Shoichi Funaki

Infobox Wrestler
name=Shoichi Funaki (Kung Fu Naki)


names=Kung-Fu Naki
Shoichi Funaki
Sho Funaki
Funaki
height= height|ft=5|in=7
weight=convert|180|lb|kg st|abbr=on [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/funaki/bio Funaki's WWE Profile] . WWE. Retrieved on 2007-12-30]
birth_date=birth date and age|1968|8|24
death_date =
birth_place = Tokyo, Japan
resides = San Antonio, Texas
billed = Japan
trainer = Animal Hamaguchi
Yoshiaki Fujiwara
debut = 1990
retired=|

nihongo|Shoichi Funaki|船木 勝一|Funaki Shoichi (Kung Fu Naki) (born August 24, 1968) is a Japanese/American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its SmackDown. Since wrestling in WWF/E, he became a 1 time Cruiserweight Champion and a 1 time Hardcore Champion.

Career

Funaki started as a shoot style wrestler in Yoshiaki Fujiwara's Fujiwara Gumi promotion and moved to its successor promotion, BattlARTS. He later found the lucha libre style more to his liking, so he moved to the Great Sasuke's promotion, Michinoku Pro Wrestling. In that promotion, he joined with TAKA Michinoku, Dick Togo, Mens Teioh and Shiryu in the Kai En Tai stable. Funaki also wrestled in the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA) where he won the UWA World Middleweight Championship from Pantera on March 19, 1997 in Japan.cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/uwa/uwa-m.html|title=U.W.A. World Middleweight Title|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com]

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (1998-present)

Kai En Tai (1998-2001)

In March 1998, Funaki, along with Teioh and Togo, joined the World Wrestling Federation.cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/sho-funaki.html|title=Funaki Profile|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] Initially, they feuded with TAKA Michinoku and defeated him and his partner Justin Bradshaw in a 3-on-2 handicap match at "Over The Edge 1998". [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/inyourhouse22.html|title=Over The Edge 1998 results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] They lost to TAKA and The Headbangers at "King of the Ring 1998" in a six-man tag team match. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering98.html|title=King of the Ring 1998 results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling]

TAKA eventually turned heel and joined the group. At "SummerSlam 1998", Kai En Tai lost to Oddities members Kurrgan, Giant Silva and Golga in a handicap match. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/1998/results|title=SummerSlam 1998 official results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE] Over time, the stable turned into a tag team, as in 1999, Teioh and Togo (and manager Yamaguchi-san) were given their releases. Michinoku and Funaki were often used for comedic purposes, often having their pre-match promos dubbed—while Michinoku would "deliver" the majority of dialogue for the duo, Funaki would "respond" strongly with a simple "INDEED".

At "WrestleMania 2000", Funaki participated in a 15-minute hardcore battle royal for the WWF Hardcore Championship. Funaki pinned Viscera after a flying shoulder block from Bradshaw but he was later pinned by Rodney.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/hardcore|title=History Of The WWE Hardcore Championship|accessdate=2007-12-29|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/results|title=WrestleMania 2000 official results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE] At "Unforgiven 2000", Funaki once again participated in a hardcore battle royal which was won by the defending champion Steve Blackman. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2000/results|title=Unforgiven 2000 official results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE]

In 2001, Kai En Tai started participating in dark matches before pay-per-view events such as "Royal Rumble 2001" [ [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/royalrumble01.html Royal Rumble 2001 results] ] and "Judgment Day 2001". [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/judgment.html#2001|title=Judgment Day 2001 results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=ProWrestlingHistory] After Michinoku left the WWF, Funaki found himself as a lower card wrestler and adopted the gimmick of "SmackDown!'s number one announcer", performing backstage interviews between matches, while competing in the WWF's cruiserweight division.

