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44-517: Akira Kawabata was born on July 17, 1978, in Takarazuka , Hyōgo . Trained by former junior heavyweight contender Masanobu Kurisu, Kawabata made his debut in 1998, using the ring name Akira Raijin, working primarily on the Japanese independent circuit. On August 28, 2004, Raijin debuted for All Japan Pro Wrestling losing to Ryuji Hijikata . His early years with All Japan would be mostly uneventful which

88-474: A border adjustment with the city of Itami on April 1, 1955. On January 17, 1995 the Great Hanshin earthquake caused more than 100 casualties. Takarazuka was designated as a Special City on April 1, 2003 with increased autonomy. At one time, the idea was raised of merging Takarazuka with Itami , Kawanishi , and Inagawa , but it is currently on hold. Takarazuka has a mayor-council form of government with

132-456: A cease and desist letter to TNA, objecting to the portrayal of Crazzy Steve (a crazed clown character) as being similar to his Krimson/Villain gimmick, and the Decay stable as being like his Dead Wrestlers' Society stable. TNA responded to Carnes later that week, stating that his claims would not hold up in court as, among other reasons, he had described the character to TNA's bookers as being like

176-773: A directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 26 members. Takarazuka contributes three members to the Hyōgo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Hyōgo 6th districts of the lower house of the Diet of Japan . Takarazuka has a mixed economy of commerce, manufacturing and market gardening. It is increasingly becoming a bedroom community for Osaka and Kobe , with quiet, upscale residential neighborhoods like Nigawa, Obayashi, Sakasegawa, and Hibarigaoka. Takazuka has 23 public elementary schools and 12 public middle schools operated by

220-626: A letter to TNA President Dixie Carter . In this letter he claimed that TNA had received several promos from him, as Krimson and later Villain, portraying a character akin to The Joker in The Dark Knight ; TNA later used the Krimson name for another wrestler , and used the Joker-like face paint for Sting 's reinvented gimmick. According to Carnes, he had received rejections by bookers due to his similarities to both of these wrestlers. In 2016, he sent

264-403: A losing effort against the team of Gillette, Hiroshi Yamato and Kai , with Gillette pinning Raijin for the win. On April 1, Kawabata debuted as the masked character Sushi, when he entered the 2012 Junior Tag League alongside Bushi. Sushi and Bushi made it all the way to the finals of the tournament on April 14, where they were defeated by Kaz Hayashi and Shuji Kondo. In July, Sushi took part in

308-406: A loss in their next match against The Bloody Brothers, Kennedy turned on Gowen. Human Tornado ran into the ring, forcing Kennedy to retreat to the stage, where Scott D'Amore met with him. Later, D'Amore proclaimed that he was going to create a stable, starting with the members Kennedy and Kowabata , which was going to reform JCW. The team defeated The Ring Rydas on the following episode. A match

352-486: A series of singles victories, Kowabata was put into a stable alongside Scott D'Amore and Conrad "Lights Out" Kennedy . D'Amore proclaimed that the team of Kowabata and Kennedy would reform JCW. At the following show, Kowabata and Kennedy defeated fan favorites The Ring Rydas. Raijin took part in two BSE Pro tournaments which included Adrenaline Cup and the Sudbury Scramble Cup, both of which he did not win. Kowabata

396-904: A shot at the BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Championship which he lost. On March 13, 2010, Raijin took on Kevin Steen for the Capital City Championship Combat Championship and lost. Raijin, as Kowabata, returned to JCW on May 4, 2011, at the St. Andrews Brawl internet pay-per-view, where he defeated Bill Martel in a singles match. At the June 30 pay-per-view Kawabata defeated Jimmy Jacobs in a singles match. His final match in North America came on January 28, 2012, when he lost to Josh Alexander at Squared Circle Wrestling (2CW). In

