Report Last Updated - 12/07 (Winter)
Real Name - Akira Taue
Birthdate - 5/8/61
6'5" 266 lbs. - Chichibu, Saitama, Japan

Aliases - Tamakirin

Athletic background - Sumo; Judo, Track & Field, Baseball (High School)

Professional background - All Japan(`87-`00), NOAH(`00-)

Groups - TEAM TAUE

Career Highlights -
- Teams with Toshiaki Kawada to win their first of three consecutive Real World Tag League(`93-`97)
- Defeats Steve Williams in the Grand Final of the Champion Carnival `96
- Wins the Triple Crown from Mitsharu Misawa and reigns for three months
- Teams with Kawada to win the World Tag Team Tournament `00 and their sixth International Tag titles
- Defeats Takeshi Rikio to win the GHC Heavyweight title and enjoys a three month run

Finisher(s) -
- Tsukuba Makiwari (Hip Tossing Choke Slam)
- Chichibu Cement (Suplex into Chokeslam)
- Nodowa Otoshi (Chokeslam)
- Dynamic Bomb (High-Angle Liger Bomb)
- Ore ga Taue/Ruby Frosion (Atomic Whip into Chokeslam)

Favorites -
- Dynamic Kick (Yakuza Kick)
- Dynamic Suplex (Double-Arm Suplex)
- Atomic Whip
- Bodyslam into Hotshot
- Overhead Chop

Ringwork Rating -
move set - 7
science - 2
aerial - 2
power - 7
strikes - 7

Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 6
selling - 8
bumping - 7
heat - 8
carrying - 6
push - 7
potential - 3

Serious Injuries - Leg

Outlook - Akira Taue’s debut in 1988 was met with much fanfare as was the case with many successful former sumo making the transition to pro-wrestling. Although he was pretty unimpressive in the first few years of his career when partner Jumbo Tsuruta began slowing down, Taue began picking up his game. By the mid-1990s, he was one of the premier wrestlers in All Japan, which was the premier pro-wrestling company in the world. While he was always the fourth man, Taue had exceptional popularity and was the largest of All Japan's top five. When Misawa led most of the All Japan roster in a exodus to form NOAH, Taue left long-time partner Toshiaki Kawada and it seemed like at nearly forty he might not have much to offer. Thoughout NOAH's early years, Taue was a solid performer who was given annual pushes to big matches, title shots and even one brief title in 2005. Although sluggish and firmly established as a support character, Akira Taue will probably be used similarly to how he has been used in the past couple years. He has a cult-like popularity and is more than capable in the ring and can continue to help rising stars and top stars.