25 Facts About Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he works as a backstage producer.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru is best known for his work in Pro Wrestling Noah, where he holds the records for the most reigns with the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru debuted in 1996 for All Japan Pro Wrestling, in the last years of owner Giant Baba's regime, which had isolated the promotion from outsider wrestlers at the expense of the younger, lighter-weight talent.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru would go on to win the title twice more, including a win over NJPW's long time junior ace, Jyushin Thunder Liger.

In 2008, Yoshinobu Kanemaru showed a serious shift in his attitude after the "SugiKane" team of himself and Takashi Sugiura went their separate ways after Sugiura moved to the heavyweight division.

The new team would defeat the champions for their titles two weeks later after Yoshinobu Kanemaru pinned KENTA after using his "Touch-Out" brainbuster.

On December 5,2010, Yoshinobu Kanemaru lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to Kotaro Suzuki, ending his reign at 400 days, the longest in the title's history.

On May 9,2012, Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship for the sixth time.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru lost the title to All Japan Pro Wrestling's Shuji Kondo on September 29,2012.

On December 19,2012, Noah announced that Yoshinobu Kanemaru would be leaving the promotion, after refusing to re-sign following the firing of Kenta Kobashi.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru regained the title from Mitsuya Nagai and Takeshi Minamino on March 22,2015, now teaming with Ultimo Dragon.

In January 2016, Yoshinobu Kanemaru returned to Pro Wrestling Noah, initially forming a partnership with Go Shiozaki, before turning on him on January 31 and joining Suzuki-gun.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru had a chance to regain the GHC Junior title when he faced Kotoge at Great Voyage in Yokohama vol.

On January 5,2017, Suzuki-gun, Yoshinobu Kanemaru included, returned to New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru then entered the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, where he finished with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru finished the tournament with 3 wins and 4 losses, failing to advance to the finals.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru would enter the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, ending with a record of 3 wins and 6 losses, including wins over SHO and long time rival Taiji Ishimori, however failing to advance from the block.

In June 2020, Yoshinobu Kanemaru would enter the New Japan Cup tournament for the first time in his career, defeating Yuya Uemura in the first round, before losing to Taiji Ishimori in the second.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru signed a full-time contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, that would see him continue to perform as a wrestler, as well as becoming a producer for the company.

On January 4,2021, at Wrestle Kingdom 15, Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru successfully defended the titles against Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato.

In July at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Yoshinobu Kanemaru competed in the New Japan Rambo for the Provisional KOPW 2021 trophy, but the match was won by Chase Owens.

On December 24, Yoshinobu Kanemaru lost to Toru Yano, in a KOPW 2021 Championship match.

On January 4,2022, at night one of Wrestle Kingdom 16, Yoshinobu Kanemaru competed in the New Japan Rambo match, but failed to last till the final 4.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru finished with 8 points, failing to advance to the finals.

Later in the month, Yoshinobu Kanemaru competed in a tournament to advance to AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door for a chance to be crowned the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Championship, however Yoshinobu Kanemaru was defeated by Tomohiro Ishii in the qualifying round.