Hub (wrestler)

Yuto Kigawa (木川勇人, Kigawa Yūto, born August 7, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by the ring name Hub (stylized in all capital letters), currently working as a freelancer and is best known for his tenure with the Japanese promotions Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), DDT Pro Wrestling (DDT), and Osaka Pro Wrestling (OPW).^[3]

Hub
Hub in November 2013
Born	(1978-08-07) August 7, 1978 (age 46)[1] Shimada, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Kaijin Habu Otoko Hayato Kigawa Super Demekin Super Dolphin Goa Hub Zero
Billed height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Billed weight	80 kg (176 lb)
Trained by	Super Delfin
Debut	1999

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (1999–present)

During his career, Kigawa worked for various promotions for which he made sporadic appearances. On the first night of the Cherry Blossom Tour 2014, an event promoted by Wrestle-1 (W-1), Kigawa teamed up with Tigers Mask and scored a victory over Junior Stars (Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka).^[4] At STRONGHEARTS Action 2 Alpha, an event promoted by Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (OWE) on July 24, 2020, Kigawa teamed up with Dick Togo, Eisa8 and Gaina in a losing effort to StrongHearts (El Lindaman, Issei Onitsuka, Shigehiro Irie and T-Hawk) as a result of an eight-man tag team match.^[5] On May 23, 2021, Hub participated at the Hana Kimura Memorial Show, an event produced by Kyoko Kimura to commemorate one year since the passing of her daughter Hana Kimura. He teamed up with Shisaou and Eisa8 to defeat Shota, Fuma, and Mil Mongoose in a six-man tag team match.^[6]

DDT Pro–Wrestling/Pro–Wrestling Basara (2011–present)

Kigawa is also known for his seldom activities across the years in DDT Pro Wrestling (DDT) especially in tag team matches. At Dramatic Dreams! Vol.5 he teamed up with Masahiro Takanashi to defeat Men's Teioh and Yasu Urano.^[7] At Dramatic Dream! Vol. 6 on May 25, 2019, he teamed up with Isami Kodaka and picked up a victory over Disaster-Box (Naomi Yoshimura and Yuki Ueno).^[8] At Dramatic Dreams Vol. 7 on October 18, 2020, he teamed up with Yuki Ueno scoring a defeat to Konosuke Takeshita and Billy Ken Kid.^[9] At DAMNATION Produce Illegal Assembly Returns Vol. 3 on February 19, 2021, Hub teamed up with Yasutaka Oosera in a losing effort to Damnation's Daisuke Sasaki and Hiroshi Yamato.^[10]

Kigawa usually works under the Pro-Wrestling Basara (Basara) branch of the promotion, making appearances at event such as the Osaka Beer Garden Pro-Wrestling on July 22, 2018 where he teamed up with Iron Priest (Fuma and Yusuke Kubo) in a losing effort to Isami Kodaka, Ryota Nakatsu and Ryuichi Sekine.^[11] His most notable victory in Basara took place at BJW Osaka Surprise 52 ~ Proud RulerJuly , an event produce in partnership with Big Japan Pro Wrestling on July 4, 2021, where he teamed up with Andy Wu and Ultimate Spider Jr. to defeat Viva México Cabrones (Billy Ken Kid, Masamune, and Tsubasa) for the UWA World Trios Championship.^[12]

Dragon Gate (2012–2013)

Kigawa had a brief tenure with the Dragon Gate (DG) promotion. He is known for participating in the Gate of Destiny series of events, marking his most important victory at the 2012 edition on October 21, where he teamed up with Magnitude Kishiwada and Gamma as part of the "Team Veteran Returns" stable to defeat Mad Blankey's Akira Tozawa, BxB Hulk and Naoki Tanisaki for the Open the Triangle Gate Championship.^[13]

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2008–2012)

Kigawa made several appearances at shows hosted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). At NJPW Exciting Battle In Okinawa on January 22, 2010, he teamed up with Golden Pine, Jushin Thunder Liger and Super Delfin, scoring a victory over Menso-re Oyaji, Mil Mongoose, Ryusuke Taguchi and Super Shisa in an eight-man tag team match.^[14] Hub continued to work in these kinds of matches following his appearance at NJPW Exciting Battle In Okinawa on March 25, 2011, where he teamed up with Kijimuna, Ryusuke Taguchi and Super Shisa to successfully challenge Gurukun Diver, Jushin Thunder Liger, Menso-re Oyaji and Mil Mongoose.^[15] His las match for NJPW took place at the 40th Anniversary Tour of the company from March 25, 2012, where he teamed up with Gurukun Diver and Ryusuke Taguchi to defeat Eisa8, Kushida and Menso-re Oyaji.^[16]

Osaka Pro–Wrestling (1999–present)

Kigawa made his professional wrestling debut in Osaka Pro Wrestling (Osaka Pro) at the very first event promoted by the company on April 29, 1999, as Super Demekin where he fell short to Magnitude Kishiwada.^[17] He is a former Osaka Tag Team Champion, title which he won for the first time on December 15, 2007 at the Michinoku Pro National Tour alongside his long-time tag partner Gaina after defeating Kagetora and Rasse.^[18] He is also a former Osaka Openweight Champion, title which he last won at Osaka Pro in Konohana on July 31, 2016 after defeating Tadasuke.^[19]

