Zeus (Japanese wrestler)

Zeus
Zeus in 2020
Birth nameKim Bǒn-u
Born (1982-01-27) January 27, 1982
Ikuno-ku, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Zeus
Kensho Obayashi
Zeus Kanaya
Billed height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Billed weight105 kg (231 lb)
Trained byGamma
DebutNovember 11, 2006

Kensho Obayashi (大林 賢将, Ōbayashi Kenshō), born Kim Bǒn-u (Korean: 김번우; January 27, 1982), and formerly Shigemasa Kanaya (金谷 成格, Kanaya Shigemasa), is a Japanese bodybuilder, professional wrestler, and former boxer best known by his ring name Zeus (ゼウス, Zeusu). He is currently signed to Osaka Pro Wrestling, where he also serves as owner and company president. He is perhaps best known for his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is a former AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion and a four-time World Tag Team Champion alongside Bodyguard as The Big Guns.

Obayashi began his career in Osaka Pro, where he is a former Osaka Pro Champion and three-time Osaka Tag Team Champion, winning the championship once with Gaina and twice with longtime rival-turned-partner Bodyguard. Outside of Osaka Pro and All Japan, he is a former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, NWA United National Heavyweight Champion and winner of the 2012 Furinkazan Tournament with James Raideen in the Zero1 promotion, and a former Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion in DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT).

Obayashi is of Korean descent. His Korean name is Kim Bǒn-u (金 繁優, 김번우), but he used the tsūmei Shigemasa Kanaya (金谷 成格, Kanaya Shigemasa) until he legally changed his name to Kensho Obayashi when he was naturalized in 2011.