Following his victory over Katsuyori Shibata, in the 2013 G1, Ishii would head on a tour of Mexico. He would return to NJPW in October, to once again clash with his hard-hitting rival Shibata, at King of Pro Wrestling. This meeting, ended in defeat for Ishii, in another strong outing from both men. Ishii would then go on to team with Shinsuke Nakamura, for the 2013 World Tag League. The Chaos teammates would fail to make the finals, finishing with a record of three wins and three losses. As January rolled around, Ishii would enter into a feud with Tesuya Naito. This would lead to Ishii’s first title reign in NJPW.

At The New Beginning in Osaka, Ishii lifted the NEVER Openweight Championship. Ishii held onto the belt for four months, in the process cementing the NEVER titles legacy as a Strong Style belt.

When Ishii dropped the title, it was to his former stablemate Yujiro Takahashi, who by then, had betrayed Chaos to join the heelish Bullet Club faction.

By the 2014 G1 Climax, NJPW management were beginning to listen to fans and the wrestling media. Ishii was now being treated as a solid, upper mid-card star.

This new found appreciation of the Stone Pitbull was highlighted when Ishii finished his G1 Block with five wins and five losses. This was an improved showing from the previous year and a true sign of the company’s growing faith in him. By October’s King of Pro Wrestling, Ishii was positioned to once again lift the NEVER Openweight Championship. Ishii defeated Yujiro Takahashi, becoming the first two-time holder of the title. Ishii’s second reign would end to Togi Makabe at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in January 2015. He would not be without the gold for long.

On Valentines Day at The New Beginning in Sendai, Ishii defeated Makabe’s stand-in Tomoaki Honma, after Makabe fell ill. Ishii would once again lose the title to Makabe at Wrestling Hinokuni. The two faced off in another title match in July at Dominion, where Makabe was once again victorious. The rivals continued to trade wins and at King of Pro-Wrestling, Ishii defeated Makabe to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the fourth time.

Ishii, had by this time, become synonymous with the NEVER Championship. His no thrills, tough guy style, was everything fans enjoyed about the title. His latest reign would end to his old rival Shibata at Wrestle Kingdom 10, in another hard-hitting clinic.

In early 2016 Ishii would further enhance his reputation on the international stage, by lifting the Ring of Honor (ROH) World Television Championship. Ishii would make several appearances stateside, before eventually dropping the belt to Bobby Fish. This was not, however, before Ishii received his biggest opportunity to date, challenging newly crowned Naito at Wrestling Dontaku for the IWGP Championship, in what would prove to be Naito’s only successful title defence.

Ishii took part in the 2016 G1 Climax, where, he finished with a record of four wins and five losses. Ishii’s biggest win was at the expense of Chaos stablemate Kazuchika Okada, who, was by then, once again, the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

On January 4, 2017, at Wrestle Kingdom 11, Ishii would once again taste victory. When he and partner Toru Yano defeated Guerrillas of Destiny (G.O.D) and G.B.H. in a three-way dance to become IWGP Tag Team Champions. Ishii and Yano would enjoy a two-month reign with the straps, before losing the titles to Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima.

Back in singles action, Ishii made it to the semifinals of the New Japan Cup, losing yet another heated classic to “the wrestler” Katsuyori Shibata.

By this time, NJPW’s expansion into North America was well underway. The company’s next step was the G1 Special in Long Beach, where Ishii took part in an eight-man tournament to crown the inaugural IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion.

Ishii would ultimately make it to the final of the tournament, losing to the charismatic Kenny Omega, in a thrilling match.

Later that month, Ishii entered the G1 Climax, where he finished with four wins.

Ishii would once again fulfil his Chaos gatekeeper role when G1 winner Tetsuya Naito nominated Ishii as challenger to his contract for an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom. At King of Pro-Wrestling, Ishii unsuccessfully challenged Naito for the contract.

Wrestle Kingdom 12 must have been disappointing for Ishii. Ishii, Beretta and Toru Yano won a five-team gauntlet match at the Tokyo Dome to become the new NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions. However, given the blockbuster year Ishii had, had in the ring, it was felt by many that the Stone Pitbull was deserving of a big singles contest at the show of shows.

In a world dominated by characters like Okada, Omega, Naito and Tanahashi, it was sometimes the case that Ishii’s brilliance would fall under the radar.

Enter British promotion RevPro. Due to NJPW’s working arrangement with the upstart promotion, Ishii found a second home in the UK, where his popularity soared in hard-hitting classics with the likes of Chris Hero and Keith Lee.

On April 6, 2018, Ishii defeated Zack Sabre Jr. at Wrestlecon to win the RevPro British Heavyweight Championship. On July 1st 2018, he would lose the title to Minoru Suzuki on Night Two of the Strong Style Evolved UK tour.

The confidence Ishii gained main eventing in Rev Pro, however, must have struck a chord with NJPW management. As Ishii was chosen to pin The New IWGP Champion, Kenny Omega, in their 2018 G1 B Block Bout. This was an amazing victory for Ishii, one that the NJPW faithful were fully behind. The Stone Pitbull defeated The champion to a rapturous ovation, setting up their upcoming championship bout. Ishii and Omega are 2 for 2 in one on one action.

Could Tomohiro Ishii shock the world?

Or will this be just another classic, for the curriculum vitae of the heavy hitter?

Is this Earnest grappler a future IWGP Champion?

Or just another case of always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

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Thanks for reading.

Ian

Puroresu Gaijin