Mitsunobu Kikuzawa
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| Kikutaro | |
|---|---|
| File:Kikutaro.JPG | |
| Born | January 10, 1977 Unknown |
| Residence | Japan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Bret KikuHart Dump Kiku Ebedullah the Butcher Ebessan Ebestan Hansen Ebetaro Jumbo Kiku Jyushin Thunder Ebesga Keiji Ebitoh Kiku-Kiku-Kiku Kiku Angle Kiku Flair Kiku H Kikustan Hansen Kiku Hiroshi Kikutaro Kikutasu Jack Kikutimate Warrior[1] Kikuzawa Killer Kiku Mitsunobu Kikuzawa Teriyaki Boy Teriyakitaro Kodo Fuyukiku |
| Billed height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Billed weight | 111 kg (245 lb) |
| Debut | May 14, 1994 |
Mitsunobu Kikuzawa (菊澤 光信 Kikuzawa Mitsunobu?), better known by his wrestling persona Kikutaro (菊タロー Kikutarō?) and formerly Ebessan (えべっさん Ebessan?), is a freelance Japanese professional wrestler primarily competing for Kensuke Office, Osaka Pro Wrestling and Wrestle-1. Though best known for wrestling under a mask, he also regularly works unmasked under the ring name Kikuzawa (stylized in all capital letters), representing Tokyo Gurentai. Kikuzawa has also made appearances in North America, competing in promotions such as Chikara, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and Ring of Honor (ROH).
Contents
Career
Kikuzawa started his wrestling career in 1994, wrestling under his birth name for Japanese hardcore wrestling promotions including FMW and W*ING. He was only a jobber and never made much of a name for himself at this stage in his career. Kikuzawa eventually signed with Osaka Pro Wrestling and Dramatic Dream Team (DDT), where he continued to use his real name while competing for DDT, but began wearing a mask while wrestling for Osaka Pro as a character named Ebessan (based on Ebisu, the Japanese god of good fortune); using comedic spots to get over with the crowd, Kikuzawa was immediately accepted by the Osaka Pro crowd. Moving up the ranks quickly in the comedic promotion, he soon made Osaka Pro his full-time home in 2001. He became well known for his rivalry with Kuishinbo Kamen, the two having many fun and comedic matches. They even worked as a tag team from time to time.
In 2006, he began competing for All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he continues to work primarily to this day. He often wrestles in the opening match, but occasionally teams with Keiji Mutoh.
In 2009, he gave away his Ebessan character to a regular Osaka Pro wrestler. He now competes freelance as his sole character, Kikutaro.
Tributes
Kikuzawa has been known to do tributes to many wrestlers throughout his career, either through subtle imitations or by doing full imitations of their gimmick. He typically includes a tribute to Keiji Mutoh in his matches by performing Mutoh's signature elbow drop and Shining Wizard, as well as using Mutoh's "love" pose. Kikuzawa has also done many tributes to wrestlers in "borrowing" their gimmicks by dressing in similar attire and performing their signature moves. Kikuzawa has famously imitated Stan Hansen, Abdullah the Butcher, Jushin Thunder Liger, Keiji Mutoh, Triple H, Bret Hart, Cactus Jack, Bill Goldberg, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair and Yuji Nagata.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
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- Kaiun Tornado (Corkscrew moonsault)
- Signature moves
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- Corkscrew senton
- Ebessan Cutter (Cutter)
- Ebessan Splash (Frog splash)
- Ebisu Otoshi (Samoan driver)
- Flashing Elbow (Running twisting elbow drop)
- Handspring back elbow
- Kneeling side slam
- Lariat
- Moonsault
- Senton bomb
- Shining Ebezard / Shining Kikuzard (Shining wizard)
- Spinning powerbomb
Championships and accomplishments
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- Open the Owarai Gate Championship (2 times)
- Open the Owarai Twin Gate Championship - with Don Fujii (1 time)
-
- Barbed Wire Street Fight Six Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Atsushi Onita and Okumura (1), and Atsushi Onita and Exciting Yoshida (1)
- Mobius
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- El Mejor de Máscara Championship
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- NGF Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
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- Osaka Meibutsu Sekaiichi Championship (3 times)
- Osaka Pro Wrestling Battle Royal Championship (6 times)
- Osaka Pro Wrestling Owarai Championship (1 time)
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- Tokyo Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Stalker Ichikawa[2]
- Ultimate Superstars Action
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- USA World Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Hulk Puchihogan[1]
