Strong Style Spirit ~ Your New Japan resource for over seven years

Nobuhiko Takada
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 209lbs
Date of Birth: 4/12/62
Place of Birth: Yokohama City, Kanagawa
Debut: May 9th, 1981 (vs. Norio Honaga)
Retired: November 25th, 2002 (vs. Kiyoshi Tamura)

Title History:

IWGP Heavyweight Title (1):
- Keiji Muto (1/4/96) / Shinya Hashimoto (4/29/96)

IWGP Tag Team Title (1):
- (w/ Akira Maeda) Keiji Muto & Shiro Koshinaka (3/26/87) / Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kazuo Yamazaki (9/1/87)

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title (1):
- Shiro Koshinaka (5/19/86) / Shiro Koshinaka (9/19/86)

UWF-I Pro Wrestling Title (2):
- Gary Albright (9/21/92) / Super Vader (8/19/94)
- Super Vader (4/20/95) / Vacated (10/95)

WAR 6 Man Tag Team Title (1):
- (w/ Naoki Sano & Masahito Kakihara) Hiromichi Fuyuki, Jado & Gedo (7/20/96) / Hiromichi Fuyuki, Yoji Anjo & Bam Bam Bigelow (10/11/96)

Tournament History:

- WAR 6 Man Tag Team Title Tournament (1996): Nobuhiko Takada, Naoki Sano & Masahito Kakihara beat Hiromichi Fuyuki, Jado & Gedo (12:35) when Takada used a cross armbreaker on Gedo.

Signature Moves:

- Chickenwing facelock
- Cross armbreaker
- High kick

Profile:

During his childhood, Takada yearned to be a pro wrestler like Antonio Inoki. His dream came true when in 1981, he debuted for New Japan, facing Norio Honaga. For much of the 1980's, he was one of New Japan's top junior heavyweights, taking part in a classic feud against Shiro Koshinaka. Additionally, he followed Akira Maeda twice to form UWF in it's original form, and in 1988, UWF in it's second form, which marked the end of Takada's New Japan career. In UWF he became one of the top wrestlers, becoming only one of only two men to defeat Maeda in the company's existence, and doing so twice. By the time UWF closed, Takada was ready to lead a company, and the formation of UWF International in 1991 gave him that chance. Taking on all comers, Takada became a cultural icon, never saying die and always delivering a great fight. With victories over the likes of Super Vader, Gary Albright, and Kazuo Yamazaki, he became one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, drawing big crowds to events. In 1995 and 1996 he was UWF-I's lead figure in the interpromotional war against his old haunt, New Japan, trading wins with Keiji Muto and winning the IWGP Heavyweight Title, becoming the only man to hold both the IWGP Heavyweight, IWGP Tag, and IWGP Jr. belts. After winning the gold from Muto in January, 1996, then making his only successful defense against old rival Koshinaka, he lost the title to Shinya Hashimoto at the Tokyo Dome in April. Following UWF-I's collapse at the end of 1996, he formed his own fighting promotion, Kingdom, many UWF-I wrestlers following him there. When Kingdom also closed down, he started his own training school, Takada Dojo, graduates from which include Daijiro Matsui. In October, 1997, he came out of virtual retirement to compete for the upstart vale tudo/mixed martial arts promotion, PRIDE, main eventing the show against Brazilian jujutsu and vale tudo legend, Rickson Gracie. From then on, PRIDE became his fighting home, with pro wrestling no longer in his sights, and his name value assisted the company in becoming one of the hottest entities in sports. Although he failed to maintain the same win-loss standard as before, he became one of PRIDE's biggest stars, selling out many shows. He retired at PRIDE 23 in November, 2002, facing former UWF-I disciple, Kiyoshi Tamura, at the Tokyo Dome. One of the most graceful and technically exceptional wrestlers in history, Nobuhiko Takada's legacy in both pro wrestling and mixed martial arts is undeniable, and he is an icon to fans of both combat sports.