Takeshi Rikio

**Takeshi Inoue**, known by his stage name **Takeshi Rikiō** (力皇猛, *Rikiō Takeshi*), born December 20, 1972, is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, who worked for Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former sumo wrestler.

## Professional wrestling career

After leaving sumo he was soon spotted by All Japan Pro Wrestling. After training in their dojo, he made his debut in 2000 in a tag team match in which he partnered Masao Inoue against Takeshi Morishima and Jun Akiyama. However, before he could build any momentum, Mitsuharu Misawa left AJPW and in the process, took most of the native talent with Rikio being among these talents. In Pro Wrestling Noah, he has seen much success. He dethroned the legendary Kenta Kobashi for the GHC Heavyweight Championship (at the end of this match Rikio can be seen sobbing as he accepts the title from Kobashi.), ending his two-year reign, before losing the title to Akira Taue some time later. His title reign was largely regarded as rushed and not well-developed, as some portions of the crowd were not enthusiastic about his defenses or the opponents he was defending the title against. On June 4, 2006, he captured his second GHC Tag Team Championship with Jun Akiyama when he pinned Muhammad Yone after a Musou. However, Rikio and Akiyama were forced to vacate their title on September 25, 2006 after Rikio suffered a neck injury.

On November 27, 2011, Rikio announced his retirement from professional wrestling due to serious neck injuries.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**

* Diving splash
* Lariat
* *Muso* (Waist–lift side slam, sometimes while using a pumphandle)
* Powerbomb
* *World Muso* (Chokelift dropped into a side slam)

* **Signature moves**

* Bearhug, sometimes transitioned into a vertical suplex
* Belly to back side slam
* Chokeslam
* Headbutt
* Inside leg hook belly-to-back suplex
* Mongolian chop
* Spinning Samoan drop
* Vertical suplex
* Waist-lift belly-to-back suplex

* **With Akebono**

* **Double team finishing moves**

* *Rikibono Splash 63* (Akebono performs a diving splash with Rikio on his back)

* **Entrance themes**

* "A Passage in Time" by Authority Zero

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him #**82** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2010
* **Pro Wrestling Noah**

* GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* GHC Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Takeshi Morishima (1), Jun Akiyama (1) and Muhammad Yone (1)
* Two Day Tag Team Tournament (2004) – with Naomichi Marufuji
* Global Tag League Outstanding Performance Prize (2008) – with Jun Akiyama

* **Tokyo Sports**

* Rookie of the Year (2000)
* Performance Award (2005)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Profile at Puroresu Central . Puroresu Central. Retrieved on 2013-11-26.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `NOAHbio`
3. ↑ Akebono's profile at Puroresu Central . Puroresu Central. Retrieved on 2012-12-02.
4. ↑ "PWI 500": 1–100 . *Pro Wrestling Illustrated* (2010-07-30). Retrieved on 2010-07-31.
5. ↑ http://www.purolove.com/noah/profiles/takeshirikio.php
6. ↑ http://www.purolove.com/noah/history/globaltagleague08.php
7. ↑ http://www.puroresu.com/awards/2000s.html
8. ↑ http://cagematch.de/?id=97&nr=12