Togi Makabe

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Makabe debuted in 1997, originally wrestling under his birthname as a junior heavyweight at 100 kilograms (220 lb). He gained several kilograms during a global excursion in 2001 and 2002, and changed his given name to "Togi" during the 2004 G1 Climax tournament. His status in New Japan rose significantly in 2007, making it to the finals of the New Japan Cup and the semifinals of the G1 Climax, and challenging Yuji Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. After a number of unsuccessful challenges, Makabe finally won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on May 3, 2010, by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura. He also uses Bruiser Brody's Japan theme "Immigrant Song" (a cover by Tomoyasu Hotei) as his own.

In Their Own Story

Makabe passed an NJPW admission test in February 1996 and enrolled in the New Japan dojo in April, training for ten months. He made his debut on February 15, 1997, losing to Shinjiro Otani. His first victory came 20 months later, defeating Yutaka Yoshie on October 15, 1998. In April 2000, he entered the Super J-Cup, eliminated in the first round by Gran Hamada. Later that month, he finished first in the group stage of the Young Lion Cup, defeating all opponents (Kenzo Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Wataru Inoue, Katsuyori Shibata and Masakazu Fukuda by forfeit), though he lost to Kenzo Suzuki in the final. He received his first title shot on September 12, 2000, teaming with Jyushin Thunder Liger to unsuccessfully challenge Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

Reader's Guide

Makabe made his Tokyo Dome debut on January 4, 2001, teaming with Tatsuhito Takaiwa in a loss to Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka. He then began competing amongst heavyweights, teaming with Riki Choshu to challenge Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan for the IWGP World Tag Team Championship. On June 8, 2001, he and Yuji Nagata entered All Japan Pro Wrestling to challenge for the vacant All Asia Tag Team Championship, losing to Masahito Kakihara and Mitsuya Nagai. In August 2001, he left Japan to wrestle overseas in Canada, Great Britain and Puerto Rico for 14 months, gaining considerable muscle. He returned to NJPW on October 14, 2002 as a heavyweight. In January 2003, he suspended his contract with NJPW, wrestling under his own terms. On July 2, 2006, Makabe teamed with Shiro Koshinaka to win the interim IWGP Tag Team Championship, though they lost the title 15 days later to Manabu Nakanishi and Takao Omori. On September 24, 2006, he defeated Kintaro Kanemura to revive the WEW Heavyweight Championship, his first official Japanese title.

Did You Know?

• Makabe changed his given name to 'Togi' during the 2004 G1 Climax tournament.
• He won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on May 3, 2010 by defeating Shinsuke Nakamura.
• Makabe's wrestling style is heavily influenced by the late Bruiser Brody, and he uses a lariat with a chain wrapped around his arm like Brody.
• He debuted in 1997 at 100 kg (220 lb) as a junior heavyweight, then gained several kilograms during a 14-month global excursion in 2001-2002.
• Makabe finished first in the group stage of the 2000 Young Lion Cup, defeating all five opponents including Hiroshi Tanahashi in his debut match.