Yusuke Takahashi

[Stanley Fishman]

Name: Yusuke Takahashi

Profile

Home Town: Osaka, Japan
Style:

CATCH WRESTLING

Age: 26
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 190 lbs
Occupation: (Formerly) Professional Wrestler
Manager/Coach: Pinklon Witherspoon
Training Partners: Brian Keck, Jim Mullen, Steve Jennum, Kazja Patschull, Koji Kitao, (Formerly) Masakatsu Mamushi

Combat Attire: Red spandex shorts and wrestling shoes

Default Strategy: Will usually shoot immediately and either hold his opponent down or finagle a submission hold. He has some flashy kicks if he’s forced to stand, but not much else.

Bio: Takahashi started his athletic career as an amateur wrestler while in high school. When it was time for him to enter the work force, he chose to wrestle professionally. The aspect of the business which he soon came to enjoy the most was the catch wrestling training; his zealousness was shared by Masakatsu Mamushi, a catch standout and future big time wrestler.

Takahashi never amounted to more than a low-carder during his wrestling days, partly because his pride made him reluctant to take the falls. He had a dream of starting a promotion that would only hold legitimate shoot matches, but he had neither the resources nor the recognition to undertake such a project by himself. Fortunately, Masakatsu Mamushi also shared his desire to start such an organization, and the two set out to found Universal Japanese Shoot Wrestling.

Takahashi developed the rules and the format of the show while Mamushi used his popularity to gain support for the organization. Everything was set to go when Takahashi realized that Mamushi was giving little or no credit to him in his press releases and seemed to be set on making himself the sole star. When Takahashi confronted Mamushi about this he was simply blown off, as Mamushi had monetary control over the event and had established himself as president. When Takahashi tried to take it a step further he was barred from competing entirely.

Takahashi was furious, not only with Mamushi but also at the prospect of having to do worked matches for the rest of his life. He was deadest on fighting only in shoot matches, even if that meant competing in the no-holds-barred scene in Brazil, Russia, and the U.S. So, with little money to his name and no knowledge of the English language, he set out for America. The only connection he had there was American wrestler Marton Vale, who referred Takahashi to an affiliate of his named Pinklon Witherspoon. Witherspoon, who ran a hole-in-the-wall gym in Huntington Beach, California, coached a small gang of aspiring NHB fighters who were always looking to expand their game. Takahashi quickly struck up a deal with Witherspoon: He would teach the fighters the intricacies of catch wrestling, while Witherspoon would in turn train him for competition and also give him a place to sleep.

His future is uncertain, but with talk of a farm league for Pancrase, Takahashi hopes to work himself through the ranks so he can one day face down with the man who originally drove him out.