Do you still remember Hakushi?

• Early days

Kensuke Shinzaki (新崎健介) is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his stage names of Jinsei Shinzaki and Hakushi. Hakushi is the WWF derivation (1995-96) of his Japanese persona, a Buddhist pilgrim. Shinzaki started wrestling in Universal Lucha Libre promotion under the name Mongolian Yuga. In 1993, he moved to the Great Sasuke's Michinoku Pro Wrestling promotion, where he adopted the Jinsei (Japanese for life) stage given name. In 1995, he entered the WWF as Hakushi.

• World Wrestling Federation (WWF)

Hakushi started well in the WWF, he even had a brief feud with Bret Hart and was a competitor in the 1996 Royal Rumble. Hakushi had scored well with fans during the feud with Bret Hart. Despite so, Hakushi then had a famous 3-way feud with Bodydonna Skip (Chris Candido) and a perennial jobber, Barry Horowitz. Horowitz, who lost for years on WWF programming to get over new talent, surprisingly used his three-quarter nelson to secure a victory over Skip for his 1st ever WWF win. Hakushi would also fall to Horowitz soon after because of interference from Skip.

It was surprising to fans, not only given Horowitz's long time losing record, but also given how well Hakushi had battled former WWF champion Bret Hart in what had been Hakushi's first major feud in WWF. Soon after, during a match on Monday Night Raw against Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw (JBL), Hakushi was hit by Bradshaw's brand after a loss. That week on WWF Superstars, commentator Jim Ross reported that Hakushi had been so humiliated by the brand, he left the WWF (scripted).

• Post WWF

Hakushi's style of wrestling was a precursor to the luchador style which became emphasized in major wrestling promotions in the mid-2000s. Shinzaki has competed in major promotions in Japan such as NJPW, AJPW, and the now defuncted FMW, challenging their talent. During his stay in FMW, Shinzaki team up with "The Phoenix" Hayabusa and challenged but lost to Sabu and Rob Van Dam for the ECW Tag Team Championship on ECW Heatwave 1998.

• Now

Throughout his wrestling career, Shinzaki managed to capture the AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Championship (with Hayabusa) and wasa 3 times Michinoku Pro Wrestling Tohoku Tag Team Chiampion (with Ultimo Dragon and Gaina). As of now, Shinzaki has been the president of Michinoku Pro Wrestling company since 2003 as a result of Sasuke dedicating more of his time to his political career.

Links:

1) Hakushi vs. Bret Hart (In Your House 1)

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/hakushi/video/x30nvw_bret-hart-vs-hakushi_sport (Thanks to TSteck160)

2) Hakushi vs. The Undertaker Part 1 (Michinoku Pro Wrestling)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWiuPF1kqIc (Thanks to Deltoidon)

3) Hakushi vs. The Undertaker Part 2 (Michinoku Pro Wrestling)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BeCGWwW5yc (Thanks to Deltoidon)