Madoka Kikuta

Madoka Kikuta
Kikuta in July 2024
Born (1999-09-20) September 20, 1999 (age 25)[1]
Kanazawa, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Hip Hop Kikuta
Madoka Kikuta
Billed height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Billed weight95 kg (209 lb)
Trained byDragon Gate Dojo
Debut2020

Madoka Kikuta (菊田 円, Kikuta Madoka) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate where he is a former Open the Dream Gate Champion and Open the Twin Gate Champion.[3]

Professional wrestling career

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Dragon Gate (2020–present)

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Kikuta made his professional wrestling debut in Dragon Gate on the ninth night of the 2020 edition of the King of Gate tournament from June 6, where he teamed up with Sora Fujikawa in a losing effort against Taketo Kamei and Kento Kobune as a result of a tag team match.[4] After his period of rookie status, he eventually began chasing various championships promoted by the company, and joined his first stable, R.E.D. in the middle of 2020. On the first night of the DG Champion Gate 2021 In Osaka from March 6, he teamed up with stablemates Dia Inferno and Diamante to unsuccessfully challenge Natural Vibes (Genki Horiguchi, Kzy and Susumu Yokosuka) for the Open the Triangle Gate Championship.[5] Kikuta won his first title, the Open the Twin Gate Championship, by teaming up with his "D'courage" tag team partner Dragon Dia and defeating reigning champions Kung Fu Masters (Jacky Funky Kamei and Jason Lee) at DG Dangerous Gate 2022 on September 19.[6] At Dead or Alive 2023 on May 5, Kikuta defeated Shun Skywalker to win the Open the Dream Gate Championship, the promotion's top title.[7]

Kikuta is known for competing in various of the promotion's signature events, such as the King of Gate tournament, in which he made his first appearance at the 2022 edition where he defeated SB Kento in the first rounds, but fell short to BxB Hulk in the second ones.[8] He also competed in a battle royal for a second chance in the tournament, won by Kota Minoura and also involving various other opponents such as Dragon Kid, Yamato, Keisuke Okuda, Kaito Ishida, Eita, Minorita and others.[9] Kikuta also competed in the promotion's biggest annual event, the Gate of Destiny series in which he made his first appearance ath the 2020 edition where he teamed up with Kento Kobune and Taketo Kamei to defeat Team Toryumon (Masato Yoshino, Último Dragón and Yasushi Kanda).[10] At the 2022 edition, he teamed up with Dragon Dia to defeat Natural Vibes (Big Boss Shimizu and Strong Machine J), retaining the Open the Twin Gate Championship.[11]

Independent circuit (2022–present)

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One of the promotions from the Japanese independent scene for which Kikuta has worked is Pro Wrestling Noah. He took part in a cross-over event promoted by them alongside Dragon Gate on November 11, 2022, the NOAH Global Dream where he teamed up with Mochizuki Jr. and Ryu Fuda in a losing effort against Kai Fujimura, Yasutaka Yano and Yoshiki Inamura as a result of a six-man tag team match.[12]

Personal life

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Madoka is the cousin of Yuki Kikuta, who wrestles in Dragongate and the North American independent circuits as La Estrella.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Madoka Kikuta • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Madoka Kikuta/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  3. ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Madoka Kikuta Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  4. ^ Daly, Wayne (June 6, 2020). "Dragon Gate Results: King Of Gate 2020 Day 9 – Kobe, Japan (6/6)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Daly, Wayne (March 6, 2021). "Dragon Gate Results: Champion Gate 2021 In Osaka Day 1 – Osaka, Japan (3/6)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Spears, Mike (September 19, 2022). "DRAGONGATE DANGEROUS GATE 2022 (SEPTEMBER 19) RESULTS AND REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Lowe, Case (May 9, 2023). "DRAGONGATE DEAD OR ALIVE 2023 (MAY 5) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Lowe, Case (June 3, 2022). "DRAGONGATE KING OF GATE FINALS (JUNE 2) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  9. ^ Lowe, Case (June 3, 2022). "DRAGONGATE KING OF GATE FINALS (JUNE 2) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Lowe, Case (November 3, 2020). "DRAGONGATE GATE OF DESTINY (NOVEMBER 3) REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  11. ^ Lowe, Case (November 7, 2022). "DRAGONGATE GATE OF DESTINY (NOVEMBER 7) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Gerard, Di Trolio (November 14, 2022). "NOAH/DRAGONGATE GLOBAL DREAM (NOVEMBER 11) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Wrestling Titles. "Open the Dream Gate Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  14. ^ Wrestling Titles. "Open the Twin Gate Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  15. ^ Ruth, Sondra (September 14, 2023). "Complete 2023 PWI 500 List Revealed, Top NJPW Star Absent". tjrwrestling.net. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
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