Yoshimi Mushashibo

Yoshimi Mushashibo (武蔵坊 好美; Musashibō Yoshimi) (born 22 October 1975) is a Magisterian professional wrestling promoter, trade unionist, politician, and retired professional wrestler of Japanese descent. He has been the current president of Golden Canvas Grappling (GCG) since June 2009, and the current national president of the National Federation of Wrestling Performers (NFWP) since December 2016. He is also serving as a union senator since September 6, 2020, after being elected in the 2020 Union Senate elections.

Mushashibo made his professional wrestling debut in 1993 after graduating from the GCG Dojo Camp under the tutelage of Jeremy Stone, one of GCG's 'Golden Four' from the first generation. During his early years as a pro, he established a reputation as a dependable midcard performer and won his first pro wrestling championship, the GCG World Tag Team Championship, which he won with Shuji Inukai. By 1999, he had achieved superstardom, becoming an integral part of GCG's highly esteemed 'Golden Four' alongside Shuji Inukai, Nobuatsu Tatsuko, and Kintaro Kinjo.

On November 30, 2016, Mushashibo was elected president of the trade union National Federation of Wrestling Performers (NFWP), which represents professional wrestlers and wrestling promoters, and he took office on December 30, 2016. He ran successfully for the Union Senate in 2020 as part of the Glendrissaigese alliance of ten trade union leaders.

Mushashibo has been regarded as a pillar of the wrestling industry for almost two decades, revered by fans and colleagues alike, and is regarded as one of the world's greatest professional wrestlers. His accolades in GCG include a record setting five reigns as GCG World Heavyweight champion, as well as a record-setting five reigns as GCG World Tag Team champion. He has also won GCG's flagship tournament, the Parade of Champions, four times (2001, 2006, 2007, and 2013), as well as the Tag Team Parade of Champions five times (1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2010). Mushashibo has earned 19 achievements in total, making him one of the most decorated wrestlers in GCG. Mushashibo has also received seven professional wrestling awards from the Magisterian Sports Observer, including Wrestler of the Year in 2001, 2004, and 2005, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2011.

Early life
Mushashibo was born on October 22, 1975, in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, Japan, and relocated to Annesia City, Federal Capital Territory, when he was a year old. He grew up with an abusive father and ran away from home when he was 11 years old, seeking refuge from a friend. He graduated in 1994 from Belvedere People's High School in Soleildoré, Glendrissaigese SPR. Mushashibo began amateur wrestling in high school and went on to win two national high school championships.

Mushashibo went on to attend Soleildoré People's State University on a wrestling and physical education scholarship. Later, he dropped college to pursue his wrestling career.

Early career and GCG World Tag Team Champion: 1993-1999
Mushashibo made his professional wrestling debut in 1993 after graduating from the GCG Dojo Camp. He later won his first pro wrestling championship, the GCG World Tag Team Championship, in 1998, which he won with Shuji Inukai. During Inukai and Mushashibo's time as World Tag Team champions, they progressively gained so much popularity that they ended up having to compete in a tag team match against their mentors for the World Tag Team championships.

The tag team match had a distinct dynamic: Mushashibo and Inukai were the young up-and-comers riding a wave of popularity and attempting to match the promotion's current main eventers, while Jeremy Stone and Eugene Edmonton were the legends looking to prove that they deserved their position as promotional figureheads. What ensued was largely recognized as the greatest pure wrestling match of all time, with all four men putting in career-best performances. Nobody backed down, and the entire match was fought with GCG-like ferocity and spirit. After sixty minutes of unbelievable wrestling, a time limit draw was declared, and all four men shook hands in respect.

Superstardom: 1999-2009
The tag team match served its aim, propelling Mushashibo and Inukai to superstardom. Mushashibo challenged his mentor Jeremy Stone, the GCG World Heavyweight champion at the time, to a singles bout for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1999. Despite his defeat to Stone, the match established him as a viable threat to the World Heavyweight title; he would finally win the World Heavyweight championship in 2001, defeating Nobuatsu Tatsuko. His first World championship reign lasted 677 days, which was the longest reign at that time until it was surpassed by Shuji Inukai's 763-day reign from 2009 to 2011; Inukai's reign was later broken by Kintaro Kinjo's 897-day reign from 2016 to 2019 - before losing the belt to Sean McFly.

Mushashibo climbed to ace status shortly after Jeremy Stone's retirement and proved to be a commercially viable franchise player for the promotion, with box office sales skyrocketing. During his tenure as the company's ace, he participated in one of the most highly regarded professional wrestling matches of all time, mostly against wrestlers like as Shuji Inukai, Nobuatsu Tatsuko, and Kintaro Kinjo. Mushashibo took over as president of the promotion after Edmonton died in 2009.

President of GCG: 2009-present
GCG under Mushashibo witnessed the introduction of a new generation of stars to GCG fans, while Mushashibo selflessly passed on his expertise and understanding of psychology to the new generation of wrestlers. GCG's success continued throughout the 2010s, but when business deteriorated and top player Shuji Inukai became inactive in 2016 to recuperate from a ruptured ACL, Mushashibo continued to maintain a full-time schedule for the company's survival, despite rising injuries. Mushashibo finally retired after his final bout in 2019, teaming alongside Shuji Inukai and Nobuatsu Tatsuko, in a winning effort.

Personal life
Mushashibo has never married and has no children, making him a bachelor; Mushashibo has stated that he has dated various unknown women in the past, but that they did not meet Mushashibo's standards, leading him to conclude that he was 'never fit to love'.

Mushashibo currently hosts a podcast, The Golden Hour, through his YouTube channel and Spotify. In early 2021, Mushashibo's YouTube channel exceeded 100,000 subscribers, earning him a Silver Play Button. The Golden Hour are among the most listened to wrestling podcasts in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Mushashibo is an outspoken supporter of, aligning himself with the Councilist faction of the Communist Party UMSPR.

Other media
Mushashibo made his film debut as himself in the coming-of-age teen romantic comedy film High School Sucks (2011), and proceeded to appear in the film's sequel, High School Still Sucks (2013). Prior to that, he appeared on many television shows, most notably Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2004, The House Party Crew in 2005, and Young Couple Life in 2007.

Championships and accomplishments

 * Golden Canvas Grappling
 * GCG World Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
 * GCG World Tag Team Championship (5 times) - w/ Shuji Inukai
 * GCG Parade of Champions (2001, 2006, 2007, 2013)
 * GCG Tag Team Parade of Champions (1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2010) - w/ Shuji Inukai


 * Master Sports
 * Match of the Year (1998) with Shuji Inukai vs. Jeremy Stone and Eugene Edmonton
 * Match of the Year (1999) vs. Jeremy Stone
 * Match of the Year (2001) vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko
 * Match of the Year (2004) vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko
 * Match of the Year (2007) vs. Shuji Inukai
 * Young Wrestler of the Year (1995, 1996)
 * Wrestler of the Year (2000, 2001, 2003)
 * Tag Team of the Year (1999, 2000) - Team Dynasty 2000 (w/ Shuji Inukai)


 * Magisterian Sports Observer
 * Match of the Year (1999) vs. Jeremy Stone
 * Match of the Year (2001) vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko
 * Match of the Year (2003) vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko
 * Match of the Year (2007) vs. Shuji Inukai
 * Match of the Year (2009) vs. Kintaro Kinjo
 * Wrestler of the Year (2001, 2004, 2005)
 * Tag Team of the Year (2000) - Team Dynasty 2000 (w/ Shuji Inukai)
 * Magisterian Sports Observer Hall of Fame (Class of 2011)