Sanshiro Takagi

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Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan

**Sanshiro Takagi** (高木 三四郎, *Takagi Sanshirō*, born January 13, 1970 in Toyonaka, Japan) is a Japanese professional wrestler. Takagi plays a parody of Stone Cold Steve Austin of World Wrestling Federation fame.

He is known in Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) and around the micro-indy scene for his hilarious promos and natural charisma as well as his extensive use of comedy in his matches. He is the president of DDT and Pro Wrestling NOAH has also worked as the chief executive officer of Wrestle-1.

## Career

Sanshiro Takagi was trained by Goro Tsurumi and started at his International Pro Wrestling revival promotion, IWA Kakuto Shijuku. Soon, however, Takagi broke off, seeing that IWAKS's limited exposure would only limit him to be an independent wrestler, in 1997 he formed DDT (Dramatic Dream Team), which not only would promote in Tokyo (as opposed to Tsurumi's Chigasaki, Kanagawa base), but also be based on the entertainment wrestling kingpin of the day, World Wrestling Entertainment. Since then Takagi's show has acquired a cult following as a good version of American-style entertainment wrestling. Takagi has also made appearances in All Japan Pro Wrestling, but prefers to remain his own man and his own promoter.

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. Starting on April 1, 2017, Takagi will serve in the role of an advisor to new president Kaz Hayashi. In March 2017, Wrestle-1 underwent a change in management, which led to Takagi assuming the new role of an advisor, from which he resigned the following September.

On September 1, 2017, DDT was sold to the CyberAgent company. Takagi retained his position as the company's president. On January 28, 2020, *Tokyo Sports* reported that LIDET Entertainment had sold all shares of Noah Global Entertainment to CyberAgent Inc., becoming one of its subsidiaries alongside DDT Pro-Wrestling. The following day, Noah alongside Takagi formally announced the acquisition by CyberAgent and he was named the President of the promotion after CyberAgent acquired the promotion.

## Personal life

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

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**

* *Dangerous Dragon Sleeper Takagi* (Inverted facelock camel clutch)
* *Final Answer?* (Electric chair facebuster)
* *GTS – Go to Sleep* (Fireman's carry dropped into a knee lift) – adopted from CM Punk
* Brainbuster
* Lariat
* *Sanshiro Stunner* (Lifting DDT)
* *Sanshiro Stunner '00* (Lifting double underhook DDT)
* *Sitdown Himawari Bomb* (Electric chair twisted into a sitout powerbomb)
* *Stone Cold Stunner* (Sitout three–quarter facelock jawbreaker, usually preceded with a kick to the opponent's midsection) – adopted from Stone Cold Steve Austin
* *Worldwide Sanshiro Stunner* (Fireman's carry stunner)

* **Managers**

* Kayako Takagi

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Dramatic Dream Team**

* DDT Extreme Division Championship (2 times)
* DDT Jiyugaoka Six-Person Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Etsuko Mita and Hero! (1) and Jun Inomata and Poison Sawada (1)
* Greater China Unified Nakahara Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Munenori Sawa
* Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (11 times)
* King of Dark Championship (1 time)
* KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Akebono and Toru Owashi (1), and Kazuki Hirata and Toru Owashi (3)
* KO-D 8-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chikara, Yakan Nabe and Yukio Naya
* KO-D Openweight Championship (6 times)
* KO-D Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Tomohiko Hashimoto (1), Ryuji Ito (1), Munenori Sawa (1), and Soma Takao (1)
* O-40 Championship (1 time)
* Best Unit Award (2012) New World Japan

* **Tokyo Gurentai**

* Tokyo World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

## References

1. ↑ 新北京プロレス Japan Tour 2009 in Shinjuku Face  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
2. ↑ Into The Fight シリーズ 2013 in Odawara  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2013-02-10.
3. ↑ *ja:Judgement2017～DDT旗揚げ20周年記念大会～* (in Japanese). *DDT Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-03-20.
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」  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2014-02-19). Retrieved on 2014-02-19.
5. ↑ *ja:高木三四郎Ｗ-１ＣＥＯ電撃就任* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2015-05-05). Retrieved on 2015-05-05.
6. ↑ *ja:カズ・ハヤシがＷ‐１社長就任　武藤は会長職に* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2017-03-27). Retrieved on 2017-03-27.
7. ↑ *ja:カズ・ハヤシがＷ‐１社長就任　武藤は会長職に* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2017-03-27). Retrieved on 2017-08-03.
8. ↑ *ja: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* (in Japanese). *Daily Sports Online*. Kobe Shimbun (2017-09-02). Retrieved on 2017-09-02.
9. ↑ *ja: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* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2017-09-22). Retrieved on 2017-09-22.
10. ↑ Who’s Gonna Top?～DDTドラマティック総選挙2015～  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team*. Retrieved on 2015-09-27.
11. ↑ <ヨシヒコ編集ジチョー主義>2012年DDTを各賞で振り返る  (in Japanese). *Dramatic Dream Team* (2012-12-21). Retrieved on 2012-12-22.
12. ↑ 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！  (in Japanese). *Battle News* (2013-01-16). Retrieved on 2013-01-16.

## External links

* Sanshiro Takagi at the DDT fan site
* Official Dramatic Dream Team site in Japanese