Taka Michinoku Takao Yoshida ( October 26 , 1973 ) , better known by his ring name TAKA Michinoku ( Taka is written in all caps in Japanese script ) , is a professional wrestler who has wrestled all over the world as well he was a former Mixed Martial Artist . Michinoku is known in North America for his work for the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) where he had the first ever WWF Light Heavyweight Championship reign recognized by the North - American promotion . Having held championship titles in Japan , North America , Mexico and Europe , Yoshida is known for his long title reigns . He held the FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Title for a combined duration of more than 15 months , the WWF Light Heavyweight Title for a then record - setting 10 months and the WEW Six - Man Tag Team Title for almost a year . Yoshida has held the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title , Michinoku Pro Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Title and Kaientai Dojo Strongest - K Title simultaneously for almost 10 months . During his reign , he has defended his titles against both AJPW and independent circuit talent to increase his base of opponents , and thus has increased the reach of the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title which was closed off to outside competition in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s . Professional wrestling career . Early career . Taka Michinoku took his name as a sign of respect for his mentor The Great Sasuke , who was the owner of Michinoku Pro Wrestling and had been the first to use Michinoku as part of his ring name . He debuted in North America with Extreme Championship Wrestling ( ECW ) in a six - man tag team match at ECW ' s debut pay - per - view Barely Legal . WWF . First WWF Light Heavyweight Champion . He made his World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) debut on July 6 , 1997 at a WWF pay - per - view entitled " Canadian Stampede . " losing to The Great Sasuke but getting a huge reaction from the crowd . He lost a rematch to Sasuke the following night on Raw . On December 7 , 1997 , Michinoku defeated Brian Christopher at to become the first WWF Light Heavyweight Champion recognized by the WWF . Taka successfully defended the WWF Light Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania XIV against Aguila . After holding the title for more than 10 months , Michinoku lost the title to Christian on October 18 , 1998 . Kai En Tai . Taka began a feud with Kai En Tai , a faction he was once a part of during his Michinoku Pro days . He remained at odds with his former colleagues by defending their rival Val Venis until turning against Venis in a tag team match . Taka joined Kai En Tai and remained with the group until Teioh , Togo , and their managers , The Yamaguchis , left the WWF and returned to Japan . Taka and Funaki , the two remaining members in WWF , continued as a team under the Kai En Tai name in mostly jobber matches with a comedy gimmick . Taka ' s biggest venture in WWF came when he challenged Triple H for the WWF Championship on the April 10 , 2000 edition of " Raw " , coming up short despite interference on his behalf from Funaki and the Acolytes Protection Agency . Return to Japan , Kainentai Dojo . After departing from the WWF ( by now renamed World Wrestling Entertainment ) in early 2002 , Michinoku returned to Japan to rehabilitate a serious shoulder injury . He then began promoting his own promotion , Kaientai Dojo ( often shortened to K - DOJO ) in small venues around the Tokyo area and often appears in All Japan Pro Wrestling cards , where he and Taiyō Kea lead the foreign - oriented faction Roughly Obsess & Destroy . Hawai ' i . Michinoku made his Hawaii debut in 2004 when he appeared for Hawai ' i Championship Wrestling defeating Nightmare . AJPW : Mexico Amigos stable . Pepe Michinoku ( Taka Michinoku ) , El Nosawa Mendoza ( Nosawa - Rongai ) , and Miguel Hayashi Jr ( Kaz Hayashi ) formed a team during the AJPW Champion ' s Carnival called Mexico Amigos . El Hijo del Araya Segundo ( Nobutaka Araya ) joined the team after Six - Man Action between Mexico Amigos and Araya / Fuchi / Hirai at the Carnival ' s final show . After multiple bouts against Minoru Suzuki , Nosawa ( NOSAWA Rongai ) offered Suzuki an invitation into Mexico Amigos , to which he declined . This resulted in the group changing multiple assets . Their name was changed to Mexico Amigos Black , the previous worn Mexican Flag attire became Black and Gold attire , and Nobutaka Araya was kicked out of the group . The groups is currently in a heated rivalry with Mazada ' s Samurai New Japan group , Minoru Suzuki , and Voodoo Murders . At the AJPW ' s December 16 , 2007 " Fan Appreciation Day " show , The Mexico Amigos teamed with " Ray Suzuki " and defeated Ryuji Hijikata , Kikutaro , T28 and Ryuji Yamaguchi . After the match , Ray Suzuki reveled himself as Minoru Suzuki and stated the starting next year he would throw his Amigos tights away and return to Nosawa Rongai , then kidnapped him to start early training . This led to Pepe and Miguel stating they would return to Mexico , but Kaz and Taka would return come the new year . After one last " Viva Mexico " Mexico Amigos disbanded . DDT . TAKA , renamed Piza Michinoku , joined with Antonio Honda to form The Italian Four Horsemen in the Japan - based DDT promotion , competing in several comedic matches against opponents such as " The Gay Wrestler " Danshoku Dino and an inflatable " love doll " impersonating various iconic wrestlers named YOSHIHIKO . Michinoku Pro . TAKA returned to Michinoku Pro and reformed Kai En Tai with Funaki . Their most recent match as a team was against Great Sasuke and Dick Togo on the 20th anniversary of Michinoku Pro . Kai En Tai would lose the match with Funaki taking the pin .