# Milano Collection A. T. > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Milano_Collection_A._T. > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Milano_Collection_A._T..md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milano_Collection_A._T. > Source revision: 1350658096 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Japanese professional wrestler}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name=Milano Collection A. T. |image=Milano Collection A.T..jpg |caption=Sawafuji as Milano Collection A. T. in June 2007, after winning the [2007 Best of the Super Juniors](/source/Best_of_the_Super_Juniors) |birthname= {{nihongo|Akihito Terui|照井章仁|Terui Akihito}} |names={{ubl|Akihito Terui{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2000 |script-title=ja:闘龍門MEXICO　第13回自主興行 |trans-title=Toryumon Mexico 13th Independent Show |url=http://www.gaora.co.jp/dragongate/data/result/mx2/013.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040811035557/http://www.gaora.co.jp/dragongate/data/result/mx2/013.html |archive-date=August 11, 2004 |website=[Dragongate](/source/Dragongate) |language=ja}}|Masked Italiano|'''Milano Collection A. T.'''|Terui}} |height={{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight={{convert|85|kg|lb|abbr=on}} |birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1976|8|27|mf=y}} |death_date = |birth_place = [Morioka](/source/Morioka%2C_Iwate), [Iwate](/source/Iwate_Prefecture), [Japan](/source/Japan) |billed = [Milan](/source/Milan), [Italy](/source/Italy)
[San Antonio, Texas](/source/San_Antonio%2C_Texas) |trainer=[Skayde](/source/Skayde)
[Magnum Tokyo](/source/Magnum_Tokyo)
[Último Dragón](/source/%C3%9Altimo_Drag%C3%B3n)
Rudy Boy Gonzalez
Texas Wrestling Academy |debut=May 13, 2000 |retired=January 18, 2010 |}} {{nihongo|'''Akihito Sawafuji'''|澤藤 章人|Sawafuji Akihito}}, {{nihongo|born '''Akihito Terui'''|照井章仁|Terui Akihito|August 27, 1976}},{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/16999/|script-title=ja:食いっぱぐれない技術に憧れた|date=2012-06-13|access-date=2014-02-03|work=[Tokyo Sports](/source/Tokyo_Sports)|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024655/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/16999/|archive-date=2014-02-21}}{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/prof/mirano.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618201640/http://www.njpw.co.jp/prof/mirano.html|title=ミラノコレクションA.T.|archive-date=2010-06-18|access-date=2014-02-03|work=[New Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling)|language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/m/milano-collection-a-t/|title=Milano Collection A.T. profile|access-date=2013-02-03|work=Online World of Wrestling}}{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresucentral.com/milano.html|title=Profile at Puroresu Central|publisher=Puroresu Central|access-date=2014-02-03}}http://blog.livedoor.jp/ryosijj/archives/51691513.html is a Japanese [color commentator](/source/color_commentator) and retired [professional wrestler](/source/professional_wrestler), better known by his ring name {{nihongo|'''Milano Collection A. T.'''|ミラノコレクションA.T.|Mirano Korekushon Ē Tī}}. As Milano, Sawafuji adopted the gimmick of an Italian fashion aficionado/supermodel, reflected in his ring attire. Milano is also known for walking to the ring with an invisible dog known as Mikeru. After retiring from in-ring competition in 2010, Milano began working as a color commentator for [New Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling) (NJPW), a position he maintains to this day. ==Professional wrestling career== ===Toryumon and Dragon Gate (2000–2005)=== Sawafuji debuted in 2000 in [Toryumon](/source/Toryumon_(%C3%9Altimo_Drag%C3%B3n)), where he later adopted the persona and ring name of Milano Collection A. T., an Italian [fashion](/source/fashion) [aficionado](/source/aficionado)/[supermodel](/source/supermodel), wearing lavish coats and trunks and walking to the ring with an invisible dog named Mikeru to much more success, and upon his arrival in Japan, he was the ace of Toryumon's T2P class. In 2002, he won the T2P Strongest Merit Assessment League defeating [Masato Yoshino](/source/Masato_Yoshino) and received the [International Light Heavyweight Championship](/source/International_Light_Heavyweight_Championship) for the win. He then went on to form the Italian Connection with [Yossino](/source/Masato_Yoshino) and [Yassini](/source/Yasushi_Tsujimoto).