Nanae Takahashi

Nanae in December 2022

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Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan

**Nanae Takahashi** (高橋 奈苗, *Takahashi Nanae*, ring name: 高橋奈七永) (born December 23, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling SUN, and is a two-time women's world champion in major professional wrestling promotions.

## Professional wrestling career

Nanae Takahashi graduated from All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling's (AJW) training class of 1996, and rose to prominence at a time when AJW was beginning its decline. Early on, she achieved the most fame as part of the tag team Nanamomo with classmate Momoe Nakanishi. Together, Nanamomo won four tag team championships, the AJW Tag Team Championship twice (on November 23, 1997 and August 23, 1998) and the WWWA World Tag Team Championship twice (on July 16, 2000, and July 6, 2002). Concurrently, Takahashi was making a name for herself as a singles competitor, winning the AJW Championship on March 1, 2000, and the junior division competition at that year's Japan Grand Prix. Having established herself as a major competitor, Takahashi won the 2002 Japan Grand Prix, and won her first WWWA World Single Championship on December 12, 2004. During AJW's final years she won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship three more times (each time with a different partner), and the WWWA World Single Championship once more. She was the last WWWA champion, handing over the belt to promoter Takashi Matsunaga immediately after winning it on March 26, 2006.

At an independent show held on July 14, 2006 to celebrate her tenth anniversary in professional wrestling, Takahashi announced her intention to start her own promotion. Her stable, the Dream Catchers, held their final show on the following September 3.

On October 1, 2006, Takahashi defeated Africa 55 for the resurrected AWA World Women's Championship at the debut of her new promotion, Pro Wrestling SUN. The promotion was a sister promotion to Pro Wrestling ZERO1-Max, and at the time an affiliate of the revived American Wrestling Association. On January 14, 2007, Takahashi lost her world championship to Amazing Kong, but regained it again on May 13 of the same year, in Los Angeles, California. She became recognized as the first AWA Japan Women's Champion on June 19, 2007, after the AWA World Women's title was retired out of respect for four-time former champion Sherri Martel, who had died on June 15.

After Sun closed on March 3, 2008, Takahashi formed a unit called "Passion Red" with Natsuki☆Taiyo and Kana. They were active mainly with NEO Japan Ladies' Pro Wrestling.

On October 4, 2008, Takahashi beat Kyoko Inoue to win NWA Women's Pacific/NEO Single Championship. On October 10, 2009, she won NEO Tag Team Championship with Kana.

From January 25, 2009 to December 29, 2010, Takahashi was also active with Ice Ribbon and held International Ribbon Tag Team Championship three times (with Minori Makiba, Kazumi Shimouma and Emi Sakura) and Triangle Ribbon Championship once.

On April 18, 2010, Takahashi beat Kayoko Haruyama to win JWP Openweight Championship. She became the second champion from outside since Manami Toyota in 2006.

On September 7, 2010, Takahashi announced with Fuka and Rossy Ogawa that they founded a new promotion called World Wonder Ring Stardom. They had their first card on January 23, 2011.

On December 15, 2010, Takahashi won Women's Award of *Tokyo Sports*.

On May 12, 2015, Takahashi, in an interview with *Tokyo Sports*, announced she was leaving Stardom and continuing her career as a freelancer. On June 12, 2015, Takahashi announced she was going to start promoting her own professional wrestling events with her new production company, "SEAdLINNNG". On July 17, Takahashi returned to the United States, making her debut for Ring of Honor (ROH) in Las Vegas, Nevada by defeating ODB. Seadlinnng held its first show on August 26, 2015.

On January 7, 2018, Takahashi was legitimately injured in a Hardcore Tag Team Match, while teaming up with Yoshiko against Rina Yamashita & Ryo Mizunami at WAVE Happy New Year 2018. While attempting a move from the top of a ladder, the ladder tilted and fell, causing her to fall and land on her head, legitimately knocking her unconscious. The referee ended the match, and she was taken out on a stretcher.

On December 26, 2020 Takahashi alongside her student Yoshiko making their first appearance for appearance for Stardom in four years Stardom, attacking Bea Priestley, Konami, Utami Hayashishita and Saya Kamitani. On December 14, 2021, Takahashi announced she was leaving SEAdLINNNG on December 29, after suffering from depression in 2017 as result she will be a freelancer.

