| Ryusuke Taguchi | |
|---|---|
 Taguchi in March 2018 | |
| Born | April 15, 1979[1] Iwanuma, Miyagi, Japan[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | |
| Billed height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1][4] |
| Billed weight | 91 kg (201 lb)[1][4] |
| Trained by | NJPW Dojo Kotetsu Yamamoto |
| Debut | November 22, 2002[1][4] |
Ryusuke Taguchi (田口 隆祐, Taguchi Ryūsuke, born April 15, 1979)[1] is a Japanese professional wrestler, trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is a former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, seven-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and three-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He was also the winner of the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors.
Pursuing several sports in high school, Taguchi competed in 76 kg (168 lb) class amateur wrestling in college before entering the NJPW Dojo in March 2002 and debuting in November of that year at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo,[5] wrestling in New Japan's famous junior heavyweight division.
Taguchi's best known gimmick is akin to a disco dancer, often sporting a short afro and colorful, flamboyant attire and celebrating victories with a post-match dance, encouraging his partners to join in during tag team matches. This earned Taguchi the nickname "Funky Weapon".
- ^ a b c d e f "Ryusuke Taguchi". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-07-23.
- ^ "JRA presents Road to Tokyo Dome". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-12-21.
- ^ "2019.01.21 CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2019 Night8 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING".
- ^ a b c "Puroresu Central profile". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
- ^ "NJPW Triathlon Survivor tour results". Strong Style Spirit. Archived from the original on 2007-06-17. Retrieved 2007-07-25.