Riki Chōshū
Chōshū in January, 2006
Ring name(s)	Riki Chōshū Yoshida
Billed height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Billed weight	120 kg (260 lb)[1]
Born	(1951-12-03) December 3, 1951 (age 60) Seoul, South Korea
Resides	Yamaguchi, Japan
Trained by	Masa Saito New Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo
Debut	01974-08-08August 8, 1974

Mitsuo Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田光雄; hangul: 곽광웅 , hanja: 郭光雄 , Kwak Gwang-ung) (born December 3, 1951), better known by his stage name Riki Chōshū (長州力 Chōshū Riki), is a Korean-Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) as a wrestler and a booker. He is considered one of the most influential wrestlers in Japan in the 1980s and 1990s and known as the first wrestler to popularize the Sasori-Gatame, better known in English as Scorpion Deathlock or Sharpshooter. After Chōshū left New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002, he formed Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling (WJ), which was later known as Riki Pro as he was the main promoter of the promotion. In October 2005, he returned to New Japan as a site foreman, a booker, and a part-time wrestler.

Amateur wrestling career[link]

1972 Summer Olympics[link]

Kwak Gwang-ung represented South Korea in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, as a wrestler. He didn't place in the tournament.^[1]

Professional wrestling career[link]

Early years (1974-1987)[link]

He debuted in New Japan Pro Wrestling in August 1974. In the mid-1970s, Chōshū was sent to North America to gain experience. Wrestling under his real name, he appeared in George Cannon's "Superstars of Wrestling" promotion as a heel, managed by Superstar (or Supermouth) Dave Drasen. Chōshū had a brief feud with the top fan favorite of Cannon's promotion, Luis Martinez.

Chōshū was the first "traitor heel" in a Japanese promotion. In 1983, upset at not being selected for the inaugural tournament for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, he turned on Tatsumi Fujinami during a match and formed his own stable, Ishingun (Revolutionary Army), which was the core for the later Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion that "invaded" All Japan Pro Wrestling.^[2]

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1987-1998)[link]

Upon returning to NJPW in 1987, Chōshū was a part of the Takeshi Puroresu Gundan. After NJPW split ties with Takeshi Kitano over the December 27 Sumo Hall riot, Chōshū slowly climbed back up into the main event picture. In June 1988, he won his first IWGP Tag Team Championship with Masa Saito, with whom he had also teamed with while in a brief stint in the American Wrestling Association.^[3] At the same time, he feuded with Tatsumi Fujinami over the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. On May 27, the match ended in a no contest, in which the title was held up. Fujinami won the rematch on June 24.^[4]

In July 1989, he won his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Salman Hashimikov of the Soviet Union.^[4] The same month, he would also win his second IWGP Tag Team title with young up-and-comer Takayuki Iizuka.^[3] Two more IWGP Heavyweight title reigns would follow between August 19, 1990 and January 4, 1992.^[4]

In August 1996, he won the G1 Climax, winning every single match in the tournament.^[5] In 1997, he won his third IWGP Tag Team title with Kensuke Sasaki.^[3] In January 1998, he retired from the ring; for his retirement match, he wrestled five matches in one night, winning four out of five matches.^[6] He would focus on booking matches for NJPW.

Comeback (2000-present)[link]

Retirement wouldn't last long, as Atsushi Onita challenged Chōshū to a barbed wire deathmatch in 2000. Chōshū accepted and wrestled Onita. He then balanced wrestling and booking for NJPW, until his departure in 2002, stemming from the departures of Keiji Mutoh and Satoshi Kojima, among others, to All Japan Pro Wrestling, which caused his position of head booker taken away.

After leaving NJPW, he formed Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling in 2003, which would later changed to Riki Pro, after the failure of some of their big shows.^[7] He ran Riki Pro, until 2005 when he returned to NJPW as a site foreman, booker, and wrestler. In 2007, Chōshū joined the Legend stable with Masahiro Chono, Jushin Liger, and AKIRA.

Chōshū also promotes an occasional series of events called "LOCK UP", which feature talent from New Japan and other promotions. New Japan supported this financially until 2008 before withdrawing.

