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Naoki Sano

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Naoki Sano
Born(1965-02-02)February 2, 1965(age 59)
Tomakomai, Hokkaido,Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Takuma Sano
Yuhi Sano
Naoki Sano
Mr. Sato
Billed height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Billed weight110 kg (243 lb)
Trained byNJPW Dojo
DebutMarch 3, 1984
RetiredJanuary 7, 2020[1]
Mixed martial arts career Martial arts career
NationalityJapanese
Height1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb)
StyleMMA
Shooto
TeamNJPW Dojo

Naoki Sano(Tá dã trực hỉ,Sano Naoki)[2](born February 2, 1965) is a Japanese retiredprofessional wrestlerand formermixed martial artistmost notable for being the generational rival of legendary Japanese pro wrestlerJushin Liger.During the last years of his career he went by the name Takuma Sano(Tá dã xảo chân,Sano Takuma).

Professional wrestling career

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New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1984–1990, 2020)

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Sano was a member of the 1984NJPW Dojoclass, and in his first few years wrestled in preliminary matches. In 1987, he went on an overseas excursion to Mexico, wrestling for theUniversal Wrestling Association(UWA). In August 1987, he won his first championship, theDistrito Federal Trios Championshipwith fellow NJPW wrestlers Hirokazu Hata andYoshihiro Asai.Upon his return to the promotion in January 1989, he won the Young Tokyo Dome Cup on April 24, becoming the first NJPW wrestler to wrestle inside the Tokyo Dome, along withHiro Saito.He went on to have numerous acclaimed matches againstJyushin Liger.Sano defeated Liger for theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Championshipon August 10, 1989, but lost it to Liger on January 31, 1990.[3][4]In April 1990, he went on an overseas excursion to Canada, wrestling under the name Mr. Sato for the Canadian National Wrestling Alliance promotion in Calgary, where he won the promotion's World Mid-Heavyweight Championship.

After several returns representing other promotions, Sano returned to NJPW for the last time in January 2020, at theirWrestle Kingdom 14events. On January 5, he andJushin Ligerwere defeated byHiromu TakahashiandRyu Lee,after which Liger retired.[5]Two days later on January 7, Sano retired.[1]

Super World of Sports and Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi (1990–1992)

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During his Canadian excursion in July 1990, Sano moved to theSuper World of Sports(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 theUnited States,Mexico,and outsider promotionsUniversal Lucha LibreandPro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi.In December 1991, Sano won the tournament for theSWS Light Heavyweight Championship.[6]He was the only titleholder.[6]

After SWS collapsed in June 1992, Sano worked a few matches for Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi, but soon moved toUnion of Wrestling Force International(UWFI) upon recommendation from former NJPW comradesNobuhiko TakadaandKazuo Yamazaki,the top stars of UWFI.

UWF International (1992–1996)

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In UWFI, he adopted the nameYuhi Sano.Adopting the shinguards and trunks typical ofshoot stylewrestlers, 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 toShinya Hashimoto.In the feud against theWARpromotion, which had been born out of the ashes of SWS, Sano lost to old patronGenichiro Tenryuin a singles match. Upon UWFI's collapse later in December 1996, Sano joined its successor promotion,Kingdom.

Independent circuit (1997–2001)

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He returned to wrestling, entering Battlarts and feuding withMinoru Tanakaover theIndependent World Junior Heavyweight Championship.[7]Sano won the belt from Tanaka in May 1999 and dropped it to him the following year. In 2000 he participated in the thirdSuper J-Cuptournament held byMichinoku Pro Wrestling.He advanced to the final four before losing to eventual runner-upCima.[8]

Pro Wrestling Noah (2001–2012)

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In 2001, he joinedPro Wrestling Noah.He became Takuma Sano, for a year wearing tights and wrestling junior heavyweights, but after fully turning heavyweight, he returned to the shinguards and trunks. As part of the faction led byAkira Taueand also composed ofDaisuke Ikeda,Sano had opportunities for theGHC Heavyweight Championshipheld byKenta Kobashiand later,Mitsuharu Misawa,but failed both times. In 2010, he teamed withYoshihiro Takayamato win theGlobal Tag League.[9]On September 18, 2010, Sano and Takayama defeatedAkitoshi SaitoandBison Smithto win the vacantGHC Tag Team Championship.They would lose the title toNew Japan Pro-Wrestling'sGiant BernardandKarl Andersonon June 18, 2011, atDominion 6.18in a match contested also for theIWGP Tag Team Championship.[10]After his contract with NOAH expired in January 2012, Sano became a freelancer.

