Jun Akiyama
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| Jun Akiyama | |
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| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Jun Akiyama Blue Thunder Supernova |
| Billed height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) |
| Billed weight | 110 kg (243 lb) |
| Born | October 9, 1969 Izumi, Osaka |
| Debut | September 17, 1992 vs. Kenta Kobashi |
- For information about the Japanese videogame programmer, please see Jun Akiyama (videogame programmer).
Jun Akiyama (秋山準 Akiyama Jun) is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling NOAH.
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[edit] Career
In junior high school Akiyama practised swimming and in senior high school he did freestyle amateur wrestling and judo. After high school he went to Senshu University in Tokyo. There he joined an amateur wrestling team that produced other professional wrestlers Riki Chōshū, Hiroshi Hase and Manabu Nakanishi. He had great success as an amateur wrestler and so was scouted by All Japan Pro Wrestling scouts. He made his professional wrestling debut in september of 1992 against Kenta Kobashi. He gradually rose in rank, getting a trial series in January 1993 and eventually becoming Mitsuharu Misawa's tag team partner after he split with Kenta Kobashi at the end of 1995. He was closing in on the Triple Crown, getting his first shot in September 1997 and steadily rising in rank over the coming years before he left AJPW for Mitsuharu Misawa's newly created Pro Wrestling NOAH in mid-2000. He was quickly established as a top star of the company, becoming the second GHC Heavyweight Champion but failed to shine in the position with NOAH eventually being forced to abandon his push, using Yoshinari Ogawa to transition the title back to Misawa. In April 2004 he created the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship Title. Late 2004 and much of 2005 were highlighted by his feud with protégé Makoto Hashi where Akiyama used "tough love" to toughen up young Hashi. On January 22, 2006, Akiyama defeated Akira Taue to become the GHC Heavyweight Champion for the second time, defending the title against Minoru Suzuki on March 5 and Masao Inoue on April 24. Akiyama was defeated by Naomichi Marufuji on NOAH's September 9 Nippon Budokan show in his third defense of the GHC Heavyweight Title.
Following his title loss to Naomichi Marufuji, Akiyama made good his promise to Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, going back to wearing blue tights, and wrestling mainly in the undercard.
[edit] Credentials
- Factions: STERNNESS
[edit] Finishers and signature moves
- Sternness Dust (Wrist clutch Death Valley driver)
- Sternness Dust II (Wrist clutch fisherman brainbuster)
- Exploder '98 / Wrist clutch exploder suplex
- Running high knee
- Blue Thunder Bomb (Spin-out powerbomb)
- Exploder suplex
- King Crab Lock (Front facelock with opponent's legs trapped)
- Guillotine choke
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
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- 2-Time GHC Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time GHC Tag-Team Champion with Akitoshi Saito
- 1-Time GHC Openweight Hardcore Champion
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- 3-Time AJPW World Tag Team Champion with Mitsuharu Misawa once, and Kenta Kobashi twice
- 1-Time All Asia Tag Team Champion with Takao Omori
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- PWI ranked him # 90 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
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- 1993 Rookie of the Year
- 1996 Tag Team of the Year (with Mitsuharu Misawa)
- 1996 Match of the Year (with Mitsuharu Misawa vs Steve Williams and Johnny Ace)
- 1997 Tag Team of the Year (with Mitsuharu Misawa)
- 1999 Tag Team of the Year (with Kenta Kobashi)
- 2004 Match of the Year (vs Kenta Kobashi)
