Michael Nakazawa

Michael Nakazawa
Nakazawa in 2018
Birth nameMasatsugu Nakazawa[1]
Born (1975-10-08) October 8, 1975 (age 49)[2]
Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan[3]
Alma materTokai University
United States Sports Academy
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Abnormal
Michael Nakazawa[3]
MT Nakazawa
Nakazawa Magic Iker
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Billed weight203 lb (92 kg)
Trained byDDT Dojo
DebutOctober 23, 2005[4]

Masatsugu Nakazawa (中澤 公胤, Nakazawa Masatsugu, born October 8, 1975),[5] better known by the ring name Michael Nakazawa (中澤マイケル, Nakazawa Maikeru), is a Japanese professional wrestler and judoka signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[6]

Early life

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Nakazawa attended Tokai University before studying abroad in the United States where he obtained an MSc Sports Science at the United States Sports Academy (USSA) Graduate School.[7] Nakazawa's father, Kazunari Nakazawa, is an associate professor at Tokai University and director of the American Football club.

Professional wrestling career

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Independent circuit (2005–2019)

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Nakazawa is best known for his tenure with DDT Pro-Wrestling where he is a former KO-D Tag Team Champion (with Kenny Omega), Jiyūgaoka 6-Person Tag Team Champion and DDT Extreme Champion.[8] Throughout his career he has also wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling,[9] Michinoku Pro, Big Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Nakazawa studied in the United States and is a fluent speaker of English. He often acted as an interpreter for English-speaking foreign wrestlers in Japan and through this relationship he met Kenny Omega, a now-Executive VP at AEW, with whom he has shared a ring 35 times, both as an opponent and as a tag team partner.[10]

All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)

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Nakazawa was announced as a new signee of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in early 2019.[6] He debuted at Double Or Nothing, the promotion's inaugural event, taking part in a 21-man Casino Battle Royale. He was the first man to be eliminated by Sunny Daze.[11] The following month at Fyter Fest, Nakazawa defeated Alex Jebailey in a hardcore match.[12] On the November 13 episode of Dynamite, Nakazawa made his debut quickly losing to Jon Moxley.[13] Following this, Nakazawa would mainly wrestle on AEW's secondary show Dark, facing the likes of Shawn Spears, Trent Beretta, Matt Sydal and Mike Sydal in losing efforts.[14][15][16] On the January 20, 2021 episode of Dynamite, Nakazawa was seen in Kenny Omega's house welcoming in The Young Bucks thus establishing his affiliation with Omega in AEW.[17] He Joined The Elite on February 17. On the March 10 episode of Dark: Elevation, Omega set up a match between Nakazawa and Matt Sydal where if Sydal won, he would receive an AEW World Title Eliminator match against Omega. During the match, Nakazawa displayed villainous tactics such as choking Sydal with his lanyard but he would eventually go on to lose the match.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ "Maikeru Nakazawa". www.wikidata.org.
  2. ^ "Michael Nakazawa: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)". www.profightdb.com.
  3. ^ a b "Michael Nakazawa « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  4. ^ "Michael Nakazawa". Puroresu Central. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  5. ^ "DDT ProWrestling". DDT ProWrestling.
  6. ^ a b "AEW Announces Signing of Michael Nakazawa". March 5, 2019.
  7. ^ "中澤マイケルのページへようこそ" [Welcome to Michael Nakazawa's page]. mnakazawa.client.jp.
  8. ^ "Titles « Michael Nakazawa « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  9. ^ "NEW Japan Pro Wrestling".
  10. ^ "AEW Announces Signing Of Michael Nakazawa - Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com.
  11. ^ Powell, Jason (25 May 2019). "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho, The Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr. and Fenix for the AAA Tag Titles, Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes, Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Kylie Rae". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  12. ^ Powell, Jason (29 June 2019). "6/29 AEW Fyter Fest results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr., Fenix, and Laredo Kid, Jon Moxley vs. Joey Janela in an unsanctioned match, Cody vs. Darby Allin, Cima vs. Christopher Daniels". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  13. ^ Tees, David. "11/13/2019 AEW Dynamite Results: Tag Title Match, Wardlow Debuts & Hangman Page vs. Pac III". Fightful. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  14. ^ Lambert, Jeremy. "AEW Dark Spoilers From Charleston, WV (10/30)". Fightful. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  15. ^ Tees, David. "AEW Dark 10/6/20 Results: Dark Order, Lucha Bros, Brandi Rhodes, Big Swole & More In Action!". Fightful. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  16. ^ Tees, David. "AEW Dark 11/24/20 Results: Dark Order, Sammy Guevara, Jurassic Express, Penelope Ford & More Compete". Fightful. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  17. ^ Wilkins, Rob. "AEW Dynamite 01/20/21 Results: Inner Circle 3-Way Tag Match, appearance from Sting, Omega, and more". Fightful. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  18. ^ Collins, Joseph (15 March 2021). "AEW DARK ELEVATION RESULTS: RIHO VS. ITOH, MAX CASTER VS. DANTE MARTIN". F4W Online. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  19. ^ "Dramatic Dream Team (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
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