## Personal life

On July 26, 2021, Takahashi tested positive for COVID-19 amid its pandemic in Japan which she would recover from the COVID-19 days later in her house.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Corner slingshot splash
	+ *Nanalock* (Grounded dragon sleeper)
	+ *Nana☆Racka* (Sitout suplex slam)
	+ *Nana☆Racka 100* (Muscle buster dropped into a fisherman driver)
	+ *One Second* (Kneeling shoulderbreaker, while applying a chickenwing)
	+ *One Second EX* (Sitout side powerslam, while applying a chickenwing)
	+ *Reizouko Bakudan* (Diving splash)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Belly-to-back suplex
	+ Elbow smash
	+ Enzuigiri
	+ Lariat
	+ Scoop lift spun out into a stunner
	+ Shining wizard
	+ Shoulder block
	+ Superplex
	+ Wheelbarrow lifted and dropped into a spin–out powerbomb
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "NanaRacka" by Kakuto Megami and Athena featuring Kiss no Sekai

## Championships and accomplishments

* **All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling**

* AJW Championship (1 time)
* AJW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Momoe Nakanishi
* WWWA World Single Championship (2 times)
* WWWA World Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Momoe Nakanishi (2), Tomoko Watanabe (1), Etsuko Mita (1), and Ayako Hamada (1)
* 21st Century League (2000)
* Japan Grand Prix (2002)
* Tag League the Best (1998) – with Momoe Nakanishi
* Tag League the Best (2003) – with Ayako Hamada

* **AWA Superstars of Wrestling**

* AWA World Women's Championship (3 times)

* **Ice Ribbon**

* International Ribbon Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Minori Makiba (1), Kazumi Shimouma (1) and Emi Sakura (1)
* Triangle Ribbon Championship (1 time)
* Sakurasaku Tag Tournament '09 (2009) – with Minori Makiba

* **JWP Joshi Puroresu**

* JWP Openweight Championship (1 time)
* Best Bout Award (2007) with Natsuki☆Taiyo vs. Kayoko Haruyama and Tsubasa Kuragaki on December 9
* Discover New Heroine Tag Tournament Best Match Award (2007) with Natsuki☆Taiyo vs. Arisa Nakajima and Azumi Hyuga on April 15

* **JDStar**

* BSJ Queen of the Ring (1 time)

* **NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling**

* NEO Single Championship (1 time)
* NEO Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kana
* NWA Women's Pacific Championship (1 time)
* Mid Summer Tag Tournament VIII (2009) – with Emi Sakura

* **Pro Wrestling ZERO1-Max**

* AWA Japan Women's Championship (1 time)

* **SEAdLINNNG**
	+ Beyond the Sea Single Championship (1 time)
	+ Beyond the Sea Tag Team Championship (2 times, current) – with Arisa Nakajima (1) and Hiroyo Matsumoto (1)
* **Tokyo Sports**

* Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize (2010)

* **World Wonder Ring Stardom**

* Goddess of Stardom Championship (3 times) – with Miho Wakizawa (1), Kairi Hojo (1) and Yuu (1)
* World of Stardom Championship (1 time)
* 5★Star GP (2013)
* Goddess of Stardom Championship Tournament (2013) – with Miho Wakizawa
* Goddesses of Stardom Tag League (2014) – with Kairi Hojo
* Unit Opposition Tournament (2012) – with Miho Wakizawa and Yuuri Haruka
* 5★Star GP Best Bout Award (2013) vs. Natsuki☆Taiyo on September 23
* 5★Star GP Best Match Award (2012) vs. Yuzuki Aikawa on September 17
* 5★Star GP Best Match Award (2014) vs. Kairi Hojo on August 24
* Best Bout Award (2011) vs. Natsuki☆Taiyo on November 12
* Best Bout Award (2012) vs. Yuzuki Aikawa on September 17 and December 24
* Best Match Award (2014) with Kairi Hojo vs. Risa Sera and Takumi Iroha on December 23
* Best Tag Team Award (2013) with Miho Wakizawa
* Best Tag Team Award (2014) with Kairi Hojo
* MVP Award (2012)