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves

• Lariat^[1]
• Sasori-Gatame – Innovated^[1]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• All Japan Pro Wrestling

• NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Yoshiaki Yatsu^[8]
• PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[9]

• Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling

• WMG Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Genichiro Tenryu

• New Japan Pro Wrestling

• Greatest 18 Championship (1 time)^[10]
• IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 times)^[4]
• IWGP Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Masa Saito (1), Takashi Iizuka (1), and Kensuke Sasaki (1)^[3]
• NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (1 time) – with Seiji Sakaguchi^[11]
• WWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[12]
• G1 Climax: 1996^[5][13]
• Super Grade Tag League: 1992 – with Shinya Hashimoto
• World Cup Tournament: 1989^[14]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him #30 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003

• Universal Wrestling Association

• UWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[15]
• UWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gran Hamada^[16]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

• Best Booker: 1992
• Promoter of the Year: 1995, 1996, 1997
• Wrestler of the Year: 1987
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame: Class of 1996

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Riki Chōshū

Iván Sánchez-Rico Soto, aka Riki (born 11 August 1980 in Aranjuez, Community of Madrid), is a Spanish footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña in La Liga, as a striker or winger.

Football career[link]

After his youth career in amateur clubs in the Madrid area, Riki played with both Real Madrid's reserve sides, C and B. In July 2004, after having signed an extension with the merengues the previous year,^[1] he was released and moved to another capital team, Getafe CF, making his La Liga debut on 12 September 2004, in a 1–2 home defeat to RCD Mallorca. On 13 March 2005, he scored against his former employer, in a 2–1 home success^[2] and, in his second season, netted eight league goals.

On June 2006, Riki moved to Deportivo de La Coruña in a five-year contract.^[3] During his first season he was an undisputed starter. In the following one, he featured less prominently, but scored two more goals (five).

In the first match of the 2008–09 season, against Real Madrid, Riki was stretchered off the pitch with a hamstring injury, ironically after having subbed in himself.^[4] He was out of action for two weeks,^[5] subsequently netting on 2 November 2008, in a 3–0 success at Real Betis.^[6]

Riki again suffered physical problems in the following season, but made the most of his minutes (1,492) as he scored a career-best – at Deportivo – eight goals, notably netting in the opener, a 2–3 loss at Real Madrid,^[7] and in both matches against Xerez CD (3–0 away,^[8] 2–1 at home^[9]); the Galicians eventually finished in 10th position.

Honours[link]

Deportivo

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2008
• Segunda División: 2011–12

References[link]

External links[link]

• Deportivo official profile (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Transfermarkt profile

This article may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (September 2011)

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2010)

Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木^?) (born Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至, Inoki Kanji^?) on February 20, 1943) is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes.^[3][4] He fashioned his name after the wrestler Antonino Rocca as an homage to him.

Early life[link]

Inoki was born in an affluent family in Yokohama in 1943. He was the sixth son and the second youngest of the seven boys and four girls. His father, Sajiro Inoki, a businessman and politician, died when Kanji was five years old. Inoki entered the Higashidai Grade School. Inoki was taught karate by an older brother while in 6th grade. By the time he was in 7th grade at Terao Junior High School, he was 180 centimeters tall and joined the basketball team. He later quit and joined a track and field club as a shot putter. He eventually won the championship at the Yokohama Junior High School track and field competition.

The family fell on hard times in the post-war years, and in 1957, the 14 year-old Inoki emigrated to Brazil with his grandfather, mother and brothers. His grandfather died during the journey to Brazil. Inoki won regional championships in Brazil in the shot put, discus throw, and javelin throw, and finally the All Brazilian championships in the shot put and discus.^[5]

Professional wrestling career[link]

Japan Wrestling Association (1960–1966)[link]

Inoki met Rikidōzan at the age of 17. He went back to Japan for the Japanese Wrestling Association (JWA) as Rikidōzan's disciple. One of his dojo classmates was Giant Baba. After Rikidozan's death, Inoki worked in Baba's shadow until he joined the original Tokyo Pro Wrestling in 1966.

Tokyo Pro Wrestling (1966–1967)[link]

After wrestling a long excursion in the United States, Inoki found a new home in Tokyo Pro Wrestling. While there, Inoki became their biggest star. Unfortunately, the company folded in 1967, due to turmoil behind the scenes.

