16.) Shinjiro Otani
Total Days: 181
Number of Reigns: 1
The numbers may not speak to it, but trust me in saying Shinjiro Otani is one of the greatest junior heavyweights of all time. During an era where a flashier and highflying style of wrestling became popular thanks to the luchador craze the West started to receive and the likes of Liger, Ultimo, and Sasuke becoming big names in Japan, Otani still reached the same heights those guy did despite wrestling in a more traditional manner but also adapt the highflying stuff such as innovating the springboard maneuvers. He may look like just your ordinary Japanese wrestler, but Shinjiro Otani is far from ordinary. Whether as a sympathetic babyface or a cocky brash heel, he could make you invest in whatever storyline or match he’s having. Liger had one of his best feuds against Otani and their matches together were the stuff of wonders.
In August 1997 he had his first and only run with the belt when it was a part of the J-Crown beating El Samurai. Three months later he was forced to dropped all of the J-Crown belts with the exception of the IWGP Jr. title because the WWF pulled their Light Heavyweight Championship off of the collection. Four title defenses in 181 days until he lost it to Liger.
A little fun fact, Otani is the first ever WCW World Cruiserweight Champion, which would become the same lineage of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship from 2001 to 2007. The belt started with Otani and ended with Hornswoggle. It sure has seen both highs and lows.
Where Are They Now?
Shinjiro Otani is probably the most recognizable name in the history of Pro Wrestling ZERO1 where he spends his career as a wrestler and nowadays the president, while also competing as a freelancer for promotions around the world.
17.) Kendo Kashin
Total Combined Days: 160
Number of Reigns: 2
Another name in wrestling where you barely get to hear nowadays is Tokimitsu Ishizawa aka Kendo Kashin. After his amateur wrestling career, Ishizawa was scouted by NJPW. He had his excursion in Austria and upon returning got mentored by Kazuo Yamazaki and started competing as “Kendo Kashin.”
He won the title twice. First one in 1999 only for 44 days and the last one in 2001 for 116 days, only successful title defense was against a young Katsuyori Shibata. I would categorize Kendo Kashin in those “middle of the pack” champions wherein he wasn’t the worst, but far from the best either. Mediocre runs from both belts and it did not help that during the Inokism years, he loss many MMA bouts which did not help in his credibility. Decent wrestler, although there are many much better. After in NJPW, Kendo Kashin mainly wrestled for AJPW and Inoki’s IGF promotion.
Where Are They Now?
Active competitor of the indie scene in Japan, last recorded match was this year for Real Japan Pro Wrestling (RJPW) a promotion ran by the Original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama.
18.) Juventud Guerrera
Total Days: 7
Number of Reigns: 1
The Juice! Juvi is one of the greatest cruiserweights of all time but his run with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight belt is a joke. Literally a champion for only a week. He defeated Liger in an episode of Nitro but he got injured, so Psicosis replaced him in a match wherein Liger won to become the champion again, making Juventud Guerrera the shortest reigning champion in the history of the title! He never even got to defend the belt in Japan.
However, Juvi still remains one of the best luchadors of his time. Him, Psicosis, Super Crazy, Rey, Eddie, and La Parka brought excitement to WCW and helped lucha libre become popular to a worldwide audience again after the prime years of Mil Mascaras. Had a brief stint with the WWE in the 2000’s, winning the Cruiserweight title and a part of the “Mexicools” stable.
Where Are They Now?
Wrestling for various promotions in the US, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
19.) Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Total Days: 101
Number of Reigns: 1
Probably remembered better as a tag-team specialist rather than a singles wrestler, Tatsuhito Takaiwa is the long time tag-team partner of Shinjiro Otani wherein they became the inaugural IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag-Team Champions in 1998. He did win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title once in 2000 having two successful defenses before losing the belt to Minoru Tanaka.
The best I could compare Takaiwa to is Tamon Honda. They are partnered with a clearly better and more famous wrestler, in Honda’s case its Kenta Kobashi so they would for the most part be overlooked by many when it comes to their singles career. Takaiwa had a better collection of championships which Honda does not, becoming the second ever GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion of NOAH and 3x ZERO1 World Jr. Heavyweight Champion, among many other belts after his departure from NJPW.
Where Are They Now?
Wrestling as a freelancer but mainly for ZERO1.
