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Takuya Sugi
Takuya Sugi
Takuya Sugi
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Takuya Sugi (杉卓也, Sugi Takuya; born October 6, 1983)[1] is a Japanese professional wrestler. He currently works in Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1) as Sugi (stylized in all capital letters), but he has used many aliases, most commonly Yoshitsune and Sugi, through his career in many Japanese promotions. He is mainly known for his high-flying abilities.

Key Information

Early life

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He was born on October 6, 1983, the son of businesswoman Hiroko Sugi.[2] He became interested in professional wrestling by influence of his older brother, becoming a fan of New Japan Pro Wrestling stars Antonio Inoki and Riki Choshu, as well as Keiji Muto, Masahiro Chono and Shinya Hashimoto. He trained in the same judo dojo as Shingo Suzuki, who later also became a professional wrestler under the ring name Raicho. When he finally became a wrestler, Sugi desired to wrestle in a power-based wrestling style, but his small frame and talent for acrobatics forced him to become a high-flying wrestler.[3]

Career

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Toryumon (2002–2004)

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Immediately after graduating in the 11th Toryumon school class term, Sugi debuted in 2003 in Toryumon Mexico, moving to the Toryumon X brand shortly after. He went under the gimmick of Mini Cima (ミニCIMA, Mini Cima), a lighter version of the popular Toryumon wrestler Cima, who was a part of the Mini Crazy Max stable along with Suwacito and Small Dandy Fuji. Aligning themselves as tweeners, they got into a feud with babyface faction Sailor Boys (Taiji Ishimori, Kei Sato and Shu Sato), having several matches against them, sometimes accompanied by senior members of the actual Crazy Max.

In December 2003, Mini Cima and his team competed in the Young Dragons Cup 2003 scramble match, but none of them grabbed the prize, being Takeshi Minamino the eventual tournament winner. They would be more successful at the Yamaha Cup 2004 tag team tournament, with Mini Cima and Suwacito defeating Manabu Murakami and Naoki Tanizaki in the first round and the Sailor Boys in the second to crown themselves as winners. On September 9, 2003 the group competed in an elimination match for the UWA World Welterweight Championship, eliminating the team of Los Carros Exóticos (Gallardo, Lambo Miura and Murcielago) before falling short to Los Salseros Japoneses (Minamino, Pineapple Hanai and Mango Fukuda). This was the Toryumon X final event, with the promotion folding shortly after. Mini Crazy Max had its last reunion in the special event Dragon Fire The Final Challenge on October 14, where they competed in another special challenge match.

Hustle (2004–2006)

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In September 2004, although still based on Toryumon, Sugi and his partners started wrestling for the Hustle promotion. They appeared as the Hustle Kamen Rangers, a Power Rangers-inspired super sentai stable that worked as a special division of the Hustle Army led by top babyface Naoya Ogawa. Sugi himself played Hustle Kamen Red (ハッスル仮面レッド, Hassuru Kamen Reddo) (a role formerly played by Masaki Okimoto), and teamed up with Hustle Kamen Blue and Hustle Kamen Yellow as a power trio. They competed in the undercard of events against villainous characters from the heel Takada Monster Army commanded by Generalissimo Takada; their usual opponents were Devil Pierroth I and Devil Pierroth II, whom they defeated in many occasions.

In the event Hustle House Vol.10, held on October 27, 2005, Hustle Kamen Rangers were defeated by Demon Spider Blue, Demon Spider Yellow and Riser Glen, being the latter a character come from the TV tokusatsu series Phantom Star God Justirisers, only brainwashed to serve the Monster Army. In order to counter him, Hustle Kamen Rangers introduced another character from said series, Liosazer, who helped them to defeat the heel stable at the Hustlemania 2005 event and turn Riser again to good. The rangers would still competing for Hustle, being later opposed by an itako wrestler named Kyou Itako.

On February 10, 2006, the Monster Army introduced a cadre of evil clones of the Hustle Kamen Rangers, called the Monster Kamen Rangers. They consistently defeated Sugi and his team, forcing them to introduce a new member, Hustle Kamen Orange, in order to get the first win against the villains. The win was short-lived, however, as the Monster Kamen Rangers defeated them again, and this time they kidnapped Hustle Kamen Yellow in order to brainwash him. Now with Yellow as an enemy, Red and new member Hustle Kamen Green attempted to reason with him, but they were beaten when Yellow pinned Red. The storyline continued until Hustlemania 2006, where they finally managed to bring Yellow back and defeat the Monster Kamen Rangers for good. The team then announced they would travel to the stars in order to defend the peace and justice beyond Hustle, ceasing their appearances on the promotion.

Michinoku Pro Wrestling (2004–2009)

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Sugi started wrestling for Michinoku Pro Wrestling (Michinoku Pro) in October 2004. He debuted during the Futaritabi Tag Team Tournament 2004 under the gimmick of Michinoku Ranger Gold (MICHINOKU レンジャー金, Michinoku Renjā Kin), a super sentai character similar to the one he played in Hustle. Teaming up with Michinoku Ranger Silver, Sugi got important victories over Jinsei Shinzaki and Shinjitsu Nohashi and Los Salseros Japoneses, but they did not win the league. They kept their gimmicks until December, when Sugi adopted the gimmick of Shanao (遮那王, Shanao), a masked Kurama-dera Buddhist monk inspired on the historical Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who went as "Shanao" in his youth in honor to Vairocana. Shanao would come to the ring carrying a katana and saying prayers, and drew popularity among the audience for his high-risk, aerial style of wrestling.

