Kenta Kobashi
Kenta Kobashi (小橋 健太, Kobashi Kenta, ring name: 小橋 建太) (born, March 27, 1967) is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler. He started his career in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in 1988, where he became one of the promotion's top stars, holding the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship three times, and winning the Champion Carnival in 2000. Kobashi left All Japan in June 2000, taking part in a mass exodus led by Mitsuharu Misawa, which led to the formation of Pro Wrestling Noah.
| Kenta Kobashi | |
|---|---|
Kobashi in 2007 | |
| Born | March 27, 1967 Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, Japan |
| Spouse(s) |
Mizuki Mai (m. 2010) |
| Children | 1 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Kenta Kobashi Blaze |
| Billed height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Billed weight | 115 kg (254 lb) |
| Billed from | Kyoto, Japan |
| Trained by | Dory Funk Jr. Giant Baba Kazuharu Sonoda Masanobu Fuchi |
| Debut | February 26, 1988 |
| Retired | May 11, 2013 |
Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Kobashi worked for Noah for thirteen years, and had the longest singular GHC Heavyweight Championship reign of all time, holding the championship for 735 days between 2003 and 2005. Overall, Kobashi was a four-time world champion and an eight-time tag team champion.
Kobashi spent many of the later years of his career sidelined due to various injuries. He underwent numerous surgeries on his arms and legs in the early-mid 2000s before retiring from in-ring action in May 2013. Kobashi continues to make sporadic appearances in both Noah and All Japan, while also promoting his own shows under the Fortune Dream banner.