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FIRE PRO WRESTLING RETURNS CHARACTER GUIDE: KENTA
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for Sony PlayStation 2 (U.S.)
Version 1.1
by Bill Wood ([email protected])
Last modified: 12/27/07

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (c) 2005 Spike (c) 2007 Agetec

NOTE: This guide views and prints best with a monospace typeface.
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==VERSION HISTORY==
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1.1 - Minor corrections.

1.0 - Initial release of the guide.

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==TABLE OF CONTENTS==
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SECTION 1: HISTORY OF KENTA
SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS
SECTION 3: MOVELIST
SECTION 4: STRATEGY
SECTION 5: CLOSING

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==SECTION 1: HISTORY OF KENTA==
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In recent years, KENTA has steadily worked his way up through the ranks of
the NOAH Junior division to become one of pro wrestling's more acclaimed
international successes.

The former Kenta Kobayashi (who changed his ring name to avoid confusion
with his mentor, Kenta Kobashi) got his in-ring start in All Japan Pro
Wrestling in 2000 against Naomichi Marufuji, the same man who would later
become his successful tag team partner. KENTA followed in the mass exodus
from AJPW to NOAH, where his career soon begin to flourish as the result
of teaming with the aforementioned Marufuji. By the time the team had
reached their peak in 2004-2005, they were widely considered to be one of
the premier tag teams in the world.

It was at this same time that KENTA made a serious name for himself as a
singles wrestler as he took on larger heavyweight legends such as Misawa
and Kobashi. And even though he usually came out on the losing end of
these matches, he gained mass respect for his indomitable fighting spirit
and his refusal to back down against seemingly insurmountable odds.

KENTA and Marufuji would eventually surrender the GHC Junior Heavyweight
Tag Titles in 2005, after which KENTA sets his sights squarely on the
GHC Junior Heavyweight Crown. He succeeded in wresting the title from
Yoshinobu Kanemaru and would go on to defend that title numerous times,
not only in Japan but in the United States as well, where he put on a
Match of the Year contender against Bryan Danielson.

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==SECTION 2: SKILL AND PARAMETER STATS==
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SKILL
-----
Real Name..........................KENTA
                       (Kenta Kobayashi)
FPR Name..........................KAZUYA
Organization..........Pro Wrestling NOAH
FPR Organization..............Super NOVA
FPR Group............Lightning (Burning)
Size...............................Small
Class.............................Junior
Height............................173 cm
Weight.............................80 kg
Gender..............................Male
Birthdate.......................6/9/1981
Country............................Japan
Rank...................................C
Charisma...............................C
Stance..........................Shooting
Fight Style.......................Junior
Return........................... Junior
Critical........................Finisher
Special............................ None
Recovery...................Medium (Good)
Recovery (when bleeding)............Slow
Breathing.........................Normal
Breathing (when bleeding)..........Below
Spirit............................Medium
Spirit (when bleeding)............Medium
Neck Endurance.......................Low
Arm Endurance.....................Normal
Back Endurance....................Normal
Leg Endurance.....................Normal
Movement Speed...............Medium Fast
Up and Down Speed............Medium Fast
Ascent Style......................Enable
Favorite Weapon.....................None

PARAMETER - OFFENSE     PARAMETER - DEFENSE
-------------------     -------------------
Punch.............4     Punch.............4
Kick..............6     Kick..............4
Throw.............4     Throw.............5
Joint.............3     Joint.............4
Stretch...........3     Stretch...........4
Power.............2     Flying............7
Agility...........8     Body..............4
Arm...............2     Lariat............2
Technical.........6     Technical.........6
Rough.............4     Rough.............4
MMA Overall.......3     MMA Overall.......2
Entertain.........1     Entertain.........8
-------------------     -------------------
OFF. SUB-TOTAL...46     DEF. SUB-TOTAL...54

TOTAL SKILL POINTS (on a scale from 0-380): 120

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==SECTION 3: MOVELIST==
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Specialty moves are marked with [S]. Finisher is marked with [F].

KEY:

([]) = Square button
(X)  = X button
(O)  = Circle button

STRIKES
-------
Standing ([]).................................Low Kick
Standing (X)...............................Middle Kick
Standing (O) + d-pad.........................High Kick
Standing (O).............................Body Solebutt
Standing ([]) + (X)..................Spinning Dropkick
Running ([])................................Elbow Bunt
Running (X)...............................Low Dropkick
Running (O).........................KNEE KICK TO PLAIN [S]
Running Counter ([]).................Jumping Knee Kick
Running Counter (X).......................Cyclone Whip
Running Counter (O)..........................Powerslam
Running to corner...........................Kenka Kick
Co-op Irish whip to corner...........Spinning Dropkick
Corner-to-center attack...........................none

GRAPPLES
--------
Grapple ([])................................Elbow Bunt
Grapple ([]) + Up............................Body Slam
Grapple ([]) + Left/Right..................Flying Mare
Grapple ([]) + Down.....................Body Knee Lift
Grapple (X)..................................Step Kick
Grapple (X) + Up.....................Rapid Brainbuster 
Grapple (X) + Left/Right.............Double Arm Suplex
Grapple (X) + Down.................Frankensteiner Whip
Grapple (O).................................KENTA RUSH [S]
Grapple (O) + Up......................Fisherman Buster
Grapple (O) + Left/Right..........Solebutt Combination
Grapple (O) + Down........................FALCON ARROW [S]
Grapple ([]) + (X)..........................GO 2 SLEEP [F}
Back Grapple ([])......................Enzui High Kick
Back Grapple (X)......................Twisted Backdrop
Back Grapple (O)............................School Boy
Back Grapple (O) + Up/Down........Jpn. Leg Roll Clutch
Back Grapple (O) + Left/Right.......VERT. TIGER SUPLEX [S]
Back Grapple ([]) + (X)............Vert. German Suplex
Back Grapple Counter ([])...................Elbow Bunt
Back Grapple Counter (X)..................Back Stretch