SUGI in 2019.

In 2005, Shanao joined forces with the Sailor Boys (now composed solely by Kei and Shu Sato) to participate in the Michinoku Trios League, being unsuccessful. The final night of the tournament, from which they had been eliminated by points, Shanao teamed up with his master, The Tiger II, to defeat Kagetora and Shinjitsu Nohashi. The alliance with the Sailor Boys lasted until mid-year, when Shanao formed a tag team with Rasse. He also had a brief tenure in the Tetsujin Tournament, but he was forced to forfeit most of his matches due to an injury. Shanao returned on September 10 in a losing effort to Takeshi Minamino, but he got his revenge the same night, defeating Minamino and Los Salseros Japoneses along with Kagetora, Gaina and Hayato Fujita.

Kagetora and he eventually kept their alliance and participated in the Futaritabi Tag Team Tournament 2005, which they won after beating Los Salseros Japoneses again, but Kagetora suddenly turned heel and attacked Shanao, going to form the villainous stable Stoned. Now back with Rasse, Shanao and his partner had a shot for the Tohoku Tag Team Championship held by The Great Sasuke and Dick Togo, but despite their effort, they were beaten. Days after, Shanao announced he was going to perform a genpuku ceremony in order to advance in his career, which was officiated by Jinsei Shinzaki. Shanao then changed his name to Yoshitsune (義経, Yoshitsune), openly showing his character, and changed his outfit to a samurai-like attire in purple, red and golden, product of a coproduction between M-Pro and FromSoftware to promote their videogame Yoshitsune Eiyuden Shura.[4] Yoshitsune had his first match teaming up with Shinzaki, who came out dressed as Saitō Musashibō Benkei, defeating Rasse and Garuda with his new Shura finishing maneuver.

The next year, Yoshitsune's fame granted him a title match for the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taka Michinoku, falling short in his challenge. Nonetheless, Yoshitsune allied with The Great Sasuke and the now babyface Los Salseros Japoneses to wage war against Stoned, exchanging wins with them. He performed a new title pursuit by taking part in a tournament for the Tohoku Tag Team Championship with Rei as his partner, losing to Makoto Oishi and Shiori Asahi; Yoshitsune took part in the 2006 edition of the Tetsujin Tournament, but he had to relinquish it again due to an injury. Upon his recovering, Yoshitsune recruited Rasse to compete in the Futaritabi Tag Team Tournament 2006, but success seemed to be away from him that year, as they were eliminated at the finals by Kei and Shu Sato.

In 2007, Yoshitsune qualified for the Fukumen World League by defeating Ken45º and Shinjitsu Nohashi in respective matches. During the tournament, he eliminated Shibaten first and legendary New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) member Jyushin Thunder Liger second, but he eventually fell to Mexican representative Atlantis thanks to an intervention by Atlantis's cornerman Olímpico. Ended the league, Yoshitsune returned to his alliance with the home army and joined The Great Sasuke for the Futaritabi Tag Team League; although Sasuke and him eliminated the team of Rasse and Kagetora, an injury to Sasuke forced them to exit the tournament and allow their opponents to advance round. Stardom finally came to Yoshitsune on November, however, when he defeated Osaka Pro Wrestling representative Gaina in a match for the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship. Yoshitsune then would open 2008 becoming a double champion, when Sasuke returned from his injury and joined him to defeat Rasse and Kagetora for the title.

Sugi retained his titles for most of 2008, beating challengers like Rasse, Takeshi Minamino, Shinji Nohashi and Tigers Mask, as well as the team of Mens Teioh and Shinobu. However, he would get in a new feud when Hayato Fujita turned heel and formed the faction Kowloon with the remnants of Stoned. After months of warfare, Hayato challenged Sugi to a match for the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight title, and he won the bout and the championship in an upset. Only months after, Sasuke and Yoshitsune faced Kei and Shu Sato from Kowloon in a match to unify their tag team titles with the UWA World Tag Team Championship, but they were defeated and lost the belts. Concluded his reigns, Yoshitsune announced his departure from Michinoku Pro and had his last match in March 2009.

Dragondoor and El Dorado Wrestling (2005–2007)

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Along with most of his Toryumon class, Sugi joined the Dragondoor promotion in July 2005. He was introduced in a vignette by top babyface Taiji Ishimori, who described him as a close ally carrying the genes of Último Dragón. As such, Sugi appeared as Little Dragon (リトル・ドラゴン, Ritoru Doragon), a character wearing a mask and suit patterned after Dragón, very much like the wrestler Dragon Kid from rival promotion Dragon Gate. In his first match, Little Dragon teamed up with Ishimori and the rest of his allies, Kota Ibushi and Milanito Collection a.t., in a losing effort against the popular stable Aagan Iisou (Shuji Kondo, Yasshi and Takuya Sugawara). His next and last high level match in the short-lived promotion would be at the final event, fighting with Ishimori against Stoned (Kei Sato and Shu Sato), being defeated after an intervention by Kagetora and Maguro Ooma. Dragondoor folded down shortly after.