440-635: A tag team match. Raijin left Japan to live in Windsor, Ontario , Canada with Scott D'Amore to gain "learning experience" in North America . Raijin would go on to work for various promotions within Canada and eventually branched off into the United States. Raijin wrestled for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, teaming with Brute Issei and losing to Havok and Martyr in a tryout dark match on July 15, 2007, prior to

484-529: Is 1578 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 25.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.6 °C. Per Japanese census data, the population of Takarazuka has been increasing steadily since the 1950s. The area of Takarazuka was part of ancient Settsu Province and has been inhabited since ancient times, with many kofun burial mounds found within

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528-1115: Is a transfer station to the Nose Railway , which runs primarily within Kawanishi. [REDACTED] JR West - Fukuchiyama Line [REDACTED] Hankyu - Takarazuka Main Line [REDACTED] Hankyu - Imazu Line Takarazuka is twinned with: Conrad Kennedy III Justin Carnes (born February 5, 1977) is an American professional wrestler . He wrestles for Northwest Ohio Wrestling as Krimson. In his debut match in May 2000, Kennedy teamed with Rip Malibu to face Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine at an MWF show in Toledo, Ohio . Kennedy has worked for such promotions as Cleveland All–Pro Wrestling (CAPW), Border City Wrestling and All American Wrestling. On June 2, 2004, Kennedy lost to Chris Sabin on an episode of TNA Xplosion . In March 2005, Kennedy won

572-685: Is located in the northern part of the Hanshin area, surrounded by the Rokko Range to the west and the Nagao mountain range to the north, with the Muko River flowing through the center. Hyōgo Prefecture Takarazuka has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa ) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Takarazuka is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall

616-912: Is normal for a new wrestler in a Japanese promotion. On June 17, 2005, Raijin teamed with Nobukazu Hirai in a tournament to determine the number one conders for the All Asia Tag Team Championship but lost to Katsuhiko Nakajima and Tomoaki Honma . In November, Raijin and Kohei Suwama participated in the 2005 Real World Tag League but would not pass the round robin stage. On January 4, 2007, Raijin along with Kikutaro and Nobutaka Araya took on, and lost to, El Samurai , Masanobu Fuchi and Ryusuke Taguchi at New Japan Pro-Wrestling 's Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome . On May 13, All Japan said farewell to Raijin along with Brute Issei, who both went on overseas training excursions. Raijin returned to All Japan on June 22, 2008, but just three months later it

660-478: The 2012 Junior Hyper League , where he finished with a record of three wins and two losses, failing to advance from his round-robin block. Following Bushi's departure from All Japan, Sushi formed a new partnership with rookie Andy Wu , with the two taking part in the Junior Hyper Tag League in early 2013, where they failed to advance to the finals. On April 26, Kawabata as Sushi received his first shot at

704-836: The Victory Road pay-per-view . On August 12, 2007, Raijin appeared at Juggalo Championship Wrestling 's premier show, Bloodymania . He teamed with Brute Issei in the 8 Team Tag Team Elimination match for the JCW Tag Team Championship , becoming the fifth team eliminated in the match. On August 18, at Chikara , Raijin took on Mike Quackenbush in a losing effort for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship . On April 23, 2008, Raijin took part in JCW's " Slam TV Tour 2008". He debuted as Kowabata, being managed by "The Guidance Counselor" Scott D'Amore . After

748-571: The World Junior Heavyweight Championship , but was defeated by the defending champion Yoshinobu Kanemaru . Sushi re-entered the title picture on October 12 by pinning Kanemaru in a six-man tag team main event. Sushi received his title shot on October 27, but was again defeated by Kanemaru. Afterwards, Sushi began petitioning for All Japan to restore the Gaora TV Championship , which had been quietly sidelined earlier in

792-452: The "SlamTV! Tag Team Title Tournament" for the vacant JCW Tag Team Championship . In the second episode, Human Tornado , former partner of Gowen in The Pimp and Gimp Connection, saw heel manager Scott D'Amore leaving Kennedy's dressing room and grew suspicious. Later that night, Kennedy and Gowen defeated The Thomaselli Brothers to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament. Following

