Yoshihiro Takayama is a Japanese professional wrestler and a mixed martial arts fighter, who is currently wrestling as a freelancer in Japan.
| Yoshihiro Takayama | |
|---|---|
| File:Takayama.jpg | |
| Born | September 19, 1966 Sumida-ku, Tokyo |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | Yoshihiro Takayama |
| Billed height | 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) |
| Billed weight | 125 kg (280 lb) |
| Debut | June 28, 1992 vs Hiromitsu Kanehara |
Career
Takayama started in UWF International, but due to the focus of the promotion on star Nobuhiko Takada, he wasn't able to go past the mid-card level. In 1995-96, with the interpromotional feuds with New Japan Pro Wrestling and WAR, he formed the "Golden Cups" stable with Yoji Anjo and Kenichi Yamamoto to compete in tag team and six-man matches. In New Japan he and Anjo assumed masks as the "200% Machines" to mock "Super Strong Machine" Junji Hirata. In WAR, they feuded with Gedo, Jado and Hiromichi Fuyuki.
After UWFI's subsequent collapse, he joined Kingdom, but as it, too, collapsed even faster, he joined All Japan Pro Wrestling as a free agent along with former UWFI comrade Masahito Kakihara. In the beginning Takayama was put on a feud with Toshiaki Kawada (against whom he had lost once in an interpromotional match before the UWFI's collapse), but as he lost matches often, he was back in the undercard. He joined former UWFI foreigner Gary Albright and native Takao Omori in a new version of the "Triangle of Power" stable Albright had formed with Steve Williams before he briefly went back to the U. S.
In 1999, upon Shohei Baba's death, Mitsuharu Misawa made him and Kakihara full-time members of All Japan. Pushed as the "NO FEAR" team with Omori, Takayama found instant success, first winning the Asian tag team title from Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki and then the Double Cup from Johnny Ace and Bart Gunn. However, they were eventually defeated by the combination of Misawa and Yoshinari Ogawa.
In 2000, when Misawa announced plans for his new promotion, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Takayama followed him. In NOAH he found continued success, winning the new GHC tag team title with Omori as well. It was around 2001 that, spurred by his old UWFI comrades' success in the PRIDE fighting circuit, decided to try his hand at mixed martial arts competition. Although defeated by Kazuyuki Fujita, he impressed "real-fight" pundits enough to warrant more fight offers. In what many PRIDE fans consider to be one of the organizations most exciting matches ever, Takayama faced Don Frye in a slugfest at PRIDE 21, and although he lost the match, Takayama solidified his reputation as one of the toughest Japanese fighters in PRIDE.
Takayama declared free agency from NOAH so he could pursue mixed martial arts, as well as matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he began challenging the top stars, such as Yuji Nagata, Masa Chono, and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. In 2003 and 2004 he participated in New Japan's annual G-1 Climax tournament.
In mid-2004 he affiliated himself with former Pancrase wrestler Minoru Suzuki, and they won the IWGP tag team title, but he was injured later in the year during a match with Kensuke Sasaki. During his time away from the ring with injury, Takayama provided occasional colour commentary for Pro Wrestling NOAH, famously saying, "I hope this never ends" during a chop exchange between Kenta Kobashi and Kensuke Sasaki on the July 18th 2005 "Destiny" show. In June 2006, Pro Wrestling NOAH announced that Takayama would return July 16th Nippon Budokan show teaming with Kenta Kobashi to take on Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa. The match was later changed due to Kobashi needing surgery to remove a tumor, leading to Takayama teaming with Kensuke Sasaki against Akiyama & Misawa.
Finishing and signature moves
- Everest German Suplex (High angle German suplex)
- Double underhook suplex hold
- High knee
- Jujigatame
- Straight punch to jaw
Championships and accomplishments
- 1-Time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time IWGP World Tag Team Champion with Minoru Suzuki
- 1-Time NWF Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time GHC Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time GHC Tag-Team Champion with Takao Omori
- 1-Time All Asia Tag Team Champion with Takao Omori
- 1-Time AJPW World Tag Team Champion with Takao Omori
- 1-Time WAR 6-Man Tag-Team Champion with Kenichi Yamamoto and Yoji Anjoh
- 2002 Best Brawler