Kigawa is known for taking part in various of the Osaka Hurricane events. The first match took place at the 2005 edition of the event where he defeated Magnitude Kishiwada to win the Osaka Pro Wrestling Championship.^[20] At the 2006 edition, competing under the name of Super Dolphin, he defeated his trainer Super Delfin to win the Osaka Pro Wrestling Championship once again.^[21]

Championships and accomplishments

• Dove Pro Wrestling
  • Dove Pro Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gaina
• Dotonbori Pro Wrestling
  • WDW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Orochi
• Dragon Gate
  • Open the Triangle Gate Championship (1 time) – with Magnitude Kishiwada and Gamma^[22]
• Kyushu Pro-Wrestling
  • Kyushu Pro-Wrestling Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Genkai
• Pro-Wrestling Basara
  • UWA World Trios Championship (1 time, current) – with Andy Wu and Ultimate Spider Jr.^[23]
• Okinawa Pro Wrestling^[24]
  • Okinawa Wrestling Championship (2 times)
  • MWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shisaou (1) and Menso-re Oyaji (1)
• Osaka Pro Wrestling
  • Osaka Openweight Championship (2 times)^[25]
  • Osaka Tag Team Championship (2 times, current) – with Gaina^[26]
  • Tennōzan (2005)^[27]
• Pro Wrestling Zero1
  • International Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[28]
  • NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[29]
  • NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Takuya Sugawara (1) and Billy Ken Kid (1)^[30]
  • Tenkaichi Junior (2013, 2019)
• Tenryu Project
  • WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
• Tokyo Gurentai
  • Tokyo Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mazada
• VKF Pro Wrestling
  • VKF King Of Wrestle Naniwa Championship (1 time)

References

1. Saalbach, Axel. "HUB • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
2. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "HUB/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved July 19, 2021.
3. Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Kaijin Habu Otoko Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
4. Wrestle-1 (April 17, 2014). 『WRESTLE-1 TOUR 2014 Cherry blossom』4.17.東京・後楽園ホール大会. w-1.co.jp. Retrieved July 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
5. Daly, Wayne (July 25, 2020). "OWE Results: STRONGHEARTS Action 2 Alpha – Osaka, Japan (7/24)0". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
6. Klyn, Parker (May 22, 2021). "HANA KIMURA MEMORIAL SHOW LIVE RESULTS: KAGETSU, OTHERS IN ACTION". f4wonline.com. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
7. Dark angel (May 31, 2018). "DDT: "Dramatic Dreams! Vol. 5 ″ Takeshita and Irie, the most valuable". superluchas.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
8. Daly, Wayne (May 25, 2019). "DDT Results: Dramatic Dream! Vol. 6 – Osaka, Japan (5/26)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
9. DDT Pro Wrestling (October 18, 2020). "DDT ProWrestling" ドラマティック・ドリームズ！Vol.7～留め置かまし 大和魂～. ddtpro.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
10. Daly, Wayne (February 19, 2021). "DDT Results: DAMNATION Produce ~ Unlawful Assembly Returns Vol. 3 – Tokyo, Japan (2/19)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
11. Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 22, 2018). "BASARA Osaka Beer Garden Pro-Wrestling 2018". cagematch.net (in German). Retrieved July 20, 2021.
12. Big Japan Pro Wrestling (July 4, 2021). 「大阪サプライズ52〜PROUD RULER 2021」大阪･コレガスタジオ大会. bjw.co.jp. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
13. BanhammerMan (October 17, 2012). "Dragon Gate The Gate of Destiny 2012 from 10/21/12". catchasylum.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
14. VS Planet (January 22, 2010). "NJPW Exciting Battle In Okinawa 2010". vsplanet.net (in Russian). Retrieved July 19, 2021.
15. Rinehart, Colin (August 30, 2011). "The X Review: NJPW Exciting Battle in Okinawa 3.25.11". 411mania.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
16. New Japan Pro Wrestling (March 25, 2012). NJPW 40th anniversary EXCITING BATTLE in 沖縄 2012 〜社会福祉チャリティ大会〜. njpw.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 19, 2021.
17. Purolove (April 29, 1999). "Osaka Pro, 05.05.1999 Tokyo Korakuen Hall". purolove.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
18. "Michinoku Pro National Tour 2007 - Tag 2". Cagematch.net. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
19. "Osaka Pro Ga Yattekita! in Konohana". Wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
20. "Osaka Pro-Wrestling Results: 2005". Puro Love. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
21. "Osaka Pro-Wrestling Results: 2006". Puro Love. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
22. Wrestling Titles (May 5, 2021). "Open the Triangle Gate Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
23. Wrestling Titles (July 4, 2021). "Universal Wrestling Association World Trios Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
24. Wrestling Titles (July 19, 2021). "Okinawa Pro-Wrestling Titles". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
25. Wrestling Titles (February 16, 2019). "Ōsaka Open-weight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
26. Wrestling Titles (December 28, 2019). "Ōsaka Pro-Wrestling Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
27. Leung, Jonathan (December 13, 2010). "Tennozan 2005". Osaka Holiday Paradise. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
28. "AWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history". ZEROONEUSA.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
29. "10/2(日)奉納プロレスにNWA世界Jr王者：クレイグ・クラッシック参戦：澤宗紀リベンジなるか". Pro Wrestling Zero1 (in Japanese). September 20, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
30. "Pro Wrestling Zero1 official results archives" (in Japanese). Zero-One-Max.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2007-07-15.