00:04Taka Michinoku is a Japanese professional wrestler, trainer and former mixed martial artist.
00:10He primarily appears for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
00:13He was a member of Suzuki Gun from 2011 until its disbandment in 2022.
00:19He was then a member of Just 5 Guys from 2023 until its disbandment in 2025.
00:25He established the promotion JTO in 2019.
00:29Michinoku became known in North America for his work for the WWF, now WWE, where he was the inaugural WWF
00:37Light Heavyweight Champion.
00:39Yoshida was trained by the Great Sasuke and Grand Hamada.
00:43He adopted the ring name Taka Michinoku out of respect for the Great Sasuke,
00:48who was the owner of Michinoku Pro Wrestling and had also used Michinoku as part of his ring name.
00:53Michinoku made his ECW and American debut on February 14, 1997,
01:00in a match where he teamed with Dick Togo and Terry Boy to defeat Grand Hamada, Grand Naniwa and the
01:06Great Sasuke.
01:07This 3-on-3 feud lasted until ECW barely legal 1997.
01:13Grand Hamada, Masato Yakushiji and the Great Sasuke would defeat the trio.
01:18This was also Michinoku's first pay-per-view appearance.
01:21After this, Michinoku left the company to join the World Wrestling Federation.
01:26In 1999, Michinoku would return at ECW Cyberslam 1999, defeating Papi Chula.
01:34He also wrestled Super Crazy at Hardcore Heaven 1999.
01:38Other matches include two tag matches teaming with Yoshihiro Tajiri, a Hardcore Heaven rematch with Super Crazy ending in another
01:46victory for Super Crazy.
01:48A loss against Jerry Lin and his last two matches for ECW were in the form of two wins against
01:54Moscow de la Merced.
01:56At the beginning of 2007, Michinoku would team up sporadically at New Japan events with Kayentai Dojo wrestler Dick Togo.
02:04On April 12, 2019, Michinoku announced that he would be creating a new promotion called Professional Wrestling Just Tap Out,
02:13JTO.
02:14It held its first show at Korakuden Hall on July 8, 2019, where Michinoku was defeated by Minoru Suzuki.
02:22Today, he is now called an ECW Hall of Famer.
