Takashi Sugiura
Sugiura in 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 31, 1970 Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Santa Claus Takashi Sugiura |
| Billed height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Billed weight | 89 kg (196 lb) |
| Trained by | All Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo Yoshihiro Takayama Tamon Honda Akira Taue |
| Debut | December 23, 2000 |
Takashi Sugiura (杉浦 貴, Sugiura Takashi; born May 31, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former amateur freestyle wrestler. As of 2000, he is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah). He is a four-time, longest reigning and most successfully-defensive GHC Heavyweight Champion.
Sugiura, an accomplished amateur wrestler, joined Noah's dojo in 2000, making his professional debut on December 23, 2000, and thus becoming the first wrestler to make his pro wrestling debut in Noah. He has also competed in mixed martial arts with a notable victory over Giant Silva. Sugiura wrestled as a junior heavyweight in his earlier pro career and is a former GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion. Sugiura moved up to heavyweight and became the second longest reigning GHC Heavyweight Champion, having held the title for 581 days between December 2009 and July 2011.