Yoshihiro Takayama
Yoshihiro Takayama | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Sumida, Tokyo, Japan[1] | September 19, 1966
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Takan Hansen[2] Takayama[3] Yoshihiro Takayama |
Billed height | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)[1] |
Billed weight | 125 kg (276 lb)[1] |
Trained by | Giant Baba Nobuhiko Takada |
Debut | June 28, 1992[1] |
Retired | May 4, 2017 (last match to date) |
Yoshihiro Takayama (高山 善廣, Takayama Yoshihiro, born September 19, 1966)
Takayama first became known for his toughness after he began competing in
Professional wrestling career
Union of Wrestling Forces International (1992–1996)
A former
] important matches against them.All Japan Pro Wrestling (1997–2000)
After UWFI's subsequent collapse, he joined
In 1999, upon Giant 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.
Pro Wrestling Noah and freelance (2000–2017)
During the first few months of Noah's existence, Takayama competed in the first ever GHC Heavyweight Championship tournament, but lost to Mitsuharu Misawa in the final match. He found continued success in Noah, winning the new GHC Tag Team Championship with Takao Omori, too. It was around 2001 that, spurred by his old UWFI comrades' success in the PRIDE fighting circuit, Takayama decided to try his hand at mixed martial arts competition. He also competed in memorable Noah matches during 2002, winning the GHC Heavyweight Championship from Yoshinari Ogawa on September 7 before losing it to Mitsuharu Misawa later that month.
In 2001, Takayama declared free agency from Noah so he could pursue MMA,[1] as well as matches in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he began challenging the top stars, such as Yuji Nagata, Masahiro Chono, and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. In 2003 and 2004 he participated in New Japan's annual G1 Climax tournament. In mid-2004 he affiliated himself with former Pancrase wrestler Minoru Suzuki, and they won the IWGP Tag Team Championship, but he had a stroke later in the year following a brutal match with Kensuke Sasaki. During his time away from the ring, 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 18, 2005 "Destiny" show. In June 2006, Pro Wrestling Noah announced that Takayama would return at the July 16 Nippon Budokan show, and would team with Kenta Kobashi to take on Jun Akiyama and Mitsuharu Misawa. The match was later changed due to Kobashi needing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, leading to Takayama teaming with Kensuke Sasaki against Akiyama and Misawa. However, when Kenta Kobashi returned, it would be in the same match, teaming with Yoshihiro Takayama to take on Jun Akiyama and Mitsuharu Misawa.
Takayama then started teaming with old UWFI comrade
Takayama defeated Great Muta on March 14, 2009, at Pro-Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 7 to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. With this victory, Takayama became the second wrestler (the other being Kensuke Sasaki) to win the three major heavyweight titles in Japan: NOAH's GHC Heavyweight Championship, New Japan's IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and All Japan's Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. Takayama held the Triple Crown for almost seven months, losing the title to Satoshi Kojima on September 26.
On January 4, 2010, at
From March 28 to May 2, 2010, Takayama competed in (and eventually won) Pro-Wrestling Noah's 1st ever
In 2016, Takayama began working primarily for DDT Pro-Wrestling, and in April 2017 won both the KO-D Tag Team Championship with Danshoku Dino and the Right to Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract for the KO-D Openweight Championship.[11][12] He lost the contract to Yasu Urano on May 4,[13] after a spinal cord injury.[14] Because of the injury, Takayama and Dino were stripped of the KO-D Tag Team Championship on May 9.[15]
Paralysis (2017)
Takayama was injured at a DDT show on May 4, 2017, when he landed on his head when attempting a
Mixed martial arts career
Yoshihiro Takayama | |
---|---|
Height | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) |
Weight | 253 lb (115 kg; 18 st 1 lb) |
Years active | 2001–2002 |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 5 |
Wins | 1 |
By knockout | 1 |
Losses | 4 |
By knockout | 2 |
By submission | 2 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Pride Fighting Championships
Takayama had his anticipated debut in MMA at the event
At PRIDE 18, he faced superheavyweight
Frye and Takayama faced off in what many PRIDE fans consider to be a classic. As soon as the fight started, both contenders assumed an identical, aggressive hockey punching-like strategy and turned the match into a brutal slugfest, each one holding the other's head with the left hand and unloading savage unblocked punches to the face with the right. Takayama managed to deliver a belly-to-belly suplex, and land a heavy knee, but Frye got up and both continued striking as previously. Later, after two minutes more of punching, the American finally overpowered Takayama and pounded him with hammerfists from the mount, leading the referee to stop the match.
