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Masato Tanaka

Masato Tanaka (born February 28, 1973) is a Japanese professional wrestler renowned for his hardcore and all-around wrestling style, having competed prominently in promotions such as (FMW), (ECW), (NJPW), and Pro Wrestling ZERO1. Standing at 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) and weighing 90 kg (198 lb), he debuted on July 23, 1993, and remains active as of November 2025 at age 52, serving as a key figure and co-vice president in ZERO1. Tanaka's career began in the deathmatch-oriented FMW, where he trained under legends like and quickly rose to prominence through intense rivalries, including a legendary feud with that defined the promotion's hardcore ethos in the 1990s. He captured the once and became a cornerstone of the company until its closure in 2002, earning acclaim for his resilience in brutal stipulation matches involving weapons and high-risk maneuvers. This period established Tanaka as a symbol of wrestling, blending technical prowess with unyielding toughness. In 1998, Tanaka ventured to the United States, making a significant impact in ECW, where his stiff, hard-hitting style meshed perfectly with the promotion's extreme environment. He engaged in a series of acclaimed brawls with Mike Awesome, culminating in victory for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship once (December 1999), and also held the ECW World Tag Team Championship with Balls Mahoney. His ECW tenure, including standout performances at events like Heat Wave 1998, solidified his international reputation as a fearless competitor capable of elevating any matchup. Post-ECW and FMW, Tanaka continued his versatile career across multiple Japanese promotions, achieving further accolades such as the inaugural in NJPW in 2012, which he held for a record 314 days. He also achieved multiple titles in and ZERO1, including a record seventh World Heavyweight Championship win in November 2025, while participating in high-profile tournaments and inter-promotional events. Known for signature moves like the Sliding D, Bullet Elbow, and Roaring Elbow, Tanaka's enduring legacy lies in his adaptability and influence on hardcore and strong-style wrestling traditions.

Early life and career beginnings

Early life

Masato Tanaka was born on February 28, 1973, in Wakayama, , . During high school, he trained in and weight training. He was raised in Wakayama. Details on Tanaka's early family life and formative influences remain limited in public records, with his parents hailing from the .

Training and debut

Tanaka began his professional wrestling training at approximately age 20 in the dojo of Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW), where he was instructed by Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto. On July 23, 1993, Tanaka made his professional debut for FMW at the Saga Sports Center in Saga City, Japan, challenging Ricky Fuji in a singles match. He lost the bout via pinfall after 6 minutes and 48 seconds. In the immediate aftermath of his debut, Tanaka was positioned as a jobber within FMW, frequently losing to more experienced competitors to help elevate them on the card.

Professional wrestling career

Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (1993–2002)

Masato Tanaka debuted in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) on July 23, 1993, in Saga, Japan, where he lost to Ricky Fuji in his first professional match. Initially positioned as a jobber in the promotion's hardcore environment, Tanaka spent his early years (1993–1995) in preliminary matches, often facing established talents like Hido and Mr. Chin, which helped him build resilience in FMW's signature deathmatch style involving weapons and high-risk spots. By 1995, he began a gradual push toward the midcard, participating in multi-man brawls and tag team bouts that showcased his emerging toughness, earning him the nickname "Dangan" Tanaka for his explosive offense. Tanaka's rise accelerated through key feuds that defined FMW's extreme ethos. He clashed intensely with , the promotion's founder and hardcore icon, culminating in a singles match on December 19, 1997, at Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium in , highlighting his rising status without a title change, as Tanaka had already captured the FMW Double Titles earlier that year. His rivalry with highlighted aerial and technical contrasts amid FMW's violence, including multi-man wars against invading factions. Against Mr. Gannosuke (also known as Mr. Gannosaku), Tanaka engaged in brutal table-smashing and encounters, such as their double tables match, emphasizing FMW's elements like embedded explosives and staples. In 1999, Tanaka co-founded the Complete Players stable alongside , , and Nakayama, his real-life partner, to counter FMW's shifting power dynamics and promote a unified front in tag and multi-man competitions. This alliance bolstered his main event status, leading to significant title victories. On September 28, 1997, at Kawasaki Stadium's Fall Spectacular, Tanaka captured his first by defeating The Gladiator in a unification match with the Independent Heavyweight Title, holding it for three successful defenses over 100 days. He later won the World Heavyweight Championship on November 23, 1999, against Kodo Fuyuki in a Thunderbolt Cage Death Match, solidifying his status as FMW's top homegrown star. Following a stint in , Tanaka briefly returned to FMW in spring 2000, feuding initially with before aligning with him under his Onita mask persona. His tenure involved high-profile defenses and tag runs with Complete Players members, but growing financial instability plagued the promotion. Tanaka departed in early amid unpaid wages and internal conflicts with owner , contributing to FMW's declaration of bankruptcy on February 15, 2002, which ended the company's operations after nearly a decade of Tanaka's foundational role.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1998–2000)

