Line #2 Wrestling/NaokiSano


1	[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/takumasano.jpg]]
2	->''"If you make Sano serious, you'll be killed."''
3	-->-- Wrestling/YoshihiroTakayama
4
5	Naoki Sano (b. 1966), also known as Yuhi Sano and Takuma Sano, is a UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese retired {{Professional Wrestl\|ing}}er and UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts fighter. He debuted in Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling fresh from highschool, and after an excursion to México to learn the style of lucha libre, he became a rising junior heavyweight and rival to the famous Wrestling/JushinThunderLiger. This tenure was cut short when he followed a big money offer to Super World of Sports, and when that didn't work, he did a 180º turn with his career and joined the [[Wrestling/UniversalWrestlingFederation shoot-style]] circuit, working for Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi and Union of Wrestling Forces International among others. After the collapse of UWF International, where he seemed to have found his home, he wandered through the independent circuit and a deeply unsuccessful MMA career, until finally landing in Wrestling/ProWrestlingNOAH. Sano remained there for a decade, playing the role of the stiff, rugged veteran that had done just everything in pro wrestling, until he became a freelancer in 2012 and diversified his appearances before retiring in 2020. He works now as a yakiniku restaurant owner and occasional Website/YouTube personality along with his friend Liger.
6	----
7	!!! "Artisan Tropes":
8	* ADayInTheLimeLight: Won the 1989 Young Lions Cup after years of being on the loosing end of matches.
9	* BrickJoke: At the press conference before UWF-i's debut, Sano actually challenged Wrestling/NobuhikoTakada to a future match while he was still part of SWS and PWFG. Fast forward a few years later and Sano is part of the UWF-i and gets his match with Takada.
10	* CanonImmigrant: He was neither a Wrestling/YoshiakiFujiwara trainee nor a NJPW wrestler interested in shoot-style: he only got in PWFG because his original promotion, Super World Sports, had a working relation to PWFG. However, he decided he liked shoot-style more than regular pro wrestling, and switched to UWFI to do it full-time.
11	* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Mostly wore grey, though he switched to wearing blue with red and white streaks.
12	* CoolTeacher: Was a trainer at the Takada Dojo.
13	* FinishingMove:
14	** In his New Japan junior times, the tiger suplex.
15	** In UWF-i or when he feels like resurrecting shoot-style, armbar and kicks to the head.
16	** Since 2001, Northern Lights Bomb (scoop brainbuster, like that of Wrestling/KensukeSasaki).
17	* GoombaStomp: Uses a famous diving double foot stomp.
18	* ICouldaBeenAContender: Was a notable up and coming Junior Heavyweight in both New Japan and Super World Sports, but gave it up to do shoot style.
19	* IHaveManyNames: Was firstly known as Naoki Sano, later Yuhi Sano and finally Takuma Sano. He also wrestled as Mr Sato when he was working in Canada.
20	* [[IKnowKarate I Know Shoot-Style]]: Later in his career.
21	* InsistentTerminology: His rolling sobatto is not just a spinning kick, it's a Takada Dojo-style sobatto kick.
22	* InstantExpert: Sort of, he effectively adapted to shoot style almost immediately in his PWFG debut.
23	* {{Jobber}}: In his early NJPW days and his MMA career.
24	* RedBaron: "Shokunin" ("The Artisan"), "Tohyo" ("The Fighting Leopard"), "Fugen Jikko no Jitsuryokusha" ("The One whose True Strength is Action before Words").
25	* TheRival: Was one to Wrestling/JushinThunderLiger early in their careers.
26	* StoutStrength: He is quite stocky, especially when compared to the slender juniors and shooters he used to share the ring with.
27	* SuplexFinisher: Has several variations in his arsenal, but he used the Tiger Suplex as his finisher as a junior heavyweight.

Context Wrestling / NaokiSano