Taichi (wrestler)

1.1. Childhood and Education

Born on March 19, 1980, Taichi, whose real name is 牧 太一郎_{Maki Taichiro}^Japanese, grew up in Ishikari, Hokkaido, Japan. He developed an interest in professional wrestling during middle school, where he began training independently. By the time he was in his third year of middle school, he successfully passed an entry test for Pancrase, a mixed martial arts promotion, in Sapporo. However, his parents opposed his immediate entry into professional wrestling, leading him to attend Hokkaido Iwamizawa Agricultural High School. After high school, he enrolled in university but eventually dropped out, spending his time at a pachinko parlor where he later became a part-time employee.

1.2. Amateur Wrestling Career

During his high school years, Taichi was a member of the wrestling club, which was recognized as one of the top programs in Hokkaido. In 1997, he achieved a notable second-place finish in the 63 kg class at the Hokkaido National Sports Festival qualifying tournament, also participating in the Inter-High School Championships.

2.1. All Japan Pro Wrestling and Freelance Period (2002-2005)

Taichi made his professional wrestling debut as 石狩太一_{Taichi Ishikari}^Japanese for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) on December 2, 2002, in Nagaoka, Niigata, facing Takashi Hijikata. Although his debut was initially conditional on gaining 10 kg in a year, a series of injuries among AJPW wrestlers led to his earlier debut. His entrance theme at the time was "Kizetsu no Naka de" by Hokkaido-native singer Chiharu Matsuyama. On May 12, 2003, approximately six months into his career, Ishikari secured his first singles victory against heavyweight prospect Masayuki Kono.

In March 2003, he had a singles match against Genichiro Tenryu, which was notably one of Tenryu's last two matches before his departure from AJPW. Tenryu himself requested the match, and Atsushi Onita surprisingly appeared as Tenryu's second, wearing an old AJPW jacket. After the match, Tenryu commented that he was "not satisfied enough, and wanted to have a rematch with Taichi Ishikari." In February 2004, as a key junior heavyweight, he represented AJPW in the 4th Super J-Cup hosted by Osaka Pro Wrestling, but he was defeated in the first round by Osaka Pro's ace, Takehiro Murahama. Teaming with Toshiaki Kawada in the 2004 Autumn Festival Tag Tournament, he secured victories in their final matches, marking his first tournament win. He was considered AJPW's promising junior heavyweight prospect due to his speed and fiery spirit.

In early 2005, Ishikari challenged Taka Michinoku for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship but was unsuccessful. On September 1, 2005, in Sapporo, Hokkaido, he again challenged Michinoku for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship but lost. In February 2005, Ishikari followed his mentor Toshiaki Kawada and departed from AJPW to become a freelance wrestler. He later stated that his loyalty as Kawada's attendant was the reason for his departure.

As a freelancer, Ishikari competed in various promotions such as Hustle and the short-lived Kings Road promotion. In Hustle, he gained attention for his arrogant and disrespectful character, earning the nickname "Superstar of the Locker Room" due to frequently irritating veteran wrestlers. He even adopted a female wrestler-like costume and makeup, using the ring name "Ishikari Taiko" (石狩太子^Japanese). However, he eventually terminated his contract with Hustle due to the escalating comedic and variety-show elements, which he found difficult to cope with. He then joined Kings Road, the promotion of his old friend Kazushi Miyamoto, and after its dissolution, he briefly competed in ZERO-ONE MAX. On May 26, 2004, Taichi Ishikari also made an appearance as a member of Team Japan in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's (TNA) 2004 World X Cup, competing in a battle royal and a ladder match.

2.2. Early New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Mexico Excursion (2006-2010)

In mid-2006, Taichi began appearing on New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) shows, with his activity increasing in 2006 and 2007, leading to him becoming an official member of the NJPW roster in 2009. In June 2006, he participated in NJPW's special "WRESTLE LAND" event, teaming with Jado and Gedo as "Hokkaido." In April 2009, he changed his ring name from Ishikari Taichi to the mononym Taichi (タイチ^Japanese). He formed the tag team "Unione" with Milano Collection A.T.. They unsuccessfully challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship held by Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi. His partnership with Milano Collection A.T. ended in January 2010 when Milano announced his retirement due to an eye injury.