Masato Tanaka debuted in () on March 1, 1998, at the Living Dangerously event, defeating in a singles match as part of the working agreement between and (). This excursion allowed Tanaka to showcase his style, honed in , through intense brawls involving weapons and high-risk maneuvers that quickly earned him a reputation among American audiences. In late 1998, Tanaka formed an unlikely partnership with , culminating in their victory over the to capture the on November 1 at in New Orleans, Louisiana—a reign that lasted five days before they lost the titles to the on November 6. The duo defended the belts in brutal matches, including a notable defense against the on November 13 during , emphasizing their chemistry in chaotic, weapon-filled encounters. Tanaka's most prominent ECW storyline was his intense feud with Mike Awesome, beginning with a hard-fought loss at Heatwave on August 2, 1998, where the two engaged in a violent singles match praised for its stiff strikes and table spots. The rivalry escalated throughout 1999, featuring multiple high-profile bouts, including a three-way dance at Anarchy Rulz on September 19 where Awesome defeated Tanaka and champion Taz to win the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, and a rematch at November to Remember on November 7 where Awesome retained the title against Tanaka in a bloody singles encounter. The feud contributed to Awesome's growing frustrations with ECW, culminating in his departure to World Championship Wrestling in April 2000 amid the promotion's mounting financial woes. Amid the Awesome rivalry, Tanaka captured the on December 17, 1999, during an episode of taped in , defeating Awesome in a 17-minute singles match to end his opponent's dominant run—marking Tanaka's sole world title reign in the promotion, albeit a brief six-day stint before Awesome regained it on December 23. In early 2000, Tanaka teamed with to win the on February 26 in , , holding the titles for seven days until dropping them to the Impact Players on March 4. Tanaka's ECW tenure wound down later that year due to his commitments to FMW and ECW's escalating financial difficulties, which ultimately led to the promotion's bankruptcy in 2001. Tanaka made a one-off return to ECW programming at the WWE-produced One Night Stand on June 12, 2005, facing in a steel cage match that revisited their storied rivalry with renewed intensity, ending in Mike Awesome's victory via pinfall after powerbombing Tanaka through a table on the outside of the ring followed by a suicide dive.)

Battlarts and early independents (2000–2002)

Following his successful stint in , where he gained international recognition for his hardcore matches, Masato Tanaka returned to in early 2000 and transitioned to Fighting Team Battlarts, a promotion founded by Yuki Ishikawa emphasizing shoot-style wrestling with realistic submissions and strikes over theatrical elements. This shift marked a deliberate adaptation for Tanaka, who had built his reputation on FMW's spectacles, as Battlarts focused on technical grappling and stiff competition to simulate legitimate fights. In Battlarts, Tanaka quickly integrated into the roster, competing in high-stakes bouts that highlighted his hard-hitting style. On July 5, 2000, at Korakuen Hall, he teamed with and to defeat Ishikawa in a handicap match, pinning the promotion's founder after 13:10 of intense exchanges. Later that month, on July 25 at Hamanako Kyotei Jonai Hall, Tanaka and drew with Ishikawa and Mohammed Yone in a 15:00 time-limit match, showcasing his endurance in prolonged shoot-style contests. By September 9, 2000, at another Korakuen Hall event, Tanaka partnered with junji.com to beat Ikuto Hidaka and Yone, applying a modified Tazmission submission on Hidaka for the win at 17:22. These encounters, along with participation in Battlarts' Young Generation Battle tournament in 2000, allowed Tanaka to experiment with tag partnerships while refining his application of strikes in a less chaotic environment. Tanaka's run in Battlarts continued into 2001 with similar experiments, often pairing him with wrestlers like Kazunari to challenge the promotion's core shooters. On April 13, 2001, at the "5 Years Later" event in Korakuen Hall, Tanaka and faced Ishikawa and Yone in a hard-fought , emphasizing Tanaka's strike-heavy approach against Battlarts' submission specialists. Another notable bout on , 2001, saw him with against Ishikawa and Yone, where Tanaka's interactions with Ishikawa stood out for their physicality and mutual respect in the shoot-style framework. He wrestled 16 matches for Battlarts that year, including singles and tags against talents like Daichi Kakimoto, building momentum through consistent performances in strong-style tournaments despite the promotion's emphasis on realism over spectacle. However, adapting to this non-hardcore format presented challenges, as Tanaka worked to translate his ECW-honed resilience into grappling-heavy bouts without the aid of weapons, often relying on his signature Rolling Elbow to generate crowd reactions amid Battlarts' smaller audiences. Battlarts folded in early 2002 due to financial issues, leaving Tanaka without a primary base as declared bankruptcy on February 15, 2002, following its final event on February 4. In the interim, he freelanced across independents, making appearances in (AJPW) during the 2002 Real World Tag League, where he teamed with against pairs like and Taiyo Kea on November 23, contributing to competitive league matches that tested his versatility in AJPW's strong-style tradition. Tanaka also debuted in early events, wrestling in a marquee singles match on March 2, 2002, at the "Truth Century Creation" show in Ryogoku Hall, a performance that highlighted his ability to hold his own against heavyweight strikers and paved the way for more opportunities. These freelance outings, including brief tag experiments with former FMW allies like against rivals such as on May 4, 2002, helped Tanaka maintain visibility and momentum during the turbulent period, bridging his independent phase to a full-time role in Zero1 later that year.