Mixed martial arts career

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As a former UWF-i member, Sano was also amixed martial artistand participated in thePride Fighting Championships,which were originally created to pit Sano's trainerNobuhiko TakadaandRickson Gracie.Sano debuted atPride 2,where he faced Rickson's brotherRoyler.The Brazilian opened the fight by taking Yuhi down andmountinghim, only to Sano tosweephim aside and block atriangle chokeattempt before returning to standing position. Sano blocked a takedown, but was swept by Royler and the jiu-jitsu expert gained top position, though he was unable to finish him due to Yuhi's defensive skills. After Yuhi swept him again, Royler tried another triangle choke and managed to draw blood from Sano with upkicks and strikes from theguard.The end of the fight came when Royler finally took his back and performed anarmbarto make Sano submit.[11][12]

In October of that year atPride 4,Sano faced a striker instead of a grappler, in the shape ofShooto's karate stylistSatoshi Honma.Sano resisted his punches and clinched knees and took Honma down, but the karateka kept hitting from the guard and nullified his offensive. Back to standing, Honma struck Sano with more punches and knees, cutting Yuhi's eyes and delivering a hard punishment before the referee called the knockout in Honma's favour.[13][14]Sano had his last fight for Pride atPride 9,being submitted byCarlos Newtonin a short bout.[15]In addition to his active career, Sano helped train fighters at theTakada Dojo.[16]

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
4 matches 0 wins 4 losses
By knockout 0 2
By submission 0 2
By decision 0 0
By disqualification 0 0
Draws 0
No contests 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 0–4 Carlos Newton Submission (armbar) Pride 9 June 4, 2000 1 0:40 Nagoya,Japan
Loss 0–3 Keiichiro Yamamiya TKO (strikes) Pancrase - Breakthrough 3 March 9, 1999 1 10:43 Tokyo,Japan
Loss 0–2 Satoshi Honma TKO (punches) Pride 4 October 11, 1998 1 9:25 Tokyo,Japan
Loss 0–1 Royler Gracie Submission (armbar) PRIDE 2 March 15, 1998 1 33:14 Yokohama,Kanagawa,Japan

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ab"Naoki Sano announces his retirement as a wrestler at 54".noroman.net. Archived fromthe originalon October 27, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 7,2020.
  2. ^"Profile at Puroresu Central".Puroresu Central.Retrieved2013-12-10.
  3. ^ab"IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history (page 2)"(in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-08-04.Retrieved2007-07-08.
  4. ^abRoyal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "New Japan IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 373–374.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  5. ^Satin, Ryan (5 January 2020)."Jushin 'Thunder' Liger Goes Out on His Back at Wrestle Kingdom 14".Pro Wrestling Sheet | Insider Wrestling News and Reports.Retrieved5 January2020.
  6. ^abcRoyal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "SWS Light Heavyweight Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 384.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  7. ^abRoyal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "FMW World Junior Heavyweight Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 383.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^"Super J Cup: 3rd Stage".ProWrestlingHistory.com. April 1–9, 2000.RetrievedFebruary 16,2010.
  9. ^ab"Global Tag Team Tournament 2010".Pro Wrestling NOAH.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-17.Retrieved2010-02-15.
  10. ^"Dominion 6.18".New Japan Pro-Wrestling(in Japanese).Retrieved2011-06-18.
  11. ^"Japan's Finest: The Pride FC Review: Pride 2".411mania. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-02-11.Retrieved2015-02-11.
  12. ^"Pride 2".Sherdog.Retrieved2010-02-15.
  13. ^"Japan's Finest: The Pride FC Review: Pride 4".411mania. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-02-11.Retrieved2015-02-11.
  14. ^"Pride 4".Sherdog.Retrieved2010-02-15.
  15. ^"Pride 9 - New Blood".Sherdog.Retrieved2010-02-15.
  16. ^Vargo, Keith (June 2001). "Kazushi Sakuraba and the Takada Dojo".Black Belt.39(6): 24.
  17. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Districto Federal Trios Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 393.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  18. ^"One Night Million Yen Tournament « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-04.
  19. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Japan: New Japan Young Lions Cup Tournament Champions".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. p. 375.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  20. ^Global League 2010at purolove.com retrieved September 29, 2018
  21. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 385–386.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
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