Photo of Ryusuke Taguchi
Acting

Ryusuke Taguchi

Profession
Acting
Born
April 15, 1979 · Iwanuma, Miyagi, Japan

Biography

Ryusuke Taguchi is a Japanese professional wrestler who debuted in 2002 and has spent his entire career with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). After competing in several sports growing up, including amateur wrestling in college, he joined the NJPW Dojo and developed into one of the promotion's most accomplished junior heavyweights, becoming a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, seven-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, three-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion, one-time CMLL World Welterweight Champion, and winner of the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors. He also won the J Sports Crown Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Tournament in 2010 and 2011, received the Tokyo Sports Best Bout Award for his 2010 tag team match with Prince Devitt against Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi, and was ranked No. 102 in the 2015 PWI 500. Taguchi is perhaps best known for reinventing himself as the eccentric "Funky Weapon," adopting a disco-inspired persona complete with colorful gear, comedy, and his signature post-match dance. Despite the lighthearted gimmick, he has remained a fixture of NJPW's junior heavyweight division for more than two decades, forming successful teams with wrestlers including Prince Devitt as Apollo 55, Ricochet as Funky Future, and Master Wato as Six or Nine, while also leading the fan-favorite Taguchi Japan stable.

Known for

My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler poster
My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler
Film · 2018 · ★ 6.5
99.9 Criminal Lawyer poster
99.9 Criminal Lawyer
Series · 2016 · ★ 6.9
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 poster
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12
Film · 2018
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 poster
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13
Film · 2019
New Japan Pro Wrestling poster
New Japan Pro Wrestling
Series · 1972
World Wonder Ring Stardom poster
World Wonder Ring Stardom
Series · 2011
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 2 poster
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 2
Film · 2008
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall 2017 poster
NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall 2017
Film · 2017
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1 poster
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1
Film · 2020
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 poster
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
Film · 2026
ROH: Death Before Dishonor 2023 poster
ROH: Death Before Dishonor 2023
Film · 2023
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 poster
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9
Film · 2015

Filmography