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Sanshiro Takagi

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Sanshiro Takagi
Takagi in 2014
Birth nameTadashi Takagi
Born (1970-01-13) January 13, 1970 (age 54)
Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
Billed height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[5]
Billed weight105 kg (231 lb)[5]
Trained byMitsuhiro Matsunaga
DebutFebruary 16, 1995

Tadashi Takagi (髙木 規, Takagi Tadashi, born January 13, 1970 in Toyonaka, Japan), better known by his ring name Sanshiro Takagi (髙木 三四郎, Takagi Sanshirō), is a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter who works for the Japanese wrestling promotion CyberFight, where he serves as executive vice president. Takagi is the founder of DDT Pro-Wrestling, which is now part of the CyberFight umbrella. As a wrestler, Takagi's gimmick was that of a Stone Cold Steve Austin impersonator.

Early life

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Takagi was born on January 13, 1970, in Toyonaka, Osaka.[5] In middle school, he joined the school's judo club where he practiced wrestling techniques and bumps. After graduating from high school, he attended Komazawa University, where he eagerly attended professional wrestling matches due to the lack of a student wrestling club. In 1988, he queued up overnight to buy tickets for the Newborn UWF's launch event. Influenced by Akira Maeda's victory over Gerard Gordeau at the third Newborn UWF event, he briefly learned sambo from Konosuke Hagiwara. In his third year of university, his interest shifted from wrestling to television. He joined the university's "TV Program Research Society", and became involved as a studio audience member and extra. Inspired by the idea of hosting events, he successfully organized an event in Shibaura that attracted 3,000 people while still a student.[6]

Professional wrestling career

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Takagi was drawn back to professional wrestling by working as a PR staff member for Yokohama's Yatai Village Wrestling. In March 1994, after extended studies, he graduated from university and joined the International Pro Wrestling revival promotion IWA Kakutō Shijuku in August, while still participating in Yatai Village Wrestling. He had matches in Yatai Village Wrestling, debuting against Chotaro Kamoi on December 31, although Yatai Village Wrestling did not keep official records. Therefore, his official debut is often considered to be at the February 16, 1995 Pro Wrestling Crusaders (PWC) Stray Dog Legend event in Shibuya, against Troubleshooter Kochi.[6][7]

In 1996, Takagi joined PWC but soon became a freelancer. That year, he ran as a Liberal League candidate in the 41st general election for the House of Representatives in Kanagawa 9th District but was not elected.[8]

In 1997 he formed Dramatic Dream Team (DDT). This new promotion would in Tokyo and be based on the entertainment wrestling style of the World Wrestling Federation. Since then Takagi's show has gained a cult following as an alternative version of American-style entertainment wrestling.

On May 5, 2015, Takagi was announced as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Wrestle-1. He also continued serving as the president of DDT, while being involved with Wrestle-1's management.[9] Starting on April 1, 2017, Takagi served in the role of an advisor to new president Kaz Hayashi.[10] In March 2017, Wrestle-1 underwent a change in management, which led to Takagi assuming the new role of an advisor,[11] from which he resigned the following September.[12]

On September 1, 2017, DDT was sold to the CyberAgent company. Takagi retained his position as the company's president.[13]

On July 15, 2019, at Wrestle Peter Pan 2019, Takagi won the inaugural O-40 Championship by defeating Super Sasadango Machine.[14] On September 29, at Who's Gonna Top? 2019, he lost the title to Gorgeous Matsuno.

On July 27, 2020, DDT and Pro Wrestling Noah merged to form CyberFight. Takagi became president of the new company, commenting that Noah founder Mitsuharu Misawa once saved DDT by giving DDT wrestlers a chance to perform at Noah events, and that he wanted to make both DDT and Noah world-class promotions.[15]

On September 18, 2023, Takagi faced Minoru Suzuki in an "Anywhere Fall Match" held aboard a bullet train traveling between Tokyo and Nagoya. The match concluded with Suzuki defeating Takagi after delivering a Gotch-style piledriver.[16][17]

On May 16, 2024, it was announced that Takagi would be stepping down as president of CyberFight to assume the position of executive vice president on June 1. As part of the move, Takagi also changed the spelling of his ring name from 高木 to 髙木.[a] The new president become Yasuo Okamoto.[18]

On July 21, 2024, at Wrestle Peter Pan 2024, Takagi faced Danshoku Dino in the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship Weapon Rumble Match. This marked Takagi's final bout before beginning an indefinite hiatus from his role as a wrestler, though he remains involved in the company as a vice president..

