Minorita (wrestler)
| Minorita | |
|---|---|
 Minorita in July 2024 | |
| Born | August 14, 1999[1] Kōshū, Japan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Takumi Hayakawa Minorita |
| Billed height | 156 cm (5 ft 1 in)[2] |
| Billed weight | 67 kg (148 lb) |
| Trained by | Dragon Gate Dojo |
| Debut | 2021 |
Takumi Hayakawa (早川 匠, Hayakawa Takumi), better known by his ring name Minorita (ミノリータ, Minorīta) and currently performing as Riiita, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Dragon Gate. He is a former Open the Brave Gate Champion and Open the Triangle Gate Champion.[3][4]
Professional wrestling career
[edit]Dragon Gate (2021–present)
[edit]Hayakawa made his professional wrestling debut in Dragon Gate on the eighth night of the Gate Of Victory 2021 from October 24, where he teamed up with Naruki Doi in a losing effort against Don Fujii and Jacky "Funky" Kamei as a result of a tag team match.[5] Shortly after just one year following his professional debut, he eventually began chasing various championships, and capturing the Open the Brave Gate Championship at Final Gate 2022 on December 25 by defeating H.Y.O.[6] At Hopeful Gate 2023 on May 20, he alongside Kota Minoura and Naruki Doi defeated Natural Vibes (Kzy, Big Boss Shimizu and Jacky Kamei) to win the Open the Triangle Gate Championship.[7]
Hayakawa is known for competing in various of the promotion's signature events, such as the King of Gate tournament, making his first appearance at the 2022 edition where he defeated Takashi Yoshida in the first rounds but fell short to Kzy in the second ones. He also competed in a battle royal for a second chance in the tournament, won by Kota Minoura and also involving various other opponents such as Dragon Kid, Susumu Mochizuki, Yamato, Keisuke Okuda, Kaito Ishida, Eita, Madoka Kikuta and others.[8] At the 2023 edition he is scheduled to face Ishin in the first rounds.[9]
Hayakawa competed in the Gate of Destiny series of pay-per-views, which is considered to be the promotion's top yearly event. He made his first appearance at the 2021 edition where he teamed up with Masaaki Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda to defeat Último Dragón and Iihashi Brothers (Riki Iihashi and Ishin Iihashi).[10] At the 2022 edition, he teamed up with his "Gold Class" stablemates Kota Minoura and Ben-K in a losing effort against Z-Brats (BxB Hulk and Diamante) in a 3-on-2 handicap match.[11]
Independent circuit (2022–present)
[edit]Hayakawa often makes appearances for various promotions of the Japanese independent scene as a developmental talent sent by Dragon Gate. He took part in a cross-over event promoted by them alongside Pro Wrestling Noah on November 11, 2022, the NOAH Global Dream where he teamed up with Gold Class stablemate Ben-K and unsuccessfully competed in a five-way tag team match won by Ishin and Manabu Soya and also involving Los Perros del Mal de Japón (Eita and Super Crazy), M3K (Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda), and Big Boss Shimizu and Mohammed Yone.[12] He made his first appearance in Pro Wrestling Zero1 at ZERO1 Yamanashi Pro Wrestling Festival Vol. 5 on November 13, 2022, where he teamed up with Tsugutaka Sato in a losing effort against Koji Doi and Shoki Kitamura.[13] In Michinoku Pro Wrestling, he made his debut at Michinoku Pro Tanabata Pro-Wrestling Festival on July 8, 2023, where he fell short to Jacky "Funky" Kamei and Taro Nohashi in a three-way match.[14]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Minorita • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Minorita/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ InternetWrestling Database (IWD). "Takumi Hayakawa Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ DRAGONGATE：ドラゴンゲート公式サイト ミノリータ. Dragon Gate (in Japanese). Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ Daly, Wayne (October 24, 2021). "Dragon Gate Results: The Gate Of Victory 2021 Day 9 (Evening Show) – Fukuoka, Japan (10/24)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Lowe, Case (December 27, 202). "DRAGONGATE THE FINAL GATE 2022 (DECEMBER 25) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ Byrne, Liam (June 29, 2023). "DRAGONGATE KOBE PRO-WRESTLING FESTIVAL 2023 PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Lowe, Case (June 3, 2022). "DRAGONGATE KING OF GATE FINALS (JUNE 2) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Dark Angelita (June 18, 2023). "Dragon Gate: Se anuncia el "King of Gate 2023"". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ Lowe, Case (November 4, 2021). "DRAGONGATE GATE OF DESTINY 2021 (NOVEMBER 3) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ Lowe, Case (November 7, 2022). "DRAGONGATE GATE OF DESTINY (NOVEMBER 7) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ Gerard, Di Trolio (November 14, 2022). "NOAH/DRAGONGATE GLOBAL DREAM (NOVEMBER 11) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Daly, Wayne (November 13, 2022). "ZERO1 Results: Yamanashi Pro Wrestling Festival Vol. 5 – Kofu, Japan (11/13)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Michinoku Pro Wrestling (July 8, 2023). ～七夕プロレス祭２０２３～【２０２３年７月８日（土）１６：００試合開始 神奈川・平塚市オリンピック平塚店 観衆:未発表】. michipro.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Wrestling Titles. "Open the Brave Gate Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ Wrestling Titles. "Open the Triangle Gate Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022.