Pro Wrestling Zero1 (2002–present)

Masato Tanaka joined in early 2002, shortly after the promotion's formation by and , establishing himself as a cornerstone wrestler and key collaborator under Otani's influence. His early independent experience facilitated a seamless transition into Zero1, where he quickly rose to prominence as a top singles competitor. Tanaka's debut year saw him form the Emblem with Otani, capturing the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship on January 6, 2002, in their first reign together, which lasted until October 20. Tanaka secured his first Zero1 World Heavyweight on March 16, 2003, defeating Otani in a high-profile match that highlighted their intense , and he has won the title seven times as of November 2025, with subsequent reigns beginning in 2004, 2006, 2012, January 1, 2021, and most recently on November 10, 2025, defeating Atsushi Kotoge for the vacant title. His championship pursuits intertwined with major feuds against Otani, marked by brutal strong-style exchanges, as well as Takao , whose power-based clashes often headlined events, and international challengers like , bringing global elements to Zero1's roster. Alongside these singles rivalries, Tanaka and Otani reclaimed the NWA Tag Team on August 31, 2003, holding it for 172 days and solidifying as a dominant force. As a co-vice president of Zero1 alongside Kohei Sato since , Tanaka has played a pivotal role in the promotion's evolution, shifting from its original pure strong-style roots—emphasizing stiff strikes and submissions—to a hybrid approach incorporating and international influences drawn from his FMW and background. This transition is exemplified by his launch of the Zero1 affiliate in 2011, which expanded the promotion's appeal by blending elements with traditional wrestling. In 2025, Tanaka remained active in Zero1's marquee events, including a 30-minute time-limit draw against the debuting "new Hayabusa" on August 3 at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring, showcasing intergenerational storytelling, and a victory with over Junya Matsunaga and Yuki Toki on August 31 at TOKYOSQUARE in , reinforcing his enduring presence as a leader. As of November 2025, he captured the Zero1 World Heavyweight Championship on at the Reborn ZERO1 First Advance To The Holy Land event.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2009–2013)

