Who is Tomohiro Ishii?

Tomohiro Ishii, the Stone Pitbull, the winner of the 10-man tag match at forbidden door 2 and the scariest man under 5 foot 8.

It’s time for another Japanese pro wrestling crash course.

Ishii has become a cult favorite in both Japan and the West, and it has to be said, a pretty unlikely superstar. He’s not a ripped athletic machine like Kota Ibushi, he’s not a 6 foot 2 charismatic entertainer like Okada, and he’s not a wrestling genius like Tanahashi or Naito.

And it took years for him to earn the popularity he enjoys now.

But to talk about Ishii’s career you first have to start all the way back in 1996 when he debuted for Genichiro Tentryu’s wrestle and romance promotion. He was a junior heavyweight back then, simply due to his height, and saw some success as a multi-time jr tag champion.

After W-A-R shut down in 2000, Ishii bounced around as a freelancer for a handful of years before becoming a permanent fixture in new japan in the mid 2000s.

But success was far from immediate. Relegated to the lower and mid card, it took years for Ishii to even get an opportunity at any kind of championship. In 2014, almost 20 years into his wrestling career, he won his first title in new japan – the NEVER Openweight championship.

He’d go on to hold that title 6 times and play a part in making the true “badass belt” in new japan.

And that’s because Ishii epitomizes that strong style, fighting spirit mentality of “come at me with your best shot, I can take it”. With never ending striking exchanges, suplexes and devastating lariats an Ishii match is always going to be hard hitting and leave somebody’s chest a swollen mess.

He has never held a major singles belt in new japan, depending on how you define major. and yet he’s as popular as ever and a stable on Western New Japan shows.

Big match ishii is very a thing and he often tends to elevate his opponents and draw the best out of other people. Many a wrestler has experienced a career turning point after a feud with The Stone Pit Bull.

#wrestling #aew #njpw

[tonythesuperperson]

Guy is terrifying. No neck having sturdy machine.

[ridleyroid]

I have to say I think his match with Shibata at the G1 23 absolutely exploded Ishii into prominence. Of course getting into a G1 to begin with aint no small deal, but that match is considered by me, and plenty of other fans as THE "get you into NJPW" Match.

[keaton_jb_meme_central]

Ishii seems like the guy who the mafia sends after you if you owe them money who also happens to be the boss of that same Mafia, he may be short but he’ll bend you into a human pretzel

[charlesoliviera]

Dude, I've come across your videos lately, and it's so refreshing to have NJPW coverage from an American fan. Keep doing your thing!

[yy-hjbr]

Tomohiro Ishii is probably my favorite wrestler. I have so many dream matches for him, and the great thing is they tend to happen or have happened. He faced Moose, Keith Lee, Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, so on and so on.

[stephenthedude]

He's a beast and has had some of the best matches I've ever seen

[jonathanestrella]

I honestly think Tomohiro Ishi is very underrated he has a great moveset pretty big accolades I do enjoy you NJPW Videos keep it goin

[WeaselFromNorth]

Always joy to watch him. His chop wars with anyone is awesome. Man just screams - toughness. Also, kinda reminds me of Taz in ECW

[dnllrnt]

He had a stretch, I want to say '17-'19 where his matches during the G1 were match of the year contenders. He truly was New Japan's iron man.

[fireman]

My favorite Ishii matches are the G1 matches against Shibata & Moxley

[Elijah_myhighway]

Ishii and Shibata showcased the spirit of the NEVER Openweight title in this great match at perhaps one of the most complete and proper WKs of all time.

[singerdude]

Ishii isn't charismatic? The man has a silent charisma. Without a word he is intimidating. He has an aura and presence about him which is different from Okada but is still important.

[ZanderKeen-yjew]

He deserves to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship because he's a fan favorite in New Japan Pro Wrestling, to not put the Title on him is criminal

[questproductionss]

He deserves a world title reign, he’s so good

[namebrandrobots]

Man I would love to see him get a solid world championship run..dudes a badasse's badass

[Jungletraveler_]

Even at his current age he is still tough

[lazer]

Guys I just want to say imagine if we ever got brock lesnar minoru Suzuki

[ookie]

Making these shorts is totally gonna make your channel 10x more popular because I’d never in a million years search for this on my own lol.

[joshuaafcutler]

I'm built exactly like him - 5'7, 210 and jacked. My girlfriend refers to him as "Japanese Josh."

[THENAMEISQUICKMAN]

Ishii is pretty much responsible for making the NEVER Openweight title the "watch two big boys beat the shit out of each other until one literally can't get up anymore" title. (unfortunately for the past year it's just been wasting away in Bullet Club bullshit but hey ho)