Shoichi Funaki

Shoichi Funaki ( born August 24, 1968 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese wrestler who competed in the SmackDown roster of the WWE. Currently, he is known by his ring name Kung Fu Naki.

Career

Funaki began his career as a so-called Shootfighter in Yoshiaki Fujiwara Fujiwara Gumi promotion and then moved on to successful promotion BattlARTS. There Funaki specialized in the Lucha Libre style and signed a contract with Michinoku Pro Wrestling ( MPW ). Here he formed together with Taka Michinoku, Dick Togo, Mens Teioh and Shiryu the wrestling team Kai En Tai. After leaving MPW Funaki was employed by Universal Wrestling Association and could here was the World Middleweight Championship Title win.

WWF / WWE

In March 1998, Funaki signed with the then World Wrestling Federation. There was a comeback of Kai En Tai. After Togo and Teioh were released by the WWF, the team consisted only of Michinoku and Funaki. As Michinoku moved to ECW, Funaki appeared again as a single wrestler. In 2000, he was left in a series of appearances compete for the Cruiserweight and to the Hardcore Title, which he, however, each could not win. In 2002 he came to the SmackDown roster, where he was but used almost exclusively in the B -show Heat.

In December 2004, Shoichi Funaki the No. 1 contender to the WWE Cruiserweight Title. This he could win in the WWE big event ( PPV) Armageddon on December 12. But on 20 February 2005, he lost the title to Chavo Guerrero. In 2006 he was again in several matches chances Cuiserweight Title, but this could not win.

Around the turn of the year 2006/2007 Funaki was briefly employed by the Puroresu King Indy Summit, where there has been a renewed comeback of grouping Ken En Tai. In February 2007, he returned to SmackDown and had in the period following back some matches in which it came to the title. None of these matches he could decide for themselves.

For negative headlines Funaki, when its name was made ​​on 31 August 2007 on a list of wrestlers appeared to have moved into the doping agent of Signature Pharmacy. The WWE suspended him for 30 days thereafter. Since Shoichi Funaki was used by the WWE only as a jobber. That meant exactly that Shoichi Funaki played any role in the main storyline, and thus in the title event.

In February 2008, he broke his nose in a match. Since October 19, 2008, he appears under the name Kung Fu Naki. As a result, his fighting style has changed significantly, so it is now shown stronger than before. On 23 April 2010 Kung Fu Naki was fired from the WWE.

Independent / Asia

After Funaki was released, he joined then mainly at Pro Wrestling ZERO1 on and also in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, as well as other Japanese wrestling promotions on. He is also responsible for the WWE as a road agent and scout for the Asian region.

Achievements

  • World Wrestling Entertainment 1x WWE Cruiserweight Champion 1x WWE Hardcore Champion
  • Texas Wrestling Alliance 1x TWA Heavyweight Champion
  • Universal Wrestling Association 1x UWA World Middleweight Champion

Private

  • Shoichi Funaki is married and has two children.
  • He is friends in real life with the former wrestler Amy Dumas and WWE legend Steve Austin.
San Antonio 1990 Lita (wrestler)
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