Astroman (wrestler)

Astroman
Astroman in May 2023
Born (1997-08-05) August 5, 1997 (age 27)[1]
Shimonoseki, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Genta Hiriki
Astroman
Astro
Billed height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Billed weight83 kg (183 lb)
Debut2021

Genta Hiriki (ヒリキ源太, Hiriki Genta) better known by his ring name Astroman is a Japanese professional wrestler currently performing in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion and International Junior Heavyweight Champion.[3]

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2021–present)

Due to partially being a freelancer, Hiriki is known for competing in various promotions of the Japanese independent scene. He took part in the 2021 Advance Cup, a tournament hosted by Active Advance Pro Wrestling in which he competed in a block where he failed to score any points after going against Naka Shunma, Takuro Niki and Chicharito Shoki.[4] On the finals of the event from May 5, 2021, he teamed up with Shoki Kitamura in a losing effort against Ayumu Honda and The Andrew King Takuma in a tag team match.[5] He is also known for seldom competing in various joshi promotions as male talent. At Diana Jaguar's Memorial 61st Birthday & 46th Anniversary, an event promoted by World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana on July 25, 2022, he teamed up with Ryo Hoshino, Shoki Kitamura and Tsugutaka Sato in a losing effort against Junya Matsunaga, Satsuki Nagao, Takafumi and Takumi Baba in an eight-man tag team match.[6]

Pro Wrestling Zero1 (2021–present)

Hiriki made his professional wrestling debut in Pro Wrestling Zero1 at ZERO1 Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Charity Show on March 11, 2021, where he fell short to Shoki Kitamura in singles competition.[7] During his time in the company, he chased various championships promoted by it. At ZERO1 20th & 21st Anniversary on April 10, 2022, Hiriki defeated Fuminori Abe to win both the World Junior Heavyweight Championship and the International Junior Heavyweight Championship which were sanctioned together.[8] Hiriki competed in various match gimmicks, such as a battle royal which took place at ZERO1 Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction Dedication Pro-Wrestling on August 26, 2022, a bout won by Shoki Kitamura and also involving notable opponents, both male and female such as Aja Kong, Masato Tanaka, Takuya Sugawara and others.[9]

Hiriki is known for competing in one of the promotion's signature events, the Tenkaichi Junior tournament, in which he made his first appearance at the 2021 edition, where he fell short to Leo Isaka in the first rounds.[10] At the 2022 edition, he placed himself in the Block B, where he scored a total of eight points after competing against Shoki Kitamura, Jun Masaoka, Leo Isaka and Yoshikazu Yokoyama.[11]

Big Japan Pro Wrestling (2021–present)

One of the promotions he often uses to compete for due to Zero1's shared developmental talent is Big Japan Pro Wrestling. He usually performs in cross over events. One of these junctures was the BJW/ZERO1/2AW Big Clash from April 7, 2021, where he teamed up with Hartley Jackson and Shoki Kitamura in a losing effort against Naka Shuma, Ryuji Ito and Taishi Takizawa as a result of a six-man tag team match.[12] He continued to make appearances in various anniversary events such as the BJW Daichi Hashimoto 10th Anniversary from December 12, 2021, where he teamed up with Satsuki Nagao in a losing effort against Kazuki Hashimoto and Kosuke Sato.[13]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Astro • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  2. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Astro/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Genta Hiriki Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  4. ^ Daly, Wayne (May 3, 2021). "2AW Results: Chiba Festival 2021 ~ Advance Cup Day 3 – Chiba, Japan (5/3)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Dark Angelita (May 10, 2021). "2AW: "Chiba Festival 2021" Takizawa defiende su cinturón". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Dark Angelita (August 1, 2022). "Diana: "Jaguar's Memorial 61th Birthday y 46th Anniversary" Celebrando a Jaguar Yokota". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Daly, Wayne (March 11, 2021). "ZERO1 Results: Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Charity Show – Tokyo, Japan (3/11)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Daly, Wayne (April 11, 2022). "ZERO1 Results: 20th & 21st Anniversary Show – Tokyo, Japan (4/10)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Daly, Wayne (August 26, 2022). "ZERO1 Results: Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction Dedication Pro Wrestling – Tokyo, Japan (8/26)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Dark Angelita (September 12, 2021). "Zero1: "18th Tenka-Ichi Jr. Tournament 2021" Gran Final-Fuminori Abe, el ganador". superluchas.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  11. ^ Dark Angelita (October 28, 2022). "Zero1: "Tenka Ichi Jr. Tournament" Final, Shoki Kitamura es el ganador". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Pro Wrestling Zero1 (April 7, 2021). ZERO1ZERO１vs大日本プロレスvs2AW 合同興行 ～大激突～. z-1.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved May 8, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Daly, Wayne (December 12, 2021). "wrestling-news.net". Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  14. ^ Wrestling Titles. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 World Junior Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  15. ^ Wrestling Titles. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 International Junior Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved February 11, 2023.