Naoki Sano
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese professional wrestler
and former mixed martial artist. He currently goes by the name Takuma Sano.
(NJPW) dojo class, and in his first few years, he was a jobber. In 1989, he won the Young Lions Cup
and he had numerous acclaimed matches against Jushin Liger
. Sano defeated Liger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
on August 10, 1989, but lost it back to Liger on January 31, 1990.
(SWS) after a big money offer from Megane Super, the company backing the promotion. In SWS he became the top junior heavyweight, feuding with native talent and outsider talent from the United States
, Mexico
, and outsider promotions Universal Lucha Libre
and Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi
. In December 1991, Sano won the tournament for the SWS Light Heavyweight Championship. He was the only titleholder.
After SWS collapsed in June 1992, Sano worked a few matches for Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi, but soon moved to Union of Wrestling Force International (UWFI) upon recommendation from former NJPW comrades Nobuhiko Takada
and Kazuo Yamazaki
, the top stars of UWFI.
. In the feud against the WAR
promotion, which had been born out of the ashes of SWS, Sano lost to old patron Genichiro Tenryu
in a singles match. Upon UWFI's collapse later in December 1996, Sano joined its successor promotion, Kingdom
.
. He advanced to the final four before losing to eventual runner-up Cima
.
. He became Takuma Sano, for a year wearing tights and wrestling junior heavyweights, but after fully turning heavyweight, he went back to the shinguards and trunks. As part of the faction led by Akira Taue
and also composed of Daisuke Ikeda
, Sano had opportunities for the GHC Heavyweight Championship
held by Kenta Kobashi
and later, Mitsuharu Misawa
, but failed both times. In 2010, he teamed with Yoshihiro Takayama
to win the Global Tag League. On September 18, 2010, Sano and Takayama defeated Akitoshi Saito
and Bison Smith
to win the vacant GHC Tag Team Championship
. They would lose the title to New Japan Pro Wrestling
's Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson
on June 18, 2011, in a match contested also for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.
, he was defeated by Royler Gracie
. In October of that year at Pride 4
, Satoshi Honma
defeated him by knockout. In June 2000 at Pride 9
, he was once again defeated, this time by Carlos Newton
. In addition, he helped train fighters at the Takada Dojo
.
|Loss
|0-4
| Carlos Newton
| Submission (Armbar)
| PRIDE 9
| 6/4/2000
| 1
| 0:40
|
|
|-
|Loss
|0-3
| Keiichiro Yamamiya
| TKO (Strikes)
| Pancrase: Breakthrough 3
| 3/9/1999
| 1
| 10:43
|
|
|-
|Loss
|0-2
| Satoshi Honma
| TKO (Punches)
| PRIDE 4
| 10/11/1998
| 1
| 9:25
|
|
|-
|Loss
|0-1
| Royler Gracie
| Submission (Armbar)
| PRIDE 2
| 3/15/1998
| 1
| 33:14
|
|
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and former mixed martial artist. He currently goes by the name Takuma Sano.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (1984–1990)
Sano was a member of the 1984 New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
(NJPW) dojo class, and in his first few years, he was a jobber. In 1989, he won the Young Lions Cup
Young Lions Cup
The Young Lion Cup is an in-frequent professional wrestling tournament promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling as a means of showcasing the younger talent on their roster. The tournament is the successor to the Karl Gotch Cup that NJPW promoted in the 1970s. The Young Lion Cup is a round-robin...
and he had numerous acclaimed matches against Jushin Liger
Jushin Liger
, better known as and later, is a Japanese professional wrestler who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling.He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior...
. Sano defeated Liger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
on August 10, 1989, but lost it back to Liger on January 31, 1990.
Super World of Sports and Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi (1990–1992)
In July 1990, Sano moved to the Super World of SportsSuper World of Sports
Super World of Sports, more commonly known as SWS, was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1990 to 1992. Its motto was "STRAIGHT AND STRONG".-Formation:...
(SWS) after a big money offer from Megane Super, the company backing the promotion. In SWS he became the top junior heavyweight, feuding with native talent and outsider talent from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and outsider promotions Universal Lucha Libre
Universal Lucha Libre
Universal Lucha Libre was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1990 to 1995...
and Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi
Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi
Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Group was a shoot style professional wrestling promotion based in Japan, operating from 1991 to 1995...