Masato Tanaka entered (NJPW) in 2009 through a working agreement between his primary promotion, , and NJPW, initially competing on the undercard as an outsider representative. His debut came during the tournament on August 9, 2009, where he defeated Takao Omori in Block A action. Throughout the 2009 , Tanaka accumulated seven points across seven matches in Block A, tying for second place but failing to advance to the finals due to tiebreaker criteria favoring and . Tanaka's role expanded in subsequent years, leading to significant title opportunities that highlighted his hardcore style in NJPW's mainstream landscape. On October 10, 2011, at Destruction '11, he captured the by defeating champion in the main event, marking his first major singles title in the promotion. His 125-day reign included three successful defenses, notably against on December 23, 2011, at New Japan Alive '11, before losing the belt to on February 12, 2012, at . This victory positioned Tanaka as a credible midcard contender, bridging his Zero1 roots with NJPW's evolving roster dynamics. In late 2012, NJPW introduced the to foster an openweight division open to both and heavyweights, aiming to integrate the weight classes through unrestricted competition. Tanaka won the inaugural title on November 19, 2012, at NEVER 1: Tag 6, defeating in the finals of a 16-man after victories over KUSHIDA, Taishi Takizawa, and in earlier rounds. His first reign lasted 314 days, featuring defenses that exemplified the division's hybrid nature, including a successful title retention against on July 20, 2013, at Kizuna Road 2013. Tanaka lost the championship to Naito on September 29, 2013, at Destruction, in a hard-fought match that capped his NEVER run. During his NJPW tenure, Tanaka also competed in tag team tournaments to showcase versatility beyond singles competition. In the 2013 World Tag League, he partnered with , advancing through block play with wins over teams like Prince Devitt and before being eliminated in the later stages. Following the title loss to Naito and amid NJPW's internal restructuring under president , Tanaka departed the promotion at the end of 2013 to prioritize his commitments with Zero1. As the first NEVER Openweight Champion, Tanaka's defenses against diverse opponents helped solidify the division's role in blending NJPW's heavyweight and junior heavyweight talents, paving the way for future cross-weight-class rivalries.

Pro Wrestling Noah (2014–present)

Tanaka entered in early 2014 as a , immediately engaging in high-profile singles matches against contenders, including bouts in the Global League tournament where he faced established stars like Maybach Taniguchi and . His hard-hitting style, honed from years in and strong style promotions, allowed him to hold his own in Noah's athletic main event scene, earning respect as a reliable veteran performer. A key aspect of Tanaka's Noah tenure has been his long-standing tag team partnership with , initially formed in 2014 through their shared affiliation with the Dangan Yankies from Pro Wrestling Zero1. The duo quickly achieved success, winning the Global Tag League tournament in both 2014—defeating and in the final—and 2015. This early run culminated in capturing the on May 31, 2014, at Navigation with Breeze 2014 in , where they overcame Maybach Taniguchi and ; the reign lasted 224 days and included defenses that showcased their stiff, power-based offense. The partnership was revitalized in 2020 amid Noah's evolving roster, with Tanaka and Sugiura reuniting to target the tag division once more. Their renewed collaboration yielded another victory in 2021 on their first joint attempt that year, solidifying their status as enduring threats. They added a second Global Tag League win in 2023, further highlighting Tanaka's expertise drawn from his dominant runs in Zero1. In late 2023, the pair captured the for a second time together, embarking on a reign marked by successful defenses against rising teams such as and Hao, emphasizing Tanaka's role in bridging generational gaps through intense, technical exchanges. Throughout his Noah career, Tanaka has regularly competed in the singles tournament, using the format to mentor younger talent by example—often trading heavy strikes and submissions with up-and-comers like and Daiki Inaba, helping to elevate Noah's undercard while maintaining his veteran presence. This guiding influence has been particularly evident in tags and tournaments, where Tanaka's experience fosters development without overshadowing emerging stars. On November 8, 2025, , Tanaka's longtime tag partner, and lost the to NXT representatives Hank Walker and Tank Ledger in a that underscored the promotion's growing ties.

International appearances outside Japan (2002–present)