Following this, NJPW announced that Taichi would embark on a two-month excursion to the Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) to seek a new direction in his career. He debuted in CMLL on February 19, 2010, at Arena México in Mexico City, teaming with Tetsuya Naito and Ray Mendoza, Jr. to defeat Strong Man, Mr. Niebla, and Máximo in two straight falls. On March 21, he ignited a rivalry with La Máscara after unmasking him during a match. On May 7, 2010, Taichi, teaming with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Okumura as La Ola Amarilla (The Yellow Wave), defeated El Hijo del Fantasma, La Máscara, and Héctor Garza to win the CMLL World Trios Championship. This marked Taichi's first championship in his professional wrestling career. However, their reign lasted only two weeks, as they lost the title to La Máscara, La Sombra, and Máscara Dorada on May 21, 2010. Taichi's rivalry with La Máscara culminated in a Lucha de Apuesta match where Taichi put his hair on the line against La Máscara's mask. The match, which main evented CMLL's Sin Salida show on June 6, 2010, saw Máximo defeat Taichi, resulting in Taichi having his head shaved. Despite the loss, his prominent role in a short period made him widely known in the Mexican wrestling scene. He returned to NJPW after this stint.

2.3. Suzuki-gun Era: Junior Heavyweight Division (2010-2017)

Upon his return to NJPW in December 2010, Taichi aligned himself with Satoshi Kojima, forming a stable known as Kojima-gun, which also included Taka Michinoku, Nosawa Rongai, and MVP. Taichi served as a loyal supporter, often interfering in Kojima's matches and praising him in interviews. However, as Kojima became increasingly focused on one-on-one competition, Taichi grew suspicious after being repeatedly forced out of the ring by Kojima before matches.

On May 3, 2011, Taichi and Taka Michinoku turned on Kojima and revealed the returning Minoru Suzuki as their new leader, establishing the villainous "Suzuki-gun" stable. From this point, Taichi adopted the moniker "the world's most cunning man," echoing Suzuki's "world's most evil man" epithet. Taichi formed a regular tag team with Taka Michinoku, challenging for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship multiple times, but initially without success.

On June 16, 2012, at Dominion 6.16, during another IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match against Jyushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask IV, Taichi controversially unmasked Liger, unintentionally unleashing "Kishin Liger", a more violent version of the masked legend. Despite this, Taichi and Michinoku lost the match. In August, a storyline unfolded where Taichi blamed Michinoku for their losses, leading to a "loser leaves Suzuki-gun" match at Taka Michinoku's Kaientai Dojo promotion. However, Minoru Suzuki interrupted the match, forcing them to reconcile. Taichi then returned to CMLL in September 2012, but pledged his loyalty to Suzuki-gun, refusing to rejoin his former faction, La Ola Amarilla.

In January 2013, Taichi suffered a knee injury in a traffic accident, sidelining him. Upon his return in April, he wore a knee brace, which he began using as an illegal offensive weapon, dubbing his new knee strike finisher "Jage Koroshi." In the 2013 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, Taichi had a strong start, winning his first four matches, often through cheating and interference from Taka Michinoku. His winning streak ended against CMLL's Titán.

On October 14, 2013, at King of Pro-Wrestling, Taichi and Taka Michinoku defeated the Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov and Rocky Romero) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, marking Taichi's first championship in NJPW. They successfully defended the title once before losing it to The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) on November 9 at Power Struggle, ending their reign after only 26 days.

In May 2014, Taichi performed well in the 2014 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, finishing with four wins and three losses, but initially failed to advance to the semifinals due to tie-breaking rules. However, he was later granted entry into the semifinals when Alex Shelley withdrew due to injury. He was then eliminated by Kushida. The following day, NJPW suspended Taichi for two months with a 30% pay cut after photos of him having an extramarital affair circulated. He returned from his suspension on August 10 and began forming a new tag team with Suzuki-gun's newest member, El Desperado. Taichi adopted a new entrance style, singing his way to the ring with a microphone. Taichi and El Desperado challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship but were defeated by the Time Splitters. On November 8, Taichi challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship but lost to Ryusuke Taguchi.

In January 2015, Suzuki-gun initiated a storyline where the entire stable invaded the Pro Wrestling Noah promotion. As part of this, Taichi defeated Atsushi Kotoge on March 15 to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. He held the title for the remainder of the year, successfully defending it four times before losing it to Taiji Ishimori on December 23. During his fifth defense against Taiji Ishimori on December 23, 2015, Taichi was accompanied by Abe Miho as his valet for the first time, introducing an alluring and theatrical element to his entrance. He had seen her on television and initiated contact after realizing she was also from Hokkaido.

