Baliyan Akki
Born (1995-05-30) May 30, 1995[1]
Muzaffarnagar, India
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Baliyan Akki
Billed height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Billed weight78 kg (172 lb)
Debut2015

Ankur Baliyan, better known by his ring name Baliyan Akki, is an Indian professional wrestler currently working for the Japanese promotion Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling. He is also known for his appearances in various other promotions from the Japanese independent circuit such as DDT Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling.[3]

Professional wrestling career

Indian circuit (2015–2017)

Baliyan made his professional wrestling debut in Wrestle Square, a promotion from the Indian independent scene. He succeeded in holding the Intercontinental championship of the promotion on three different occasions. He spent roughly two years in various promotions from the circuit before going to Japan at the beginning of 2017.[4]

Gatoh Move (2017–present)

Baliyan is mainly known for his tenure with Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling. He made his debut at Gatoh Move Japan Tour #325 on December 2, 2017, where he teamed up with Choun Shiryu to defeat Emi Sakura and Masahiro Takanashi.[5] During his time in the promotion, he formed the tag team of "Best Bros" with Mei Suruga, alongside whom he would chase for the Asia Dream Tag Team Championship, titles which they first won at ChocoPro 76 on December 31, 2020, by defeating Reset (Emi Sakura and Kaori Yoneyama).[6] He is also a former Super Asia Champion, title which he first won in an interim phase by defeating Choun Shiryu at ChocoPro 197 on January 29, 2022,[7] and then lineal champion Minoru Fujita to became the undisputed titleholder at ChocoPro 200 on February 13, 2022.[8]

Baliyan competed in Ganbare☆Pro-Wrestling's 2021 edition of the Ganbare Climax tournament where he fell short to Yumehito Imanari in the first rounds, competition which was also disputed for the inaugural Spirit of Ganbare World Openweight Championship.[9] He competed at NJPW Strong's Fighting Spirit Unleashed on October 28, 2023, where he teamed up with Titus Alexander and Jakob Austin Young, losing to Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs and Danny Limelight).

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2020–2022)

Baliyan made his first appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) on the second night of the AJPW Summer Action Series II 2020 from August 23, where he fell short to Francesco Akira.[10] He continued to make sporadic appearances, especially in signature events. One of them was the Champion Carnival, in which he competed in the 2020 edition, but not as part of the big tournament, only by tagging up with Yusuke Okada on the third night of the event from September 13, where they fell short to Jin (Fuminori Abe and Jake Lee).[11] On the first night of the AJPW New Year Wars 2022 from January 2, he competed in the traditional battle royal won by Rising Hayato and also involving various other notable opponents such as Menso-re Oyaji, Shigehiro Irie, Shuji Ishikawa, Takao Omori, Yoshi Tatsu, Jun Saito, Rei Saito and many others.[12]

North American independent circuit (2022–present)

Baliyan briefly competed in several promotions from the American independent scene as a talent sent overseas by Gatoh Move. In All Elite Wrestling, he started in AEW Dark, making his first appearance at AEW Dark #157 taped July 16, 2022 and released on August 16, where he fell short against Angélico in singles competition.[13] At AEW Dark #180 on December 17, 2022, he teamed up with Marcus Kross and Vary Morales in a losing effort against The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver) in a six-man tag team match.[14] In Game Changer Wrestling, Baliyan made his first appearance at GCW Jimmy Lloyd's D-Generation F on March 31, 2023, where he teamed up with Mei Suruga and fell short to Wasted Youth (Dyln McKay and Marcus Mathers), CPF (Danny Black and Joe Lando) and The Bang Bros (August Matthews and Davey Bang) in a four-way tag team match.[15] In CMLL, Baliyan participated in the Grand Prix Internacional 2023 Torneo Cibernetico, bout in which he teamed up with Adrian Quest, Francesco Akira, Hiromu Takahashi, Kushida, Rocky Romero, Samuray del Sol and TJP as "Team International" in a losing effort to Team Mexico (Ángel de Oro, Averno, Dragón Rojo Jr., Mascara Dorada, Místico, Templario, Ultimo Guerrero and Volador Jr.).[16] At TRP The Spindle City Rumble, an event promoted by Top Rope Promotions on December 30, 2022, Baliyan competed in the Spindle City rumble won by Jora Johl and also involving notable opponents such as Elia Markopoulos, Bob Evans and many others.[17]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ Saalbach, Axel. "Baliyan Akki • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Baliyan Akki/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  3. ↑ InternetWrestling Database (IWD). "Baliyan Akki Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ Edwards, Scott (March 27, 2021). "ChocoPro Origins: An Exclusive Interview with Gatoh Move's Baliyan Akki". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  5. ↑ Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (December 3, 2017). Gatoh-Move Japan Tour・325　2017年12月2日　市ヶ谷チョコレート広場. gatohmove.com (in Japanese). Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Gatoh Move GTMV #41". Wrestlingdata.com.
  7. ↑ Masked TODAY (January 29, 2022). 【チョコプロ】 ＜ChocoPro 197＞スーパーアジア暫定王者選手権はアッキが勝利. www.proresu-today.com (in Japanese). Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  8. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 13, 2022). "Gatoh Move ChocoPro #200 Day 2". cagematch.net. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  9. ↑ ガンバレ☆クライマックス2021 1st ROUND [Ganbare☆Climax 2021 1st Round]. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  10. ↑ Captain Lou (August 26, 2020). "Captain Lou's Review: AJPW Summer Action Series II (8/23/2020)". happywrestlingland.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ Gerard, Di Trolio (September 13, 2020). "AJPW CHAMPION CARNIVAL 2020 NIGHT 2 (SEPTEMBER 13) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  12. ↑ Gerard, Di Trolio (January 2, 2022). "AJPW NEW YEAR WARS 2022 NIGHT 1 (JANUARY 2) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  13. ↑ PWMania Staff (August 17, 2022). "Video: Watch AEW Dark (8/16/22) – Episode 157". pwmania.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  14. ↑ Salvador, Luís (December 18, 2022). "AEW Dark (Episódio 180)". wrestling.pt. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ Wolstanholme, Danny (March 31, 2023). "GCW Jimmy Lloyd's D-Generation F 2023 Results (3/31): Jimmy Lloyd Faces 15-Year-Old Bodhi Young Prodigy, More". wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  16. ↑ Manolo, Has Pizzazz (August 25, 2023). "CMLL Roundup: Mistico wins Grand Prix 2023, more!". cagesideseats.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  17. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 30, 2022). "TRP The Spindle City Rumble 2022". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  18. ↑ Ruth, Sondra (September 14, 2023). "Complete 2023 PWI 500 List Revealed, Top NJPW Star Absent". tjrwrestling.net. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
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