Akira Nogami

Akira Nogami (野上 彰) is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working as Akira (occasionally stylised in all-capitals).

He has also worked as a trainer.

After graduating from high school in 1984, Nogami was initiated into the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) dojo.

He debuted in October of that year against Keiji Mutoh.

In April 1990, he left on an overseas learning excursion to Europe in Otto Wanz's Catch Wrestling Association and returned to NJPW a year later.

Showing a new wrestling style, he changed his name to Akira (stylized in all capital letters) and adopted the gimmick of a kumadori-wearing kabuki actor.

Akira scored a big win over Jyushin Thunder Liger in August 1991 to begin his one and only reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

After losing the title to Norio Honaga in November 1991, he graduated to the heavyweight division.

In June 1992, he teamed up with Hiroshi Hase to participate in the NWA World Tag Team Championship tournament, held by World Championship Wrestling.

They defeated The Headhunters in the first round, but Akira suffered an eye injury against Shinya Hashimoto on June 20, and was replaced by this latter for the remainder of the tournament.

In September 1993, he formed the J-J-Jacks with Takayuki Iizuka.

After proving that the team was no threat to the IWGP Tag Team Championship, the J-J-Jacks disbanded in March 1996, as Iizuka teamed up with Kazuo Yamazaki, with whom he won the titles, while Nogami joined Shiro Koshinaka's Heisei Ishingun.

Nogami suffered another serious eye injury in 1998 and returned in February 1999, becoming a member of Masahiro Chono's Team 2000.

Akira changed his appearance, giving up his kabuki makeup for sinister black facepaint and blond hair.

During 2000, he had a recurring role in the TV show Kamen Rider Kuuga.

From 2001 onward, he wrestled mainly in the junior heavyweight division and engaged in some classic matches.

After failing to reach a new contract agreement with New Japan in 2004, Nogami declared himself a freelancer and began competing only part-time.

Since leaving NJPW, Nogami has become a regular in Keiji Mutoh's All Japan Pro Wrestling where he has been a consistent threat to the juniors.

He currently has a successful acting career that consumes much of his time, but still appears on numerous events each year always bringing with him exceptional skill, speed, and charisma.

Nogami announced that he would be returning to New Japan to team up with Jyushin Thunder Liger against Jado & Gedo on the C.T.U farewell show.

Akira and Liger would join up with Masahiro Chono's Legend stable.

Legend would feud with multiple stables such as RISE and Great Bash Heel.

On February 24, 2008, he and Liger defeated RISE members Minoru and Prince Devitt win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, Nogami's first title in over 16 years.

After holding the titles for just a few months, the pair lost them to Minoru and Devitt on July 21, 2008 in their rematch.

Akira took part in the Best of the Super Juniors XV and gained four points and therefore not progressing to the semifinal.

A month later, he would participate in IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship tournament and got to the semifinals before being eliminated by Tiger Mask.

In 2009, Akira gained six points in the Best of the Super Juniors XVI and gained two points in G1 Tag League when he teamed up with Chono.

In the first round of the Super J-Cup he lost to Masato Onodera.

In February 2010, Akira left New Japan Pro-Wrestling, shortly after Chono's departure and therefore Legend was completely broken up, however, his return to the company was announced just two months later.

He would participate in the Best of the Super Juniors and gained eight points but didn't progress to the semifinals.

Since joining SMASH, Akira has sporadically appeared for New Japan with SMASH talent such as Kushida.

Speaking of Kushida, the pair took part in the first ever Super J Tag League and gained only four points and not progressing any further.

After leaving NJPW, Nogami found a new home in Yoshihiro Tajiri's Smash promotion, where he worked as a member of the Smash Seikigun until the promotion folded on March 14, 2012.

The following month, Nogami was announced as part of the roster of Wrestling New Classic, the follow-up promotion to Smash.

On April 26, Akira defeated Tajiri in the main event of WNC's first event.

As a result, Akira earned the right to face final Smash Champion Dave Finlay at WNC's second event on May 24 in a match, which he went on to lose.

On June 22, Akira turned heel, first bloodying Yusuke Kodama in a singles match and then attacking Tajiri after the main event.

On July 15, Akira's former Smash rival StarBuck turned on his protégé Hajime Ohara and then announced that he was joining forces with Akira.

They were also joined by Syuri, with all three feeling disgruntled by the supposed changes that had taken place since the transition from Smash.

The three wrestled their first match as a unit on August 2, defeating Hajime Ohara, Kana and Tajiri in a six-person tag team main event, with Akira pinning Ohara for the win.