| Hitoshi Kumano | |
|---|---|
Kumano in 2015
| |
| Born | (1991-11-22) November 22, 1991 (age 32) Hiroshima, Japan[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Hitoshi Kumano Shirokuma no Hitoshi[2] |
| Billed height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3] |
| Billed weight | 90 kg (198 lb)[3] |
| Trained by | Atsushi Kotoge Naomichi Marufuji Daisuke Harada |
| Debut | February 9, 2013[3] |
| Retired | March 9, 2020 |
Hitoshi Kumano (熊野 準, Kumano Hitoshi, born November 22, 1991) is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and signed to Pro Wrestling Noah.
Kumano first became interested in professional wrestling while still in elementary school after playing King of Colloseum 2 on the PlayStation 2. He joined the wrestling team at the Hiroshima International High School and became a regular competitor at national level in the 55 kg class. After graduating high school, he attended college at the Hiroshima University, where he earned qualifications to be a Sports Trainer. After graduating from college on April 15, 2012, he passed a tryout to join Pro Wrestling Noah's dojo, and began training on May 22. Whilst simultaneously training as a professional wrestler, Kumano attended school for business management.[4][5]
After training in the NOAH dojo under the watch of Naomichi Marufuji, Daisuke Harada and Atsushi Kotoge, Kumano made his in-ring debut in January 2013, losing in a battle royal. In doing so, Kumano became the first wrestler to make his debut in NOAH since Shuhei Taniguchi in 2005. Kumano's next 7 matches were all battle royals, and he lost all of them. His singles debut took place on February 9, when he lost to his trainer, Kotoge.[6] On May 11 at Kenta Kobashi's retirement show, Final Burning in Budokan, Kumano wrestled the biggest match in his career up until that point, losing to veteran Masanobu Fuchi.[7] Kumano remained winless until June 30, when he, Harada and Taiji Ishimori defeated Kaiser, Pesadilla and Super Crazy.[8] The following month, Kumano entered the NTV G Cup Junior Heavyweight League, finishing last in Block A with zero wins and zero points.[9] On August 24, Kumano achieved the biggest win of his career so far, when he and Harada defeated his trainer Kotoge and Ishimori.[10] Kumano received his first opportunity at a championship on September 16 when he and Harada unsuccessfully challenged Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask IV for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[11] In July 2014, Kumano once again entered the NTV Junior Tag League, this time with Diamond Ring's Mitsuhiro Kitamiya. The duo won their first match, defeating Jinzo and Rocky Lobo,[12] but lost every other match they were involved in, finishing last in Block B with 1 win and 2 points.[13] Throughout 2014 and 2015, Kumano remained at the lower end of most cards and lost the majority of his matches, commonplace for young Japanese wrestlers as a way of learning respect and earning your opportunities. On June 13, 2015, the 6 year anniversary of NOAH founder Mitsuharu Misawa's death, Kumano once again unsuccessfully challenged for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, teaming with Genba Hirayanagi in a loss to Suzuki-gun (Taka Michinoku and El Desperado).[14] In July, Kumano took part in the Global Junior Heavyweight League, finishing last in Block A with zero wins and zero points.[15] In September, Kumano entered the NTV G Cup Junior Heavyweight Tournament for a third time, teaming with Super Crazy and winning only one match, leaving them with two points and unable to advance to the final.[16]
On February 25, 2016, Kumano made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) debut, defeating Hirai KawatoatLion's Gate Project 1, a show designed to showcase younger talent in Japanese wrestling.[17] He once again competed in NJPW on May 19 at Lion's Gate Project 2, defeating Kaientai Dojo's Ayato Yoshida.[18] On May 28 at Great Voyage, Kumano received his biggest opportunity to date when he faced Yoshinobu Kanemaru for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship, but was unable to win.[19] Kumano once again entered the NTV G Cup Junior Tag League, teaming with Andy Dalton. Their only win came on July 30 over Captain Noah and Genba Hirayanagi,[20] leaving them with 1 win and 2 points. On September 1, Kumano lost to Ryusuke TaguchiatLion's Gate Project 3.[21] On January 24, 2017, Kumano defeated 18 other men and one woman (comedian Kuniko Yamada) in a battle royal. After the match, Kumano stated that 2017 would be a turning point in his career.[22] On March 12, Kumano, for the second time in his career, unsuccessfully challenged for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship losing to champion Hajime Ohara. Following the match's conclusion, Ohara stated in a backstage interview that the two would also be joining forces in the tag team division.[23] The following month, Kumano and Ohara's new team was named Back Breakers.[24] Kumano and Ohara participated in the 2017 Global Junior Heavyweight Tag League between July 13 and July 27. The pair had a strong showing with eight points and finished third in the group stage, however were defeated on the final day by MAO and Shunma Katsumata which prevented the team from joining a three-way tie for first place in the group.[25]