When the promotion was reopened as El Dorado Wrestling in April 2006, Sugi returned with the rest of wrestlers. This time he took the gimmick of El Blazer (エルブレイザー, Eru Bureizā), a mysterious, bizarre phoenix-like character in a gold and blue armored outfit. Blazer formed a tag team with Milanito Collection a.t. and took part in the very first match of the promotion, getting a victory over Kei and Shu Sato. They also avenged their defeats to Aagan Iisou by beating them with Kota Ibushi's aid, and also took another victory over Stoned in a Global Professional Wrestling Alliance (GPWA) event along with Jumping Kid Okimoto. In December 2006, the trio split up to compete in the Treasure Hunters Tag Tournament 2006, as Ibushi teamed up with Milano Collection A.T. while Blazer stayed in Milanito's side; Sugi and his ally were defeated, and Milano and Kota advanced round before being eliminated by Dick Togo and Shuji Kondo at the finals. Milanito and Blazer, however, won the reserve bout of the tournament, defeating the Sato brothers through an intervention of a now unaligned Kagetora. In Sugi's last match in the promotion, he teamed up with Milano and Milanito to defeat a Stoned cell aided by Harashima. Blazer then announced he was going freelance, and put an official end to his team with Milanito, leaving El Dorado.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2006–2008)

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On August 20, 2006, Sugi made his first apparition in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) playing the character of Ahii, the result of a cooperation between Sanrio and AJPW. He was introduced by Keiji Mutoh, and revealed himself as a strange character wearing an orange and black full body suit that represented the Mexican Habanero chili pepper. He made his first in-ring work the same night, entering after the main event to save Mutoh, Masanobu Fuchi and Kaz Hayashi from an attack by the Voodoo Murders, and his official debut one day later, defeating VM member Voodoo Mask. Ahii remained as an ally to Mutoh and his babyface wrestlers against Voodoo Murders until November, when he got his own opponents in the form of Mastodon and Tow Van John, two personal enemies of his. Their enmity would be resolved on February 17, 2007, when Ahii defeated them both in a handicap match with the aid of his storyline brother, a green version of Ahii (played by Masaki Okimoto).

Sugi returned to AJPW on February 15, 2008 for a special event copromoted with Playboy. He played the one night gimmick of Rabbit Boy (ラビット・ボーイ, Rabitto Bōi), a character wearing a rabbit mask and a black playboy jacket. In his only apparition, Rabbit Boy defeated Giant Jet.

On December 23, Sugi made his last apparition for AJPW for another one night character, this time as part of AJPW's usual copromotions with A Bathing Ape. Sugi portrayed Super Milo, a monkey superhero wearing in green and yellow, and teamed up with Teriyaki Boy to defeat Ebessan III and Kuishinbo Kamen in a comedy match.

Independent circuit (2006–2009)

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SUGI along with Mr. Cacao (center) and El Hornet (right) in 2019.

He also appeared as Yoshitsune in some shows of Big Mouth LOUD and several others Japanese independent promotions, including the New Japan Pro-Wrestling LOCK UP sub-brand.

Sugi continued using the El Blazer gimmick as his main freelancing character. El Blazer then turned to a comedic character prone to mysteriously faint at his entrance, and had an appearance in Dramatic Dream Team (DDT)'s brand Cruiser's Game wrestling against Mikami after (kayfabe) having been smoking marijuana.

Soon after becoming a freelancer, Sugi continued appearing randomly in several Japanese promotions as El Blazer, including IGF.

Starting from June 3, 2007, Sugi appeared in Kensuke Office as Namazu Man (なまずマン, "Catfish Man"), but shortly after, Namazu Man started to be played by other wrestlers.

Another gimmick he used in 2007 is UWAI # 32, a robot character only used in UWAI Station.

On December 29, 2008, Sugi appeared in an Akiba Pro Wrestling event as El Fuerte (エル・フォルテ), a character inspired from the Street Fighter video game saga.[5]

Pro Wrestling Zero1 (2007–2009)

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Sugi started wrestling for Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max (Zero1-Max) in May 2007 under his El Blazer character. After an unsuccessful battle royal match for the AWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, which was won by Dick Togo, Blazer aligned himself under Masato Tanaka's Sword Army, getting in battles against Takao Omori's Axe Army. He got a shot at the ZERO1-MAX International Junior Heavyweight Championship held by Dragon Gate wrestler Masaaki Mochizuki, but he was unsuccessful. Mochizuki offered him to team up and invited him to his promotion.

For most of his tenure in the company, however, Sugi ditched his Blazer identity and played a new character, The☆ZEST, sponsored by the homonymous Japanese pachinko company. The gimmick had been played before by wrestler Kamikaze, and would be later played by him again. On July 24, Zest won the WWA Junior Lightweight Championship by beating Osamu Namiguchi, and retained it until April 6, when Sugi relinquished both the character and the title in order to adopt yet a new gimmick, Noiz, sponsored by rock band UchuSentai:Noiz. Now as Noiz, Sugi defeated Kamikaze as Zest and won again the championship. NOIZ also inherited Blazer's loyalty to Masato Tanaka, wrestling for him occasionally, and retained the title before Osamu Namiguchi before vacating him upon his departure from Zero1.

