Akira Raijin

Akira Kawabata (川畑 顕) (born July 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working under the ring name Sushi.

He is a two-time holder of the Gaora TV Championship.

He is best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) under the ring name Akira Raijin (雷陣 明) and is also known for working in North America for the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion under the ring names Kiyoshi and Suicide.

Akira Kawabata was born on July 17, 1978, in Takarazuka, Hyōgo.

Trained by former junior heavyweight contender Masanobu Kurisu, Kawabata made his debut in 1998, using the ring name Akira Raijin, working primarily on the Japanese independent circuit.

On August 28, 2004, Raijin debuted for All Japan Pro Wrestling losing to Ryuji Hijikata.

His early years with All Japan would be mostly uneventful which is normal for a new wrestler in a Japanese promotion.

On June 17, 2005, Raijin teamed with Nobukazu Hirai in a tournament to determine the number one conders for the All Asia Tag Team Championship but lost to Katsuhiko Nakajima and Tomoaki Honma.

In November, Raijin and Kohei Suwama participated in the 2005 Real World Tag League but would not pass the round robin stage.

On January 4, 2007, Raijin along with Kikutaro and Nobutaka Araya took on, and lost to, El Samurai, Masanobu Fuchi and Ryusuke Taguchi at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome.

On May 13, All Japan said farewell to Raijin along with Brute Issei, who both went on overseas training excursions.

Raijin wrestled for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, teaming with Brute Issei and losing to Havok and Martyr in a tryout dark match on July 15, 2007, prior to the Victory Road pay-per-view.

On August 12, 2007, Raijin appeared at Juggalo Championship Wrestling's premier show, Bloodymania.

He teamed with Brute Issei in the 8 Team Tag Team Elimination match for the JCW Tag Team Championship, becoming the fifth team eliminated in the match.

On August 18, at Chikara, Raijin took on Mike Quackenbush in a losing effort for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Raijin returned to All Japan on June 22, 2008, but just three months later it was announced that he would be travelling back to North America, to work for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), who had signed him to a contract.

On October 11 Raijin lost to Suwama in his All Japan farewell match.

On April 23, 2008, Raijin took part in JCW's "Slam TV Tour 2008".

He debuted as Kowabata, being managed by "The Guidance Counselor" Scott D'Amore.

After a series of singles victories, Kowabata was put into a stable alongside Scott D'Amore and Conrad "Lights Out" Kennedy.

D'Amore proclaimed that the team of Kowabata and Kennedy would reform JCW.

At the following show, Kowabata and Kennedy defeated fan favorites The Ring Rydas.

Raijin took part in two BSE Pro tournaments which included Adrenaline Cup and the Sudbury Scramble Cup, both of which he did not win.

Kowabata was set to appear at the 2008 Hallowicked After Party, but was signed to TNA weeks prior to the event, resulting in him having to cancel the appearance.

While part of TNA, Raijin continued to wrestle on the independent circuit.

On December 20, Kowabata took on JCW Heavyweight Champion Corporal Robinson at Big Ballas X–Mas Party '08 in a losing effort.

Raijin would mostly appear for Border City Wrestling and even had a shot at the BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Championship which he lost.

In the later half of 2008, Kawabata signed a two-year deal with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling after an appearance on Border City Wrestling's (BCW) 15th anniversary show.

He was given a heel gimmick, Kiyoshi, which resembled his mentor Great Muta, together with similar face paint and mannerisms.

On September 13, 2009, Raijin made a one-night return to All Japan, teaming up with Great Muta in a winning effort against Suwama and Shuji Kondo.

On March 21, 2010, Raijin made another return to All Japan, now using his TNA ring name Kiyoshi, he teamed up with Bushi to defeat the tag team of Chessman and Dark Ozz.

On April 3 Kiyoshi entered All Japan's 2010 Champion Carnival.

He defeated René Duprée and Suwama, but lost to Taiyō Kea and Masakatsu Funaki in the round robin stage of the tournament, finished third in his block and did not advance to the semifinals.

On April 11, the final night of the tournament, Kiyoshi teamed with Satoshi Kojima to defeat Gurentai (Nosawa Rongai and Taiyō Kea) in a tag team match.

Raijin left Japan to live in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with Scott D'Amore to gain "learning experience" in North America.

Raijin would go on to work for various promotions within Canada and eventually branched off into the United States.

On March 13, 2010, Raijin took on Kevin Steen for the Capital City Championship Combat Championship and lost.

Raijin, as Kowabata, returned to JCW on May 4, 2011, at the St. Andrews Brawl internet pay-per-view, where he defeated Bill Martel in a singles match.

At the June 30 pay-per-view Kawabata defeated Jimmy Jacobs in a singles match.

His final match in North America came on January 28, 2012, when he lost to Josh Alexander at Squared Circle Wrestling (2CW).