. In December 1991, Sano won the tournament for the SWS Light Heavyweight Championship. He was the only titleholder.
After SWS collapsed in June 1992, Sano worked a few matches for Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi, but soon moved to Union of Wrestling Force International (UWFI) upon recommendation from former NJPW comrades Nobuhiko Takada
Nobuhiko Takada
Nobuhiko Takada is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. He is best known for helping to popularize shoot-style professional wrestling, as one of the biggest stars of the Universal Wrestling Federation and Union of Wrestling Force International in the '80s and '90s. He...
and Kazuo Yamazaki
Kazuo Yamazaki
Kazuo Yamazaki is a former Japanese professional wrestler, who is known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling and UWF International.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
, the top stars of UWFI.
UWF International (1992–1996)
In UWFI, he adopted the name Yuhi Sano. Adopting the shinguards and trunks typical of shoot style wrestlers, Sano had more opportunities to face actual heavyweights. Nevertheless, during the 1995-96 feud against NJPW, Sano participated on UWFI's side, beating old rival Liger one more time but losing to Shinya HashimotoShinya Hashimoto
, was a Japanese professional wrestler. Along with Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh, Hashimoto was dubbed one of the "Three Musketeers" that began competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid 1980s and dominated the promotion in the 1990s....
. In the feud against the WAR
WAR (wrestling promotion)
Wrestle and Romance, and later Wrestle Association R, was a professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. The promotion had very few regular contracted workers, instead most of the workers were...
promotion, which had been born out of the ashes of SWS, Sano lost to old patron Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
in a singles match. Upon UWFI's collapse later in December 1996, Sano joined its successor promotion, Kingdom
Kingdom (professional wrestling)
Kingdom, was a professional wrestling company in Japan from 1997 to 1998. It was essentially a continuation of UWF International, having most of its former roster: Nobuhiko Takada, Yoji Anjo, Kazushi Sakuraba, Daijiro Matsui, Naoki Sano, Masahito Kakihara, Yoshihiro Takayama, Kenichi Yamamoto and...
.
Independent circuit (1997–2001)
He went back to wrestling, entering Battlarts and feuding with Minoru Tanaka over the Independent Junior Heavyweight Championship. Sano won the belt from Tanaka in May 1999 and dropped it back to him the following year. In 2000 he participated in the third Super J Cup tournament held by Michinoku Pro WrestlingMichinoku Pro Wrestling
Michinoku Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded by The Great Sasuke in 1993. Michinoku Pro was the first independent wrestling promotion in Japan to not base its operations in Tokyo, but rather in Morioka, Iwate...
. He advanced to the final four before losing to eventual runner-up Cima
Nobuhiko Oshima
, better known by his ring name Cima , is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Dragon Gate and its international expansion Dragon Gate USA...
.
Pro Wrestling Noah (2001–present)
In 2001, he joined Pro Wrestling NoahPro Wrestling Noah
is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
. He became Takuma Sano, for a year wearing tights and wrestling junior heavyweights, but after fully turning heavyweight, he went back to the shinguards and trunks. As part of the faction led by Akira Taue
Akira Taue
is a Japanese professional wrestler, and the current President of Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former AJPW Triple Crown champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had 14 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter....
and also composed of Daisuke Ikeda
Daisuke Ikeda
Daisuke Ikeda is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently wrestling in the Independent circuit in Japan.-Professional wrestling career:...
, Sano had opportunities for the GHC Heavyweight Championship
GHC Heavyweight Championship
The Global Honored Crown Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on April 15, 2001 when Mitsuharu Misawa defeated Yoshihiro Takayama in a 16-man tournament final...
held by Kenta Kobashi
Kenta Kobashi
Not to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
and later, Mitsuharu Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa
was a Japanese professional wrestler. He made his professional debut on August 21, 1981 for All Japan Pro Wrestling . From 1984 until 1990, Misawa wrestled as the second generation Tiger Mask, as All Japan Pro Wrestling had purchased the rights of the Tiger Mask gimmick from New Japan Pro Wrestling...