Dragon Gate (2008)

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Blazer originally debuted in Dragon Gate in March 2008 as a Zero1 representative, but he was in storyline recognized by Kenichiro Arai as a Toryumon graduate. Blazer's first match was a special tag team with fellow high-flyer Pac against Tozawa-juku (Arai and Taku Iwasa), which he lost, but he also aided New Hazard (BxB Hulk and Shinobu) in the Mochizuki Buyuden events and Typhoon (Anthony W. Mori and Cima) against the Muscle Outlaw'z. In April, Blazer took part in a tournament for the Open the Brave Gate Championship, eliminating Genki Horiguchi but being eliminated himself by Gamma following outside interference. After his unsuccessful feud with Muscle Outlaw'z, Blazer concluded his tenure in Dragon Gate forming an alliance with fellow outsiders Takeshi Minamino and Shinjitsu Nohashi, defeating Hayato Fujita, Munenori Sawa and Yuta Yoshikawa in Mochizuki Buyuden and WORLD-1 (mcKZ & Naoki Tanizaki) & Super Shenlong in Dragon Gate NEX.

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2008)

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Sugi made his American debut (as El Blazer) for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) on May 17, 2008. Replacing Kota Ibushi, he teamed with Kagetora on PWG's second annual DDT4 tournament, defeating Scott Lost and Joey Ryan in the first round, but losing to the PWG World Tag Team Champions Kevin Steen and El Generico in a title match in the next.

Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (2009–2012)

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Sugi in 2011

Sugi signed up with Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA) in 2009 and made his return to México, now under a modified, black and red version of his Yoshitsune outfit and the name of Sugi San (his last name followed by the Japanese honorific -san). He was introduced by Kenzo Suzuki as a part of his rudo stable La Yakuza, thus clearly turning heel for the first time in Sugi's his career. The faction, which also included El Oriental, amassed a number of tag team wins until a match in Verano de Escándalo where they fell to The Psycho Circus. On August 30, Sugi competed individually in a Steel Cage Match where the last wrestler would be fired; Sugi escaped safely, but he injured his knee upon doing a theatrical backflip from the cage to the floor.

Sugi in an AAA event.

A month later, with La Yakuza dissolved and now unaligned, Sugi competed in a Five Way Ladder Match for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship along with Extreme Tiger, Jack Evans, Rocky Romero and Teddy Hart, but he would be (kayfabe) injured by a piledriver by Hart and had to be stretchered out while Tiger won the title. After his return from the injury, Sugi took part in the Torneo Alas de Oro 2009, leaving in second place along with Billy Boy. On October 9, Suzuki gathered La Yakuza again with Go Shiozaki replacing El Oriental to face Los Wagner Maniacos (Dr. Wagner Jr., Electroshock & Último Gladiador), but they were defeated. Afterwards, Sugi announced his return to Japan, leaving AAA.

After a year of hiatus, Sugi would compete in Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) as an AAA representative, now under the name of Sugi (in all caps), getting in a feud with Ronin and Taiji Ishimori. He returned to México along with Ronin, having some touring matches against him, and finally coming back to TV as an unofficial member of Aero Star's stable Real Fuerza Aerea. On June 28, Sugi and Ronin were sent to Paris, France in order to represent puroresu in the Japan Expo 12th Impact, returning to México on July 5.

On July 9, 2012, Sugi held a press conference to announce his involvement in a conspiracy that had gotten Kazushige Nosawa and Io Shirai arrested for marijuana possession and smuggling.[6]

Return to Michinoku Pro Wrestling (2016)

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Following the drug smuggling scandal, Sugi remained inactive for more than four years, with the exception of a single match held on November 18, 2015, when he faced Takeshi Minamino in an event held at Shinjuku Face to celebrate the 10th anniversary since his debut. After this long hiatus, Sugi returned to the ring for a charity event held on August 28, 2016, in support of the population hit by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.[7] Shortly thereafter, on September 16, he competed in a Michinoku Pro event for the first time in seven years, entering the 2016 Fukumen World League.[8] He defeated Leprechaun and Eisa8, but was eliminated by Carístico at the semi-finals.

Return to Zero1 (2017–2021)

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After a few appearances in Pro Wrestling Land's End (Land's End) in 2017, Sugi returned to Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1) in August. He challenged unsuccessfully Kotaro Suzuki for the International Junior Heavyweight and NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championships, after which he declared he would challenge Ikuto Hidaka and Takuya Sugawara for the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship with an unknown partner, who would be revealed to be Psycho. Sugi and him defeated Hidaka and Sugawara in a non-title match, but failed at taking the titles. Sugi replaced Psycho by Sean Guinness for the Furinkazan Tag Tournament 2017, only to be eliminated in the first round by Hidaka and Sugawara again. He spent the next weeks teaming with several wrestlers against his old enemy faction Voodoo Murders, until he announced Masamune as his next tag team partner in his quest for the tag titles. On January 1, 2018, Sugi officially joined Zero1,[9] and the same day, he and Masamune won the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship from Sugawara and Hidaka.[9]

SUGI at the Fukumen Mania 2019.