On June 24, 2016, Taichi won a four-man round-robin tournament at a show produced by him and Taka Michinoku to earn a spot in the 2016 Super J-Cup. In the tournament, he defeated AJPW's Yuma Aoyagi in the first round and Jyushin Thunder Liger in the second round before being eliminated in the semifinals by reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kushida. Suzuki-gun's Noah invasion storyline concluded in December 2016, leading to the stable's return to NJPW on January 5, 2017.

2.4. Heavyweight Transition and Ascendancy (2018-2022)

On March 6, 2017, Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero and Baretta) to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. They lost the title back to Roppongi Vice on April 27. The following month, Taichi participated in the 2017 Best of the Super Juniors, finishing with four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals.

On January 23, 2018, at TakaTaichiMania, Taichi officially announced his move up to NJPW's heavyweight division, a transition that had been hinted at when Tetsuya Naito praised his performance in a match and recommended the move. His heavyweight debut occurred on March 6, 2018, at NJPW's 46th Anniversary Show, where he again faced Tetsuya Naito. During the match, Taichi showcased his new heavyweight arsenal, but ultimately lost to Naito. On March 10, Taichi made his New Japan Cup debut, facing Hiroshi Tanahashi in the first round but was defeated.

Taichi began a feud with Hirooki Goto in April 2018, repeatedly demanding a singles match for the NEVER Openweight Championship. He received his title shot in a three-way match at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-Jo Hall, which also involved Michael Elgin, but was unsuccessful. On September 17, at Destruction in Beppu, Taichi defeated Hirooki Goto to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion, marking his first championship as a heavyweight. His reign lasted 47 days, as he lost the title back to Goto in a rematch on November 3 at Power Struggle. From November 17 to December 9, Taichi teamed with fellow Suzuki-gun member Zack Sabre Jr. in the 2018 World Tag League, their first entry as a team, finishing with eight wins and five losses.

On January 5, 2019, at New Years Dash, Taichi pinned IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito in a ten-man tag team match between Suzuki-gun and Los Ingobernables de Japón, immediately challenging Naito for the title. The match took place on February 2 at The New Beginning in Sapporo, where Taichi was unsuccessful, despite a pre-match attack on Naito by Takashi Iizuka. In March, Taichi entered the 2019 New Japan Cup, defeating Tomoaki Honma in the first round before being eliminated by Tomohiro Ishii in the second. On May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku, Taichi defeated Jeff Cobb to win the NEVER Openweight Championship for the second time. He lost the title to Tomohiro Ishii on June 9 at Dominion, marking a short first defense. Taichi then made his G1 Climax debut in the 2019 G1 Climax B block, finishing with eight points (four wins and five losses), notably securing a clean victory over Tomohiro Ishii on the final night of block action. Following the G1, Taichi engaged in a brief feud with Tetsuya Naito, which included a disqualification loss and a singles loss to Naito at Power Struggle. In the 2019 World Tag League, Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr., informally known as "Dangerous Tekkers" and "Godspeed You! Zack Emperor," finished with 18 points (nine wins and six losses).

In 2020, Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. continued their tag team efforts. On July 12, at Dominion, Dangerous Tekkers defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi to win their first IWGP Tag Team Championships. They lost the belts to Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) at Wrestle Kingdom 15 on January 4, 2021, but regained them on June 1 at Road to Dominion. Their third reign was short-lived, as they lost the belts to Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI at Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 4, 2022.

In March 2022, Taichi entered the New Japan Cup, defeating Toru Yano in the first round. He advanced to the third round due to a bye after Hiroyoshi Tenzan's injury, but was then defeated by Kazuchika Okada. The following month, Taichi began a feud with Toru Yano over the KOPW trophy, leading to a "No-rope ring-out match" at Hyper Battle '22. Taichi defeated Yano to become the provisional KOPW Champion. However, he lost the championship to Shingo Takagi in a "30-count match" during the NJPW Golden Fight Series and lost a rematch to Takagi in a "10 Minute Unlimited Pinfall Scramble match" at Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall.