, but failed both times. In 2010, he teamed with Yoshihiro Takayama
Yoshihiro Takayama
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Takayama is well known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment, especially after his fight at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye...
to win the Global Tag League. On September 18, 2010, Sano and Takayama defeated Akitoshi Saito
Akitoshi Saito
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah.-Before pro wrestling:Before pro wrestling, Akitoshi Saito was trained in karate by Masashi Aoyagi. Saito seconded Aoyagi in his matches against Atsushi Onita in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in 1989...
and Bison Smith
Bison Smith
Mark Smith was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bison Smith. He best known for his appearances with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico...
to win the vacant GHC Tag Team Championship
GHC Tag Team Championship
The Global Honored Crown Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on October 19, 2001, when Scorpio & Vader defeated Jun Akiyama & Akitoshi Saito in a tournament final...
. They would lose the title to New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
's Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson
Karl Anderson
Chad Allegra is an American professional wrestler better known by his stage name Karl "Machine Gun" Anderson currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently one half of the IWGP and GHC Tag Team Champions with partner Giant Bernard.-Personal life:Allegra grew up in Asheville,...
on June 18, 2011, in a match contested also for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.
Mixed martial arts (1998–2000)
Sano was also a mixed martial artist and participated in the Pride Fighting Championships. At Pride 2PRIDE 2
Pride 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride . It took place at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on March 15, 1998. Kazushi Sakuraba, Mark Kerr, Vernon White, and Marco Ruas all made their Pride debuts at this event. In addition to the MMA events, there were also two kickboxing events...
, he was defeated by Royler Gracie
Royler Gracie
Royler Gracie is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. He ran the Gracie Humaitá jiu-jitsu school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for many years under his father Helio's direction, but currently resides in San Diego, US.Royler travels around the world teaching...
. In October of that year at Pride 4
PRIDE 4
Pride 4 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride . It took place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, on October 11, 1998...
, Satoshi Honma
Satoshi Honma
is a Japanese former mixed martial artist who competed in the light heavyweight division.Satoshi has fought for Shooto, RINGS, Pride Fighting Championships and the UFC he has also had a professional kickboxing bout in K-1.-Career:...
defeated him by knockout. In June 2000 at Pride 9
PRIDE 9
Pride 9: New Blood was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan on June 4, 2000. Matt Serra was to fight on this card, but his opponent, Johil de Oliveira, was injured by a pyrotechnics explosion at the...
, he was once again defeated, this time by Carlos Newton
Carlos Newton
Carlos Newton is a Canadian mixed martial artist and former UFC Welterweight Champion. He is considered one of the true pioneers in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Known as the "The Ronin", he competed worldwide in the biggest MMA organizations including UFC, Pride FC, IFL, K-1, Shooto and most...
. In addition, he helped train fighters at the Takada Dojo
Takada Dojo
The Takada Dojo is a mixed martial arts academy in Tokyo, Japan. The dojo takes its name from Nobuhiko Takada its founder. Many members, including Takada, have participated in both professional wrestling and mixed martial arts...
.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|0-4
| Carlos Newton
Carlos Newton
Carlos Newton is a Canadian mixed martial artist and former UFC Welterweight Champion. He is considered one of the true pioneers in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Known as the "The Ronin", he competed worldwide in the biggest MMA organizations including UFC, Pride FC, IFL, K-1, Shooto and most...
| Submission (Armbar)
| PRIDE 9
PRIDE 9
Pride 9: New Blood was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan on June 4, 2000. Matt Serra was to fight on this card, but his opponent, Johil de Oliveira, was injured by a pyrotechnics explosion at the...
| 6/4/2000
| 1
| 0:40
|
|
|-
|Loss
|0-3
| Keiichiro Yamamiya
Keiichiro Yamamiya
Keiichiro Yamamiya is a Japanese mixed martial artists. After regularly competing in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions, Yamamiya now competes in the welterweight division...
