Shuji Kondo

Infobox Wrestler
name=Shuji Kondo
names=Shuji Kondo
Condotti Shuji
Dotti Shuji
height= height|m=1.7265
weight= convert|103|kg|lb st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = birth date and age|1981|1|28
death_date =
birth_place = Fuji, Shizuoka
resides=
billed=
trainer=
debut=2001
retired=|

nihongo|Shuji Kondo|近藤修司|"Kondō Shūji" is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Prior to becoming a pro wrestler, he played rugby.

Career

Toryumon/Dragon Gate

Kondo was part of the T2P class in Toryumon. At first he was a face in the Toryumon Seikegun.

He would turn heel and join the Italian Connection, changing his name to Condotti Shuji, after the shopping district. One of his stablemates in the ItaCon was "brother" YASSHI, who has remained a firm ally of his ever since.

In 2003, the ItaCon was divided over the face/heel issue, with Shuji leading the heel side. He would lead the turn, briefly rename to Dotti Shuji, and soon after revert to his real name. He and YASSHI formed a group called Hagure Gundam (Stray Army in English) with fellow ItaCon member Shogo Takagi, and Torou Owashi. When Hagure Gundam was joined by Masaaki Mochizuki, it renamed to Aagan Iisou. Mochi would later be kicked out of the stable after he and Kondo feuded over who was leader, and Takuya Sugawara was added to the group.

On December 31st, 2004, all five members of Aagan Iisou - Kondo, YASSHI, Sugawara, Owashi, and Shogo - were fired from Dragon Gate for alleged behavioral problems.

dragondoor

Kondo was built up as the heel ace of the dragondoor promotion. All five members of Aagan Iisou were on the roster, but Kondo only aligned himself with YASSHI and Sugawara. The three of them, despite being booked as heels, got most of the popular fan support.

AJPW

He soon joined AJPW, where he and long-time associate "brother" YASSHI would ally themselves with TARU's Voodoo Murders stable and even hold the All-Asia Tag Team Titles for a short time. The Voodoo Murderers were previously in an intense feud against RO&D, but defeated their long-time foes after D'Lo Brown and Buchanan turned on RO&D and joined the Voodoo Murderers. Kondo also became the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion having won the title from junior ace TAKA Michinoku. On February 17, 2007, Kondo lost the Jr. Heavyweight Title to Katsuhiko Nakajima, thus ending his 1-year, 4-month title reign.

El Dorado

Kondo is also one of the main players in dragondoor's successor, El Dorado. Unlike in dragondoor, Kondo was set up to be the face ace of the promotion. He and YASSHI split for the first time in years, with YASSHI briefly leading his own faction. Kondo started a faction called Sukiyaki, named after his famous love of meat dishes. When his friend and fellow Dragon Gate exile Naoki Tanisaki abruptly left El Dorado and returned to Dragon Gate, Kondo disbanded Sukiyaki.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*"King Kong Hammer" (Suplex powerslam):*"King Kong Lariat" (Running lariat):*"Gorilla Clutch" (Inverted cloverleaf, sometimes with body scissors):*"Lanzarse" (Running lifting spear dropped into a modified spinebuster):*"Hurricane Mixer" (Lifting spear to an oncoming opponent spun into a modified 180° spinning side slam):*"Cat's Cradle" (Cross-legged over the shoulder Boston crab):*"Original" (Gorilla press powerslam):*Moonsault:*Release German suplex

*With "brother" YASSHI:*"Big Boy" (Powerbomb (Kondo) / "Bad Boy" (YASSHI) combination)

Championships and accomplishments

*All Japan Pro Wrestling:*AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with "brother" YASSHI:* AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*El Dorado Wrestling:*TREASURE HUNTERS Tag Tournament (2006) - with Dick Togo

*Toryumon:*British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Universal Wrestling Association:*UWA World Trios Championship (2 times) - with Milano Collection A.T. & YOSSINO (1) and Touru Owashi & "brother" YASSHI (1)

References