836-544: The All Asia Tag Team Championship. The two were, however, defeated by the defending champions, Burning ( Jun Akiyama and Yoshinobu Kanemaru). On May 17, Sushi lost the Gaora TV Championship to Kotaro Suzuki in his second defense. On December 14, Sushi put his mask on the line in a tag team match, where he and "Mr. Christmas" faced Último Dragón and Masked Burning #2 . Though Sushi was pinned for

880-695: The Independent Wrestling Revolution Heavyweight Championship by defeating N8 Mattson in an Iron Man Cage match . The following year, in July, he won the Mid-West Heavyweight Championship by again defeating Mattson. On May 6, 2007, CAPW Television Championship by defeating Jason Bane. He successfully defended the title against Jake Crist and Chris Cronus throughout the end of 2007. Kennedy made his Ring of Honor debut on April 29, 2006, as Colt Cabana 's tag team partner which saw them both defeat

924-794: The March 26, 2009, episode of Impact! , Kiyoshi, accompanied by the tag team of No Limit, unsuccessfully challenged Suicide for the TNA X Division Championship . Kiyoshi and No Limit then aligned themselves with Sheik Abdul Bashir . After No Limit left the company in May 2009, the duo of Kiyoshi and Bashir went on to form an alliance with The British Invasion of Doug Williams , Brutus Magnus and Rob Terry as well as Eric Young , known as World Elite . The members represented anti–American faction of countries, with Williams, Magnus and Terry representing Great Britain, Bashir representing Iran, Young representing Canada, Kiyoshi representing Japan and Homicide , who joined

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968-525: The championship to The Motor City Machine Guns ( Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley ) on September 8. Kennedy and Davis kept competing in the AAW tag team division, and on October 20, were unsuccessful in regaining the Tag Team Championship in a two ou of three falls match . DP Associates were supposed to face The Michigan Invasion (Truth Martini and N8 Mattson) on December 18, but Kennedy was unable to make

1012-613: The city government, and five public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Board of Education. There are three private elementary schools, two private middle schools and two private high schools. In addition, the prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped. Kawanishi is serviced by the JR Takarazuka Line and the Hankyu Takarazuka Line . Hankyu's Kawanishi-Noseguchi Station

1056-605: The city had an estimated population of 221,846 in 96,729 households and a population density of 2,200 persons per km². The total area of the city is 101.80 square kilometres (39.31 sq mi). Known as the "inner parlor" of Kansai , Takarazuka is famous for the Takarazuka Revue , hot springs, and the Takarazuka Tourism Fireworks Display held since 1913. It is also famous as a choice residential area along with Ashiya and Nishinomiya . Takarazuka

1100-659: The city limits. The Mefu Jinja dates from the Nara period . From the Heian period , numerous landed estates shōen controlled by the Fujiwara family were developed in the area. Takarazuka onsen is mentioned in Kamakura period records. In the Muromachi period , Kohama town developed as a temple town for Kōshō-ji, and subsequently Kohama Inn was established as a post station on Arima Road. The area

1144-431: The group later, representing Puerto Rico. During the summer of 2009, Kiyoshi gradually faded out his Great Muta look and debuted a new look, complete with new ring attire and altered hair style. The World Elite split in early 2010, with Kiyoshi wrestled his last match so far for TNA on February 16, 2010, in an X Division three-way match, taped for Xplosion , where he and Homicide were defeated by Amazing Red . Kawabata spent

1188-410: The later half of 2008, Kawabata signed a two-year deal with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling after an appearance on Border City Wrestling 's (BCW) 15th anniversary show. He was given a heel gimmick , Kiyoshi , which resembled his mentor Great Muta, together with similar face paint and mannerisms . In his debut match on December 18, 2008, he defeated Consequences Creed with a moonsault to advance to

