Michael Nakazawa


Shoji Nakazawa, better known by his ring name Michael Nakazawa, is a Japanese professional wrestler and judoka currently signed to All Elite Wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit

Nakazawa is best known for his tenure with DDT Pro-Wrestling where he is a former KO-D Tag Team Champion, Six-Person Tag Team Champion and DDT Extreme Champion. Throughout his career he has also wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Michinoku Pro, Big Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Nakazawa studied in the United States and is a fluent speaker of English. He often acted as an interpreter for English-speaking foreign wrestlers in Japan and through this relationship he met Kenny Omega, a now-Executive VP at AEW, with whom he has shared a ring 35 times, both as an opponent and as a tag team partner.

All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)

Nakazawa was announced as a new signee of All Elite Wrestling in early 2019. He debuted at Double Or Nothing, the first ever pay-per-view of the promotion, taking part in a 21-man Casino Battle Royale. He was the first man to be eliminated by Sunny Daze. The following month at Fyter Fest, Nakazawa defeated Alex Jebailey in a hardcore match.

Early life

Nakazawa attended Tokai University before studying abroad in the United States were he obtained an MSc Sports Science at the United States Sports Academy Graduate School. Nakazawa's father, Kazunari Nakazawa, is an associate professor at Tokai University and director of the American Football club.

Championships and accomplishments