Ryan Sakoda

Template:Short description Template:Infobox professional wrestler

Ryan Keiji Sakoda (December 31, 1972 – September 2, 2021) was a Japanese American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances in WWE and later Ultimate Pro Wrestling as a part-time trainer for the wrestlers, as well as working in the independents under his real name.

Professional wrestling careerEdit

Early career (1998–2003)Edit

Before coming to WWE, Sakoda had a successful stint in the NWA Zero-One promotion in Japan, stemming from his appearances for Ultimate Pro Wrestling. During this time Sakoda often filled in as an instructor at UPW's Ultimate University, while wrestling as part of the faction Team Emblem with Japanese superstars Masato Tanaka and Shinjiro Otani.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2003–2004)Edit

On January 6, 2003, Sakoda made his first onscreen appearance for WWE on Raw as a judge for World Heavyweight Champion Triple H and Scott Steiner's pose down under the name Charlie Chan.<ref name="Gamble">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In September 2003, Sakoda was signed to a developmental contract, and it wouldn't be long before Sakoda was brought up to SmackDown!'s main roster. He, along with Akio, made their WWE debuts on October 19, 2003, at No Mercy. Sakoda aligned himself with Akio, forming the heel tag team Kyo Dai, the yakuza-style henchmen of Tajiri.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In August 2004, Sakoda was released from his WWE contract.<ref name="Gamble"/>

Return to independent circuit (2005–2007)Edit

After WWE, Sakoda returned to UPW in March 2005 as a part-time trainer and part-time auto sales executive at Worthington Ford. He made his return to full-time in-ring competition in 2007 with MTV's Wrestling Society X. Wrestling as an independent in the local mall circuit until his death, Sakoda had been working as a server for Disney at one of their Grand California Hotel restaurants.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

Sakoda filed a class action lawsuit against WWE, alleging that wrestlers sustained traumatic brain injuries while wrestling for them and that the company tried to conceal that information. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE. In March 2016, the suit was dismissed as frivolous by Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

DeathEdit

Sakoda died on September 2, 2021, at the age of 48.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His death was not announced until September 27.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>