WWE veteran Tajiri has signed a new contract with the company, according to wrestlezone.com. The former Cruiserweight Champion is a participant in the Cruiserweight Classic and will reportedly remain with the company after the tournament concludes. Tajiri beat Damian Slater in his first round match on June 23rd.
The 45-year-old made his professional wrestling debut in 1994, after deciding against pursuing his initial ambition of becoming a kickboxer. He wrestled for Mexican promotion CMLL, ECW and did the rounds on the indy circuit before being signed by the WWE.
He debuted on SmackDown on May 24, 2001 as WWF Commissioner William Regal’s assistant. Tajiri won his inaugural championship in the WWE by beating X-Pac for the Light Heavyweight Championship.
After X-Pac captured the WCW Cruiserweight Championship in 2001, a match to unify both titles would take place at SummerSlam 2001. Tajiri would lose that match and the Light Heavyweight Championship would be retired.
Tajiri was in the next couple of years involved in some entertaining feuds for the Cruiserweight Championship with the likes of Billy Kidman, Jamie Noble and The Hurricane. After a dry spell, Tajiri captured the tag team championships as Eddie Guerrero’s partner.
Tajiri has wrestled for NJPW and TNA since his departure from the WWE in 2005.