{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=29&nr=136|title=Italian Connection |publisher=Cagematch|access-date=2019-03-16}} The unit eventually added members [Pescatore Yagi](/source/Takayuki_Yagi), [Condotti Shuji](/source/Shuji_Kondo), [Anthony W. Mori](/source/Anthony_W._Mori) and mascot [Venezia](/source/Tzuki). With the closure of T2P in July 2003, he joined the [Toryumon](/source/Toryumon_(%C3%9Altimo_Drag%C3%B3n)) main roster. ===American excursion (2005–2006)=== In mid-2006, he began training at the Texas Wrestling Academy in [San Antonio, Texas](/source/San_Antonio%2C_Texas) at the urging of [WWE](/source/World_Wrestling_Entertainment)'s [Shoichi Funaki](/source/Shoichi_Funaki), and trained under Rudy Boy Gonzalez. He also wrestled for many other [American wrestling federations](/source/Professional_wrestling_in_the_United_States), including [East Coast Wrestling Association](/source/East_Coast_Wrestling_Association), [Ring of Honor](/source/Ring_of_Honor) (ROH), NWA Anarchy, [Chikara](/source/Chikara_(professional_wrestling)) and [Total Nonstop Action Wrestling](/source/Total_Nonstop_Action_Wrestling) (TNA), where he took part in the [2008 World X Cup](/source/TNA_2008_World_X_Cup_Tournament) as part of [Team Japan](/source/Team_Japan), winning his first and only singles match for TNA against [Curry Man](/source/Christopher_Daniels), gaining 2 points for his team.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/07/04/6065381.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115191554/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/07/04/6065381.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 15, 2016|title=Impact: Bad dates and Sting's return|last=Sokol|first=Bryan|date=2008-07-04|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=2009-04-06}} He then competed at [Victory Road](/source/Victory_Road_(2008)) in the third round, which was a four team triple elimination match, dominating early in the match before getting eliminated.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2008/07/13/6147126.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726011339/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2008/07/13/6147126.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2015|title=Main event mars Victory Road|last=Kapur|first=Bob|date=2008-07-13|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=2009-04-06}} ===New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2007–present)=== After returning to Japan full time in 2007, he began working for [New Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling) (NJPW) as a part of the [R.I.S.E.](/source/RISE_(professional_wrestling)) faction. He received his first title opportunity in New Japan on November 6, 2006, unsuccessfully challenging [Tiger Mask IV](/source/Tiger_Mask_IV) for the [NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship](/source/NWA_World_Junior_Heavyweight_Championship).{{cite web| url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=8802| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211216164126/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=8802| archive-date = 2021-12-16| title = NJPW Circuit 2006 Explosion ~ G1 Tag League ~ - Tag 13 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database}} He achieved his greatest success in both New Japan and as a professional wrestler in 2007 when he won [New Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling)'s [Best of the Super Juniors tournament](/source/Best_of_the_Super_Juniors), defeating [Wataru Inoue](/source/Wataru_Inoue_(wrestler)) in the final.{{cite web |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=12012|website=Cage Match|title= NJPW New Japan 35th Anniversary Tour Circuit 2007 Best Of The Super Junior XIV ~Power of Mind|access-date=6 May 2023}} In August, he took part in the [G1 Climax](/source/G1_Climax), finishing with 2 wins and 4 points. In November, he teamed with [Hirooki Goto](/source/Hirooki_Goto) as R.I.S.E in the [G1 Tag League](/source/G1_Tag_League), making it to the semi-finals where they were eliminated by [Hiroshi Tanahashi](/source/Hiroshi_Tanahashi) and [Koji Kanemoto](/source/Koji_Kanemoto).{{cite web| url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=14470| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160121060951/http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=14470| archive-date = 2016-01-21| title = NJPW 35th Anniversary Tour ~ Circuit 2007 New Japan Truth ~G1 Tag League~ - Tag 10 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database}} On January 18, 2010, Sawafuji announced his retirement from professional wrestling because of [inferior oblique muscle](/source/inferior_oblique_muscle) [palsy](/source/Conjugate_gaze_palsy), brought on by an excessively strong thrust kick to the eye by [Gedo](/source/Keiji_Takayama). A retirement ceremony was held on February 14. Sawafuji remains with New Japan as a member of the IWGP Championship Committee and a color commentator. == As a trainer == Sawafuji is currently a trainer for [World Wonder Ring Stardom](/source/World_Wonder_Ring_Stardom).