Tenryu Genichiro

Tenryu Genichiro - 天龍源一郎 (born February 2, 1950) is a former Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Katsuyama, Fukui. He made his debut in January 1964 and last wrestled for Nishonoseki stable. He reached the makuuchi division in January 1973. His highest rank was maegashira 1 and he retired in September 1976.

Early Life[]

Shimada was born in the city of Katsuyama in Fukui Prefecture to farmers. He ate a lot of rice from an early age and by his second year of junior high school, he already stood at 5 ft 11.5 in (1.82 m) and weighed 82 kg (181 Ib). He later dropped out of Katsuyama Shiritsu Katsuyamahokubu Junior High School and joined Nishonoseki stable, making his professional debut in January 1964 at the age of 13.

Career[]

Early Career[]

Shimada was promoted to sandanme in March 1965 and makushita in September 1966. In September 1970, Shimada won the makushita yusho with a 6-1 record. In July 1971, Shimada was ranked at makushita 3 and won his first six matches before losing his last match on the 13th day to Daizen. Nevertheless, he was promoted to juryo in the following September 1971 tournament.

Juryo Career[]

Upon promotion to juryo, he changed his shikona to "Tenryu" (天龍). He struggled in his first tournament as a sekitori and was demoted back down to makushita in the following November 1971 tournament. In May 1972, he produced a 6-1 record at the rank of makushita 7, but missed out on the yusho after losing to Tamanofuji in a playoff. Nevertheless, he was promoted back to juryo in the following July 1972 tournament. In September 1972, he posted a strong 10-5 record, but missed out on the juryo yusho after losing to Yoshinohana in a playoff. He followed with another 10-5 record and was promoted to makuuchi in January 1973.

Makuuchi Career[]

Tenryu was ranked in makuuchi for a total of 16 tournaments. He never managed to defeat a yokozuna or earn a special prize and his highest rank was maegashira 1, which he achieved in January 1974. After two years in makuuchi, he fell back down to juryo in March 1975. He would spend the majority of his remaining career bouncing back and forth between the makuuchi and juryo divisions. In July 1975 he won the juryo yusho with a strong 13-2 record.

Retirement from Sumo[]

Https---imgix-proxy.n8s.jp-content-pic-20190109-96958A88889DE1EBE3E5E6E1E3E2E0E2E3E0E0E2E3EAE2E2E2E2E2E2-DSXZZO3917455020122018000000-PB1-1 — Tenryu gets his danpatsu-shiki, or retirement ceremony, in the wrestling ring (c. 1976)

Upon the death of his stablemaster at Nishonoseki stable he wanted to join former stablemate Daikirin's newly established Oshiogawa stable, which had just broken off from Nishonoseki, but the Japan Sumo Association insisted he stay at Nishonoseki whose new stablemaster, Kongo, he did not get along with. He finished one more tournament, and even though his career still showed promise, he decided to leave the sumo world at the young age of 26 in September 1976.

Professional Wrestling Career[]

Scouted by Giant Baba, the All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) owner, Tenryu was sent to Amarillo, Texas to be trained by Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk, and debuted in Texas in 1976, against Ted DiBiase. After returning to Japan, he stayed in the undercard until about 1982 when he began to get a slight push in that year's Champion Carnival tournament.

1984 saw Tenryu winning the NWA United National title, now also part of the Triple Crown, as well as the NWA International tag team title with Tsuruta. Their combination was called "Kakuryu" (鶴 = kaku = tsuru (the "tsuru" in Tsuruta) + 龍 = ryu in Tenryu). n 1987, following the departure of the Japan Pro talent, Kakuryu broke up after losing the tag team titles to The Road Warriors, which led to Tenryu forming his own stable, "Revolution." With his new team, Tenryu won World Tag Team Championships.

TenryuWWF1993 — Genichiro Tenryu becomes a surprise entrant at the WWF Royal Rumble (c. 1993)

1989 was Tenryu's banner year. Tsuruta became the first Triple Crown champion on April 18 of that year, and just two days later Tenryu became his first challenger. The Tsuruta-Tenryu series that ensued set the standard for all Triple Crown matches and feuds to follow. When Tenryu won the belts on June 5, the match was so spectacular it was deemed Match of the Year by major Japanese publications. The same year saw him finally pin his mentor Baba, albeit in a tag match - but still a major success for a Japanese wrestler.

Tenryu's most high-profile North American match was for the World Wrestling Federation in 1991 at WrestleMania VII, where he teamed with Koji Kitao to defeat Demolition. He also appeared in both the 1993 Royal Rumble and 1994 Royal Rumble; in the latter he made it to the final five but was eliminated by eventual co-winners Lex Luger and Bret Hart. An angle had he and The Great Kabuki hired as mercenaries by Yokozuna's manager, Mr. Fuji, to attack Luger and prevent him from winning.

Genichiro Tenryu - Genichiro Tenryu 16 — Genichiro Tenryu wins the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (c. 1999)

In April 1990, Tenryu left All Japan to form Super World of Sports (SWS). After its collapse in June 1992, Tenryu, aided by Masatomo Takei (brother of his wife Makiyo) formed Wrestling and Romance (WAR). He also traded victories with Tatsumi Fujinami and Antonio Inoki, thus becoming the only Japanese wrestler to defeat both Inoki and Baba by pinfall. In 1998, as WAR went into decline, Tenryu began an earnest comeback, this time in New Japan. With New Japan, he won the IWGP Tag Team Championship with Team Wolf and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

In 2000, following the near-collapse of All Japan due to the Pro Wrestling Noah split, Tenryu closed WAR and rejoined All Japan, eager to test his mettle against the remaining ace, his former disciple Kawada. Tenryu beat Kawada in the subsequent tournament for the vacant Triple Crown, winning the belts for a second time. In 2003, he joined Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling for a few matches, but as it declined rapidly, he switched back and forth aimlessly between New Japan and All Japan.

306163b2-7d6b-4c82-b8f2-190b6e4f26b6 — Genichiro Tenryu battles Kazuchika Okada in his retirement match (c. 2015)

In 2005, he entered Noah, and began feuds with Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and other wrestlers he knew from his first All Japan stint, as well as new faces he's never met in the ring before, such as Jun Akiyama. Tenryu has also been with the HUSTLE promotion and was a part of the main heel group led by Generalissimo Takada. During this time, he teamed with Toshiaki Kawada mainly. At HUSTLE Aid 2007, however, Tenryu was defeated by Razor Ramon HG and joined the main face group led by Razor Ramon HG, HUSTLE Army.

In December 2009, following the folding of Hustle, Tenryu began running his own Tenryu Project promotion. He continued to make forays into other promotions, remaining active even past age 60.

On February 7, 2015, it was reported that Tenryu had decided to retire from professional wrestling with his final match scheduled to take place later in the year. Tenryu held a press conference two days later to confirm the report, announcing that his retirement event would be taking place in November and would feature participation from All Japan, New Japan and Noah. On August 16, Tenryu made a surprise return to New Japan, having a confrontation with Kazuchika Okada to set up his retirement match on November 15. In the meantime, he embarked on a multipromotional "Retirement Road" tour, including matches in Kyushu Pro Wrestling, DDT, BJW, Wrestle-1 and Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS. On November 15, Tenryu was defeated by Okada in his retirement match. Tokyo Sports named Tenryu's retirement match the 2015 Match of the Year.

Fighting Style[]

Tenryu was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a hidari-yotsu (right hand outside, left hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). However, his most common kimarite was tsukidashi, or thrust out, followed by hatakikomi, or slap down. He was also fond of employing uwatenage, or overarm throw and tsuppari, a series of rapid thrusts to the chest.