Career
Though best known for wrestling under a mask, he also regularly works unmasked under the ring name Kikuzawa (stylized in all capital letters), representing Tokyo Gurentai. Kikuzawa has also made appearances in North America, competing in promotions such as Chikara, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and Ring of Honor (ROH). Kikuzawa started his wrestling career in 1994, wrestling under his birth name for Japanese hardcore wrestling promotions including FMW and West*International Netherlands Group. He was only a jobber and never made much of a name for himself at this stage in his career.
Kikuzawa eventually signed with Osaka Pro Wrestling and Dramatic Dream Team (DDT), where he continued to use his real name while competing for DDT, but began wearing a mask while wrestling for Osaka Pro as a character named Ebessan (based on Ebisu, the Japanese god of good fortune).
Using comedic spots to get over with the crowd, Kikuzawa was immediately accepted by the Osaka Pro crowd. Moving up the ranks quickly in the comedic promotion, he soon made Osaka Pro his full-time home in 2001.
He became well known for his rivalry with Kuishinbo Kamen, the two having many fun and comedic matches. They even worked as a tag team from time to time.
In 2006, he began competing for All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he continues to work primarily to this day.
He often wrestles in the opening match, but occasionally teams with Keiji Mutoh. In 2009, he gave away his Ebessan character to a regular Osaka Pro wrestler. He now competes freelance as his sole character, Kikutaro.
Kikuzawa has been known to do tributes to many wrestlers throughout his career, either through subtle imitations or by doing full imitations of their gimmick.
He typically includes a tribute to Keiji Mutoh in his matches by performing Mutoh"s signature elbow drop and Shining Wizard, as well as using Mutoh"s "love" pose. Kikuzawa has also done many tributes to wrestlers in "borrowing" their gimmicks by dressing in similar attire and performing their signature moves.
Kikuzawa has famously imitated Stan Hansen, Abdullah the Butcher, Jushin Thunder Liger, Keiji Mutoh, Triple H, Bret Hart, Cactus Jack, Bill Goldberg, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair and Yuji Nagata. Finishing moves
Kaiun Tornado (Corkscrew moonsault)
Signature moves
Corkscrew senton
Ebessan Cutter (Cutter)
Ebessan Splash (Frog splash)
Ebisu Otoshi (Samoan driver)
Flashing Elbow (Running twisting elbow drop)
Handspring back elbow
Kneeling side slam
Lariat
Moonsault
Senton bomb
Shining Ebezard / Shining Kikuzard (Shining wizard)
Spinning powerbomb
Dragon Gate
Open the Owarai Gate Championship (2 times)
Open the Owarai Twin Gate Championship - with Don Fujii (1 time)
Dramatic Dream Team
Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (5 times)
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
Barbed Wire Street Fight Six Manitoba Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Atsushi Onita and Okumura (1), and Atsushi Onita and Exciting Yoshida (1)
Mobius
El Mejor de Máscara Championship
NOSAWA Bom-Ba-Ye
NGF Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
Osaka Pro
Osaka Meibutsu Sekaiichi Championship (3 times)
Osaka Pro Wrestling Battle Royal Championship (6 times)
Osaka Pro Wrestling Owarai Championship (1 time)
Tokyo Gurentai
Tokyo Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Stalker Ichikawa
Ultimate Superstars Action
United States of America World Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Hulk Puchihogan.