In July 2022, Taichi participated in the G1 Climax 32 tournament in the B Block, finishing with four points and failing to advance. In October, he competed in a tournament for the inaugural NJPW World Television Championship but was eliminated by Sanada in the first round. On December 19, at TAKATaichi Together ~ Last TAKATaichi, Taichi failed to recapture the KOPW Championship from Shingo Takagi in a "Last Man Standing Lumberjack Deathmatch." Later in December, at the World Tag League & Best of the Super Juniors finals, Minoru Suzuki announced the disbandment of Suzuki-gun by the end of the year. The stable's final match took place on December 23, where Taichi, Sabre Jr., Kanemaru, and Douki defeated Suzuki, Lance Archer, Desperado, and Michinoku. After the match, each member bid farewell, and former member Takashi Iizuka made a surprise appearance, resulting in all nine men posing together with the Suzuki-gun flag.

2.5. Just 5 Guys Formation and Recent Activities (2023-present)

Taichi started 2023 by competing in the New Japan Rumble at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4, but did not make it to the final four. The following day at New Year Dash, Taichi reunited with former Suzuki-gun stablemates Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taka Michinoku, and Douki, forming a new stable called Just 4 Guys. They defeated a team from United Empire.

In March 2023, Taichi competed in the New Japan Cup but was defeated by Sanada in the first round, a match that notably ended Sanada's losing streak. Despite being from different factions, the two showed mutual respect. On March 17, after Sanada defeated Tetsuya Naito in the New Japan Cup, the members of Just 4 Guys entered the ring to congratulate Sanada. Sanada then announced his departure from Los Ingobernables de Japón and joined Just 4 Guys, expanding the group to Just 5 Guys. On March 21, Sanada won the New Japan Cup, and Taichi and the rest of Just 5 Guys celebrated with him in the ring.

Sanada's departure from LIJ initiated a feud between LIJ and Just 5 Guys. Taichi, in particular, began a rivalry with the reigning Provisional KOPW Champion, Shingo Takagi. On April 29, at NJPW Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni, Taichi defeated Takagi in a "Takagi-style Triad Match" (a best-of-three-falls match with five ways to win a fall) after a grueling 43 minutes and 40 seconds match, becoming the second Provisional KOPW Champion of 2023. In July, Taichi participated in the G1 Climax 33 in the B Block, finishing with six points and failing to advance to the quarterfinals.

Following the G1, Just 5 Guys began a feud with House of Torture. On September 25 at Destruction in Kobe, Taichi lost the KOPW Championship to SHO in a "Seconds Handcuffed Match," after Yoshinobu Kanemaru betrayed him and Just 5 Guys to join House of Torture. This temporarily reduced the stable to Just 4 Guys, but on October 9 at Destruction in Ryogoku, Yuya Uemura joined the group, restoring it to Just 5 Guys. On November 7 at NEW JAPAN ROAD, Taichi regained the KOPW Championship from SHO in a "Yoshinobu Kanemaru Referee Match," winning after an accidental hit on Kanemaru allowed Red Shoes Unno to officiate the pinfall. On December 21, at Road to TOKYO DOME, Taichi defended the KOPW Championship against Kanemaru in a "Whiskey Bottle Ladder Match," securing his position as the KOPW 2023 annual champion.

In 2024, at The New Beginning in Sapporo on February 24, Just 5 Guys and Los Ingobernables de Japón engaged in a five-match series. Taichi faced Shingo Takagi in a singles match with a "loser deletes YouTube channel" stipulation. Taichi won with a backdrop hold, saving his channel. Backstage, he proposed Takagi appear on his channel instead of deleting his own. This led to a "Takagi Keshi-me (Apology) Live Stream" on Taichi's YouTube channel on February 28, where they played Fall Guys with viewers. On March 6, Taichi participated in the New Japan Cup 2024 but lost to Ren Narita in the first round due to interference from House of Torture. On July 3 and 5, he competed in the G1 Climax 34 B Block qualifier tournament, defeating TJP in the semifinals but losing to Oleg Boltin in the final, missing out on G1 participation.