Despite its untechnical nature, the fight was critically acclaimed and become one of the most talked about MMA matches ever. It appeared at number one on
At Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002, Takayama fought the 350-pound
At U-Spirits Again 2013, Takayama would have his last fight against Hikaru Sato, where he would win after delivering a suplex that knocked Sato out, giving Takayama his first and only mixed martial arts win. Though this fight has been disputed as being a professional wrestling match.
Other media
Aside from professional wrestling, Takayama featured a sporadic music career. In summer 1996, as part of Golden Cups stable, Takayama participated in the group's official music debut with the
Takayama has acted in small parts in several films, beginning with
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Takao Omori[1][29]
- Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1][29]
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Takao Omori[1][29]
- Chō Hanabi Puroresu
- Bakuha-ō Championship (1 time)[30]
- DDT Pro-Wrestling
- 1 time) – with Danshoku Dino[11]
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- Nikkan Sports
- Match of the Year (2007) with Kenta Kobashi vs. Jun Akiyama and Mitsuharu Misawa on December 2[31]
- Wrestler of the Year (2003)[32]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 27 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002[29]
- Ranked No. 27 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the
- Pro Wrestling Noah
- GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1][29]
- GHC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Takao Omori (1) and Takuma Sano (1)[1][29]
- 2 Days Tag Tournament (2011) with Kenta
- 2010)
- Global Tag League (2010) - with Takuma Sano[29]
- 2013) - with Kenta[33]
- Global Tag League Fighting Spirit Award (2014) - with KENTA[34]
- Pro Wrestling Zero1
- 1 time) – with Kohei Sato[29]
- Tenryu Project
- Mizuchi-R (2014) – with Ryuichi Kawakami
- Tokyo Sports
- Best Tag Team Award (2004) with Minoru Suzuki[29]
- Match of the Year Award (2002) vs. Yuji Nagata[29]
- Match of the Year Award (2007) with Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama[29]
- MVP Award (2003)[29]
- Outstanding Performance Award (2002)[29]
- Wrestle Association "R"
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Brawler (2002)
- Fight of the Year (2002) vs. Don Frye
Mixed martial arts record
6 matches | 1 win | 5 losses |
By knockout | 1 | 2 |
By submission | 0 | 3 |
By decision | 0 | 0 |
Draws | 0 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–5 | Hikaru Sato | KO (slam) | U-Spirits Again, Korakuen Hall | March 9, 2013 | 1 | 4:26 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Loss | 0–5 | Bob Sapp | Submission (armbar) | Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002
|
December 31, 2002 | 1 | 2:16 | Saitama, Saitama , Japan
|
|
Loss | 0–4 | Don Frye | TKO (punches) | Pride 21
|
June 23, 2002 | 1 | 6:10 | Saitama, Saitama , Japan
|
Fight of the Year (2002). |
Loss | 0–3 | Semmy Schilt | KO (punches) | Pride 18
|
December 23, 2001 | 1 | 3:09 | Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan | |
Loss | 0–2 | Kazuyuki Fujita | Submission (arm triangle choke) | Pride 14
|
May 27, 2001 | 2 | 3:10 | Yokohama, Japan | |
Loss | 0–1 | Kimo Leopoldo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Meiji Jingu Stadium Open Air MMA | August 17, 1996 | 1 | 1:20 | Tokyo, Japan |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Muscle Heat | Muscle Dome Wrestler | |
2002 | Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter | Canis Major Sirius | Voice |
2004 | The Calamari Wrestler | Himself | Cameo |
2005 | Nagurimono | Tetsufu | |
2005 | Cromartie High – The Movie | Yutaka Takenouchi | |
2005 | Crusher Kazuyoshi | Himself/Takayama | |
2014 | Tokyo Tribe | Bodyguard | |
2016 | Silence | Large Man |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 高山 善廣. Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ マスカラスが飛んだ!圧倒的な存在感で論外に完勝。ミノディ&タカンの超獣コンビが暴走戦士相手に大暴れ!. Battle News (in Japanese). 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-04-12.
- ^ "Independent Wrestling Results: 2009~". Purolove (in German). Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
- ^ a b Oh Taco
- ^ "January 4 New Japan Tokyo Dome report - legends, promotional wars". Wrestling Observer. 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ レッスルキングダムV in 東京ドーム. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ Gerweck, Steve (2011-01-04). "1/4 TNA-NJPW Results: Tokyo, Japan". WrestleView. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
- ^ "Dominion 6.18". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ "NJPW 40th anniversary Tour. レッスルキングダムVI in 東京ドーム". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
- ^ "NJPW 40th anniversary Tour New Japan Glory 2012". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-03-18.
- ^ a b "Max Bump 2017". DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ^ "僕たち成増初進出になります!2017". DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ "【豊中ラブストーリー2017のまとめ】彰人が男色殺法を完封、竹下がディーノをジャーマン葬!/高山にアクシデント...いつどこがウラノに移動/佐々木がアントンを2タテ!「挑戦者を松井に代えろ!」/高木が大石に勝利していつどこをゲット!/ヒラコレ、大阪初上陸で今日もヒラタロックが冴え渡る!". DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (2017-05-05). "Daily Update: GSP vs. Bisping, Reigns and Strowman, Dave Bautista". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
- ^ "新生ノーフィアーのKO-Dタッグ王座返上に伴う第61代王者チーム決定戦開催について". DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
- ISSN 1083-9593.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (2017-08-06). "Daily Update: Takayama, G1 standings, Onita works CZW". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ "高山善廣は頸髄完全損傷「回復の見込みなし」、親友の鈴木みのる涙". Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). 2017-09-04. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "リハビリ中の高山を支援する団体設立 鈴木みのる涙の訴え「力を貸してください」". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2017-09-04. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ Fernandes, Steven; Johnson, Mike (2017-09-04). "Foundation launched to assist Yoshihiro Takayama". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ Stephen Quadros, Vovchanchyn, Henderson and Liddell Victorious in Pride 14, Black Belt magazine, October 2001
- ^ Black elt magazine, November 2002
- ^ Kirik Jenness, The #1 Best Damn Beatdown in MMA history
- ^ David L. Hudson Jr., Combat Sports: An Encyclopedia of Wrestling, Fighting, and Mixed Martial Arts, ABC-Clio
- ^ Great Moments in MMA History: Frye vs Takayama
- ^ Jonathan Snowden, Kendall Shields, The MMA Encyclopedia, ECW Press
- ^ Eric Kowal, Don Frye sends last wishes to Takayama, former opponent paralyzed from neck down
- ^ "Yoshihiro Takayama". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Yoshihiro Takayama". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2013-09-25.
- ^ 高山が大仁田破り、初代爆破王に. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
- ^ "Nikkan Sports Awards - 2007". wrestlingscout. February 26, 2016. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "Nikkan Sports Awards - 2003". wrestlingscout. February 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ 2013年4月28日(日). Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved 2013-04-28.
- ^ 「グローバル・タッグリーグ戦2014」各賞発表. Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
- ^ "Yoshihiro Takayama MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
External links
- Profile at Green Destiny
- Profile at Accelerator3359
- Official website (archived)
- Professional MMA record for Yoshihiro Takayama from Sherdog
- Yoshihiro Takayama's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database