Their reign ended in June, when Sugi and Masamune lost the titles to the new team of Ikuto Hidaka and Fuminori Abe. The same month, Sugi joined Kohei Sato and challenged Masato Tanaka and Yuji Hino for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship, but they were defeated. He followed with a significantly successful tenure in the Fire Festival 2018, scoring wins over Hino, Shinjiro Otani and Hiroshi Yamato, though victory escaped his grasp again. In November, Sugi would prove better in the short Tenka-Ichi Junior Tournament 2018 for the vacated International Junior Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, winning the tournament and the titles after beating Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Asuka and Hayata. Now as a champion, he resumed his team Kohei Sato to compete in the Furinkazan Tag Tournament 2018, where they also won by defeating Chris Vice and Shogun Okamoto at the finals.

Sugi invested early 2019 in further championship pursuings. He retained his singles titles against Ikuto Hidaka, Shoki Kitamura and Tatsuhito Takaiwa. However, tag team titles remained away from him, with two failed challenges for the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championships and NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championships teaming up with Hagane Shinnou and usual partner Sato respectively. In July, he participated in the Fire Festival 2019, where he gained victories over Yuya Aoki, Asuka and Super Tiger II, but he was unable to win the tournament after a double countout with Yuji Hino. He looked to improve his odds in the Tenka-Ichi Junior Tournament 2019, reaching the finals over Raicho and Sean Guiness, but being shockingly eliminated by Hub. This streak continued in the Furinkazan Tag Tournament 2019, where Sugi and Dragon Gate representative Kenichiro Arai were defeated by Shuji Kondo and Takuya Sugawara in a match of former Toryumon wrestlers.

In January 2020, Sugi lost his championships to Hub and was eliminated from the Tenka-Ichi 2020 by Raicho, but he bounced back by allying with the latter and defeating the former and Billy Ken Kid for the promotion's tag team titles. Beginning 2021, Sugi ended his exclusive participation with Zero1 and became a freelancer again.[10]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Takuya Sugi

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Takuya Sugi (杉 拓也, Sugi Takuya, born October 6, 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler renowned for his high-flying style and prolific use of diverse ring names and gimmicks across multiple promotions in and . Standing at 5'4" (165 cm) and weighing 150 lbs (68 kg), he debuted on May 11, 2003, as a graduate of the Toryumon wrestling school, quickly establishing himself with acrobatic maneuvers such as the Shooting Star Press and Asai . Currently freelancing on the independent circuit, Sugi has competed under personas including Yoshitsune, El Blazer, SUGI, and Man, embodying characters ranging from masked luchadores to comedic figures. Throughout his over two-decade career, Sugi has wrestled in prominent Japanese organizations such as , Hustle, , , and , as well as Mexican promotion AAA. His achievements include holding the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship from November 9, 2007, to December 12, 2008, after defeating GAINA; the Tohoku Tag Team Championship with from January 14, 2008, to January 18, 2009; and the WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship twice in 2007–2008. These titles highlight his success in junior heavyweight divisions, where his agility and versatility have been key assets. Sugi's career has also been marked by controversy, notably in 2012 when he confessed to planting 75 grams of marijuana in the luggage of fellow wrestlers and Kazushige Nosawa at , leading to their temporary on charges at the request of a promoter with a personal grudge against Nosawa. The charges were dropped following Sugi's public admission on July 9, 2012, but the incident resulted in his blacklisting from major Japanese promotions for several years, significantly impacting his trajectory before his return to the indie scene.

Early life and training

Sugi was born on October 6, 1983, in Shizuoka, , the son of businesswoman Sugi. He became interested in through the influence of his older brother and was a fan of stars including , , , , and . Sugi trained in under Shingo Suzuki (later known as Raicho). Although he aspired to a power-based wrestling style, his small stature and natural acrobatic talent led him to develop a high-flying approach.

Professional wrestling career

Debut in Toryumon (2003–2004)

Sugi began his professional wrestling training in 2002 at the under the guidance of , with additional instruction from veteran trainer Jorge "Skayde" Rivera. This rigorous program, part of the eleventh graduating class of the Ultimo Dragon Gym, emphasized aerial maneuvers and technical fundamentals, preparing young wrestlers for the demands of the ring. He made his professional debut on May 11, 2003, in Toryumon Mexico, portraying the masked luchador character —a playful of the prominent Dragon Gate star CIMA—and facing off against Bushi in his initial match. This debut marked the beginning of Sugi's exploration of a masked persona within the promotion's cruiserweight and divisions, where he quickly adapted to the fast-paced, acrobatic environment of Toryumon X, the Japanese branch focused on emerging talent. Early outings showcased his agility through dives and high-impact spots, establishing him as a promising high-flyer in the dojo's roster. In 2004, Sugi continued building momentum in Toryumon X with notable tag team success, partnering with SUWAcito as part of the Mini Crazy MAX stable to win the Yamaha Cup tournament. The victory in the junior heavyweight tag division highlighted their synchronized aerial assaults and teamwork, culminating in a final match triumph over the Sailor Boys (Kei Sato and Shu Sato) on February 22, 2004. Around this time, Sugi transitioned from his Mini CIMA gimmick, adopting the ring name Yoshitsune and moving into the regular-sized junior heavyweight division, allowing him to expand his in-ring repertoire beyond miniature constraints while retaining his emphasis on innovative high-flying sequences.

