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Akira Taue (田上 明, Taue Akira ^?) (born May 8, 1961) is a Japanese professional wrestler, and the the current President of Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former Triple Crown champion, a former GHC World Heavyweight champion and has had 14 5 Star Matches.

Sumo wrestling career

Before becoming a professional wrestler, Akira Taue competed as a sumo wrestler, debuting in January 1980 and coached by former ozeki Daikirin (his shikona was Tamakirin, based on his stablemaster's). He fought in the second highest juryo division for seven tournaments before retiring from sumo in July 1987.

Professional wrestling career

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1988-2000)

He debuted in a tag team match for All Japan Pro Wrestling in on January 2, 1988, teaming with the legendary Giant Baba. As with Genichiro Tenryu, Hiroshi Wajima and Arashi before him, his debut was much hyped. Throughout the years he became one of AJPW's top stars, by winning titles such as the AJPW Triple Crown Championship and the 1996 Champion's Carnival.

However, he became better known for tag team wrestling. He won his first championship, the All Asia Tag Team Championship, with Shinichi Nakano on June 5, 1990. He won the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship for the first time on March 4, 1992, teaming with Jumbo Tsuruta. He formed a tag team with Toshiaki Kawada, called Holy Demon Army, a team which ended up holding the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship 6 times. The team split when Taue left AJPW for Mitsuharu Misawa's new Pro Wrestling Noah promotion in August 2000, while Kawada decided to stay.

Pro Wrestling Noah (2000-present)

In Noah Taue continued tag team wrestling, teaming mostly with Takuma Sano. On November 5, 2005, Taue was able to defeat Takeshi Rikio with his Ore ga Taue finisher to capture the GHC Heavyweight Championship, which he held into the new year before losing it to Jun Akiyama on January 22, 2006.

On June 27, 2009, following the June 13 death of Mitsuharu Misawa, Akira Taue was appointed as the new president of Pro Wrestling Noah.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Multiple chokeslam variations
    • Chichibu Cement (Vertical suplex) – innovated
    • Ore ga Taue (Belly to back) – innovated
    • Standing, sometimes from the top rope or of the apron
  • Tsukuba Makiwari (Choke suplex)

• Signature moves
  • Dynamic Bomb (Sitout powerbomb)
  • Dynamic Kick (Running big boot)
  • Dynamic Suplex (Trapping suplex)
  • German suplex
  • Backdrop suplex
  • Enzuigiri
  • Implant DDT

Championships and accomplishments

• All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shinichi Nakano
  • AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with Jumbo Tsuruta (1) and Toshiaki Kawada (6)
  • Champion's Carnival (1996)
  • World's Strongest Tag Team League (1996, 1997) – with Toshiaki Kawada
• Pro Wrestling Noah
  • GHC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • 5 Star Match (1990) with Jumbo Tsuruta and Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi on October 19
  • 5 Star Match (1991) with Jumbo Tsuruta and Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi on April 20
  • 5 Star Match (1992) with Jumbo Tsuruta and Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi on May 22
  • 5 Star Match (1993) with Toshiaki Kawada and Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama on July 2
  • 5 Star Match (1993) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi on December 3
  • 5 Star Match (1994) with Toshiaki Kawada and Masanobu Fuchi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Giant Baba on February 13
  • 5 Star Match (1994) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi on May 21
  • 5 Star Match (1995) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi on January 24
  • 5 Star Match (1995) vs. Mitsuharu Misawa on April 15
  • 5 Star Match (1995) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi on June 9
  • 5 Star Match (1995) with Tamon Honda and Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Satoru Asako on June 30
  • 5 Star Match (1996) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama on May 23
  • 5 Star Match (1996) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama on December 6
  • 5 Star Match (1997) with Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama on December 5

References

• Profile at Online World of Wrestling
• Profile at Green Destiny