Personal life

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His wife is Kayako Takagi, who actually helped him out backstage and on-screen in DDT storylines in 2004.

Championships and accomplishments

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Takagi in 2010.

References

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  1. ^ 髙木 is the actual spelling of Takagi's birth name written with the hyōgai kanji 髙 instead of the more common 高, which was used in his ring name.
  1. ^ "新北京プロレス Japan Tour 2009 in Shinjuku Face". Dramatic Dream Team (in Japanese). Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  2. ^ "Into The Fight シリーズ 2013 in Odawara". Dramatic Dream Team (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  3. ^ Judgement2017～DDT旗揚げ20周年記念大会～. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  4. ^ "【アップアップDDT(仮)リポート】アイドル×プロレスのコラボは大成功！ 2回目開催を誓い大団円／新井愛瞳が爆弾発言!?「今度私たちも試合に出たい」". Dramatic Dream Team (in Japanese). February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "DDT ProWrestling" 髙木三四郎. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  6. ^ a b レスラーヒューマンストーリーII プロレスラー男の履歴書 [Wrestler Human Story II: Resume of a Pro-Wrestler Man] (in Japanese). Baseball Magazine Sha. November 2, 2016. pp. 80–87. ISBN 978-4583624808.
  7. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "PWC Stray Dog Legend". Cagematch. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  8. ^ 神奈川9区 - 第41回衆議院議員選挙 [Kanagawa 9th District - 41st House of Representatives General Election]. go2senkyo.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 4, 2020.
  9. ^ 高木三四郎Ｗ-１ＣＥＯ電撃就任. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  10. ^ カズ・ハヤシがＷ‐１社長就任 武藤は会長職に. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 27, 2017. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  11. ^ カズ・ハヤシがＷ‐１社長就任 武藤は会長職に. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 27, 2017. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  12. ^ Ｗ－１・高木三四郎が相談役を辞任「一つの役割を終えた」ＤＤＴとの友好関係は継続. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  13. ^ ＤＤＴがサイバーエージェントに株式譲渡 社名、体制に変更なし. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). September 22, 2017. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  14. ^ Fischbeck, Thomas (July 16, 2019). "DDT WRESTLE PETER PAN 2019 (JULY 15) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Gunier, Robert (July 27, 2020). "DDT And Pro Wrestling NOAH To Merge Into "CyberFight" To Compete With NJPW". Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Pro-wrestlers grapple on super-fast Japanese bullet train". Retrieved 2024-11-24.
  17. ^ "「新幹線プロレス」実現、JR東海「新幹線貸切車両パッケージ」利用". マイナビニュース (in Japanese). 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
  18. ^ 【会見全文】CyberFightが新体制となり大改革！髙木三四郎が社長から副社長に。武藤敬司が新人発掘を担当。NOAHに佐々木憂流迦＆Eitaが入団。WWEとの関係強化を明言 [[Press Conference] CyberFight underwent a major restructuring with a new organization! Sanshiro Takagi is now the vice president instead of the president. Keiji Mutoh is in charge of scouting new talents, Ulka Sasaki & Eita join Noah, and the company clearly states that it will strengthen its relationship with WWE.]. Battle News (in Japanese). Collabo Soken Inc. May 16, 2024. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024.
  19. ^ DDT Pro-Wrestling (June 2, 2011). "DDT ProWrestling" 雨ニモマケズ ユニオン in 新宿 (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  20. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "DDT Ryogoku Peter Pan 2011". Wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "DDT ProWrestling" Who’s Gonna Top?～DDTドラマティック総選挙2015～. Dramatic Dream Team (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  22. ^ Judgement2021～DDT旗揚げ24周年記念大会～. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "Champions and Championships". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  24. ^ "Judgement 2013". Dramatic Dream Team (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  25. ^ <ヨシヒコ編集ジチョー主義>2012年DDTを各賞で振り返る. Dramatic Dream Team (in Japanese). December 21, 2012. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  26. ^ Fujitaが高木に、論外＆Mazadが大阪06に勝利し、ベルトが愚連隊に勢揃い！世界一性格の悪い神の子が降臨！. Battle News (in Japanese). January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
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