Japan Wrestling Association (1967–1971)[link]

Returning to JWA in late 1967, Inoki was made Baba's partner and the two dominated the tag team ranks as the "B-I Cannon", winning the NWA International tag team belts four times. Wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino tells a story about Inoki trying to "shoot" on him during a tag match in Osaka to build his reputation against the then-world champ. Bruno powered out of the hold, pounded Inoki mercilessly and threw him out of the ring. Inoki refused to re-enter the ring with Sammartino and tagged in Baba to finish the match.^{[citation needed]}

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1972–1994)[link]

Fired from JWA in late 1971 for planning a takeover of the promotion, Inoki founded New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1972. His first match as a New Japan wrestler was against Karl Gotch. In 1995 the Japanese and Korean governments came together to hold a two-day wrestling festival for peace in Pyongyang, North Korea. The event drew 150,000 and 190,000 fans respectively to May Day Stadium. The main event saw the only match between Inoki and Ric Flair with Inoki coming out on top. Days before this event, Inoki and the Korean press went to the grave and birthplace of Rikidōzan and paid tribute to him.

On November 30, 1979, Inoki defeated WWF Champion Bob Backlund in Tokushima, Japan to win the title. Backlund then won a re-match on December 6. However, WWF president Hisashi Shinma declared the re-match a no-contest due to interference from Tiger Jeet Singh, and Inoki remained Champion. Inoki refused the title on the same day and it was declared vacant. Backlund later defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death match to regain the title on December 12. As Inoki refused the title his reign is not included nor is it recognized by WWE in its official history and Backlund is recognized as having one reign from 1978–1983.

Final countdown and retirement (1994–present)[link]

Inoki's retirement from professional wrestling matches came with the staging of the "Final Countdown" series between 1994 and 1998. This was a special series in which Inoki re-lived some of his mixed martial arts matches under professional wrestling rules, as well as rematches of some of his most well known wrestling matches. Inoki faced Don Frye in the final match of his professional wrestling career.

Culminating in 2006, Inoki's influence within New Japan declined. An example of this has been the purchase of his image by YUKE's, who in 2005 purchased his controlling 51.5% stock in New Japan. As a result New Japan is now able to control Inoki's appearances and the use of his image. Inoki began a new promotion in 2007 called Inoki Genome Federation that competes with New Japan.

On February 1, 2010, World Wrestling Entertainment announced on its Japanese website that Inoki would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2010. On February 9, WWE held a press conference in Tokyo, Japan to officially announce the induction, making him the first ever Japanese person to receive the induction.^[6] Inoki was presented with a Hall of Fame certificate by WWE's Ed Wells and stated that he would be attending the WrestleMania XXVI weekend festivities, which saw him officially inducted.

Mixed martial arts[link]

This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (September 2011)

Inoki was amongst the group of professional wrestlers who were tutored in the art of hooking and shooting by the professional wrestler Karl Gotch. Inoki named his method of fighting "strong style". This method of wrestling (which was taught to Inoki by Gotch) borrowed heavily from professional wrestling's original catch wrestling roots. It is one of the most important influences of modern shoot wrestling. Inoki is also one of the founders of Kansuiryu Karate.^[7]

Inoki faced many opponents from all dominant disciplines of combat from various parts of the world, such as boxers, judoka, karateka, kung fu practitioners, sumo wrestlers and wrestlers. . These bouts included a match a match with then-prominent karate competitor Everett Eddy.^[8] Eddy had previously competed in a mixed skills bout against boxer Horst Geisler, losing by knockout.^[9] The bout with Eddy ended with the karateka "knocked out" by a professional wrestling powerbomb followed by a Hulk Hogan-esque leg drop, strongly suggesting a pre-determined outcome.^[10] Another such match pitted Inoki against 6'7" Kyokushin karate stylist Willie "The Bear Killer" Williams. (So-called because he had allegedly fought a bear for a 1976 Japanese film entitled "The Strongest Karate 2".^[11]) This bout ended in a doctor stoppage after both competitors repeatedly fell out of the ring.^[12] Although many of the matches were worked, they are seen as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts.