OPPONENT DOWN MOVES
-------------------
Opponent Face Up at Head (X).......Dangerous Knee Kick
Opponent Face Up at Head (O)..........Soccer Ball Kick
Opponent Face Up at Feet (X)...Back Hooked Leg Pinfall
Opponent Face Up at Feet (O).............Achilles Hold
Opponent Face Down at Head (X)............Camel Clutch
Opponent Face Down at Head (O).........Stomping (Neck)
Opponent Face Down at Feet (X)............La Magistral
Opponent Face Down at Feet (O).........Stomping (Knee)
Running at Downed Opponent (O)......Jumping Elbow Drop

MMA MOVES
---------
Guard Attack ([])...............................Shouda
Guard Attack (X)............................X Arm Hold
Guard Attack (O)........................Jackknife Hold
Guard Counter..............................Huracanrana
Mount/Facelock Attack ([])..............Face Knee Lift
Mount/Facelock Attack (X)...............Front Necklock
Mount/Facelock Attack (O)............Double Arm Suplex
Mount/Facelock Counter...................Drop Toe Hold
Back Mount Attack ([])..........................Shouda
Back Mount Attack (X)....................Choke Sleeper
Back Mount Attack (O).......................X Arm Hold
Back Mount Counter..............................Escape

POST AND APRON MOVES
--------------------
Post ([]).............................Diving Knee Drop
Post (X).............................Diving Body Press
Post (O)..................................Missile Kick
Post ([]) + (X).....................Swing Hurancanrana
Running Dive ([]).................Rebound Missile Kick
Running Dive (X)..................................none
Corner Grapple (O) + Up...........2nd Rope Brainbuster
Corner Grapple (O) + Left/Right.......Corner Knee Lift
Corner Grapple (O) + Down.........Top Rope Huracanrana
Corner (Top Rope) Counter [F]......Top Rope Rollup Pin
Corner (Top Rope) Counter [B].....Top Rope Huracanrana
Inside Apron Grapple...............Brainbuster to ring
Outside Apron Grapple....................Shoulder Butt
Run to outside............................Suicide Dive
Dive out ring..........................Plancha Suicida
Dive in ring........................Swan Dive Dropkick
Cage Dive.........................................none

DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAM MOVES
----------------------------
Front Double Team......................Double Dropkick
Back Double Team.......................Double Backdrop
Corner Double Team......................Shining Impact
Front Triple Team...................Triple Hammer Blow
Back Triple Team....................Triple Hammer Blow
Corner Triple Team..................Triple Hammer Blow

PERFORMANCE
-----------
Entry Performance..........................Arm Raise 3
Analog Stick Left..........................Arm Raise 3
Analog Stick Right...................Neck Cutting Pose
Analog Stick Up.........................Hands Cut Pose
Analog Stick Down......................Finger Pointing

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==SECTION 4: STRATEGY==
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GENERAL STRATEGY
Despite being both a critical and fan favorite, KENTA is more or less a
slightly above-average junior wrestler in Fire Pro Returns (remember, this
is KENTA circa 2005 we're talking about here). Statistically speaking, his
only advantage lies in kicking strength and agility and technical moves,
but he's going to get absolutely destroyed by heavyweight lariat abusers
such as Kobashi and Stan Hansen. You really need to know what you're up
against before you rush into battle with this headstrong junior.

Still, if you're keeping your matches/tournaments confined to the junior
division, you could certainly do a lot worse than KENTA.

STRIKES
If you're one of those who are having trouble with the striking game in 
Fire Pro, KENTA comes highly recommended as his striking moveset
features some of the easiest-to-connect strikes in the game, especially
the Middle and High Kicks.

KENTA's kicking arsenal is very effective, so effective in fact that he has
no punches in his striking offense! The Middle Kick and High Kick in
particular should absolutely become a main staple of his offense. Aside
from that, KENTA has access to an assortment of knees strikes from a
variety of positions, including running, run countering, grappling, and
even high-flying. Read the movelist and familiarize yourself with the
various kick/knee setups, it will improve your game with KENTA.

GRAPPLES
The core of KENTA's grappling strength comes from agility and technical
based moves, which fortunately constitute a large portion of his moveset.
The patented KENTA Rush and Falcon Arrow are both Specials in the Front
Grapple category, and the Vertical Tiger Suplex is a Special from the
Back Grapple. Your focus early in the match should be on simple body slams
that leave your opponent face up on the mat, where you can then chain into
a painful Soccer Ball Kick.

KENTA'S finisher is his own creation, the Go 2 Sleep (sorry C.M. Punk
fans), which is performed by pressing ([]) + (X) at the Front Grapple
position. Of course, the build of the match should always work toward this
move, which I might add is very well done in FPR.

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==SECTION 5: CLOSING==
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In closing, I would like to thank Jason Blackhart for statistical
information and Dave Fairbairn for moveset clarification.

Fire ProWrestling Returns Character Guide: KENTA
(c)2007 Bill Wood