First announced on Pro Wrestling NOAH‘s Twitter site and later followed up in a story with Tokyo Sports, Pro Wrestling NOAH star Taiji Ishimori has departed the company as of today. It was broken to English speaking fans by author and Japan wrestling historian Chris Charlton (author of Lion’s Pride: The Turbulent History of New Japan Pro Wrestling).
【石森太二選手 退団会見】
「ここで一歩を踏み出さなければ一生後悔する」
※会見の模様は後ほどYouTubeノア公式チャンネルにて公開致します。#noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/EFnCvOSUsl— プロレスリング・ノア ｜PROWRESTLING NOAH (@noah_ghc) March 12, 2018
Taiji Ishimori left NOAH saying if he didn’t take a big step now, he’ll regret it forever.
— chris charlton (@reasonjp) March 12, 2018
https://t.co/QHNtlOQL47 Ishimori ‘lots of Japanese wrestlers are active internationally right now. I want to be among them, for Taiji Ishimori to appeal on a global scale. I’m open to offers at home and abroad.’
— chris charlton (@reasonjp) March 12, 2018
Trained by Ultimo Dragon with Toryumon Mexico, he worked various events for All Japan and NJPW in his early days, as well as working Mexico lucha libre, before signing with Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2006. Throughout his 12-year career with NOAH, Ishimori 3x GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion and 6x GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion. In Mexico, he was a UWA World Welterweight Champion and AAA World Tag Team Champion.
Ishimori made an impression on many North American fans in the past year, as he’s been working as part of the Impact Wrestling X-Division, capturing the X-Division title from Trevor Lee late last year. He just lost his title last Thursday in a match against Matt Sydal.
No word yet on his destination, but he appears interested in working more promotions internationally with the boom of the indie scene.
