Shinjiro Otani
Japanese professional wrestler (born 1972) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Shinjiro Otani (大谷晋二郎, Ōtani Shinjirō, born July 21, 1972)[2] is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and the current acting president of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). He is currently inactive from pro-wrestling competition due to a cervical spine injury sustained in April 2022. A product of the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) dojo, Otani is best known for his longtime association with Zero1, a promotion he founded in 2001 along with Shinya Hashimoto.
Shinjiro Otani | |
---|---|
Born | (1972-07-21) July 21, 1972 (age 51) Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Achichi Mr. Otani Shinjiro Otani |
Billed height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] |
Billed weight | 97 kg (214 lb)[1] |
Trained by | Animal Hamaguchi Hiroshi Hase Kensuke Sasaki |
Debut | June 25, 1992 |
Starting his career in NJPW as a junior heavyweight, Otani gained a reputation as a gutsy underdog and would go on to hold several championships during his nine-year run with the promotion, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and the J-Crown, as well as forming a successful tag team with dojo classmate Tatsuhito Takaiwa, twice holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. After jumping to the heavyweight division in 2001, Otani would leave New Japan the same year, joining Shinya Hashimoto as one of the founders of Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1). Following the departure of Hashimoto in 2004, Otani was pushed as one of the promotions top stars, becoming a six time Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, a one time World Heavyweight Champion and a four-time winner of the Fire Festival. In addition to his role as a wrestler, Otani has also served as acting company president since 2007.