| Takashi Iizuka | |
|---|---|
 Iizuka in March 2017 | |
| Born | August 2, 1966[1][2] Muroran, Hokkaidō[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Sambo Iizuka[3] Takashi Iizuka Takayuki Iizuka |
| Billed height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Billed weight | 107 kg (236 lb)[1] |
| Trained by | New Japan Pro-Wrestling Dojo |
| Debut | November 2, 1986 |
| Retired | February 21, 2019 |
Takayuki Iizuka (飯塚 孝之, Iizuka Takayuki, born August 2, 1966), better known by his ring name Takashi Iizuka (飯塚 高史, Iizuka Takashi), is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his 33-year career in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. He has also worked for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was a one-time GHC Tag Team Champion.
Debuting in 1986 under his real name, Iizuka formed the tag team J-J-Jacks with fellow dojo trainee Akira Nogami in 1992. After changing his ring name to Takashi Iizuka (飯塚 高史, Iizuka Takashi) in 1995, he became a mainstay of the New Japan seikigun, and was a frequent tag team partner for Yuji Nagata during the early 2000s. In 2008, Iizuka underwent a drastic change to his look, character and wrestling style, turning heel, shaving his head bald, growing a sinister beard, and adapting a hardcore wrestling style. He was also given the gimmick of an uncontrollable madman, and nicknamed "The Great Traitor" for his betrayal of the New Japan roster. Iizuka competed for New Japan Pro-Wrestling over four separate decades before retiring from in ring competition in February 2019.
- ^ a b c d "飯塚 高史". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
- ^ "Takashi Iizuka". Puroresucentral. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
- ^ "Takashi Iizuka". Cagematch. Retrieved 2013-05-02.