Taiji Ishimori is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he wrestles as part of the Bullet Club.
34 Facts About Taiji Ishimori
2.
Taiji Ishimori is best known for his 12-year stint with Pro Wrestling Noah, where he became one of the most decorated junior heavyweights in the promotion's history, holding the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship three times, while setting the record for the longest reign with the championship at 405 days during his first reign.
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Taiji Ishimori held the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship a record six times, and won the promotion's Nippon TV Cup Jr.
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Taiji Ishimori is known for his work in Impact Wrestling, where he is a one-time Impact X Division Champion.
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When he was an amateur wrestler, Taiji Ishimori was trained in Toryumon Mexico and debuted against Fumiyuki Hashimoto in 2002.
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Taiji Ishimori was intended to become the "ace" of his graduating class, even going so far as to release an album, "Keep on Journey", to support their gimmick.
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However, the fan interest never matched his hype, and Taiji Ishimori became one of Toryumon's bigger failures.
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Unlike the rest of his class, Taiji Ishimori did his Japanese debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle-1 project.
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Taiji Ishimori defended the UWA World Welterweight Championship 2 times, against Fuerza Guerrera on August 31,2003 and against Yossino on December 7,2003.
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Taiji Ishimori dropped the UWA championship to Takeshi Minamino on August 29,2004.
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Taiji Ishimori tried to regain the title in the Dragon Fire The Final Challenge event, but it was unsuccessful.
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Taiji Ishimori started teaming with another former NJPW rookie, Katsuhiko Nakajima, eventually taking part in the AJPW 2006 Junior Tag League.
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Taiji Ishimori was in the El Dorado Wrestling debut show, leaving the promotion right after.
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Taiji Ishimori began working as a freelance wrestler for Pro Wrestling Noah in March, 2006 and often worked as part of the SEM promotion that was considered the developmental territory for Noah.
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Taiji Ishimori began teaming up with Kenta, wrestling on many shows together, trying to earn a match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
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In 2007 Taiji Ishimori became a full-time Noah wrestler and shortly after Taiji Ishimori and Kenta won the Tag Champions.
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In 2009 Taiji Ishimori began teaming regularly with Ricky Marvin, chasing after the Junior tag team titles.
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On January 27,2013, Taiji Ishimori defeated Shuji Kondo to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship for the first time.
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Taiji Ishimori won the title for the second time on December 23,2015, by defeating Taichi.
20.
On July 5,2016, Taiji Ishimori defeated Yoshinari Ogawa in a four-man tournament final to win one of Noah's three spots in NJPW's 2016 Super J-Cup.
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On March 12,2018, Taiji Ishimori officially announced his departure from Pro Wrestling Noah.
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In early June 2016, Taiji Ishimori again represented Noah in the 2016 Lucha Libre World Cup.
23.
On July 20,2016, Taiji Ishimori returned to NJPW to take part in the 2016 Super J-Cup events.
24.
Taiji Ishimori returned to GFW, now known as Impact Wrestling, on November 5,2017, at Bound for Glory, where he defeated Tyson Dux to earn a future shot at the Impact X Division Championship.
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Four days later, Taiji Ishimori defeated Trevor Lee to win the Impact X Division Championship for the first time.
26.
Taiji Ishimori dropped the title to Matt Sydal on January 12,2018, in a match where the Impact Grand Championship of his opponent was on the line.
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At the event Taiji Ishimori lost a fatal four-way match which was won by Johnny Impact.
28.
On May 4 at Wrestling Dontaku 2018, Taiji Ishimori returned to NJPW revealing himself as the new Bone Soldier and in the process joined Bullet Club by attacking IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Will Ospreay.
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Taiji Ishimori was confirmed by Tama Tonga as being part of BCOG.
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Taiji Ishimori entered the 2019 Super J Cup but was eliminated by SHO in the first round.
31.
In June 2020, Taiji Ishimori entered the 2020 New Japan Cup defeating young lion Gabriel Kidd in the first round.
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Taiji Ishimori would be eliminated in the quarterfinals by tournament runner up Kazuchika Okada.
33.
At Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall Taiji Ishimori teamed with Bullet Club teammate Yujiro Takahashi to defeat Okada and Hirooki Goto.
34.
At Sengoku Lord in Nagoya Taiji Ishimori defeated Yuya Uemura then after the main event attacked junior heavyweight champion Hiromu Takahashi, challenging him for the belt.