Atsushi Kotoge
| Atsushi Kotoge | |
|---|---|
Kotoge in April 2011
|
|
| Birth name | Atsushi Kotoge |
| Born |
October 18, 1985 Kaizuka, Osaka |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Atsunosuke Matsuyama Atsushi Kotoge Atsushi-kun Kaiju no Kobun |
| Billed height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) |
| Billed weight | 72 kg (159 lb) |
| Trained by | Osaka Pro Wrestling dojo |
| Debut | April 29, 2005 |
Atsushi Kotoge (小峠 篤司 Kotōge Atsushi?) (born October 18, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former two-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion and record five-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his time in Osaka Pro Wrestling, where he was part of the tag team Momo no Seishun Tag (桃の青春タッグ Momo no Seishun Taggu?, "Peach of Youth Tag") with Daisuke Harada. Kotoge and Harada are former three-time Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions and have also worked together for various other promotions across Japan and for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania–based Chikara in the United States.
Kotoge made his debut for Osaka Pro Wrestling on April 29, 2005, at the promotion's sixth anniversary show, facing Kabuto Beetle in a losing effort. After a rocky first year, which saw Kotoge feuding with La Uchida, without much success, the summer of 2006 saw him starting a new feud with Daisuke Harada, during which he also began picking up victories and showing improvement in his in–ring work. In November 2006, Kotoge and Harada ended their feud and decided to partner up instead. After working as a tag team for over a year, Kotoge and Harada were finally granted a shot at the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship on January 5, 2008, but were unsuccessful in their attempt at dethroning the defending champions Bad Force (GAINA and Zero). Just a month later on February 11, the team came to an abrupt end, when Kotoge turned heel and joined the Bad Force stable, which, beside GAINA and Zero, also included Condor, Hideyoshi, Kazushi and Masamune. Meanwhile, Harada formed rival group Blood & Guts with Zeus and Tadasuke. The feud between Bad Force and Blood & Guts would last for the next three months, before Bad Force was dissolved, when Condor, GAINA and Zero jumped to splinter promotion Okinawa Pro Wrestling, after which Kotoge reunited with Harada by joining his stable. In June, Blood & Guts sent two teams into the 2008 Osaka Tag Festival, with Kotoge teaming with Tadasuke and Harada with Zeus. Both teams made it to the finals, where Harada and Zeus were victorious. Kotoge spent the rest of the year teaming with Harada and on November 15, the two unsuccessfully challenged Black Buffalo and Tigers Mask for the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship.
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