{{cite web |url=https://kakutolog.info/wrestling/stardom/31966/ |author=T.SAKAI |date=November 30, 2023 |website=Kakuto Log |at= |language=ja |script-title=ja:ミラノ先生「練習時間の確保を」　復活スターダムに向け岡田社長に進言 |access-date=November 30, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130180729/https://kakutolog.info/wrestling/stardom/31966/ |archive-date=November 30, 2023}} ===Wrestlers trained=== {{Div col|colwidth=15em}} * Aya Sakura * [Giulia](/source/Giulia_(wrestler)){{cite web |url=https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/giulia-stardom-english-interview/ |title=Q&A with Joshi Superstar Giulia |work=Monthly Puroresu |date=September 11, 2022 |access-date=November 30, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104014354/https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/giulia-stardom-english-interview/ |archive-date=November 4, 2023}} * Hanako * [Miyu Amasaki](/source/Miyu_Amasaki) * Yuzuki {{div col end}} ==Championships and accomplishments== *'''[Chikara](/source/Chikara_(professional_wrestling))''' **ICW/ICWA Tex-Arkana Television Championship (1 time) *'''[Dragon Gate](/source/Dragon_Gate_(wrestling))''' **[Open the Triangle Gate Championship](/source/Dragon_Gate_Open_the_Triangle_Gate_Championship) ([1 time](/source/Dragon_Gate_Open_the_Triangle_Gate_Championship)) – with [Anthony W. Mori](/source/Takayuki_Mori) and [Yossino](/source/Masato_Yoshino) **[Rey de Parejas](/source/Rey_de_Parejas) ([2004](/source/Rey_de_Parejas)) – with Anthony W. Mori and Yossino *'''[New Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling)''' **[Best of the Super Juniors](/source/Best_of_the_Super_Juniors) ([2007](/source/Best_of_the_Super_Juniors)) *'''[NWA Florida](/source/National_Wrestling_Alliance)''' **[Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup](/source/Jeff_Peterson_Memorial_Cup) ([2006](/source/Jeff_Peterson_Memorial_Cup)) *'''''[Pro Wrestling Illustrated](/source/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated)''''' **PWI ranked him #'''61''' of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the [PWI 500](/source/PWI_500) in 2007{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi/milano-collection-a-t-1889.html|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2007|access-date=2021-04-23|work=The Internet Wrestling Database}} *'''[Texas Wrestling Entertainment](/source/Texas_Wrestling_Academy)''' **TWE Television Championship (1 time) *'''[Toryumon](/source/Toryumon_(%C3%9Altimo_Drag%C3%B3n))''' **[International Light Heavyweight Championship](/source/International_Light_Heavyweight_Championship) ([1 time](/source/International_Light_Heavyweight_Championship)) **[UWA World Trios Championship](/source/UWA_World_Trios_Championship) ([2 times](/source/UWA_World_Trios_Championship)) – with [Brother Yasini](/source/Yasushi_Tsujimoto) and Yossino (1), and Yossino and [Condotti Shuji](/source/Shuji_Kondo) (1) **T2P Strongest League (2002) **Young Dragons Cup (2000) ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.puroresucentral.com/milano.html Puroresu Central profile] * {{professional wrestling profiles}} {{Navboxes| |list1= {{Open the Triangle Gate Championship}} {{Rey de Parejas winners}} {{UWA World Trios Championship}} {{New Japan Pro Wrestling personnel}} {{Best of the Super Juniors}} }} Category:Japanese male professional wrestlers Category:Living people Category:1976 births Category:People from Morioka, Iwate Category:Martial artists from Iwate Prefecture Category:Professional wrestling announcers Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:20th-century Japanese professional wrestlers Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers Category:21st-century Japanese professional wrestlers Category:UWA World Trios Champions Category:Open the Triangle Gate Champions Category:Best of the Super Juniors winners Category:Rey de Parejas winners --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Milano Collection A. T.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milano_Collection_A._T.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milano_Collection_A._T.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.