Ryoji Sai
Zainichi Korean wrestler (born 1980)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ryoji Sai (崔 領二, Sai Ryōji), born Choe Yeong-i (Korean: 최영이; June 3, 1980) is a Korean professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and promoter who currently owns and operates Pro Wrestling Land's End, where he is a former All Asia Heavyweight Champion. He is best known for working for Pro Wrestling Zero1, where he is a former two-time World Heavyweight Champion.[1]
He is the older brother of mixed martial artist Young Choi, also known as Ryo Sai.
Career
Ryoji Sai is a third-generation Zainichi Korean who was born in Osaka, Japan. His parents own a restaurant near Tsuruhashi Station. At age 15, Sai attended the Sidmouth International School in Sidmouth, England. He then attended Bloxham School in Oxfordshire from 1996 to 1999. While in Europe, he studied martial arts under Gerard Gordeau in the Netherlands.
Upon returning to Japan, Sai joined Pro Wrestling Zero-One (Zero1) and made his debut on September 1, 2001, at the Fire Festival against Igor Meindert in a non-tournament match. From 2002 to 2004, he was out of professional wrestling due to an unknown ailment. Upon returning in 2004, he began regularly teaming with Kohei Sato, winning the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship twice, in 2005 and 2006.
Sai twice finished as the runner-up in the 2006 and 2007 Fire Festival tournaments, losing to Masato Tanaka both times. He also appeared for the Hustle wrestling promotion while Zero1 had a working agreement with Hustle. In late 2008 and early 2009, Sai appeared on the popular Fuji TV show Ainori (あいのり), under the name "Wrestler" (レスラー, Resurā).
Championships and accomplishments
- World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Dylan James (1) & Zeus (1)
- NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Kohei Sato (2) and Osamu Namiguchi (1)[6]
- NWA United National Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[7]
- World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[8]
- Fire Festival (2009, 2014)[9]
- Passion Cup Tag Tournament (2008) – with Kohei Sato[9]
MMA record
| 4 matches | 1 win | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 1 | 1 |
| By submission | 0 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 0 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1-1-1 (1) | Kenichi Serizawa | TKO (Punches) | Titan Fighting Championship 2 | January 21, 2001 | 2 | 3:32 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 1-0-1 (1) | Koichi Sato | TKO (Punches) | Titan Fighting Championship 2 | January 21, 2001 | 1 | 2:54 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| NC | 0-0-1 (1) | Koichi Sato | No contest (illegal knees) | Titan Fighting Championship 2 | January 21, 2001 | 1 | 0:26 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Draw | 0–0–1 | Masakazu Imanari | Technical Draw | Titan Fighting Championship 1 | September 29, 2000 | 1 | 1:29 | Tokyo, Japan |
