Kaz Hayashi

Kaz Hayashi is a 17-year puroresu veteran and one of the top Jr. Heavyweights in All-Japan. He is also fairly well-known to US fans thanks to rather forgettable runs in WCW and WWF in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Early in his career, Hayashi wrestled as Shiryu, a masked wrestler in Michinoku Pro. He left Japan for Mexico in June 1997, competing there for a few months before joining WCW. He joined WCW after unmasking and, not surprisingly, he was used mainly as a jobber and comedy character early on and was paired with “manager” Sonny Ono. When WCW got new bookers in 1999, Hayashi was paired with Mexican wrestler La Parka and given a gimmick similar to one later given to Taka Michinoku & Sho Funaki in WWF-the two would speak in their native languages which would be humorously dubbed over by charismatic English speakers, calling him names such as “The Kaz Master” and “Kazanova”. The gimmick was very short-lived. After this, he formed the Jung Dragons stable, which became popular but again was short-lived. When WCW folded in 2001, his contract was acquired by WWF, but he was released after just one appearance.
Hayashi returned to Japan after his WWF release, deciding to join All-Japan and reunite with old friend Keiji Muto. He got a quick push and a handful of title reigns. In 2006 he changed his ring name to Miguel Hayashi Jr. and formed a team called Mexico Amigos with PEPE Michinoku (Taka) and El NOSAWA Mendoza (NOSAWA Rongai), later adding Nobutaka Araya. They underwent several changes before eventually disbanding. Hayashi didn’t do much in 2008 but won the All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Title for a second time in February 2009, ending NOAH wrestler Naomichi Marufuji’s quest to break the record for most successful title defenses in one reign. As of December 2010 he has made 17 successful defenses, the most in the history of the title, and has reigned as champion for over 22 months. And on a personal note, he gets extra props from me because he shares a birthday with me.

Stats & Info:
Real name: Kazuhiro Hayashi
Age: 38
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 183 pounds/83 kg
Experience: 17 years
Finishing move: Final Cut, Power Plant
Current affiliation: All-Japan
Ring entrance theme: Unknown

Titles won:
2-time All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion
1-time All-Japan World Tag Team Champion
1-time All-Asia Tag Team Champion
1-time Central America Middleweight Champion
1-time Champion Of STRONGEST-K
1-time NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion

Tournaments won:
2002 Real World Jr. Tag League
2003 Real World Tag League
2006 Jr. Heavyweight League

Other accolades:
2010 Tokyo Sports Grand Prix Technique Prize

Official websites (Japanese):
http://blog.livedoor.jp/imhere_kazhayashi/
http://twitter.com/kaz_hayashi

Ring entrance music: