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 Title History:
AJPW World Tag Team Title (1):
All Asia Tag Team Title (1):
GHC Heavyweight Title (1):
GHC Tag Team Title (1):
IWGP Heavyweight Title (1):
IWGP Tag Team Title (1):
NWF Heavyweight Title (1):
WAR 6 Man Tag Team Title (1):
Tournament History: - NWF Heavyweight Title Tournament (2002-2003): Yoshihiro Takayama beat Tsuyoshi Kosaka (10:19) with a knee kick.
Signature Moves:
- German suplex hold
Profile: After pursuing rugby and lifesaving during his youth, Yoshihiro Takayama turned to combat sports, and was initated into UWF-I in November, 1991, debuting in April of 1992. Despite moderate fame in UWF-I, his greater success would come in later years, and following the company's demise, he began competing for All Japan, making his first appearance in May, 1997. He formally joined All Japan in 1999, and formed the immensely popular Team No Fear with Takao Omori, the two winning the prestigious AJPW World Tag Team Title. Like all but two natives, Takayama followed Mitsuharu Misawa to form Pro Wrestling NOAH, where No Fear continued to be successful, winning the GHC Tag Team Title. In 2001, he became a freelancer, primarily competing in NOAH, but also entering the vale tudo world with PRIDE, where he had a fierce, memorable fight with IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuyuki Fujita, and later Don Frye. His brave performances in PRIDE won him a massive fan following, and in 2002 he would begin to obtain more singles success in wrestling. In May, 2002, he made his first New Japan appearance since the New Japan vs. UWF-I feud, challenging Yuji Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in a close, memorable match. Days after the loss, he and Omori disbanded Team No Fear, concluding that chapter of Takayama's career. In August, 2002, he made his first G1 Climax appearance, defeating many of New Japan's top heavyweights and reaching the final, where he lost to Masahiro Chono. In January, 2003, at the Tokyo Dome, Takayama defeated former RINGS star, Tsuyoshi Kosaka, to capture the vacant NWF Heavyweight Title. Then in May of that year, once again at the Tokyo Dome, he scored the biggest win of his career, defeating Nagata in a double title match to win the prestigious IWGP Heavyweight Title, beginning a six month reign. His reign as double champion collapsed when in November, 2003, he dropped the IWGP to Hiroyoshi Tenzan, then in January, 2004, in another Tokyo Dome main event, he was upset by youngster, Shinsuke Nakamura, who grasped and sealed his NWF belt. One of the tallest, most imposing, and charismatic heavyweights in wrestling, Takayama towers over opponents. Utilizing hard strikes and a beautiful "Everest" German suplex hold, he has become one of the most popular wrestlers around, and his uncanny tolerance for pain has captivated fans worldwide.
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