Hustle and Michinoku Pro Wrestling (2004–2009)

In 2004, Takuya Sugi joined the Hustle promotion, debuting as Hustle Kamen Ranger Red, the leader of the heroic Kamen Ranger faction central to the company's soap opera-style narratives blending comedy and wrestling. As part of this ensemble, Sugi's character emphasized justice-themed antics, teaming with other Rangers like and in tag matches against villainous groups such as the duo, defeating them in events like Vol. 2 on September 2 and Hustle PPV 5 on September 20. The Kamen Rangers' storyline escalated into a prolonged feud with the antagonistic Monster Kamen Rangers, featuring high-energy multi-man tags that highlighted Sugi's athleticism within Hustle's entertainment format. This rivalry peaked at Hustlemania 2006 on November 23, where Sugi, as Hustle Kamen Red, teamed with Hustle Kamen Blue and Green to defeat Monster Kamen Black, White, and Yellow in a six-man tag team match, resolving the arc and concluding his primary run in the gimmick. Concurrently, Sugi debuted in in October 2004 under the ring name Shanao, aligning with the promotion's Tohoku regional emphasis on junior heavyweight technical and high-flying action. In late 2005, following a traditional genpuku to mark his maturation, Shanao reemerged as Yoshitsune, adopting a samurai-inspired gimmick that incorporated historical references to the legendary warrior , complete with thematic attire and moveset evoking discipline. As Yoshitsune, Sugi engaged in major storylines centered on rivalries with local junior like KAGETORA and GAINA, often in tournaments such as the 2005 Michinoku Pro Tag League (where he and KAGETORA emerged victorious as Shanao) and the 2007 Fukumen World League qualifiers, which showcased Tohoku-style intensity through fast-paced exchanges and regional pride narratives. His push culminated in defeating GAINA for the Tohoku Junior on November 9, 2007, holding the title for 399 days until losing it to Ken45° on December 12, 2008, establishing him as a key figure in the division. Additionally, on January 14, 2008, Yoshitsune partnered with to win the Tohoku from KAGETORA and Rasse at the New Year Fight in event, retaining it for 370 days until dropping it to Jinsei Shinzaki and Sasuke on January 18, 2009. Sugi's overlapping commitments between Hustle's comedic, character-driven spectacles and Michinoku Pro's serious, technique-focused bouts from 2004 to 2006 demonstrated his versatility, allowing him to balance entertainment flair with authentic junior wrestling prowess even as his Hustle Kamen role concluded.

Expansions to multiple promotions (2005–2009)

In 2005, Takuya Sugi entered the Dragondoor promotion as part of the Toryumon class transition, competing as a junior freelancer and facing cruiserweight talents in matches that showcased his high-flying abilities. He continued this trajectory into El Dorado Wrestling in 2006, adopting the El Blazer gimmick—a phoenix-inspired character in gold and blue armor—and wrestling full-time for the promotion for approximately one year, including bouts against opponents like the Sato Brothers. These appearances helped establish Sugi as a versatile performer capable of adapting to fantasy-themed storylines while maintaining his technical base. Sugi's brief stint in All Japan Pro Wrestling from 2006 to 2008 involved comedic and gaijin-influenced characters, beginning with his debut as AHII—a Curry Man —on August 20, 2006, where he incorporated humorous elements into the promotion's stronger style. This run lasted about six months under the AHII persona, followed by one-off appearances in 2008 as Rabbit Boy and Super Milo, allowing him to experiment with international flair amid All Japan's emphasis on physicality. Throughout 2006 to 2009, Sugi built his reputation on Japan's independent circuit through sporadic bookings in promotions like Inoki Genome Federation, participating in one-off shows and tournaments that highlighted his speed and adaptability as a freelancer. These outings, often under the El Blazer gimmick, served as testing grounds following his junior heavyweight achievements in Michinoku Pro Wrestling. Sugi debuted in Pro Wrestling Zero1 on July 16, 2007, as The★ZEST, taking over the character from Kamikaze, and quickly ascended by defeating Osamu Namiguchi on July 24, 2007, to win the WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship. On April 6, 2008, he transitioned to the NOIZ gimmick and defeated the original ZEST (Kamikaze) to win the title for a second reign. He primarily worked opener matches that emphasized his role in Zero1's junior division. In 2008, Sugi undertook a short U.S. excursion to , debuting on May 17 as El Blazer and teaming with KAGETORA to replace the injured in the Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament. They advanced past the first round by defeating Joey Ryan and but fell in the semifinals to El Generico and Kevin Steen on May 18, exposing Sugi to PWG's intense indie style. That same year, Sugi made a single appearance in Dragon Gate as El Blazer, invited by and facing CIMA in a match that nodded to his Toryumon origins without leading to ongoing involvement. Juggling bookings across these promotions demanded flexibility, as Sugi managed multiple gimmicks simultaneously, which influenced his ring style to incorporate hardcore elements—such as the Miracle Rocket G5—particularly during his time as NOIZ in Zero1. This evolution marked his shift toward a more resilient, multi-faceted approach suited to diverse audiences.