Perhaps his most famous bout was against heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali on June 26, 1976 in Tokyo.^[13] Inoki initially promised Ali a worked match to get him to fight in Japan, but when the deal materialized, Ali's camp feared that Inoki would turn the fight into a shoot, which many believe was Inoki's intention. Ali visited a professional wrestling match involving Inoki and witnessed Inoki's grappling ability. The rules of the match were announced several months in advance. Two days before the match, however, several new rules were added which severely limited the moves that each man could perform. A rule change that had a major effect on the outcome of this match was that Inoki could only throw a kick if one of his knees was on the ground.^[13] In the match, Ali landed a total of six punches to Inoki, and Inoki kept to his back in a defensive position almost the full duration of the match of 15 rounds, hitting Ali with a low kick repeatedly.^[14] The bout ended in a draw, 3-3. Ali left without a press conference and suffered damage to his legs as a result of Inoki's repeated leg kicks.^[15]

Following his retirement, Inoki has promoted a number of MMA events such as NJPW: Ultimate Crush (which showcased pro wrestling matches and MMA matches on the same card), as well as annual Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye shows which took place on New Year's Eve in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Some of the major attractions of these events involve the best of NJPW against world renowned fighters in mixed martial arts matches. Inoki vs. Renzo Gracie was a professional wrestling match that took place at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2000 against mixed martial artist Renzo Gracie. Inoki was also the ambassador for the International Fight League's Tokyo entry before that promotion's demise.

Personal life[link]

Inoki was married to actress Mitsuko Baisho from 1971 to 1987.^{[citation needed]}

Inoki appeared in the movie The Bad News Bears Go to Japan as himself. A subplot in his scenes involved Inoki seeking a rematch with Ali. His appearance in the movie culminates with a match against the main character, Marvin Lazar (played by Tony Curtis). Fellow wrestler Hector Guerrero was Curtis's stunt double for the wrestling itself.

Inoki had the starring role in the film Acacia directed by Jinsei Tsuji.^{[citation needed]}

In other media[link]

Inoki appears both in the manga and anime Tiger Mask, in a secondary role: in the Japanese series he is the only one who was able to win over Naoto Date, i.e. Tiger Mask, and the two became best friends subsequently.

In Oh!Great's manga Air Gear, Inoki is regularly referred to by the author, and also the characters as an influence on their fighting style. The manga also makes several less than complimentary references to Inoki's large chin. Along with Inoki, Stone Cold Steve Austin of the World Wrestling Federation has been referred to in Air Gear's pages, often in naming things. (This is based on the translation by Tanoshimi Manga, and later by Balantine Books/Del Rey Books. Other translations may omit these references)

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • Bridging fallaway slam
  • Enzuigiri^[1] - Innovated
  • Manji-Gatame^[1][16] - Octopus Hold
  • Sleeper hold

• Signature moves
  • Bare knuckled punches
  • Cross armbreaker^[16]
  • Diving knee drop
  • Indian deathlock
  • Seated armbar
  • Slap
  • Stepover standing armbar^[16]

• Entrance themes
  • "Honō No Fighter" (炎のファイター) – originally used in the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Lou Thesz Award (2004)

• Japan Wrestling Association
  • NWA International Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Shohei Baba
  • JWA All Asia Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Michiaki Yoshimura (2) and Kintaro Ohki (1)
  • 11th World Big League
  • 1st and 2nd World Tag League (with Kantaro Hoshino and Seiji Sakaguchi)

• National Wrestling Federation
  • NWF Heavyweight Championship (4 times)

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (1 time) - with Seiji Sakaguchi
  • WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NJPW IWGP League (1984, 1986)
  • NJPW Japan Cup Tag Team League (1986) with Yoshiaki Fujiwara
  • NJPW MSG League (1978–1981)
  • NJPW MSG Tag League (1980) with Bob Backlund
  • NJPW MSG Tag League (1982) with Hulk Hogan
  • NJPW MSG Tag League (1983) with Hulk Hogan
  • NJPW MSG Tag League (1984) with Tatsumi Fujinami
  • NJPW World League (1974, 1975)
  • Greatest Wrestlers (Class of 2007)^[17]

