 東京ドーム". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  59. ↑ "The New Beginning". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  60. ↑ "新日本プロレス「The New Beginning」". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. February 10, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  61. ↑ 旗揚げ記念日. New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  62. ↑ 新日本プロレス「旗揚げ記念日」. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. March 3, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  63. ↑ "New Japan Cup 2013". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  64. ↑ "New Japan Cup 2013". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  65. ↑ Caldwell, James (April 7, 2013). "Caldwell's New Japan "Invasion Attack" iPPV report 4/7: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of new IWGP World champion, U.S. stars in title matches, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  66. ↑ Macklin, Matthew (October 31, 2014). "New Japan Primer: The Bullet Club". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  67. ↑ Macklin, Matthew (October 19, 2014). "New Japan Pro Wrestling: your primer & introduction to Japan's top promotion". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  68. ↑ Caldwell, James (January 4, 2014). "Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of New Japan's biggest show of the year - four title changes, former WWE/TNA stars featured, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  69. ↑ Macklin, Matthew (December 15, 2014). "New Japan Primer: Ryusuke Taguchi". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  70. ↑ 復帰戦の田口に“急所攻撃”の洗礼. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). February 3, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  71. ↑ Caldwell, James (April 6, 2014). "Caldwell's NJPW PPV results 4/6: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of "Invasion Attack 2014" - Nakamura regains IC Title, A.J. Styles big angle, new NWA tag champions, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  72. ↑ Caldwell, James (April 7, 2014). "NJPW news: A.J. Styles to challenge for New Japan's top title, Prince Devitt "submits resignation," NWA World Title & Tag Title matches announced for next week". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  73. ↑ "新日本プロレス「G1 Climax XXI ～The Invincible Fighter～」最終日". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. August 14, 2011. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  74. ↑ "NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2011". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  75. ↑ Salazar López, Alexis A. (March 31, 2012). "Viernes 30 de Marzo '12". Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  76. ↑ "K-Award'11受賞結果". Kaientai Dojo (in Japanese). Livedoor. December 19, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  77. ↑ "Jr. Heavy weight class". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  78. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (November 17, 2012). "Sat. update: Great TV show, WWE multiple releases, Austin talks WWE Hall of Fame, Best night for Bellator, PPV predictions, NWA Hall of Fame, James Storm headlines benefit show, Devitt takes another title". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
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