Pro Wrestling Zero1 and international excursions (2007–2012)

In 2007, Takuya Sugi began an extended tenure with , debuting under the El Blazer persona on May 6 in a loss to and Black Emperor alongside Shota Takanishi at the Differ Fiesta event in . That same evening, competing as Takuya Sugawara, he secured a six-man victory over , Masao Orihara, and Macho Pump with partners Ikuto Hidaka and Minoru Fujita, showcasing his versatility across gimmicks early in his Zero1 run. By December 24, Sugawara teamed with Fujita in a defeat to and Tengu Kaiser at the Years*Cross Over event in Korakuen Hall, establishing regular participation in both tag and multi-man formats against established talent. Sugi's role in Zero1 deepened through 2008, with continued use of the El Blazer alias in high-profile singles and tag bouts, including a January 1 loss to Kohei Sato at the Genesis 2008 show in Korakuen Hall and a February 26 unsuccessful challenge for the International Junior Heavyweight Championship against champion Masaaki Mochizuki at Sword Forces in Shin-Kiba. As Sugawara, he formed a prominent tag team with Minoru Fujita, capturing and defending the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship; notable defenses of their NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship included a victory over Shinjiro Otani and Yuki Ishikawa on July 13, 2008, and Ikuto Hidaka and Munenori Sawa on July 20. Regular singles and tag encounters against veterans like Masato Tanaka emerged, such as an August 10 six-man tag loss to Tanaka, Hidaka, and Tatsuhito Takaiwa with partners Kintaro Kanemura and Fujita, highlighting his integration into Zero1's hard-hitting style. By 2009, Sugi's Zero1 commitments intensified amid a junior heavyweight push, participating in the Tenka-Ichi Jr. tournament with a second-round loss to Prince Devitt on November 29 in Korakuen Hall. He challenged for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team on May 24 with Osamu Namiguchi, falling to Ryouji Sai and an opponent in a title match at FACE. Frequent bouts against underscored key rivalries, including a tag loss to and Minoru, a March 29 street fight tag defeat to and at the Festival, and an April 24 tag victory over and Shito Ueda with Namiguchi. These matches, often emphasizing submissions like the Shiisanputa, balanced his growing Zero1 focus with fewer appearances in , where his involvement tapered off by year's end. Sugi's early international exposure began with a United States debut as El Blazer in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla's Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament on May 17, 2008, teaming with KAGETORA to defeat Joey Ryan and in the first round before a semifinal loss to El Generico and Kevin Steen the following day. He followed this with participation in PWG's tournament later that year on November 2, further building his profile on the American indie scene. Preparatory trips to in 2009 introduced him to environments ahead of deeper involvement, where he competed as Sugi San in initial outings that refined his high-flying and submission techniques for global audiences. Throughout this period, Sugi experimented with personas like AHII and Catfish Man (also known as Namazu Man) in select matches across promotions, allowing creative flexibility in tag and multi-man scenarios to enhance his adaptability. These experiences in Zero1 and abroad honed his aerial spots and , preparing him for broader international opportunities while maintaining a core presence in Japan's junior heavyweight division.

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide and scandal (2009–2012)

In 2009, Takuya Sugi relocated to Mexico and debuted in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) under the ring name SUGI San, where he adopted a rudo (heel) persona and joined the Japanese stable La Yakuza alongside Nosawa Rongai, Kenzo Suzuki, El Oriental, and Go Shiozaki. The group portrayed a yakuza-backed faction, emphasizing aggressive, rule-breaking tactics in matches. During his initial four-month stint, Sugi participated in several high-profile bouts, including a trios loss to Los Psycho Circus (Monster Clown, Murder Clown, and Psycho Clown) at Verano de Escándalo on August 21, 2009, and a successful tag team defense at Expo Lucha Libre on July 26, 2009, against Crazy Boy, Rocky Romero, and Ultimo Gladiador. He fully embraced lucha libre traditions, incorporating masks, colorful attire, and high-flying maneuvers like backflips and dives, while feuding with tecnicos such as Extreme Tiger and Electroshock in cruiserweight-style contests. Sugi suffered a severe leg injury in 2009 from a botched backflip off the ringpost, which sidelined him for over a year and limited his early momentum in AAA. Upon returning in 2011, he transitioned to a tecnico (face) role under the masked persona El Blazer, billed as the "Blue Legend," drawing from his earlier use of the character in Japanese promotions like a phoenix-inspired warrior in blue and gold gear. As El Blazer, he showcased aerial prowess in events such as Triplemanía XIX on June 18, 2011, where he teamed with Aero Star, Argos, and Fénix in an eight-man tag victory over Dark Dragon, Decnis, Tigre Cota, and Tito Santana. Additional appearances included a trios loss to Nicho el Millonario, Ronin, and Tigre Cota at Expo Lucha Libre on July 24, 2011, and a match at the Hayabusa tribute show in May 2012, highlighting his adaptability and growing popularity among lucha fans. Sugi's tenure in AAA abruptly ended amid a major scandal in 2012. On May 23, 2012, fellow wrestlers Io Shirai and Nosawa Rongai were arrested at Narita International Airport upon returning from Mexico's Lucha Expo, charged with smuggling approximately 75 grams of marijuana concealed within two paintings they had received as gifts. On July 9, 2012, Sugi held a press conference confessing that he had planted the drugs in the paintings out of jealousy toward Nosawa's success and influence in AAA, while also hoping to secure a contract extension promised by AAA executive Masahiro Hayashi, who reportedly disliked Nosawa. This admission, driven by overwhelming guilt, exonerated Shirai and Nosawa, who faced no charges, but it led to Sugi's immediate release from AAA and blacklisting by major promotions in both Mexico and Japan. The fallout severely impacted Sugi's career, resulting in a temporary exile from prominent circuits and a prolonged hiatus as he grappled with the professional and personal repercussions. Overcome by remorse for betraying colleagues and damaging the wrestling community's trust, Sugi experienced significant mental strain, contributing to his withdrawal from active competition for several years.