Following his departure from in 2000, Masato Tanaka began making sporadic appearances on the United States independent wrestling circuit, with his early international efforts centered on (ROH) from 2002 to 2005. Tanaka debuted for ROH on November 9, 2002, at the All Star Extravaganza event in Chicago, Illinois, where he teamed with fellow Japanese wrestler to defeat and by pinfall in the main event. These tours helped introduce elements of —Japanese —to American audiences, blending Tanaka's hardcore style with ROH's emphasis on technical and high-impact matches. During this period, Tanaka competed in several high-profile bouts, including victories over American talents that showcased his resilience and striking ability, contributing to the cross-cultural exchange between Japanese and U.S. indies without establishing a full-time base abroad. Later that year, on June 12, 2005, Tanaka returned for a nostalgic appearance at ECW One Night Stand in , facing longtime rival in a steel cage match that ended in Awesome's victory via pinfall after powerbombing Tanaka through a table outside the ring followed by a suicide dive. This bout highlighted Tanaka's enduring influence on the Western hardcore landscape, where his FMW-honed expertise continued to inspire U.S. promotions even as he focused primarily on Japanese circuits. Tanaka's international bookings remained intermittent into the and beyond, with notable returns to the U.S. indie scene through (GCW). He appeared at GCW's 3 in 2019, engaging in and singles matches that aligned with the promotion's ethos. By the 2020s, Tanaka's GCW outings intensified, including a tag team loss to and at 8 on April 5, 2024, in , , and a no-disqualification defeat to at Circle 6: Thriller on October 15, 2023, in —events that emphasized his veteran status in multi-woman and weapon-filled contests. In 2023, Tanaka participated in Absolute Intense Wrestling's (AIW) JT Lightning Invitational Tournament in , , advancing from the opening round with a victory over Joshua on before falling in a four-way semifinal to Sam Holloway, Derek Dillinger, and the following night. His (DPW) debut came on November 12, 2023, in a winning six-person tag team match alongside Bryan Keith and against Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs, and at World's Strongest in . Tanaka returned to DPW in 2024, challenging unsuccessfully for the in a relaxed rules match against Adam Priest on October 13 at , also in , following a no-DQ loss to Colby on April 20 at No Pressure in . Tanaka made his Wrestling Revolver debut on January 9, 2025, in , at Vybe Check, defeating in a 14:31 street fight that featured broken doors and chairs, marking a rare win in his ongoing U.S. freelance schedule. These appearances, often as special attractions, have sustained Tanaka's legacy in the global community, where his technical prowess and willingness to engage in extreme stipulations continue to draw crowds without committing to a permanent international roster.

Championships and accomplishments

World Heavyweight Championships

Masato Tanaka's first world heavyweight title reign came in (FMW), where he captured the —unified with the FMW Independent Heavyweight Championship—on September 28, 1997, by defeating The Gladiator in , . This victory marked Tanaka's emergence as a top hardcore competitor in FMW, showcasing his resilience in a promotion known for brutal matches. He defended the double championship successfully three times during a 100-day reign, including against tough opponents in street fight-style bouts, before losing both titles to Mr. Gannosuke on January 6, 1998, at Korakuen Hall in . In 1999, amid FMW's transition toward what would become Wrestling Entertainment eXtreme (WEW), Tanaka secured the FMW Independent Heavyweight Championship—a key world title in the promotion's hierarchy—on July 25, 1999, by defeating Mr. Gannosuke. His 31-day reign emphasized his ongoing dominance in FMW's heavyweight division, though it ended abruptly when Kodo Fuyuki defeated him on August 25, 1999, just before the promotion's financial struggles intensified. This short but intense period highlighted Tanaka's role in FMW's final years of innovation. Later that year, Tanaka achieved international acclaim by winning the on December 17, 1999, defeating longtime rival in a singles match at an taping in . As the first Japanese wrestler to hold the title, his 6-day reign symbolized the cross-cultural impact of ECW's extreme style, blending Tanaka's FMW-honed hardcore expertise with American promotion. He lost the championship back to Awesome on December 23, 1999, in , in a match that further cemented their legendary feud. Tanaka's most extensive world heavyweight success came in , where he became a seven-time Zero1 World Heavyweight Champion, often defending the title in grueling, strikes-heavy contests that reflected his signature sliding and roaring elbow style. His first reign began on December 15, 2007, upon recognition as the inaugural champion following his earlier AWA World Heavyweight Title win; he held it for 307 days until October 13, 2008, with seven successful defenses, including against and Takao , establishing Zero1's global legitimacy. The second reign lasted 115 days from July 1, 2009, to October 24, 2009, featuring defenses against and Masato Yoshino that showcased Zero1's technical-hardcore hybrid. In 2017, Tanaka won his third reign on March 26, holding for 281 days until January 1, 2018, with notable defenses against emphasizing endurance battles. His fourth reign, from June 3, 2018, to November 24, 2018 (174 days), included key victories over wrestlers like , reinforcing his veteran status. His fifth reign began on January 1, 2021, lasting 226 days until August 15, 2021, with defenses against highlighting his longevity at age 47. Tanaka's sixth and seventh reigns occurred later, with the seventh beginning on November 10, 2025, when he defeated Atsushi Kotoge for the vacant title at First Advance To The in , and remains ongoing as of November 2025. These reigns, totaling over 1,300 days, underscore Tanaka's pivotal role in Zero1's survival and evolution as a promotion. During his New Japan Pro-Wrestling stint, Tanaka won the IWGP Intercontinental Championship on October 10, 2011, defeating at Destruction '11 in , becoming only the second champion in the title's short history. His 125-day reign featured high-profile defenses against at Power Struggle and in multi-man matches, positioning the midcard title as a platform for international talent. He lost the belt to on February 12, 2012, at in . Tanaka also holds the distinction as the inaugural NEVER Openweight Champion, winning the title on November 19, 2012, by defeating Karl Anderson in the tournament final at NEVER 1 in Tokyo. His record 314-day reign from 2012 to 2013 included landmark defenses against Tetsuya Naito (twice), Tomohiro Ishii, and Karl Anderson in stipulation matches, defining the NEVER brand's openweight ethos that allowed heavyweights and juniors to compete equally. The reign ended on September 29, 2013, when Naito defeated him at Destruction in Kobe, solidifying Tanaka's legacy in NJPW's junior-heavyweight expansion.

