was a Japanese professional wrestler, better known under the ring name or simply . He is best known for his time with hardcore wrestling federations Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South (IWA-MS), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and Wrestling International New Generations (W*ING).
Professional wrestling career
W*ING (1993–1994) Hideo Takayama made his professional wrestling debut for Wrestling International New Generations (W*ING) against Masahiko Takasugi in a losing effort on January 20, 1993 at an interpromotional show between W*ING, Michinoku Pro Wrestling (MPW) and Union Pro Wrestling (UPW). Takayama picked up his first win against Ryo Miyake on October 23. At Odawara Brazing Night in Odawara, Takayama developed himself as a villain by shortening his given name to "Hido", but lost to Takashi Okano. Hido would lose most of his matches during his early career in W*ING but learnt the garbage wrestling style of W*ING which would continue with him throughout his career. He began feuding with Yukihiro Kanemura, which culminated in a loser leaves W*ING street fight on February 15, 1994, which Hido lost, forcing him to leave W*ING. Coincidentally, W*ING disbanded shortly after Hido's departure from the promotion.
Wrestle Association R / Wrestle and Romance (1994) After leaving W*ING, Takayama joined Wrestle Association R (WAR), where he debuted for the promotion on June 1 under a new character Yaiba by teaming with Arashi and Ashura Hara to defeat Genichiro Tenryu, Animal Hamaguchi and Koji Ishinriki in a six-man tag team match. On June 3, Yaiba defeated Matsuoka in his first singles match and faced Koki Kitahara in a match later at the event, which Yaiba won by disqualification. This led to a rematch between the two on June 5, which Yaiba lost. Takayama soon dropped the Yaiba character and began competing under his real name. On June 30, Takayama teamed with Hiroshi Itakura and Ichiro Yaguchi against Fuyuki-Gun in a losing effort in the quarter-final round of a tournament to crown the promotion's first World Six-Man Tag Team Champions. Takayama joined Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) in the fall of 1994, which would lead to his departure from WAR. His last match took place on October 16, in which Takayama and Yaguchi lost to Jado and Gedo.
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
W*ING Alliance (1994–1997)
Takayama debuted in FMW on October 9 as a member of W*ING Alliance, a group consisting of former wrestlers from the defunct W*ING who wanted to avenge the end of W*ING from Atsushi Onita and his FMW and they aimed to end FMW. His debut match was a six-man tag team match with W*ING members Hideki Hosaka and Mitsuhiro Matsunaga against FMW's Koji Nakagawa, Battle Ranger Z and Masato Tanaka, which W*ING won. Hido mainly competed as a mid-carder and was usually utilized in tag team matches alongside W*ING members while losing in singles competition. Hido picked up his first win in a singles match in FMW on April 24, 1995 against Gosaku Goshogawara. At 6th Anniversary Show, Hido, Hideki Hosaka and Mitsuhiro Matsunaga lost a match to Takashi Ishikawa, Apollo Sagawa and Kishin Kawabata. Hido began getting more wins against lower-tier wrestlers of the company but failed to win against more established wrestlers. He participated in the Young Spirit Tournament to promote the younger generation of FMW which would lead the company after the company's ace Atsushi Onita retired from wrestling. Hido scored only four points with two wins against Koji Nakagawa and Tetsuhiro Kuroda, while losing to Hideki Hosaka, W*ING Kanemura and Masato Tanaka.
On September 26, Hido turned on his W*ING partners Hideki Hosaka and W*ING Kanemura in a match against Masato Tanaka, Koji Nakagawa and Tetsuhiro Kuroda to join Lethal Weapon and insulted W*ING for siding with FMW. Hido, along with Super Leather and other Lethal Weapons feuded with their former W*ING teammates for the next two months. On November 25, Hido and Super Leather rejoined W*ING in a swerve by turning on Horace Boulder against Hideki Hosaka, Mitsuhiro Matsunaga & W*ING Kanemura in a street fight. In early 1996, W*ING turned into fan favorites and formed an alliance with FMW after the formation of Funk Masters of Wrestling. At the 7th Anniversary Show, Hido, Hosaka and Matsunaga defeated Miguel Perez, Shoji Nakamaki and Toryu. This would be Matsunaga's last match in FMW as he left the company after the match.