Hiatus and returns to Japan (2013–2016)

Following the 2012 drug smuggling scandal in which he confessed to planting marijuana in the luggage of fellow wrestlers Io Shirai and to sabotage their careers, Takuya Sugi faced severe repercussions, including a blacklist from major Japanese promotions that led to a prolonged period of inactivity from 2013 to 2015. During this time, Sugi engaged in personal reflection, having publicly apologized at a July 9, 2012, press conference where he took full responsibility for the act, motivated by remorse over the harm caused to the affected parties. This hiatus marked a challenging phase of rehabilitation, as the industry-wide required rebuilding trust among peers and promoters who had been wary of associating with him post-scandal. Sugi's limited activity during the early hiatus years included sporadic appearances in in 2013, where he competed as an AAA representative under the ring name SUGI, though these were isolated and did not lead to sustained bookings in . By 2014 and 2015, he remained largely absent from the ring, focusing on recovery from the professional fallout without ties to domestic promotions. In 2016, Sugi began his gradual reintegration into Japanese wrestling with a return to , the promotion where he had previously built his career as Yoshitsune, for their 6th Fukumen World League tournament in September. Competing as SUGI, he advanced through the masked wrestler bracket, defeating via pinfall in the first round on September 16 (6:06) and securing another victory on with a Swandive Firebird Splash (10:46), before falling to Caristico in the semifinals (10:23). These nostalgia-tinged matches at anniversary-style events demonstrated partial acceptance by former colleagues, highlighting a shift toward a more grounded, less gimmick-reliant style as he sought to reestablish credibility without the high-flying personas of his earlier years. The limited scope of these bookings underscored the ongoing challenges of regaining full industry trust, though they paved the way for future opportunities.

Freelance career and recent activity (2017–present)

In 2017, Takuya Sugi made a formal return to under the ring name SUGI, marking a renewed focus on his career in the promotion after previous hiatuses. His comeback included high-profile matches that showcased his technical and high-flying style, solidifying his role within Zero1's junior heavyweight division. Sugi's resurgence led to significant championship success in 2018. Partnering with Junya Matsunaga, he captured the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship on May 5, defeating the previous champions in a bout, holding the titles for 140 days before vacating them. Later that year, on November 24, Sugi won both the International Junior Heavyweight Championship and the by defeating HAYATA in the final of the Tenka-Ichi Junior Tournament, embarking on a dominant reign that lasted 403 days until January 1, 2020. During this period, Sugi defended the against international challengers, including notable bouts against wrestlers from promotions like and overseas talents, highlighting the belt's global recognition under NWA sanctioning. Following the end of his exclusive contract with Zero1, Sugi transitioned to freelance status in January 2021, enabling him to accept bookings across various Japanese independent promotions while maintaining ties to Zero1. This shift allowed greater flexibility, as evidenced by his participation in events from multiple organizations, including where he secured his first title there later that year. Sugi's freelance career has remained active through 2025, blending intergender and tag team matches with his signature aerial maneuvers. In 2024, he competed at SEAdLINNNG's Kawasaki Pro Wrestling Festival on September 23, teaming with Takuya Sugawara to defeat Hiroyo Matsumoto and another opponent in a high-speed tag match lasting 14 minutes. He also appeared at Michinoku Pro Wrestling's 31st Anniversary event on March 16, contributing to the celebration of the promotion's legacy where he once debuted. Advancing into 2025, Sugi teamed with Masamune to secure a victory over CHANGO and Kaji Tomato at Harumi Pro Wrestling on June 29, pinning his opponent after 10 minutes and 56 seconds in a fast-paced encounter. Throughout 2025, Sugi participated in Zero1's Tenka-Ichi Junior Tournament, continuing his tradition of competing in the promotion's premier junior heavyweight showcase. On October 4, 2025, at SEAdLINNNG's Kawasaki Pro Wrestling Matsuri, SUGI teamed with to defeat Kohei Sato and Van Vert Jack (12:53). As of November 2025, Sugi remains a sought-after , appearing at independent events such as Michinoku Pro's Generation series in December 2024 and January 2025, alongside ongoing collaborations with Zero1. His career trajectory emphasizes longevity, with over two decades of experience centered on innovative aerial techniques that have influenced junior heavyweight wrestling in .

Championships and accomplishments

Michinoku Pro Wrestling

  • Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • November 9, 2007 – December 12, 2008 (defeating GAINA)
  • Tohoku Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with
    • January 14, 2008 – January 18, 2009

Pro Wrestling Zero1

  • WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
    • First reign: July 24, 2007 – April 6, 2008
    • Second reign: Date unspecified, 2007–2008
  • NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with
    • January 1, 2018 – June 2018
  • International Junior Heavyweight Championship/ (1 time)
    • November 24, 2018 – January 1, 2020 (won via Tenka-Ichi Junior Tournament)

Tournaments

  • Tenka-Ichi Junior Tournament (2018) –
  • Toryumon X Yamaha Cup Tag Tournament (2003) – with Mototsugu Shimizu

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