Tag Team Championships

Masato Tanaka has had a notable career in the tag team division, forming impactful partnerships that led to multiple title victories across different promotions. His collaborations often emphasized hard-hitting styles and international crossovers, contributing to his reputation as a versatile competitor in both American and Japanese wrestling scenes. In (ECW), Tanaka captured the twice during his tenure from 1998 to 2000. His first reign came with partner , whom he teamed with to defeat the on November 1, 1998, holding the titles for five days before losing them to the on November 6, 1998. This short but intense partnership highlighted Tanaka's adaptation to ECW's hardcore environment. His second reign was with , a core ECW figure, after defeating the Impact Players ( and ) on February 26, 2000; they defended the titles successfully once before dropping them to and on March 4, 2000, in a seven-day run that underscored Tanaka's chemistry with Dreamer in high-stakes brawls. Tanaka's most enduring tag team success came in , where he partnered with as part of the team to win the Intercontinental Tag Team Championship twice. Their first reign began on January 6, 2002, when they defeated Samoa Joe and Tom Howard, holding the titles for 287 days until vacating them on October 20, 2002, due to Otani's injury; this period solidified Emblem as a dominant force in Zero1's early years. They recaptured the titles on August 31, 2003, defeating CW Anderson and , and defended them against various challengers before losing to Tom Howard and the Predator on February 19, 2004, in a 172-day reign that showcased their technical and striking prowess. In , Tanaka teamed with longtime associate under the Dangan Yankees banner to win the once in 2014, holding the titles for 224 days until losing them on January 10, 2015.

Other Championships and awards

Throughout his career, Masato Tanaka has captured several midcard and regional championships, particularly during his early independent tours in the United States and in Japanese promotions outside the major heavyweight divisions. In 2004, during Pro Wrestling Zero1's U.S. tour, Tanaka defeated in an Indian strap match to win the NWA United National Heavyweight Championship, holding the title for 251 days until losing it to Takao Omori on October 8, 2004. Later that year, he also became the inaugural WORLD-1 Heavyweight Champion by defeating on February 7, reigning for an impressive 720 days until vacating the title in 2006 amid the promotion's closure. Tanaka's U.S. appearances in the early 2000s included defenses and matches across various indies, contributing to his reputation in the American hardcore scene, though he did not hold additional regional belts during those tours beyond the NWA title. Returning to Japan, he won the HUSTLE Hardcore Hero Championship on March 18, 2005, in a battle royal, holding it for 176 days as part of Hustle Wrestling's comedy-hardcore style. In 2017, Tanaka captured the Blast King Championship from Shogun on September 24, defending it in deathmatches before losing it after 40 days. More recently, in 2023, he briefly held the Greektown Wrestling Championship for one day on June 9 after defeating Anton Voorhies, and later won the GHC Hardcore Openweight Championship from Ninja Mack on October 23, reigning for 35 days in Pro Wrestling Noah. In addition to singles titles, Tanaka has excelled in tournaments. He and won the Global Tag League in 2014 and 2015, showcasing their strong partnership through victories that highlighted Tanaka's resilience in multi-man formats. Tanaka received recognition for his contributions to , including a #21 ranking in Pro Wrestling Illustrated's PWI 500 in 2000, reflecting his standout performances in and FMW during that year. His legacy as an alumnus has been honored through appearances at reunion events, underscoring his role in bridging Japanese styles with American extreme wrestling.

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