Should Taka Michinoku be in the Hall of Fame?
Definitely put him in! - 77.2%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 17.5%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 1.8%
No way! - 3.5%
120. Taka Michinoku
WCW was way ahead of the curve in terms of developing a cruiserweight division, and the WWE was far behind. In 1997, they tried to rectify that, and TAKA Michinoku became the centerpiece of that movement.
Michinoku wrestled in his native Japan, making a mark for himself in FMW and Michinoku Pro, and it gave him the springboard to go to North America, first for ECW, and then for the WWF, where he was the dance partner of the Great Sasuke. Michinoku jobbed for Sasuke twice, but the masked wrestler never came back to the WWF, and TAKA was signed and a division was built around him. He won the tournament to win the Light Heavyweight Title, and held it for a year before he settling into to an enhancement team with Sho Funaki.
Michinoku returned to Japan, and formed his own promotion, Kaientai Dojo, which would help train wrestlers to reach larger ones. Taka was still a top light heavyweight for years, and his legacy in Japan is very strong.
.The Bullet Points
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Other Aliases:
Takao Yoshida (Real Name)
Pepe Michinoku
Piza Michinoku
TAKA - Billed From: Morioka, Japan
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Key Championships Held:
FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight (2)
WWF World Light Heavyweight
All-Japan World Junior Heavyweight
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team w/Dick Togo
GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team w/El Desperado
All-Japan All-Asia Tag Team w/Black Tiger
UWA World Middleweight - Why they will get in: Michinoku was arguably the first designated lighter weight star in their 90s boom period. That should mean something.
- Why they won't get in: Michinoku’s reputation in Japan is great, but his North American work is not as remembered as much as it should be.
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Five Greatest Matches/Moments:
1. Won his first title at Kawasaki Stadium by defeating Kouji Nakagawa for the FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Title 5/5/96
2. Lost to the Great Sasuke at Canadian Stampede, but earned himself a WWE contract shortly after 7/6/97.
3. Defeated Brian Christopher in a Tournament Final to win the reintroduced WWF Light Heavyweight Title 12/7/97.
4. Beat Kaz Hayashi for the All-Japan Junior Heavyweight Championship 1/10/05.
5. Along with Dick Togo, won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles by beating Gedo and Jado 5/2/07.
Should Taka Michinoku be in the Hall of Fame?
Definitely put him in! - 77.2%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 17.5%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 1.8%
No way! - 3.5%
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