Ryuji Hijikata

Ryuji Hijikata
Born (1978-05-17) May 17, 1978
Sayama, Saitama, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Ryuji Hijikata
Toshizō
Billed height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Billed weight 95 kg (209 lb)
Trained by All Japan Pro Wrestling
Yuki Ishikawa
Debut February 7, 1998

Ryuji Hijikata (土方 隆司 Hijikata Ryūji) is a Japanese professional wrestler. Hijikata is best known for his tenure in Battlarts and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion.[1]

Professional wrestling career

BattlARTS and All Japan Pro Wrestling

Hijikata started his career with the BattlARTS after a stern test after rising through the ranks he left the promotion in 2001 and joined All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002. After several years of mixed success, Hijikata managed to win the 2008 Junior Tag League alongside Katsuhiko Nakajima on March 23. A little over a month later, Hijikata continued his success by defeating Silver King for the World Junior Heavyweight Champion on April 29. He held the championship for nearly five whole months before losing it to Naomichi Marufuji on September 28. Following his title reign, Hijikata took part in the All Asia Tag Team Championship tournament in January 2009, where he teamed up with former Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Suwama, but they were unsuccessful in winning the tournament and the title. Following this, Hijikata resumed using his Toshizo ring name and gimmick and, alongside Minoru, joined Voodoo Murders. Soon after joining VDM, Toshizo managed to his second consecutive Junior Tag League alongside Minoru, giving both an opportunity to compete for the World Junior Heavyweight Title, although they were unsuccessful in defeating Kaz Hayashi for the title. Following this, Hijikata left AJPW in August 2010. He eventually returned in 2013, working as a freelancer.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

In 2004, Hijikata made his Total Nonstop Action Wrestling debut as he competed as a member of Team Japan with Mitsu Hirai, Jr., Taichi Ishikari, and Nosawa in TNA's World X Cup Tournament.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Profile at Puroresu Central". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  2. ↑ "AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship history".
  3. 1 2 http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/profiles/ryujihijikata.php
  4. ↑ "International Junior Heavyweight Championship history".
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