Hitoshi Kumano
Kumano in 2015
Born (1991-11-22) November 22, 1991
Hiroshima, Japan[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Hitoshi Kumano
Shirokuma no Hitoshi[2]
Billed height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3]
Billed weight90 kg (198 lb)[3]
Trained byAtsushi Kotoge
Naomichi Marufuji
Daisuke Harada
DebutFebruary 9, 2013[3]
RetiredMarch 9, 2020

Hitoshi Kumano (熊野 準, Kumano Hitoshi, born November 22, 1991) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and signed to Pro Wrestling Noah.

Early life

Kumano first became interested in professional wrestling while still in elementary school after playing King of Colloseum 2 on the PlayStation 2. He joined the wrestling team at the Hiroshima International High School and became a regular competitor at national level in the 55 kg class. After graduating high school, he attended college at the Hiroshima University, where he earned qualifications to be a Sports Trainer. After graduating from college on April 15, 2012, he passed a tryout to join Pro Wrestling Noah's dojo, and began training on May 22. Whilst simultaneously training as a professional wrestler, Kumano attended school for business management.[4][5]

Professional wrestling career

After training in the NOAH dojo under the watch of Naomichi Marufuji, Daisuke Harada and Atsushi Kotoge, Kumano made his in-ring debut in January 2013, losing in a battle royal. In doing so, Kumano became the first wrestler to make his debut in NOAH since Shuhei Taniguchi in 2005. Kumano's next 7 matches were all battle royals, and he lost all of them. His singles debut took place on February 9, when he lost to his trainer, Kotoge.[6] On May 11 at Kenta Kobashi's retirement show, Final Burning in Budokan, Kumano wrestled the biggest match in his career up until that point, losing to veteran Masanobu Fuchi.[7] Kumano remained winless until June 30, when he, Harada and Taiji Ishimori defeated Kaiser, Pesadilla and Super Crazy.[8] The following month, Kumano entered the NTV G Cup Junior Heavyweight League, finishing last in Block A with zero wins and zero points.[9] On August 24, Kumano achieved the biggest win of his career so far, when he and Harada defeated his trainer Kotoge and Ishimori.[10] Kumano received his first opportunity at a championship on September 16 when he and Harada unsuccessfully challenged Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask IV for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[11] In July 2014, Kumano once again entered the NTV Junior Tag League, this time with Diamond Ring's Mitsuhiro Kitamiya. The duo won their first match, defeating Jinzo and Rocky Lobo,[12] but lost every other match they were involved in, finishing last in Block B with 1 win and 2 points.[13] Throughout 2014 and 2015, Kumano remained at the lower end of most cards and lost the majority of his matches, commonplace for young Japanese wrestlers as a way of learning respect and earning your opportunities. On June 13, 2015, the 6 year anniversary of NOAH founder Mitsuharu Misawa's death, Kumano once again unsuccessfully challenged for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, teaming with Genba Hirayanagi in a loss to Suzuki-gun (Taka Michinoku and El Desperado).[14] In July, Kumano took part in the Global Junior Heavyweight League, finishing last in Block A with zero wins and zero points.[15] In September, Kumano entered the NTV G Cup Junior Heavyweight Tournament for a third time, teaming with Super Crazy and winning only one match, leaving them with two points and unable to advance to the final.[16]

On February 25, 2016, Kumano made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) debut, defeating Hirai Kawato at Lion's Gate Project 1, a show designed to showcase younger talent in Japanese wrestling.[17] He once again competed in NJPW on May 19 at Lion's Gate Project 2, defeating Kaientai Dojo's Ayato Yoshida.[18] On May 28 at Great Voyage, Kumano received his biggest opportunity to date when he faced Yoshinobu Kanemaru for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship, but was unable to win.[19] Kumano once again entered the NTV G Cup Junior Tag League, teaming with Andy Dalton. Their only win came on July 30 over Captain Noah and Genba Hirayanagi,[20] leaving them with 1 win and 2 points. On September 1, Kumano lost to Ryusuke Taguchi at Lion's Gate Project 3.[21] On January 24, 2017, Kumano defeated 18 other men and one woman (comedian Kuniko Yamada) in a battle royal. After the match, Kumano stated that 2017 would be a turning point in his career.[22] On March 12, Kumano, for the second time in his career, unsuccessfully challenged for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship losing to champion Hajime Ohara. Following the match's conclusion, Ohara stated in a backstage interview that the two would also be joining forces in the tag team division.[23] The following month, Kumano and Ohara's new team was named Back Breakers.[24] Kumano and Ohara participated in the 2017 Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League between July 13 and July 27. The pair had a strong showing with eight points and finished third in the group stage, however were defeated on the final day by MAO and Shunma Katsumata which prevented the team from joining a three-way tie for first place in the group.[25]

Championships and Accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Hitoshi Kumano « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  2. ↑ "Noahful Gift 2017 ～ファン感謝祭～". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  3. 1 2 3 "プロレスリング・ノア公式サイト - PRO-WRESTLING NOAH OFFICIAL SITE".
  4. ↑ "Hitoshi Kumano". 17 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "7年ぶり新人熊野がデビュー／ノア". 日刊スポーツ. 2013-02-10.
  6. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH The Second Navigation 2013 - Tag 2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  7. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Final Burning In Budokan « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  8. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Voyage For Colosseum « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  9. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH NTV G Cup Junior Heavyweight League 2013 - Tag 10 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  10. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Summer Navigation 2013 Ark New Chapter ~Memorable Pro-Wrestling~ - Tag 4: Naomichi Marufuji 15th Anniversary « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  11. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Ark Houjouya « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  12. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH NTV G+ Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League 2014 - Tag 2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  13. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH NTV G+ Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League 2014 - Tag 6 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  14. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial Tour 2015 - Tag 2 ~ Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial Night 2015 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  15. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Summer Navigation 2015 - Tag 10 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  16. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Great Voyage 2015 In Osaka « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  17. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NJPW Lion's Gate Project1 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  18. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NJPW Lion's Gate Project2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  19. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Great Voyage 2016 In Osaka « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  20. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League 2016 - Tag 5 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  21. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NJPW Lion's Gate Project3 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  22. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH New Year Never Seen Yamada Before In NOAH « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  23. ↑ "虎王&シャイニング競演! "天才タッグ"丸藤&武藤が華麗勝利 3月12日(日)横浜文化体育館大会試合後コメント". noah.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  24. ↑ "【4.22新潟市体育館大会にてGHCジュニア・タッグに挑戦！】大原はじめ＆熊野準のチーム名は「Back Breakers」に決定！". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  25. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "NOAH Summer Navigation 2017 ~ 11th Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League ~ - Tag 7 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  26. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  27. ↑ "NTV G+ Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League 2014". PUROLOVE.com (in German). Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
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