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Masa Kitamiya

Masa Kitamiya (born Mitsuhiro Kitamiya; October 27, 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, renowned for his amateur wrestling roots and role as a foundational "gatekeeper" in the promotion's heavyweight division. Born in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, Kitamiya excelled as an amateur wrestler during high school and served as captain of his college team before transitioning to professional wrestling. He made his professional debut on September 25, 2011, under the Kensuke Office banner in his hometown, initially competing as Mitsuhiro Kitamiya. In 2014, he joined Pro Wrestling Noah, where he quickly established himself as a reliable midcard talent with a hard-hitting style emphasizing suplexes and submissions, including his signature Saito Suplex and Prison Lock. By 2016, he adopted the ring name Masa Kitamiya in tribute to wrestling legend Masa Saito, marking a pivotal shift that aligned him more closely with Noah's veteran ethos. Kitamiya's career highlights include eight reigns as GHC Tag Team Champion, partnering with wrestlers such as , , Daiki Inaba, and most recently as part of the rebellious faction Team 2000X, which he joined in August 2025. His tag team success began with his first title win alongside in January 2017, though the partnership ended dramatically due to a . In singles competition, he has been a perennial challenger for the , earning eight title shots since 2016 without securing the belt, underscoring his status as a tough but elusive contender. A breakthrough came in 2025 when Kitamiya won the tournament for the first time, defeating in the finals on September 23 at Korakuen Hall to earn a GHC Heavyweight title opportunity against champion KENTA. Beyond the ring, he holds influential positions within as Chairman of the Wrestlers’ Association, Head of Scouting, and Coach of the NOAH Dojo, where he has mentored rising stars and contributed to the promotion's talent development. Standing at 172 cm and weighing around 105 kg, Kitamiya embodies 's tradition of resilient, power-based wrestling, making him a key figure in the promotion's ongoing evolution.

Early years

Early life

Masa Kitamiya, born Mitsuhiro Kitamiya on October 27, 1988, in Tonami, , . In high school, Kitamiya joined the wrestling club, marking the beginning of his structured involvement in the discipline. He later continued this path at Momoyama Gakuin University, where he served as captain of the team, honing skills that would shape his future career.

Amateur wrestling career

Kitamiya began his during high school at Toyama Prefectural Takaoka Commercial High School, where he actively participated in the sport as part of the school's wrestling club. He continued wrestling at Momoyama Gakuin University, joining the university's wrestling club and eventually serving as its captain, demonstrating leadership and commitment to the team. During his college years, Kitamiya competed in regional tournaments, earning bronze medals in the 84 kg freestyle and Greco-Roman categories at the 2008 West Japan Student Wrestling Newcomer Championship. In 2009, he secured another bronze in the 84 kg freestyle division at the West Japan Student Wrestling Championship. His most notable achievement came in 2010, when he won the gold medal in the 84 kg freestyle category at the same championship, highlighting his technical grappling proficiency and endurance developed through rigorous training. These experiences in amateur wrestling laid the foundation for Kitamiya's athletic style, emphasizing strong holds and stamina that later characterized his professional approach. Kitamiya concluded his amateur career following his university graduation in 2011, opting to pursue professional wrestling thereafter.

Professional wrestling career

Kensuke Office and Diamond Ring (2011–2014)

Kitamiya entered the professional wrestling world in early 2011 by joining Kensuke Office, the promotion run by veteran wrestler Kensuke Sasaki, where he underwent rigorous training under Sasaki and fellow legend Masa Saito. His amateur wrestling experience from high school and college laid a solid technical foundation for this transition. On September 25, 2011, Kitamiya made his professional debut for Kensuke Office at an event in his hometown of Toyama, facing Kajiwara in a losing effort. Over the following months, he built experience through a series of matches against midcard opponents, competing in 10 bouts that year alone within the promotion. These early outings focused on honing his powerhouse style and in-ring fundamentals, often resulting in defeats that underscored his status as a rookie learning the ropes of the Japanese indie scene. In 2012, Kensuke Office rebranded as under Sasaki's continued leadership, and Kitamiya transitioned seamlessly into the new entity, expanding his ring time and refining his skills against a broader roster. By 2013, he was a regular in Diamond Ring events, wrestling 17 matches that year and occasionally appearing as a guest in other promotions to gain varied exposure. This period marked steady development, with Kitamiya gradually incorporating elements of Saito's hard-hitting technique into his arsenal. Following the suspension of Diamond Ring operations in early 2014, Kitamiya decided to join on a full-time basis in April, ending his independent phase and seeking greater opportunities in a major promotion.

Pro Wrestling Noah (2014–present)

