10 Things You Didn't Know About Tajiri
6. He Holds The Record For Shortest CZW Heavyweight Championship Reign
Before signing with World Wrestling Entertainment (then the World Wrestling Federation) in 2001, Tajiri spent his time away from Extreme Championship Wrestling competing in the various independent promotions in North America. One of these was Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), the premier ultraviolent promotion in the US.
Tajiri would experience a decent amount of success in CZW, managing to win the top title in the company on February 28th 2001. This reign would go down in history for the wrong reasons however, as before the night was over Tajiri lost the strap to CZW overlord John Zandig.
Tajiri is one of three men to win and lose the CZW Heavyweight Championship in the same day, and this fact comes with a fascinating little quirk. The other two are the man he defeated for the title on that night in Dover, Nick Berk, and the man who dethroned him before the show was over, John Zandig.