Post-Kaientai (2001-2003)

At "Survivor Series 2001", Funaki participated in an "Immunity Battle Royal" which was won by Test. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2001/results|title=Survivor Series 2001 official results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE] In 2002, WWF was renamed "World Wrestling Entertainment" due to a lawsuit with World Wildlife Fund. Funaki was drafted to WWE's "SmackDown!" brand. As part of "SmackDown!" brand, Funaki wrestled for most of the time on "Velocity". At "Rebellion 2002", Funaki defeated Crash Holly. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/rebellion02.html|title=Rebellion 2002 results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] At "Vengeance 2003", Funaki participated in the APA Invitational Bar Room Brawl which was won by Bradshaw. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/2003/results|title=Vengeance 2003 official results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE]

Cruiserweight Champion (2004-2005)

Funaki started wrestling in the cruiserweight division around 2003. On March 4, 2004 edition of "SmackDown!", Funaki lost to WWE Cruiserweight Champion at the time Chavo Guerrero in a non-title match. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040304.html|title=SmackDown! results - March 4, 2004|date=2004-03-04|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] On March 11 edition of "SmackDown!", Funaki participated in an 8-man cruiserweight tag team match teaming with fellow cruiserweights Rey Mysterio, Último Dragón and Billy Kidman against Tajiri, Akio, Sakoda and Jamie Noble. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040311.html|title=SmackDown! results - March 11, 2004|date=2004-03-11|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] At WrestleMania XX, Funaki participated in a Cruiserweight Open for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship but was pinned by Jamie Noble. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm20/results|title=WrestleMania XX official results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE]

On December 9 edition of "SmackDown!", Funaki won a Cruiserweight Over the Top Rope #1 Contender's Battle Royal which included Chavo Guerrero, Paul London, Billy Kidman, Akio, Shannon Moore and Nunzio. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041209.html|title=SmackDown! results - December 9, 2004|date=2004-12-09|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] At "Armageddon 2004", Funaki defeated Spike Dudley to win his first WWE Cruiserweight Championship. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/350108|title=History Of The Cruiserweight Championship - Funaki|accessdate=2007-12-30|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2004/results|title=Armageddon 2004 official results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE] Funaki defended the Cruiserweight title against Spike Dudley, [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041230.html|title=SmackDown! Night of Champions results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] Akio, [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050106.html|title=SmackDown! results - January 6, 2005|date=2005-01-06|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] Nunzio [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050113.html|title=SmackDown! results - January 13, 2005|date=2005-01-13|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] and Chavo Guerrero. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050127.html|title=SmackDown! results - January 27, 2005 (Japan)|date=2005-01-27|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling]

Cruiserweight Division (2005-present)

Funaki lost the championship to Chavo Guerrero in a six-man Cruiserweight Open match at "No Way Out 2005". [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2005/results|title=No Way Out 2005 official results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE] Since then, Funaki has mainly been a jobber to new and returning talent. At "Armageddon 2005", he lost to Jamie Noble in a Heat match. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/armageddon05.html|title=Armageddon 2005 results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] During an interview with then Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash on an episode of "SmackDown!", Funaki was assaulted by Kash, who gave him a brainbuster onto the interview platform. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/12302005/|title=A shocking return leads to new Champs|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE]

At "Royal Rumble 2006", Funaki faced Kid Kash in a match for the title, when he was entered into a Cruiserweight Open along with four other former Cruiserweight champions, inclduing the champion Kash. Funaki was pinned in this one fall match by then Raw superstar Gregory Helms, who won the match and title. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/royalrumble06.html|title=Royal Rumble 2006 results|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] At "No Way Out 2006", Funaki participated in a Nine Man Cruiserweight Match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship but Helms retained the title. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2006/matches/194350621/results/|title=Gregory Helms wins a Nine-Man Cruiserweight Championship Match|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE] Since that time Funaki, would regularly team with Scotty 2 Hotty during episodes of "Velocity" and "SmackDown!". However, during one such "Velocity" taping, Funaki suffered a 2nd Grade concussion, where he was unconscious for just under two minutes. Funaki would resume wrestling later that year, forming a tag team of sorts with Scotty 2 Hotty, which was mainly used to put over debuting wrestlers or tag teams.

