Manabu Nakanishi is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler, who was primarily associated with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
24 Facts About Manabu Nakanishi
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Manabu Nakanishi is a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, one-time G1 Climax winner and three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion.
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In 1992, Manabu Nakanishi won bronze in freestyle wrestling at the Asian Championships.
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Manabu Nakanishi began his amateur wrestling career in 1986, competing freestyle in the 220 lbs.
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In July 1986, Manabu Nakanishi competed in his very first tournament, the World Cup in St John's, Newfoundland, Canada, where he placed fifth.
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In September 1990, Manabu Nakanishi took part in two tournaments: On September 6, he participated in the World Championship in Tokyo, where he was placed tenth.
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Manabu Nakanishi debuted for New Japan Pro-Wrestling in October 1992, already taking part on NJPW's Super Grade Tag League, teaming up with Tatsumi Fujinami.
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Manabu Nakanishi wrestled tag matches for the rest of his first year.
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Manabu Nakanishi's in-ring style was very basic early in his career, as is standard for their trainees.
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Manabu Nakanishi frequently teamed with Meng, with whom he feuded against Sting and Road Warrior Hawk.
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Manabu Nakanishi subsequently feuded with Hawk when Hawk returned from injury heading into Halloween Havoc, beating many local wrestlers on their B-shows, WorldWide and Pro, as well as a big win over Sgt.
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Manabu Nakanishi was known there for nearly defeating "Macho Man" Randy Savage on an episode of Nitro.
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When Manabu Nakanishi came back to NJPW in September 1996, he appeared more confident and stronger.
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Manabu Nakanishi formed The Bull Powers with Satoshi Kojima, who returned from Europe.
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Manabu Nakanishi had arguably the upset win of the decade in the 1999 G1 Climax, submitting then-IWGP Heavyweight Champion and nWo Japan leader Keiji Mutoh, to win the tournament.
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Manabu Nakanishi formed the popular tag team, Wild Child, with Takao Omori in late 2006 and together they enjoyed another IWGP Tag Team title reign.
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Manabu Nakanishi finally captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship by pinning Hiroshi Tanahashi at Dissidence on May 25,2009.
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Manabu Nakanishi went on to hold the title for nearly a month until losing it back to Tanahashi at Dominion 6.20.
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The match was stopped immediately and Manabu Nakanishi was stretchered out of the arena in a neckbrace.
20.
Manabu Nakanishi returned to the ring on October 8,2012, at King of Pro-Wrestling, where he teamed with Strong Man and Yuji Nagata in a losing effort against the team of Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano.
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On January 4,2013, at Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, Manabu Nakanishi teamed with Strong Man, Akebono and MVP in an eight-man tag team match, where they defeated Chaos.
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Manabu Nakanishi spent the majority of 2014 and 2015 working the undercard and in multiple man tag matches, teaming with Yuji Nagata during the 2014 World Tag League, failing to advance from their block.
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On March 25,2018, Manabu Nakanishi made an appearance in All Japan, where he reunited Wild Child for one night with Takao Omori to unsuccessfully challenge Jun Akiyama and Yuji Nagata for the All Asia Tag Team Championship.
24.
Manabu Nakanishi had said that 'As a result of a neck injury [that he had sustained in 2011], I haven't been able to wrestle to the level I wanted, and rather than drag things out, I wanted to draw a line in the sand.