Tomoaki Honma

Infobox Wrestler
name=Tomoaki Honma
names=Tomoaki Honma


height=180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
weight=102 kg (225 lb)
birth_date=birth date and age|1976|11|18
birth_place=Higashine City, Yamagata
death_date=
death_place=
billed=
debut=May 18, 1997|

Tomoaki Honma (本間朋晃 "Honma Tomoaki") is a freelance Japanese professional wrestler, currently touring with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Career

Honma trained in the Big Japan dojo before debuting for the promotion in May, 1997. He spent many years wrestling low-profile matches on the opening card until he was granted the chance to participate in Big Japan's infamous Death Match division. He became one of the most talked-about wrestlers on the independent scene as well as Big Japan's top young star during 1999 and 2000, participating in some of the promotion's most gruesome death matches, the scars from which can still be seen on his body. However, he left Big Japan in October, 2000, after disagreements with company management.

After touring various independent leagues such as IWA Japan, Onita Pro, Complete Players and Rainbow Pro, Honma debuted in All Japan Pro Wrestling on November 24, 2001, against Nobukazu Hirai. He proceeded to sign a full-time contract with the company in March, 2002. Determined to get rid of his Death Match reputation, Honma proved that he can be a solid worker as he struggled to gain recognition within AJPW. In February, 2003, he formed Turmeric Storm with Kazushi Miyamoto, but the team later disbanded on April 20, 2004, after losing a trial series.

In 2005, Honma joined Kensuke Sasaki's Kensuke Office faction in an effort to further improve his career. A severe neck injury kept him out of action throughout much of early 2006, but he returned in March. Honma announced his departure from AJPW on April 28, 2006, and is currently a freelancer. He will also work dates for Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX and King's Road, where he will reunite with old Turmeric Storm teammate, Kazushi Miyamoto. There has also been talk that he has appeared in New Japan Pro Wrestling's WRESTLE LAND brand as a masked member of the Makai Club faction known as "Makai Masked Canadian". On September 24, 2006, Tomoaki Honma and Jun Kasai won the WEW Tag Team Titles from Takashi Sasaki and BADBOY Hido.

Honma participated in NJPW's New Japan Cup tournament, falling to veteran Takashi Iizuka in his first match. He had priorly expressed interest in joining Hiroyoshi Tenzan's GBH faction, and was allowed to join after making a positive impression on Tenzan; however, Tenzan became disenchanted with Honma's difficulty at gaining victories in the NJPW ring, so Honma had to pass through a trial series to prove that he belongs in GBH. He failed his trial series, and is still enjoying only mixed results in the New Japan ring.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*"Shalimar Tea" (Diving neckbreaker):*"Pillar Crash" (Kneeling reverse piledriver, sometimes off the ring apron):*"Turmeric Clutch" (Modified inside cradle):*"Crazy Elbow" (Discus elbow smash or a running elbow smash to a cornered opponent):*Spike brainbuster:*Spinning powerbomb:*Superbomb:*Diving headbutt:*Diving splash:*Delayed piledriver:*Running lariat:*Frankensteiner

*With Kazushi Miyamoto:*"Roppongi" (Aided brainbuster)

*Theme music:*"Heading for Tomorrow" by Gamma Ray

Championships and accomplishments

*Apache Army:*WEW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jun Kasai

*Big Japan Pro Wrestling:*BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship (2 times):*BJW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Shadow WX (1) and Ryuji Yamakawa (1)