- Takayama first became widely known for his toughness after he began competing in mixed martial arts, when he took part in one of the most famous fights in Pride FC history at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye. He has had numerous [peacock prose] career-threatening injuries, including a stroke after a match against Kensuke Sasaki in 2004.
- Takayama's career ended with a spinal cord injury in May 2017, which left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. A former rugby player, kendoka and lifeguard, Takayama started his professional wrestling career for shoot-style promotion Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFI).
- 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.
Share this Post:
