Naoki Sano (b. 1966), also known as Yuhi Sano and Takuma Sano, is a Japanese retired Professional Wrestler and Mixed Martial Arts fighter. He debuted in New Japan Pro-Wrestling 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 Jushin Thunder Liger. 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 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 Pro Wrestling NOAH. 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 YouTube personality along with his friend Liger.
"Artisan Tropes":
- A Day In The Lime Light: Won the 1989 Young Lions Cup after years of being on the loosing end of matches.
- Brick Joke: At the press conference before UWF-i's debut, Sano actually challenged Nobuhiko Takada 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.
- Canon Immigrant: He was neither a Yoshiaki Fujiwara 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.
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: Mostly wore grey, though he switched to wearing blue with red and white streaks.
- Cool Teacher: Was a trainer at the Takada Dojo.
- Finishing Move:
- In his New Japan junior times, the tiger suplex.
- In UWF-i or when he feels like resurrecting shoot-style, armbar and kicks to the head.
- Since 2001, Northern Lights Bomb (scoop brainbuster, like that of Kensuke Sasaki).
- Goomba Stomp: Uses a famous diving double foot stomp.
- I Coulda Been a Contender!: Was a notable up and coming Junior Heavyweight in both New Japan and Super World Sports, but gave it up to do shoot style.
- I Have Many Names: 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.
- I Know Shoot-Style: Later in his career.
- Insistent Terminology: His rolling sobatto is not just a spinning kick, it's a Takada Dojo-style sobatto kick.
- Instant Expert: Sort of, he effectively adapted to shoot style almost immediately in his PWFG debut.
- Jobber: In his early NJPW days and his MMA career.
- Red Baron: "Shokunin" ("The Artisan"), "Tohyo" ("The Fighting Leopard"), "Fugen Jikko no Jitsuryokusha" ("The One whose True Strength is Action before Words").
- The Rival: Was one to Jushin Thunder Liger early in their careers.
- Stout Strength: He is quite stocky, especially when compared to the slender juniors and shooters he used to share the ring with.
- Suplex Finisher: Has several variations in his arsenal, but he used the Tiger Suplex as his finisher as a junior heavyweight.
- Took a Level in Badass: Won the 1989 Young Lions Cup after years of being on the loosing end of matches.