1232-542: The name Conrad Carr on an episode of Heat in a losing effort to Carlito . Kennedy, under the name Conrad Bourne, would make his second appearance four days later, tagging with Jake Adams in another losing effort against Jesse and Festus on SmackDown! . On May 12, 2008, Kennedy appeared on Heat using his "CK3" nickname in another losing effort, this time to "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan . Carnes has claimed that Total Nonstop Action Wrestling used his gimmicks without compensating him on multiple occasions. In 2011, he sent

1276-460: The next four months wrestling part-time in Japan for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Kawabata returned to TNA on June 14, 2010, now under a mask portraying the face character of Suicide , losing to Magnus in a match taped for Xplosion . At the July 12 tapings of Xplosion , Kawabata picked up his first victory as Suicide, defeating Eric Young. After Kawabata's original two–year contract with TNA expired, it

1320-493: The promotion at the end of the month and becoming a freelancer . On January 28, Sushi was defeated by Jun Akiyama in his final AJPW match. After becoming a freelancer, Kawabata continued working under a mask as Sushi, but also resumed working unmasked as Kiyoshi. Takarazuka, Hy%C5%8Dgo Takarazuka ( 宝塚市 , Takarazuka-shi ) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture , Japan . As of 1 February 2024 ,

1364-503: The semifinals in a tournament for the vacant TNA X Division Championship . On December 25, he lost to Chris Sabin , failing to advance into the finals of the tournament. On the March 5, 2009, episode of TNA Impact! , Kiyoshi, accompanied by the tag team No Limit ( Yujiro and Naito ), was unable to defeat the TNA X Division Champion Alex Shelley in a match for the title. On the March 14 edition of TNA Xplosion , Kiyoshi defeated Shark Boy with his signature Lightning Flash . On

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1408-489: The show after he flight was cancelled, so Davis wrestled on his own in a handicap match , but lost. Kennedy made his final AAW appearance at My Bloody Valentine '08 on February 9, 2008, when he and Davis lost to Zach Gowen and Krotch. Kennedy debuted in Juggalo Championship Wrestling during season 2 of its internet wrestling show SlamTV! . Along with his partner Zach Gowen , Kennedy participated in

1452-679: The tag team The Irish Airborne . On June 23, 2006, Kennedy was placed in an ROH Pure Championship title match against then-champion Nigel McGuinness in a losing effort. The next day, Kennedy teamed up with Jimmy Rave as a one-time member of The Embassy and both were managed by Prince Nana in their match against The Briscoe Brothers . Rave and Kennedy would lose the match to the Briscoes. Kennedy made his first appearance in All American Wrestling (AAW) on February 17, 2007, at My Bloody Valentine '07 , teaming with Trik Davis to defeat

1496-442: The tag team of Chessman and Dark Ozz . On April 3 Kiyoshi entered All Japan's 2010 Champion Carnival . He defeated René Duprée and Suwama, but lost to Taiyō Kea and Masakatsu Funaki in the round robin stage of the tournament, finished third in his block and did not advance to the semifinals. On April 11, the final night of the tournament, Kiyoshi teamed with Satoshi Kojima to defeat Gurentai ( Nosawa Rongai and Taiyō Kea) in

1540-696: The team of Shane Hollister and Bryce Benjamin. on May 19, "DP Associates" (Kennedy, David and B. J. Whitmer ) defeated Eric Priest , Ryan Boz and Dan Lawrence . On June 16, the DP Associates team of Kennedy and Davis beat Zach Gowen and Krotch, Dan Lawrence and Ryan Boz, and The Michigan Invasion ( Truth Martini and N8 Mattson) in a four-way tag team match to win the AAW Tag Team Championship . After successful defenses against Absolute Answer ( Caden Ames and Chris Able ) and American History Next ( Hardcore Craig and Steve Stone ), they dropped

