Born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1970, Yoshihiro Tajiri made himself into a prominent figure in professional wrestling, mixing exotic martial arts maneuvers with an undeniable charisma to carve out successful runs with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment. While famous for his sadistic, hardcore style, Tajiri also displayed a knack for humor during his WWF/E tenure, emerging as a fan favorite.
Description
Standing just 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds, Tajiri lacks the size and power of many professional wrestlers. Without an impressive physique, Tajiri relies instead on quickness, agility and skill to defeat opponents. Tajiri, with his tousled black hair and trademark goatee beard, typically takes the ring wearing long black leather pants featuring red and orange flames rising from the cuffs and decorating the lower legs.
Moves
Nicknamed the "Japanese Buzzsaw," Tajiri supplements a traditional wrestling arsenal with a variety of martial arts techniques, making him a truly unique performer. Tajiri's list of favorite moves includes roundhouse kicks, knife-edge chops, corkscrew elbow drops, moonsaults and flying somersault elbows. He's most famous for his finishing move, a devastating kick to the back of a seated opponent's head, and the Tarantula, a spectacular full-body hold in which he stretches his opponent against the ring ropes. Tajiri will also spit green mist into an opponent's eyes to gain a tactical advantage.
ECW
Tajiri made his wrestling debut in 1994 for IWA Japan, but he didn't garner mainstream attention until signing with ECW in 1998. Tajiri's aggressive style proved a perfect match for ECW's hardcore format, and he engaged in memorable feuds with the likes of Jerry Lynn, Super Crazy and Taz. In 2000, Tajiri briefly held the ECW Television Championship and partnered with Mikey Whipwreck to hold the ECW Tag Team Championship for one day.
WWF/E
After ECW shut its doors, Tajiri joined the WWF in May of 2001, acting as Commissioner William Regal's assistant. His time with Regal brought out Tajiri's comedic talents, displaying a side of his personality seldom seen during his ECW days. Despite the humor outside the ropes, Tajiri remained a fierce competitor inside the ring, capturing the WWE Cruiserweight Championship on three separate occasions. Tajiri also held the Light Heavyweight Championship, the United States Championship and the Tag Team Championship during his four years with the company. Tajiri left WWE in 2005 and returned to Japan to spend more time with his family and pursue a career in journalism. Yet by 2007, Tajiri had returned to the ring, wrestling in Japan and Finland. He has not ruled out one day returning to the WWE.
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