"The Gracie Hunter" is back.
Pro Wrestling NOAH is advertising Kazushi Sakuraba for their Sept. 16 event in Osaka as part of the N-1 Victory Championship Final card. Sakuraba is advertised to team with Hajime Ohara and NOSAWA Rongai to take on Yoshinari Ogawa, Kotaro Suzuki & Chris Ridgeway in six-man tag team action.
The 50-year-old Sakuraba has not wrestled since 2017 when he competed at Tokyo Gurentai Tokyo Carnival 2017. Sakuraba has taken part in many NJPW tours throughout the last decade, including competing in NJPW World Tag League 2014 and 2015. In 2013, he challenged Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at Wrestle Kingdom.
Sakuraba got his start in wrestling in UWF-I in 1993. He used pro wrestling to transition to MMA, where he reached legendary status by becoming the first man to defeat Royce Gracie. He would earn the nickname "The Gracie Hunter" thanks to his victories over Ryan, Renzo, Royler, and Royce. Sakuraba last competed in MMA in 2015, losing to Shinya Aoki.
Also advertised for NOAH's Sept. 16 event are Kazuyuki Fujita and Rhino.