3.1. Finishing Moves

• Black Mephisto (Vertical drop brainbuster)
  • This is Taichi's primary finisher, similar to CIMA's Schwein. He lifts his opponent upside down, crossing their legs, and drops them vertically on their head or neck. The name is derived from a ring name used by his mentor, Toshiaki Kawada, during his overseas excursions. It serves as his ultimate finisher when other moves have been kicked out of.
• Tensho Juji Ho (Thrust kick / 天翔十字鳳_{Flying Cross Phoenix}^Japanese)
  • A powerful thrust kick that Taichi often delivers after dramatically ripping off his long entrance tights to reveal short tights. The name and his distinctive pose while performing it are inspired by the "Holy Emperor" Souther's Nanto Hōō Ken (South Star Phoenix Fist) martial arts style from the manga Fist of the North Star.
• Taichi-style Last Ride (Powerbomb with a pin)
  • A variation of the Last Ride powerbomb, where after delivering the move, Taichi slides his body onto the opponent for an immediate pinfall, similar to Kawada's powerbomb pin.
• Vertical Drop Powerbomb (often called "Triple Crown Powerbomb" - 三冠パワーボム_{Sankan Pawābomu}^Japanese)
  • A direct, vertical powerbomb, which is a signature move of his mentor, Toshiaki Kawada, and adopted by Taichi after his heavyweight transition.
• Taichi-style Gedo Clutch (Roll-up pin)
  • A roll-up pin similar to the Gedo Clutch. Taichi often executes this by first delivering a low blow to the opponent while the referee is distracted.
• Jigoku Tsuki (Iron Finger From Hell - アイアン・フィンガー・フロム・ヘル_{Aian Fingā Furomu Heru}^Japanese)
  • A thumb thrust performed while wearing a steel glove, originally used by Takashi Iizuka. As a weapon attack, it is usually done behind the referee's back and results in a disqualification if caught. After winning the Iron Finger From Hell in a ladder match against Tama Tonga in May 2021, Taichi sealed the weapon, ending its use.

3.2. Striking Techniques

• Elbow
  • Various elbow strikes, including elbow bats, elbow stamps, and back elbows.
• Yokozuna-style Kachiage Elbow (横綱式カチ上げエルボー_{Yokozuna-shiki Kachiage Erubō}^Japanese - Yokozuna-style Rising Elbow)
  • Introduced in July 2021, inspired by Yokozuna Hakuhō's rising elbow technique. Taichi often performs a sumo-style stomp (shiko) before rushing in for the elbow. It has become a significant setup or even a finisher in recent matches.
• Reverse Horizontal Chop (逆水平チョップ_{Gyaku Suihei Choppu}^Japanese)
• Jumping High Kick
  • A high-flying kick to the opponent's face, a move reminiscent of Toshiaki Kawada. Taichi sometimes shouts like Kawada when delivering it.
• Sliding Kick
  • Taichi runs towards a seated opponent, slides, and kicks the side of their head with the top of his foot. Sometimes used as a finisher.
• Buzzsaw Kick (Spinning roundhouse kick to the side of the head)
• Front High Kick
  • Often executed as a running corner-to-corner attack, a signature move of Toshiaki Kawada.
• Axe Bomber
  • Adopted from Takao Omori, often delivered as a running corner splash. In tag team matches, he sometimes hits two opponents simultaneously.
• Jage Koroshi (邪外殺し_{Evil Outside Killer}^Japanese)
  • A knee strike performed while wearing a knee brace, which he adopted as an offensive weapon after a knee injury in 2013.
• Dropkick
  • Known for its high impact and elegant form, though less frequently used after his heel turn.
• Step Kick
  • Another signature kick from Toshiaki Kawada, where Taichi holds down the opponent's head and delivers repeated small kicks to the face.
• Soccer Ball Kick
• Various Kicks
  • Including low kicks, middle kicks, high kicks, and rolling savate kicks.
• Matrix
  • He sends his opponent into the corner, then uses the ropes to jump and kick the side of the opponent's head.
• Matrix 2
  • An improved version of the Matrix, where he jumps and delivers a dropkick-like kick to the opponent's chest.

