Report Last Updated - 3/06 (Winter)
Real Name - Manabu Nakanishi
Birthdate - 1/22/67
6'1" 276 lbs. - Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan

Aliases - Kurasawa

Athletic background - Wrestling (Senshu University)

Teachers - Tatsumi Fujinami

Professional background - New Japan(`92-), WCW(`95-`96)

Groups - Fighting Club G-Eggs, Pirates Gundan, Black New Japan, Team JAPAN

Career Highlights -
- Wins the 1995 Young Lions League
- Teams with Satoshi Kojima to upset IWGP Tag champions from Riki Choshu & Kensuke Sasaki
- Wins the 1999 G1 Climax by defeating Keiji Muto
- Teams with Yuji Nagata to defeat Tatustoshi Goto & Michiyoshi Ohara for the Tag titles
- Comes in second in the 2000 G1 Climax losing to Kensuke Sasaki

Finisher(s) -
- Hercules Cutter (Rack into Neckbreaker)
- Torture Rack
- German Suplex

Favorites -
- Spear
- Lariat
- Prison Lock (Double Leg Rack)
- Waterwheel Suplex
- McEnroe (Leg Sweeping Lariat)

Ringwork Rating -
move set - 6
science - 4
aerial - 2
power - 9
strikes - 7

Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 7
selling - 6
bumping - 7
heat - 6
carrying - 6
push - 7
potential - 4

Outlook - The so-called "future ace" has a long road ahead of him since he has been only gaining momentum and popularity since returing to New Japan in 1996. Nakanishi's seen his share of successes here and there, but seems to fall short of the next plateau. As long as he is patient and waits his turn, Manabu Nakanishi will be a superstar in New Japan in a few years. He hasn't been rushed into a title run yet, so it is still pending. He's the ace yet to be played and may really become a top star if pushed right, promoted properly and made the champion he needs to be to matter. Nakanishi has the personality, but is he too damaged in the fans' eyes? This question is at the heart of the rest of his pro-wrestling life and in a couple years will be answered clearly.