Puroresu Central

Naomichi Marufuji

Birthdate: September 26th, 1979
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Debut: August 28th, 1998
Background: Amateur Wrestling
Promotion History: All Japan (1998 to 2000) and NOAH (2000 to present)
Alliances: Teamed with KENTA and Minoru Suzuki
Ring Attire: Black pants
Card Position: Mid-Card/Upper Mid-Card
Major Tournaments Won: None
Championship Title History: GHC Hardcore Openweight Championship, GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, GHC Heavyweight Championship, GHC Jr. Heavyweight Championship, GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, and the WEW Tag Team Championship
Current Championship Held: All Japan Jr. Heavyweight Championship

Biggest Matches:
- December 9th, 2001 vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa (title win)
- July 16th, 2003 with KENTA vs. Jushin Thunder Liger and Murahama (title win)
- June 18th, 2005 with Minoru Suzuki vs. Doug Williams and Scorpio (title win)
- March 5th, 2006 vs. Akira Taue
- September 9th, 2006 vs. Jun Akiyama (title win)

Pictures:
- Marufuji with a trophy
- Tree of Woe Dropkick by Marufuji
- The Perfect Inside Cradle
- Marufuji with an apron lariat

Signature Moves:
- Aztec Suplex
- Butterfly Neckbreaker
- Capture Suplex
- Cobra Clutch-Style Triangle Choke Hold
- Flash Kick
- Full Ring Dropkick
- Perfect Inside Cradle
- Pole Shift
- Shiranui
- Slingshot Elbow Drop
- Superkick

Super Signature Moves:
- Assisted Avalanche-Style Shiranui
- Assisted Shiranui
- Assisted Standing Shiranui
- Avalanche-Style Shiranui
- Shiranui from the Apron
- Shiranui Kai
- Shiranui Kai Counter (HQ)
- Shiranui off the Ramp
- Shiranui on the Ramp
- Shiranui onto the Guardrail

Rarely Used Finishers:
- Australian-Style German Suplex
- Wrist-Clutch Shiranui

No Longer Used:
- Shooting Star Press

2005 Recap:
The only NOAH wrestler to hold three different belts in 2005, Marufuji obviously had a good deal of success. Marufuji and KENTA opened the year with the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, and were beaten for the first time in two years when they lost the belts in June. Only a few weeks later, Marufuji teamed with Suzuki to win the GHC Tag Team Championship, a belt they would hold for over four months. Earlier in the year, Marufuji also held the Hardcore Openweight Championship until he lost it to Yone.

2006 Recap:
Marufuji had a great year in 2006. He moved up (for the time being) from the Jr. Heavyweight division after a loss to KENTA, and in March he scored an upset victory over former Heavyweight Champion Akira Taue. Marufuji got his shot at Kobashi the next month, and while he came up short, he showed a lot of fire and in the minds of some fans has moved past KENTA on the pecking order. On September 9th, Marufuji would defeat Jun Akiyama to win the GHC Heavyweight Championship. By beating Akiyama, Marufuji also became the first wrestler in NOAH history to hold all five championship belts. On October 29th, he successfully defended the title for the first time in NOAH against his old foe KENTA. On December 10th, Marufuji lost the title to Misawa.

2007 Recap:
After a disappointing loss to Misawa, Marufuji looked to rebound in 2007. On April 20th Marufuji lost to Bison Smith, knocking him a little further away from getting a rematch for the title. Marufuji picked up a key win over Akitoshi Saito on September 9th, making sure that he didn't lose his main event status. Marufuji would get a chance to win back his GHC Heavyweight Championship on September 29th from Misawa, but once again he would come up short. On October 27th, Marufuji teamed with Sugiura to win the GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championship from D-Lo Brown and Buchanan. On December 2nd he lost in a close match to Morishima, ending the year on a sour note for Marufuji.

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