Katsuhiko Nakajima

Katsuhiko Nakajima
Nakajima in 2016
Born (1988-03-11) March 11, 1988 (age 36)[1]
Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Christmas Tree[2]
Katsuhiko Nakajima
Billed height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1][3]
Billed weight87 kg (192 lb)[1][3]
Trained byRiki Choshu
Kensuke Sasaki
Masa Saito
DebutJanuary 5, 2004[1]

Katsuhiko Nakajima (中嶋 勝彦, Nakajima Katsuhiko, born March 11, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer, though he primarily works with GLEAT. He is a former Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion in All Japan Pro Wrestling and a two-time GHC Heavyweight Champion in Pro Wrestling Noah.

Known as "The Mad Wolf" and "The Dark Assassin" (among other nicknames), he is best known for his time in Pro Wrestling Noah. He started his career in Riki Choshu's Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling (WJ) promotion before heading to Kensuke Sasaki's Kensuke Office/Diamond Ring dojo and promotion. In AJPW, he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion. An accomplished karateka, his style is based upon strong, fast kicks and strikes; his style has been dubbed by Nakajima as "Toukon Style" (闘魂 STYLE, Tōkon sutairu).

Nakajima made his professional debut aged 15 in a mixed martial arts contest,[4] and immediately made a name for himself in puroresu, earning the nickname "Supernova" and facing Hall of Famers,[5] such as Kenta Kobashi,[6] Satoru Sayama,[7] Jushin Thunder Liger,[8] and Tatsumi Fujinami.[9] He has competed in several notable Japanese promotions, including New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Inoki Genome Federation, Pro Wrestling Zero1, Michinoku Pro, Dragon Gate, and Pro Wrestling Noah.

He set several age records throughout the first few years into his professional wrestling career, including being the youngest wrestler to compete in AJPW's Champion Carnival tournament,[10] as well as the youngest to hold the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. He won the Tokyo Sports "Rookie of the Year" award in 2004 and the "Fighting Spirit" award in 2005.[11] Having worked for Noah for most of his career, both as a representative of Diamond Ring and as a freelancer, he officially signed with the promotion in December 2015. He is a two-time GHC Heavyweight Champion, three-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion and a six-time GHC Tag Team Champion.

  1. ^ a b c d e 中嶋 勝彦. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "Noahful Gift 2017 ～ファン感謝祭～". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 26, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  3. ^ a b 中嶋 勝彦. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference debut was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame listing". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 12, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference kobashigo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference wj2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference nj2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference njlast was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference carnivalresults was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference tsgp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).