Post by Goldash on Jan 24, 2014 23:01:18 GMT -5
* Temporary Roster Template --- Will Be Updated *
PERSONAL DATA
Ring Name
Kudo Shigashi
Billed From
Tokyo, JPN
Height and Weight
6'4" / 242 lbs.
INSIDE THE RING
Style(s)
Puroresu
Japanese Strong Style
Martial Arts Influence
Finishing Maneuvers:
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Trademark Maneuvers:
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HISTORY
Professional Wrestling Debut
1998 (Age 19)
URWL Debut
2001 (Age 23)
Left URWL
2001
Tag Team History
---
Stable / Alliance History
---
Alter Egos
Shigashi KUDO (1998-2001, 2001-Present) --- Japan ONLY
Characters / Gimmicks
Japanese Phenom: 2001
Catchphrases and Slogans
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Short Biography
No Japanese performer in URWL history ever debuted with as much hype as Kudo Shigashi. Signed for pennies on the dollar from his independent Japanese promotion, word quickly spread about how naturally talented Kudo was in a wrestling ring. He made his URWL debut in late 2001 and was so technically impressive that newsletters quickly gave him the distinction of being the top rookie in the virtual wrestling industry. However, what Shigashi lacked was the ability to catch on with American fans. His matches, though mechanically impressive, often generated the dreaded "wrong kind of heat" --- namely, chants of "boring". The language barrier was another challenge for Shigashi to overcome, as Goldash often resorted to showing training highlight reels to put Shigashi over as an athletically strong Japanese phenom. This attempt to push Shigashi even ended up landing him the URWL Internet Title for a short period of time. However, fans still could not connect with Shigashi, often serenading his entrance with silence. Panicked, Goldash and the URWL booking staff had Kudo drop the title just two weeks later. After only a month on television, Shigashi was out of a job and hasn't been seen on American programming since. Shigashi's name has since become an office joke around URWL H.Q. and is often used in the virtual wrestling press when criticizing URWL booking decisions.
However, what happened in the aftermath of the firing was some of the most controversial "off-the-record" moments in URWL history. Shigashi, speaking to a Japanese newspaper just days after his release, slammed Goldash, the URWL and its fans for being impatient, essentially wishing death to the promotion he barely had a career with. Spoken through a translator, Shigashi's words were no less blunt and frank. "I couldn't speak one word of English and yet they paraded me out there like I was their next big star, so I did what I had to. No one, except a few fans and wrestlers, even paid attention. Total lack of communication and patience, guess that's the great American life. People kept telling me what I didn't have and what I couldn't do, acting like I couldn't understand a word they said. By the time they put the belt on me it was too late. People heard my music and were already walking out of the arena during my match. I was bleeding for these people and no one cared, not even anyone in the back, so they just got tired of me and threw me on the street. Totally incompetent and mismanaged league, they promise you so much but sometimes I just look back and wonder how anyone made a living there".
The URWL saw many talented Japanese wrestlers in their "text era". Busiwa Tanao, Wai Easeko, The Sabre, Dark Dragon and other Japanese text-era stars may have caught on with fans, but Kudo Shigashi became the exception to the rule. Despite a nearly uncapped potential and talent that seemed to exceed his Japanese compatriots, he was the rare case that couldn't catch on. He was simply a case of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That Shigashi eventually became a star in Japan after leaving the URWL is no surprise. As he began to go over with Japanese fans, his views against the URWL and American wrestling became more outspoken, going as far as burning URWL t-shirts during his entrances and cutting condescending Japanese promos against ex-URWL talents he faced in Japan (which included !nterogative, Blood and even close friend Busiwa Tanao). Shigashi's increasingly volatile actions resulted in a legally mandated restraining order.
Today, Shigashi runs, books and wrestles in his own promotion, KUDOJO. His eight heavyweight championship wins since 2010 are a promotional record. He has no plans to return to American wrestling due to ideological differences.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Known "Text Era" Accomplishments
URWL Internet Champion
OUTSIDE THE RING
Real Name
Isamu Kudokawa
Hometown
Nara, JPN
Age
35
Trainer(s)
The Commander / USWF Development Territory
Wai Easeko
Busiwa Tanao
Nate Nuke
Real-Life Wrestler Connections & Relationships
Busiwa Tanao (co-trainer, friendship)
Wai Easeko (co-trainer, friendship)
Goldash (dislikes)
VinceNeil1981 (dislikes)
The Commander (dislikes)
!nterogative (dislikes)
Blood (dislikes)
Nate Nuke (dislikes)
Wes Tomerka (dislikes)
Cory Jones (dislikes)
Scorpion (dislikes)
Spectre (dislikes)
Hog Williker (dislikes)
Barry White (dislikes)
Adrien Carnage (dislikes)
