Último Dragón in December 2013
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Birth name | Yoshihiro Asai |
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Born |
Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |
December 12, 1966
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Asai The Tiger II Tiger Dragon The Ultimate Dragon Último Dragón Yoshihiro Asai |
Billed height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Billed weight | 84 kg (185 lb) |
Billed from |
Mexico City, Mexico Nagoya, Japan |
Trained by |
Gran Hamada Kotetsu Yamamoto NJPW Dojo |
Debut | May 13, 1987 |
Yoshihiro Asai (浅井 嘉浩 Asai Yoshihiro?, born December 12, 1966) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, better known as Último Dragón (ウルティモ・ドラゴン Urutimo Doragon?). In addition to having trained in Japan, Asai learned to wrestle in the lucha libre style while working in Mexico. He is credited with popularizing the "Asai Moonsault".
Asai holds a record as the professional wrestler with the most concurrent championships. On October 11, 1996, he won the J-Crown, a unification of eight lower weight division titles from various international promotions. At the time, he already held the NWA World Middleweight Championship; during this reign he also became the WCW Cruiserweight Champion, making him the most decorated wrestler in recorded history. From December 29, 1996 through January 4, 1997 he was the active reigning and defending champion of ten titles, a record which still stands. Since December 2013 he has competed mostly for All Japan Pro Wrestling as a freelancer.
The name "Ultimo Dragon", which means "Last Dragon" in Spanish was initially used as a gimmick of Asai claiming to be the last student taught by legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, whose nickname was "The Dragon". The gimmick was later forgotten, but the name remained.