Akio was a dangerous cruiserweight competitor driven by a cynical perspective. Originally gaining fame as one-third of the high-flying Jung Dragons, he survived a betrayal by Jamie-San, staying true to his partner Kaz Hayashi. Together, the duo eventually formed Los Dragones alongside Chavo Guerrero Jr., an alliance that also famously ended in a bitter Chavo betrayal.
After a grueling recovery from an injury sustained in a historic ladder match, the former Yang returned to WCW with a completely fresh outlook. Shedding his former identity to become Akio, he reinvented himself to move past his naive beginnings and the exploitation of others, focusing entirely on becoming a true standout in the cruiserweight division during his tenure.