1584-503: The win by Dragón and was per stipulation supposed to unmask himself, Mr. Christmas instead offered to unmask in his place, revealing himself as Jun Akiyama. On June 4, 2015, Sushi defeated Kenso to win the Gaora TV Championship for the second time. On August 15, Sushi fractured his jaw in a match, which sidelined him indefinitely and forced him to forfeit the Gaora TV Championship. He made his return to in-ring action on November 1. On January 15, 2017, AJPW announced that Sushi would be leaving

1628-513: The year. After its restoration, Sushi entered a four-man tournament for the vacant title, defeating Hikaru Sato in his semifinal match on November 21. Three days later, Sushi defeated Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) representative Keisuke Ishii in the finals to win the tournament and become the third Gaora TV Champion. Sushi made his first successful title defense on January 3, 2014, against another DDT representative, Soma Takao. On February 23, Sushi, alongside Menso～re Oyaji , received his first shot at

1672-672: Was a center of the culture from the 1910s to 1940s in what has been dubbed the age of Hanshinkan Modernism . This included the opening of the Takarazuka Girls' Opera (current Takarazuka Revue ) on April 1, 1914. Kohama was elevated to town status on March 15, 1951, changing its name to Takarazuka. On April 1 1954 it merged with the village of Yoshimoto (吉本村) in Muko District to become the city of Takarazuka. The city continued to expand by annexing Nagao Village on March 10, 1955, and Nishitani Village on March 14, 1955, but losing some areas in

1716-501: Was announced on September 28, 2010, that he had signed a two–year contract extension with the promotion. On the October 8, 2010, edition of Xplosion Kawabata returned without the Suicide gimmick, working as Kiyoshi and forming a new tag team with compatriot Okada . They were defeated in their first match together by Ink Inc. ( Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore ). On October 13, Suicide's profile

1760-505: Was announced that he would be travelling back to North America, to work for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), who had signed him to a contract. On October 11 Raijin lost to Suwama in his All Japan farewell match. On September 13, 2009, Raijin made a one-night return to All Japan, teaming up with Great Muta in a winning effort against Suwama and Shuji Kondo . On March 21, 2010, Raijin made another return to All Japan, now using his TNA ring name Kiyoshi, he teamed up with Bushi to defeat

1804-654: Was mostly tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo Period . The village of Kohama (小浜村) was established on April 1, 1889 within Kawabe District, Hyōgo , with the creation of the modern municipalities system. In 1897, Hankaku Railroad (current Fukuchiyama Line ) completed. In 1910, the Minoh Arima Electric Railway (current Hankyu Takarazuka Main Line completed). Takarazuka

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1848-560: Was removed from TNA's official website, seemingly signaling the end of the gimmick. Kiyoshi and Okada had a rematch with Ink Inc. at the December 7 tapings of Xplosion , but were once again defeated. Shortly afterwards, Kiyoshi's profile was also removed from TNA's official website. On February 29, 2012, All Japan Pro Wrestling announced that Raijin would be returning to the promotion from his American excursion on March 20. In his return match, Raijin teamed with Kaz Hayashi and Minoru Tanaka in

1892-431: Was set to appear at the 2008 Hallowicked After Party , but was signed to TNA weeks prior to the event, resulting in him having to cancel the appearance. While part of TNA, Raijin continued to wrestle on the independent circuit. On December 20, Kowabata took on JCW Heavyweight Champion Corporal Robinson at Big Ballas X–Mas Party '08 in a losing effort. Raijin would mostly appear for Border City Wrestling and even had

1936-527: Was then set for Bloodymania II where The Pimp and Gimp Connection would face Kennedy and a mystery partner. The match, however, never occurred because Gowen legitimately no-showed the event. Kennedy competed the rest of his tenure as a singles competitor. In 2014 Kennedy now under the ring name Krimson returned to JCW in a losing effort to 2 Tuff Tony . In 2007, Kennedy would make three appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment , using

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