Kitamiya made his debut for on February 12, 2012, teaming with in a losing effort against and at the promotion's "The Navigation in February '12 - Day 4" tour. He continued making guest appearances through 2013, securing his first victory in the promotion on September 18 of that year by defeating Hitoshi Kumano in a singles match. Following the suspension of operations by his home promotion Diamond Ring, Kitamiya transitioned to full-time employment with in April 2014, marking the beginning of his established presence in the heavyweight division. On January 10, 2015, during Noah's "New Year Navigation" event at Korakuen Hall, Kitamiya concluded a five-match trial series and unexpectedly aligned himself with the Choukibou-gun, led by Taniguchi, adding his background and physicality to the group's aggressive dynamics. He remained a key member until the stable's dissolution in 2016, contributing to several high-profile feuds and campaigns that elevated the faction's prominence within Noah's roster. On April 10, 2016, after defeating Hitoshi Kumano at "Navigation In ," Kitamiya announced his adoption of the "Masa Kitamiya" as a tribute to the legendary wrestler , incorporating elements of Saito's moveset—such as the Lock submission—and his signature long tights emblazoned with "JAPAN." From 2017 onward, Kitamiya solidified his status through consistent participation in Noah's premier singles tournaments, including multiple entries in the , where he achieved his first championship by defeating in the 2025 final to earn a opportunity. His persistent pursuit of the GHC Heavyweight title culminated in his eighth challenge on October 11, 2025, against champion KENTA at "Wrestle " in , highlighting his evolution from a reliable midcard to a credible upper-midcard contender. Concurrently, Kitamiya took on a role as coach of the , where he trained emerging talents, including several wrestlers who later captured GHC titles, fostering the next generation of the promotion's roster. In August 2025, Kitamiya stunned audiences by joining the rebellious faction Team 2000X on August 3 at "Sunny Voyage 2025" in , aligning with leader to pursue dominance and injecting fresh tension into 's ongoing storylines. With Sugiura, they won the on August 11, 2025, before losing the titles to Hank & Tank on November 8, 2025, at Star Navigation. This move, dubbed "shocking" by observers for contrasting his prior leadership, underscored his adaptability while reinforcing his decade-long loyalty to , where he has transitioned from an imported talent to a cornerstone of the promotion's heavyweight landscape.

Championships and accomplishments

Championships

Masa Kitamiya has achieved success exclusively in the tag team division, holding the eight times with various partners, while he has never won a singles title in . He has mounted several unsuccessful challenges for the , earning nine title shots since 2016 without securing the belt. Kitamiya's first reign came alongside on January 21, 2017, when they defeated The Revolutionary Army ( and ) at in Osaka to capture the ; the title was lost after 34 days on February 24, 2017, to Maybach Taniguchi and at Great Voyage 2017 in , with no successful defenses during the short run. His partnership with Katsuhiko Nakajima as The Aggression proved highly successful, yielding three reigns. The second overall reign (first with Nakajima) began on March 11, 2018, at Great Voyage 2018 in Yokohama, where they bested 50-Funky Powers (Hao and Mohammed Yone); after 49 days and one defense against teams including Kaito Kiyomiya and Go Shiozaki, they dropped the belts on April 29, 2018, to the same duo at Majestic 2018. The third reign followed swiftly on May 29, 2018, at Navigation with Breeze 2018 in Yokohama, defeating Naomichi Marufuji and Akitoshi Saito; this 60-day run featured defenses against notable opponents like The Guerillas of Destiny before losing the titles on July 28, 2018, to the same team at Earth Hall Cup New Japan Pro-Wrestling 45th Anniversary Festival. The fourth overall reign (third with Nakajima) occurred on March 7, 2021, at Great Voyage 2021 in Yokohama, where they overcame Sugiura-gun (Takashi Sugiura and Kazushi Sakuraba); lasting 137 days with at least one defense, it ended on July 22, 2021, amid internal faction turmoil when Kitamiya turned on Nakajima. Kitamiya's fifth reign paired him with starting July 22, 2021, immediately following his split from The Aggression, as they capitalized on the chaos to win the titles; the 114-day run included defenses against teams like The Funky Fighters before losing on November 13, 2021, to and . In his sixth reign, Kitamiya teamed with on May 21, 2022, defeating and Rene Duprée at Majestic 2022 to claim the belts; after 52 days and defenses highlighting Elgin's power style against international challengers, they vacated the titles on July 12, 2022, due to Elgin's injury. The seventh reign came with Daiki Inaba on February 12, 2023, winning from the previous champions at a Noah event; this 63-day partnership emphasized Kitamiya's veteran guidance and ended on April 16, 2023, against a challenging , with defenses focusing on Noah's rising heavyweights. Kitamiya's eighth and most recent reign, as part of Team 2000X with , began on August 11, 2025, when they defeated Passionate RATEL'S ( and Daiki Inaba) via referee stoppage at a event; after 89 days and several defenses against mixed international and domestic teams, including NXT representatives, the titles were lost on November 8, 2025, to Hank Walker and Tank Ledger at Star Navigation 2025.

Other accomplishments

Kitamiya has demonstrated consistent excellence in Pro Wrestling Noah's premier singles tournament, participating annually since 2016 and reaching the final of the 2016 Global League before ultimately winning the 2025 edition with a record of five wins and two losses, defeating in the final match to earn a opportunity. He received his title shot against champion KENTA on October 11, 2025, at , but was unsuccessful. In the Global Tag League, he teamed with to finish second in their block during the 2016 tournament, a performance that highlighted their potential as a dominant en route to later championship success. These tournament showings from 2017 through 2025 have solidified his reputation as a reliable mainstay in Noah's competitive landscape. Beyond in-ring competition, Kitamiya has contributed significantly to Noah's roster stability as the respected coach of the since the mid-2020s, where he has mentored and trained emerging talents, including several current top stars who credit his guidance for their development. In 2025, he took on a prominent role by joining the villainous Team 2000X upon his surprise return in August, aligning with members like and representing the group in high-profile matches such as the final. Marking his longevity with the promotion, Kitamiya reached over a decade of service with by 2025, having competed in 1,116 matches exclusively for the company since joining full-time in 2014.

References

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