CAW Biography: Tiger Yamamoto

by Twyztad Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:30 pm

Tiger Yamamoto (born June 27, 1990) is a Japanese professional wrestling currently signed to American wrestling promotion CMV, under its NGW developmental brand. He is known for his work in Real Japan Pro Wrestling where he is a former six time Real Japan World Champion and former two time Real Japan Tag Team Champion, both as a member of the Four Pillars of RJPW.

Who is Tiger Yamamoto?
This section will be short (relatively, instead of going in-depth about each and every feud and title match) and separate from the rest of his career as it covers his time in Real Japan Pro Wrestling, information which isn't exactly important to the events happening in CMV.

Tiger debuted in 2010 as a normal guy looking for a chance, but as his training in the dojo and in-ring performances showed, his talent level was above and beyond what it should have been. RJPW had an idea of what to do with this talent, solidify his position in wrestling history as the third of RJPW's version of AJPW's Four Pillars of Heaven, four men who were guaranteed to draw a crowd, sellout arenas, and make money (the other two at the time being Lin Kai and Akira Matsuda and later joined by El Trueno).

The company pulled the trigger on this in 2012, when Tiger interfered in a world heavyweight title match between Lin Kai and Akira Matsuda, clearing both men out of the ring and posing with the title himself. However, it wasn't until 2013 when he would win the world title himself, and then losing it a few months later.

In 2014 Tiger found himself defending the world title when he was attacked by Gift of the Gods, a tag team formed between Kai and Matsuda. This lead to his search for a tag partner, eventually stumbling upon El Trueno, who had managed to work his towards being the fourth and final Pillar of Heaven. The four men traded back and forth the RJPW tag titles in tag matches of varying degree (including two ladder matches, a submission-only tornado match only match, three normal tornado tag matches, and a steel cage match, all unseen in its competition) as well as the world title in single's, triple threat, and fatal-four-way matches (including match types unseen inside other Japanese promotions). These battles from Winter 2014 to Fall 2017 where considered The Great War, though ultimately in the end Akira Matsuda became world champion and OSAKA BATTLE, resetting the state of the championships to how they were before Tiger came into the picture.

After The Great War, Tiger tried two more times to capture the world title and failed to do so. The stipulation for the last match was if Tiger loses, he cannot compete for the world title while Matsuda is champion. During a Matsuda vs Takamayu match, Tiger attempted to help Takamayu to cheat his way to victory, but ultimately failed to do so. To spite his rivals, he went after the RJPW Intercontinental Championship and managed to capture it in his first challenge. Several months into his reign, Matsuda attempted to interfere in Yamamoto vs Yume for the Intercontinental Champion, hitting Tiger in the head with a steel chair while the ref was focused on a dazed Yume. However, the results were an unconscious Yamamoto falling onto a daze Yume for the pin to retain. Tiger would hold onto the title for one more month before losing it.

After losing the Intercontinental Championship, Yamamoto transition into a temporary backstage role to heal from his lingering injuries as he hadn't taken a break since 2012. On January 3, 2019, RJPW held a press conference where they hyped up a possible Second Great War between three factions: OSAKA BATTLE!!!!, Four Pillars, and an unannounced third team. Yamamoto announced at this conference that he would be unable to participate in any potential wars as he was taking a leave of absence from the company.

Career in CMV
In October 2019, on an episode of ESPN's This Week In Wrestling show, it was announced by hosts Adam and J.T. that Tiger Yamamoto would be signing to CMV's NGW developmental brand. In Tiger's words: "I am doing this to further the brand of Real Japan Pro Wrestling as well as to build business relations between Real Japan and CMV."

Unfortunately, Yamamoto's run in NGW was short lived as the company decided to cut the program. He is still currently contracted to CMV.

In Wrestling
Signatures
SUPER SHINING KICK - Superkick
SUPER SHINING WIZARD - Running Knee Strike
SUPER SHINING ELBOW - Elbow Drop w/ theatrics
Finishers
SUPER TIGER DRIVER / Kyoto Killer (K2) - Death Valley Driver

Entrance Theme(s):
Eye of the Tiger (2010-2012)
Good in Gold (2012-2013)
God in Gold (2013-2019)
God in Gold 2014 Remix (2014)
God in Gold 2014 REMIX v2 (2015-2017)
God in Gold Ultimate Champion Edition (2018)
God in Gold / American Exclusive (2019-present)

Tag Teams & Alliances:
Four Pillars (w/ Lin Kai, Akira Matsuda, El Trueno)
Sky Squad (w/ El Trueno)

Championships and Accomplishments:
Real Japan World Heavyweight Champion (x6)
Real Japan Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (x2) - with El Trueno
Real Japan Intercontinental Champion (x1)
5 Star Match (2013) vs Akira Matsuda, January 6, 2013
5 Star Match (2013) vs Akira Matsuda, March 19, 2013
5 Star Match (2014) w/ El Trueno vs Akira Matsuda & Lin Kai - Ladder Match, May 16, 2014
5 Star Match (2014) w/ El Trueno vs Akira Matsuda & Lin Kai - Tornado Tag Submission Match, July 11, 2014
5 Star Match (2015) vs El Trueno vs Lin Kai vs Akira Matsuda, June 7, 2015
5 Star Match (2016) vs El Trueno vs Akira Matsuda, Janurary 7, 2016
5 Star Match (2017) vs Akira Matsuda, January 6, 2017