Wikipedia

Douki

Tatsuya Hayama (葉山 達也, Hayama Tatsuya, born December 24, 1991), better known by his ring name Douki (stylised in all caps as DOUKI), is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Just 5 Guys stable and the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. Douki was a part of the Suzuki-gun stable from 2019 till the faction's disbandment in 2022.

Douki
Birth nameTatsuya Hayama
Born (1991-12-24) December 24, 1991 (age 33)[1]
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Douki
Dowki
Kansuke
Tetsuya
Tatsuya
Billed height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Billed weight85 kg (187 lb)[1]
Billed fromYokohama, Japan
Trained bySkayde
Último Dragón
Arturo Beristain
DebutNovember 2010

Professional wrestling career

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Early career

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In May 2010, Hayama had planned to go to Mexico by himself, but Milano Collection A.T. had introduced him to Taichi. After that, he went to CMLL's wrestling school every day and practiced at the gym with Taichi,[2] and debuted under the name Kansuke in November of the same year.[3][4]

In 2012, when he joined Los Perros del Mal (a stable that was formed in December 2008), Hayama thought, "There are other Japanese wrestlers, so let's change the character." He thus adopted the ring name Douki.[5] He served as a member of the stable Japones del Mal. His ring name is derived from Kansuke Yamamoto's ordination name "Michiki".[6]

After spending time in Mexico, Douki made his first appearance in Japan at a Tokyo Gurentai show on October 10, 2015.[7]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling

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Suzuki-gun (2019–2022)

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See also: Suzuki-gun

On May 10, 2019, El Desperado had to be pulled from the Best of the Super Juniors Tournament due to injury, and Taichi introduced Douki as Suzuki-gun's newest member to replace Desperado.[8][9] Douki would finish with only 2 points in the tournament.

On August 1, 2020, NJPW announced a tournament to crown new NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions in which Douki took part alongside stablemates Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado.[10]

In March 2022, Douki participated in the New Japan Cup, where he lost to fellow Suzuki-gun stablemate Zack Sabre Jr. in the second round. In November, Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru competed in the Super Junior Tag League, finishing with eight points and failing to advance to the finals.[11]

In December, at the World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors finals, Minoru Suzuki announced the disbandment of Suzuki-gun by the end of the year.[12] The final match between the faction took place on December 23, where the team of Taichi, Sabre Jr, Kanemaru and Douki defeated Suzuki, Lance Archer, Desperado and Michinoku. After the match, each of the Suzuki-gun members spoke about their memories as a part of the group and thanked leader Suzuki. The night ended with all members posing with the Suzuki-gun flag, only to be interrupted by former member Takashi Iizuka, causing all nine men to pose in the ring, behind the Suzuki-gun flag.[13]

Just 5 Guys (2023–present)

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Main article: Just 5 Guys

On January 5, 2023, at New Year Dash, Michinoku, Taichi, Douki, and Kanemaru formed Just 4 Guys with the aim of reaching the top of New Japan.[14][15] On February 4, at The New Beginning in Sapporo, Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru challenged Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira and TJP) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, but lost.[16][17] In the quarterfinal round of the New Japan Cup, Sanada defeated LIJ stablemate and leader, Tetsuya Naito. After the match, Sanada was joined in the ring by Taichi, Kanemaru, Michinoku and Douki, where they all shook hands, thus joining the stable which changed their name to Just 5 Guys.[18][19] Through NJPW's partnership with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Douki made his AEW debut on the June 23 episode of AEW Rampage, losing to "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry.[20] On June 25 at Forbidden Door, Douki accompanied Sanada for the latter's successful IWGP world title defense against Perry.[21] At the July 5, 2024 New Japan Soul event, Douki defeated El Desperado to capture his first championship, becoming the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

Championships and accomplishments

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Luchas de Apuestas record

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See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Dowki and Daisuke Hanaoka (mask) Los Hermanos Celestick (I & II) (mask) Mexico City, Mexico Live event June 15, 2013 [23]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "DOUKI". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "ミラノ氏からの刺客：新・石狩生活：So-net blog". ishikari.blog.ss-blog.jp. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "みちのくプロレス・オフィシャルサイト「プロフィール・DOUKI」". www.michipro.jp. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "驚愕！ デスペラード×DOUKIが "メキシコとんでもリング"大放談！（前編）なんと坂の途中！ 海辺の砂丘の上に設営!? 現地での"二人の出会い"にも言及!!". www.njpw.co.jp (in Japanese). July 14, 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  5. ^ "「くやしくてアイツのことしか頭に浮かばなかった」"一番の標的"高橋ヒロムの過去に言及！ 独特のマスク誕生秘話とは？ DOUKIに初の単独インタビュー！（後編）". www.njpw.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "知らない人の方が多いだろうがDOUKIという名前は山本勘助の「道鬼」から使わせてもらっている いいデザインだ". Twitter. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "10・10逆上陸！ 日本人ルチャドール「DOUKI」とはナニモノか！？【多重ロマンチック的ぼくらのプロレス】". ぼくらのプロレス. September 7, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Replacements named for El Desperado and Flip Gordon in BOSJ 26". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. May 10, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  9. ^ "【新日本プロレス】"ベールに包まれた男"DOUKIに初の単独インタビュー！". スポーツナビ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  10. ^ NJPW. "New NEVER 6-Man Tag Champions to be crowned in Korakuen tournament | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  11. ^ Currier, Joseph (December 10, 2022). "Finals set for NJPW Super Junior Tag League". Wrestling Observer.
  12. ^ "Suzuki Gun stable to disband at the end of 2022". Won/F4W - Wwe News, Pro Wrestling News, Wwe Results, Aew News, Aew Results. f4wonline.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Suzuki-gun bids farewell on New Japan's final event of the year". 23 December 2022.
  14. ^ "「たまたまそれぞれ行く道が一緒だっただけ」元・鈴木軍のタイチ＆金丸義信＆DOUKI＆TAKAみちのくが新ユニットを結成しUNITED EMPIRE狩りを宣言！". バトル・ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  15. ^ "【新日本】元・鈴木軍のタイチ、金丸義信、DOUKI、TAKAみちのくが新チーム結成！「オレたちは2023年、新日本プロレスを大きく変える！」 | プロレスTODAY" (in Japanese). 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  16. ^ "2023.02.04 THE NEW BEGINNING in SAPPORO | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  17. ^ "NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo live results: Naito vs. Umino". Won/F4W - Wwe News, Pro Wrestling News, Wwe Results, Aew News, Aew Results. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  18. ^ "SANADA Leaves LIJ, Joins Just 4 Guys". 17 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Four become Five Guys as SANADA leaves LIJ to join Taichi group | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING".
  20. ^ Pulido, Luis (June 23, 2023). "AEW Rampage (6/23/2023) Results: United Empire & Swerve vs CHAOS, MJF Appears, Owen Hart Cup Bout". Fightful.
  21. ^ Powell, Jason (June 25, 2023). "AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door results: Powell's live review of Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP U.S. Championship, MJF vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the AEW World Championship". prowrestling.net. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  22. ^ Ross, Patrick (September 10, 2024). "Full 2024 PWI 500 list revealed". aiptcomics.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Douki Profile". LuchaWiki. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
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