3.3. Throwing and Power Moves

• Brainbuster
• Avalanche Brainbuster (Superplex from the top rope)
• Powerbomb
• Taichi-style Liger Bomb (Sitout powerbomb)
  • One of Taichi's few power moves. He sometimes runs across the ring to deliver a "Thunder Liger Bomb" variation.
• Dark Metamorphose (Tomoomi Oshi - とも~み推し_{Tomoomi Oshi}^Japanese)
  • A two-stage powerbomb that utilizes the rebound from the top rope. The name is a reference to his fandom for former AKB48 member Tomomi Kasai.
• Dangerous Backdrop (High-angle backdrop suplex)
  • Adopted after his heavyweight transition, often delivered with a high-angle drop on the head. He sometimes incorporates the dramatic performance associated with Jumbo Tsuruta's backdrop hold.
• Swing DDT
  • Often used in the middle of matches, where he grabs the third rope during the swing to increase the impact.
• Frankensteiner (Hurricanrana)
  • A rare move used by Taichi, especially since his heel turn.
• Taichi-style Last of the Dragon (Inverted snapmare driver)
• Taichi-style Ore ga Taue (俺が田上_{I am Taue}^Japanese)
  • A chokeslam, named after the move of former AJPW wrestler Akira Taue, who was a former sumo wrestler.
• Uwa Nage (Overarm throw - a sumo technique)

3.4. Submission Holds

• Holy Emperor Jujiryo (Stretch Plum - 聖帝十字陵_{Seitei Jujiryo}^Japanese - Holy Emperor's Cross Tomb)
  • A stretch plum submission hold. The name is derived from the pyramid-like tomb constructed by Souther in Fist of the North Star. Sometimes used as a finishing hold.
• Oniso (鬼葬_{Demon Burial}^Japanese)
  • A complex submission hold involving a jump and simultaneous arm and leg locks.

3.5. Illicit Tactics and Cheating

Taichi is renowned for his "cunning" and "rule-bending" tactics, which are central to his "heel" character.

• Low Blow (Groin kick)
• Weapon Attacks
  • He frequently uses his microphone stand, which he carries to the ring during his entrance. He also uses chairs, tables, the ring bell hammer, and even camera cables to choke opponents outside the ring, often behind the referee's back.
• Choke Sleeper
• Nodowa (Throat hold)
  • A throat hold, used frequently regardless of the match flow since 2020. This move is influenced by his love for sumo and its use by former sumo wrestler Akira Taue. While referees typically issue a disqualification count for this illegal choke, Taichi often argues, claiming it's not a choke and continuing to inflict damage, regardless of whether the referee is a rookie or a veteran.

3.6. Tag Team Combination Moves

• With Milano Collection A.T. (Unione)
  • Super Scrap Kick (Sandwich thrust kick): Two simultaneous thrust kicks to the opponent's head while they are groggy.
  • Unione Tornado (Dragon screw leg whip): Taichi holds the opponent in a full nelson while Milano performs a dragon screw, making it difficult for the opponent to take a proper bump.
• With Taka Michinoku
  • Michinoku Mephisto (Double-team inverted suplex/powerbomb): Taichi lifts the opponent in a Black Mephisto position, while Taka takes the opponent in a Michinoku Driver II position, dropping them headfirst.
  • Train-style Axe Bomber (Corner combination attack): Taichi delivers an Axe Bomber in the corner, followed by Taka's knee strike. If El Desperado is involved, he adds a Cannonball.
• With Minoru Suzuki
  • Low High Fly Flow (Low-angle body press): In tag matches, Suzuki assists by damaging the opponent with a Gotch-style Piledriver, then forcibly throws a downed Taichi onto the opponent for a pin. The name is a parody of Hiroshi Tanahashi's High Fly Flow.
• With El Desperado
  • 13y5 (Trece y Cinco - Spanish for "13 and 5"): A combination move where Desperado prepares for his Guitarra de la Muerte (cross-legged sitout scoop slam Piledriver), and Taichi takes a Black Mephisto position from behind, slamming the opponent simultaneously.
• With Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Highball W (Double-team finisher): Taichi performs a Last Ride, and Kanemaru follows with a Deep Impact (diving DDT).
  • Hakukaku (Double-team splash): Taichi performs a powerbomb to put the opponent down, and Kanemaru follows with a top-rope moonsault press.
• With Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Tensho Zack Driver (Double-team brainbuster/kick combination): Zack Sabre Jr. lifts the opponent for a Zack Driver, while Taichi delivers a Tensho Juji Ho to the opponent's head before they are dropped.
  • Zack Mephisto (Double-team inverted suplex/powerbomb): Similar to the Michinoku Mephisto.
  • Ore to Zack (俺とザック_{Me and Zack}^Japanese): A double-team throw, parodying Akira Taue's "Ore ga Taue." Taichi performs a Nodowa (throat hold), and Zack delivers a backdrop, slamming the opponent simultaneously.