Yuji Hino

Yusuke Hino (日野 裕介), better known by the ring name Yuji Hino (火野 裕士), is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed by Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1).

One of the most well-travelled heavyweights in Japan, Hino was trained by Taka Michinoku and made his debut for his Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) promotion in November 2003, becoming a four-time Strongest-K Champion and a four-time Strongest-K Tag Team Champion, before leaving the promotion in October 2015.

He has also wrestled extensively for DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) and Wrestle-1 (W-1), where he is a former one-time KO-D Openweight Champion, a two-time KO-D Tag Team Champion and a two-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion, as well as a former Wrestle-1 Champion and Wrestle-1 Tag Team Champion.

Trained by Taka Michinoku, Hino made his professional wrestling debut for Michinoku's Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) promotion on November 23, 2003, teaming with Joe Aoyama and Ryota Chikuzen in a six-man tag team match, where they were defeated by Michinoku, Hi69 and Kazma.

Hino wrestled several opening matches during the rest of the year, most notably having a trilogy of matches with Yasu Urano in December, but, as is customary for a rookie in Japanese professional wrestling, lost all of his matches.

Hino finally picked up his first win on January 10, 2004, defeating Romy Suzuki.

Hino started picking up wins more regularly the following July.

On July 19, Hino entered the 2004 K-Metal League.

Dominating his round-robin block with five wins and one loss, Hino made it to the finals of the tournament, where, on August 22, he was defeated by Shiori Asahi.

On September 29, Hino received his first title opportunity, when he and Asahi unsuccessfully challenged Gentaro and Yoshiya for the UWA/UWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship.

On November 8, Hino made his debut for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, losing to Hirooki Goto.

On December 12, Hino teamed with Hi69 to unsuccessfully challenge Ryota Chikuzen and Taka Michinoku for the same title.

At the end of his first full year in professional wrestling, Kaientai Dojo named Hino the 2004 Newcomer of the Year.

In February 2005, Hino and his now regular tag team partner Hi69 made it to the semifinals of the Strongest-K Tag Team Tournament, before unsuccessfully challenging Kengo Mashimo and Kazma for the Strongest-K Tag Team Championship on April 3.

During the summer of 2005, Hino made it to the finals of the 2005 Strongest-K Tournament, where, on August 14, he was defeated by Kengo Mashimo.

Following the tournament, Hino left Hi69 to form the New Standard stable with Saburo Inematsu, Super-X and Yuu Yamagata.

On July 8, 2006, Hino received his first shot at the Strongest-K Championship, but was defeated by Joe.

On January 7, 2007, Hino won his first title, when he and stablemate Saburo Inematsu defeated Joe and Yasu Urano for the Strongest-K Tag Team Championship.

After two successful title defenses, Hino and Inematsu lost the title to Miyawaki and Yoshiya on May 6.

On July 8, Hino turned on the New Standard and joined the villainous Omega stable by helping its members Miyawaki and Yoshiya successfully defend the Strongest-K Tag Team Championship against Kazma and Ryota Chikuzen.

Omega also included Makoto Oishi and Shiori Asahi.

On August 12, Hino made it to the finals of his second Strongest-K Tournament, but was again defeated there, this time by Taka Michinoku.

On October 14, Hino, Asahi and Oishi won the Taj Mahal Cup Scramble 1-Day 6 Person Tag Team Tournament.

Having recently gained several kilograms of muscle, Hino finally received a main event push as a member of Omega.

On April 13, 2008, at ev.7, Kaientai Dojo's largest annual event, Hino defeated Kengo Mashimo in the main event to win the Strongest-K Championship for the first time.

Hino made his first successful title defense on May 6, defeating former Omega stablemate Yoshiya, which was followed by another successful defense on June 12 against Madoka.

On August 9, Hino lost the title back to Kengo Mashimo in his third title defense, ending his reign at 118 days.

At the end of the year, the August 9 match was named Kaientai Dojo's 2008 Match of the Year.

In February 2009, Hino and Saburo Inematsu made it to the finals of the Kaientai Dojo Tag League, but were there defeated by Hiro Tonai and Taishi Takizawa.

On June 19, Hino defeated Kengo Mashimo and Shiori Asahi in the finals to win the 1-Day 3-Way Tournament.

On November 14, Hino received a rematch for the Strongest-K Championship, but was unable to dethrone the defending champion, Kazma.

Hino started off 2010 by teaming with Shiori Asahi to win the Kaientai Dojo Tag League, defeating the team of Daigoro Kashiwa and Kengo Mashimo in the finals.

On March 17, Hino and Saburo Inematsu defeated Brahman Kei and Brahman Shu to win the WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship.

On April 2 at evolution8, Hino and Inematsu defeated Daigoro Kashiwa and Kengo Mashimo to not only successfully defend the WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship, but to also win the Strongest-K Tag Team Championship.

They would go on to lose the Strongest-K Tag Team Championship to Kaji Tomato and Taishi Takizawa on May 5.

Hino's impressive 2010 continued the following summer, when, on July 11, he defeated Kengo Mashimo in the finals to win the 2010 Strongest-K Tournament.

As a result, Hino was granted a shot at the Strongest-K Championship, which he went on to win, defeating Kazma on August 15.

On October 17, Hino's stable Omega decided to mutually disband.

On November 23, Hino made his first successful defense of the Strongest-K Championship, defeating tag team partner Saburo Inematsu.

On December 25, Hino also successfully defended the title against Taishi Takizawa.