Takashi Sugiura

Drawing on his experience as a successful wrestler in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, he turned pro at age 29. After winning both the junior single and tag team titles in 2006, he defeated Go Shiozaki at Nippon Budokan on December 6, 2009, to win the GHC Heavyweight Championship for the first time. He went on to set a record with 14 successful title defenses over a 19-month reign. In 2019, before the GLOBAL TAG LEAGUE, he formed Sugiura-gun and, teaming with KAZMA SAKAMOTO, won the tournament. He famously declared, "I am a company man!" On November 2, 2019, at Ryogoku Kokugikan, he defeated Michael Elgin to become the inaugural GHC National Champion. As the boss of the eccentric Sugiura-gun, he was known for his incredible physical conditioning, which is among the best in NOAH. He has continued to be a central figure in the GHC title scene, in both singles and tag team divisions, relying on his overwhelming physical strength and ring experience that belie his age. Between 2022 and 2024, he won the GHC Tag Team Championship four times, consistently demonstrating his strength as a tag team wrestler. In 2023, his partnership with KENTA became a major topic, and he captivated fans with his willingness to face top competitors from inside and outside the promotion. As a “living legend” who continues to evolve without being limited by his age, he remains an active force. In 2024, he embodied the history and weight of NOAH through his confrontations with the next generation of wrestlers while staying on the front lines. As the leader of Sugiura-gun and as a singular wrestler, he shows no signs of slowing down, always living up to the motto, “My prime is right now.” In 2025, as an "iron man" who is still active at the top level, he continues to be a cornerstone of NOAH. On June 3, during a GHC Heavyweight Championship Survival 3-Way Match, he made a shocking move by joining TEAM 2000X, where he has established his presence as "The Godfather of TEAM 2000X."