Shoichi Funaki made a one off appearance at the Puroresu King Indy Summit, on December 31, 2006, reuniting with Kai En Tai DX in what was being billed as a Kai En Tai DX Revival Ten-Man Tag Match; Funaki reteamed with TAKA Michinoku, Kaz Hayashi, Dick Togo and MEN'S Teio to face five other wrestlers. [cite web|url=http://www.monksdiner.com/showthread.php?t=34925|title=Kaientai reunite at INDIE SUMMIT 2006|accessdate=2006-12-12|publisher=monksdiner.com] Funaki returned to WWE TV on February 16, 2007 on an edition of "SmackDown!" in a brawl that involved the other "SmackDown!" cruiserweights and the then-Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02162007/|title=Out of control|date=2007-02-16|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE]

At "No Way Out 2007", Funaki participated in a Cruiserweight Open match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship but was pinned by the champion Gregory Helms. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/matches/3465668113/results/|title=Chavo makes a splash|date=2007-02-18|last=Tello|first=Craig|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE] On May 18 edition of "SmackDown!", Funaki was made short work of by recently returned superstar Mark Henry. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05182007|title=Passing Judgment|date=2007-05-18|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|publisher=WWE] On June 29 edition of "SmackDown!", Funaki got a shot at the Cruiserweight title against Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero and Jamie Noble, but came up short. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/06292007|title=The Animal's revengedate=2007-06-29|last=Rote|first=Andrew|publisher=WWE] At "The Great American Bash 2007", he participated in a match for the Cruiserweight Championship which Hornswoggle won. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/matches/42789824/results/|title=A leprechaun's pot o' Cruiserweight golddate=2007-07-22|last=McAvennie|first=Mike|publisher=WWE] On December 14 edition of "SmackDown!", he wrestled in a squash match against Edge. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/12142007/articles/creatingultimateopportunity|title=Creating the Ultimate Opportunity?|date=2007-12-14|last=McAvennie|first=Mike|accessdate=2008-08-07|publisher=WWE] He also made a televised appearance on January 4, 2008 edition of "SmackDown!" where he lost to Chavo Guerrero in a Beat the Clock match. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/01042008/articles/beattheclock|title=Time on Rey's side|first=Louie|last=Dee|date=2008-01-04|accessdate=2008-03-22|publisher=WWE]

Funaki legitimately broke his nose at a joint SmackDown/ECW taping in Houston, Texas during a dark match against Vladimir Kozlov. Since then, Funaki has again returned to jobber status. On the October 10th edition of Smackdown, he was featured in a backstage segment with R-Truth, who had given him the name Kung-Fu Naki.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves :*Cross kneelock - 1990-1992:*Jumping one-handed bulldog:*"Rising Sun" (Tornado DDT) :*Diving crossbody:*Diving somersault cutter or a stunner:*Enzuigiri:*Leg hook brainbuster:*Reverse DDT:*Seated chinlock:*Superkick

*Nicknames:*"SmackDown!s #1 Announcer"'

*Entrance themes:*"Yamato Suite 4 (Version 1)" - Used during his time in Kai En Tai:*"Yamato Suite 4 (Version 2)" - Used after leaving Kai En Tai:*"Evil"

Championships and accomplishments

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him #103 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 2001 [citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50001.htm|accessdate=2008-07-07|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2001|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]

*Texas Wrestling Alliance:*TWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/hwtwa.html|accessdate=2008-06-21|last=Eanes|first=Samuel|title=TWA - TEXAS WRESTLING ALLIANCE TWA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY|publisher=Solie]

*Universal Wrestling Association:*UWA World Middleweight Championship (1 time)

*World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment:*WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1 time) [http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser WWE Cruiserweight Championship official title history] . WWE. Retrieved on 2007-12-27] :*WWF Hardcore Championship (1 time)

Personal life

Funaki is fluent in French, German, and Spanish. This was helpful when he was a regular in the short-lived WWE Spanish-language show Los Super Astros, which was televised on Univision.

Funaki is good friends with Amy Dumas (Lita) Steve Williams (Stone Cold) and Yuji Ide in real life. Williams, a native Texan, suggested that Funaki relocate to Texas. Funaki fell in love with the state, and has been good friends with Austin ever since.

He is married and has two children.fact|date=July 2008

On August 30, 2007, Funaki, along with nine other superstars, were named in "Sports Illustrated" to have been given illegal steroids not in compliance with the WWE Talent Wellness Program. Funaki was said to have received somatropin in March 2006. [cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/08/30/wrestlers/|title=Fourteen wrestlers tied to pipeline|publisher=SportsIllustrated|date=2007-08-30|accessdate=2007-08-31] [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/31/AR2007083101961.html?hpid=moreheadlines Pro Wrestling Suspends 10 Linked to Steroid Ring - washingtonpost.com ] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/funaki/bio/ WWE Profile]