| TKO (Strikes)
| Pancrase: Breakthrough 3
| 3/9/1999
| 1
| 10:43
|
|
|-
|Loss
|0-2
| Satoshi Honma
Satoshi Honma
is a Japanese former mixed martial artist who competed in the light heavyweight division.Satoshi has fought for Shooto, RINGS, Pride Fighting Championships and the UFC he has also had a professional kickboxing bout in K-1.-Career:...
| TKO (Punches)
| PRIDE 4
PRIDE 4
Pride 4 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride . It took place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, on October 11, 1998...
| 10/11/1998
| 1
| 9:25
|
|
|-
|Loss
|0-1
| Royler Gracie
Royler Gracie
Royler Gracie is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. He ran the Gracie Humaitá jiu-jitsu school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for many years under his father Helio's direction, but currently resides in San Diego, US.Royler travels around the world teaching...
| Submission (Armbar)
| PRIDE 2
PRIDE 2
Pride 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by KRS-Pride . It took place at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan on March 15, 1998. Kazushi Sakuraba, Mark Kerr, Vernon White, and Marco Ruas all made their Pride debuts at this event. In addition to the MMA events, there were also two kickboxing events...
| 3/15/1998
| 1
| 33:14
|
|
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Northern Light Bomb - as heavyweight
- Rolling sole kick, sometimes to an opponent's face or head
- Tiger suplex - as junior heavyweight
- Signature moves
- Boston crabBoston crabThe Boston crab is a professional wrestling hold that typically starts with the opponent lying supine on the mat, with the wrestler standing and facing them. It is a type of spinal lock where the wrestler hooks each of the opponent’s legs in one of his arms, and then turns the opponent face-down,...
- Bow and arrow stretch
- Diving double foot stomp
- Front dropkick, sometimes from the top rope
- Multiple suplexSuplexA suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
variations
-
-
- Double underhook
- Dragon
- German
- Rolling sole butt
- Savate kick
- Suicide dive
- Surfboard
-
Championships and accomplishments
- Frontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFrontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFrontier Martial-Arts Wrestling was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989 by Atsushi Onita that specialized in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989...
- FMW World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Comision de Box y Lucha D.F.
- Distrito Federal Trios Championship (1 time) - with Yoshihiro Asai and Hata Hirokazu
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipIWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
(1 time) - Young Lion Cup (1989)
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
- Pro Wrestling NoahPro Wrestling Noahis a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
- GHC Tag Team ChampionshipGHC Tag Team ChampionshipThe Global Honored Crown Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on October 19, 2001, when Scorpio & Vader defeated Jun Akiyama & Akitoshi Saito in a tournament final...
(1 time) – with Yoshihiro TakayamaYoshihiro Takayamais a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Takayama is well known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment, especially after his fight at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye... - Global Tag LeagueGlobal Tag LeagueThe Global Tag League is a professional wrestling round-robin tag team tournament held by Pro Wrestling NOAH. It was created in 2008.The Global Tag League is held under a points system, with two points for a win, one for a time limit draw and none for a loss. The team finishing atop the points...
(2010) - with Yoshihiro Takayama
- GHC Tag Team Championship
- Super World of SportsSuper World of SportsSuper World of Sports, more commonly known as SWS, was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1990 to 1992. Its motto was "STRAIGHT AND STRONG".-Formation:...
- SWS Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Wrestle Association RWAR (wrestling promotion)Wrestle and Romance, and later Wrestle Association R, was a professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. The promotion had very few regular contracted workers, instead most of the workers were...
- WAR World Six-Man Tag Team ChampionshipWAR World Six-Man Tag Team ChampionshipThe WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship is a tag team title previously contested for in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Wrestle Association R ....
(1 time) – with Nobuhiko TakadaNobuhiko TakadaNobuhiko Takada is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. He is best known for helping to popularize shoot-style professional wrestling, as one of the biggest stars of the Universal Wrestling Federation and Union of Wrestling Force International in the '80s and '90s. He...
and Masahito Kakihara
- WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Match of the Year (1990) vs. Jushin LigerJushin Liger, better known as and later, is a Japanese professional wrestler who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling.He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior...
on January 31 in OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
- Match of the Year (1990) vs. Jushin Liger
- Other titles
- CNWA World Mid-Heavyweight Championship (1 time)