48 Facts About Toru Yano

1.

Toru Yano, is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he is the KOPW 2020 and the KOPW 2021.

2.

Toru Yano is a four time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion.

3.

Toru Yano is a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and two-time GHC Tag Team Champion.

4.

Toru Yano is mainly known as a comic relief wrestler, often cheating in an attempt to secure quick wins in his matches.

5.

Toru Yano was a decorated Greco-Roman wrestler, while studying in Nihon University, winning several amateur titles.

6.

Toru Yano formally joined New Japan in January 2002 and began training full-time for his debut.

7.

Toru Yano would make his debut on May 18,2002, coincidentally on his 24th birthday, in a match, where he was defeated by his classmate Blue Wolf.

8.

Toru Yano lost his to date only MMA fight to Osami Shibuya via submission to an armbar in the second round.

9.

From April to July 2004, Toru Yano went on a long streak of losing matches via disqualification.

10.

When Toru Yano returned to Japan the following month, he was a changed man, becoming a more serious competitor no longer seeking to break rules.

11.

When Makabe returned from his injury, suffered at the hands of Toru Yano, he was looking for revenge on his former tag team partner.

12.

In early 2010 Toru Yano began feuding with Hiroshi Tanahashi, starting on January 30, when he pinned Tanahashi in tag team match.

13.

On January 4,2011, at Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome, Toru Yano faced TNA performer Rob Van Dam in a hardcore match in a losing effort.

14.

In May 2011 Toru Yano took part in New Japan's Invasion Tour 2011, the promotion's first tour of the United States.

15.

Later that same event, Toru Yano attacked Hiroshi Tanahashi, after he had successfully defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Tetsuya Naito and then accepted Nagata as his next challenger, and stole his championship belt, renaming it the "YWGP Heavyweight Championship".

16.

The Chaos Top Team ended up winning all five of their group stage matches, with Toru Yano picking up a pinfall victory over Togi Makabe in the process, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament with a clean sheet.

17.

On January 4,2012, at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, Toru Yano teamed with Shinsuke Nakamura in a tag team match, where they were defeated by Pro Wrestling Noah representatives Go Shiozaki and Naomichi Marufuji.

18.

Toru Yano then grabbed Naomichi Marufuji's and Takashi Sugiura's GHC Tag Team Championship belts from ringside, before handing Taniguchi Kenta's GHC Heavyweight Championship belt.

19.

Back in New Japan, Toru Yano became involved in Chaos' rivalry with the promotion's other villainous stable, Suzuki-gun.

20.

From March 11 to March 23, Toru Yano took part in the 2013 New Japan Cup, which saw him reach the semifinals following an upset win over Suzuki-gun leader Minoru Suzuki, before losing to Chaos stablemate Kazuchika Okada.

21.

Post-match, Toru Yano named himself the number one contender to the GHC Heavyweight Championship.

22.

From August 1 to 11, Toru Yano took part in the 2013 G1 Climax.

23.

From July 21 to August 8, Toru Yano took part in the 2014 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of four wins and six losses, which included a win over Suzuki.

24.

Toru Yano then formed a partnership with Kazushi Sakuraba and transitioned over to feuding with former tag team partner Takashi Iizuka, while Sakuraba took over his feud with Suzuki.

25.

Back in NJPW, Toru Yano re-ignited his old rivalry with Hiroshi Tanahashi, after cheating his way to a win over Tanahashi in the opening round of the 2015 New Japan Cup.

26.

From July 20 to August 14, Toru Yano took part in the 2015 G1 Climax, where he finished in the middle of his block with a record of four wins and five losses.

27.

On January 4,2016, at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome, Toru Yano teamed with the Ring of Honor tag team of Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe to defeat Bullet Club's Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga and Yujiro Takahashi to become the inaugural NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions.

28.

From April 21 to May 4, Toru Yano took part in Pro Wrestling Noah's 2016 Global Tag League, where he teamed with Naomichi Marufuji.

29.

From July 22 to August 13, Toru Yano took part in the 2016 G1 Climax, where he finished tied third in his block with a record of five wins and four losses, failing to advance to the finals.

30.

Toru Yano did get a win over then-IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega, but he was never granted an official challenge at the belt.

31.

On January 30,2019, Makabe, Taguchi and Toru Yano defeated Bullet Club to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.

32.

Toru Yano finished with 8 points failing to advance to the finals, although by defeating Jon Moxley, he became the first person in NJPW to defeat Moxley in a singles match.

33.

Toru Yano teamed with Colt Cabana for the World Tag League, finishing with 18 points, failing to advance to the finals.

34.

In May 2022, Toru Yano entered the New Japan Cup, he defeated Jado to advance to the second round, but was defeated by Hiromu Takahashi in the second round.

35.

Toru Yano was announced to be in the tournament, where he defeated Bushi in the first round.

36.

Toru Yano teamed with Tomohiro Ishii, for the World Tag League, finishing with 10 points, failing to advance to the finals.

37.

On Night 1 of Wrestle Kingdom 15, Toru Yano survived until the final four in the New Japan Rambo match.

38.

On Night 2, Toru Yano won a four-way match to become the provisional champion, by defeating Bushi, Fale and Chase Owens.

39.

In March 2021, Toru Yano entered the New Japan Cup, defeating Bad Luck Fale and Great-O-Khan to advance to the quarter-finals, where he was eliminated by Evil.

40.

Toru Yano retained the provisional KOPW Championship against Evil in a Creation Of Darkness Blindfold match.

41.

At Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Chase Owens won a New Japan Rambo with handcuffs match by last eliminating Toru Yano, becoming the new provisional KOPW Champion.

42.

At Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Toru Yano regained the provisional KOPW Championship, defeating Owens in a No disqualification "I quit" match.

43.

Toru Yano finished with a total of 10 points, failing to advance to the finals.

44.

On December 24, Toru Yano defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a End of Year Party Rules match to become the 2021 KOPW Champion.

45.

On Night 1 of Wrestle Kingdom 16, Toru Yano finished in the final four in the New Japan Rambo match, along with Chase Owens, Minoru Suzuki and Cima.

46.

On Night 3, Toru Yano teamed with Pro Wrestling NOAH's Kazushi Sakuraba and Takashi Sugiura to defeat Suzuki-Gun.

47.

Toru Yano regained the provisional KOPW Championship, defeating Suzuki in a Dog Cage match.

48.

Toru Yano finished his G1 campaign with just 2 points, finishing bottom of his block thus failing to advance to te semi-finals, winning just one match against Jonah.