• NWA Big Time Wrestling
  • NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (1 time) - with Duke Keomuka

• NWA Hollywood Wrestling
  • NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (1 time) - with Seiji Sakaguchi
  • NWA United National Championship (1 time)

• NWA Mid-America
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time) - with Hiro Matsuda

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Class of 2009^[2]

• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW Hall of Fame (Class of 1995)

• World Wide Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
  • WWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)¹
  • WWWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2010)

• Universal Wrestling Association
  • UWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Promoter of the Year (2001)
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

1 ^ Inoki's WWF Heavyweight Championship reign is not officially recognized by WWE.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Puroresu.com: Antonio Inoki
• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Profile
• TWC: Antonio Inoki Home Page
• WWE Hall of Fame Profile
• Antonio Inoki and Mizutani-sensei form Kansuiryu Karate in 1979

Tatsumi Fujinami (藤波 辰爾, Fujinami Tatsumi^?) (born Tatsumi Fujinami (藤波 辰巳, Fujinami Tatsumi^?)) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as "The Dragon." He is the one who is credited for inventing the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex. He is also the owner & founder of the Dradition wrestling promotion.

Career[link]

Japanese Wrestling Association (1971-1972)[link]

Fujinami started in the old Japanese Wrestling Association under Antonio Inoki's wing at the age of 17. When Inoki was fired from JWA in 1971, Fujinami and a few others followed him in forming a new promotion, New Japan Pro Wrestling. Inoki, Fujinami, Osamu Kido and Kotetsu Yamamoto are recognized as NJPW's founding fathers.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1972-2006)[link]

In those early days, he served as opponent for debuting rookies, such as Mr. Pogo, Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Gran Hamada. Fujinami, Fujiwara, Hamada and three other rookies competed in the 1974 Karl Gotch Cup (a tournament for rookies, forerunner to the later Young Lions Cup).

In the late 1970s, Fujinami was sent abroad, to Mexico's Universal Wrestling Association and to Jim Crockett Promotions in the U.S. In the late 1970s he went to the WWWF where he first made a name for himself. He won the WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship on January 23, 1978.^[1] and brought it back to Japan, establishing it as the premier junior heavyweight title in Japan. In October 1981, he graduated to the heavyweight division. Fujinami would be the first wrestler to be successful in both the junior heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

1988 proved to be Fujinami's banner year. On May 8, he defeated Big Van Vader by disqualification, to win the title vacated by Antonio Inoki. However, within days, the title was held up after he fought Riki Chōshū to a no contest; he would win the title back a month later in the rematch. In October, he won the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship, and he ended the year by winning the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship in December.

1989 proved to be a heartbreaking year for Fujinami. In April, he vacated the title to be determined in a tournament at New Japan's first Tokyo Dome show; he would lose to eventual winner Big Van Vader in the semi-finals. In June, during a match with Vader, Fujinami suffered a severe back injury and pulled a hernia. He wouldn't wrestle at all until he returned in September 1990, changing his kanji from "辰巳" to "辰爾" (both are pronounced Tatsumi).

In December 1990, he regained the title he never lost, the IWGP Heavyweight title from Chōshū. His reign was short-lived, as he lost the title to Vader a month later. Fujinami rebounded by regaining the title two months later. Within days, Fujinami made history, as he defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, making him the very first man to hold the IWGP and NWA World titles simultaneously.

His "most remembered" match in the U.S. was when he defended his NWA World Heavyweight title against Ric Flair in a title vs. title re-match at the first ever WCW SuperBrawl in Florida after a controversial match in Japan that March. Flair retained his WCW Championship and regained Fujinami's NWA title by a school boy pin with a handful of tights.

In recent years Fujinami has decreased his work load upon being named President of NJPW in 1999 (he was nevertheless ousted in 2004). His last title reign in NJPW was a IWGP Tag Team Championship with disciple Osamu Nishimura in October 2001, and his last title shot ever was a AJPW Triple Crown bout against Keiji Mutoh in December of the same year (Mutoh had not affiliated himself exclusively with AJPW at the time).

In 2006, after nearly 35 years in the company, Fujinami left NJPW, after giving an ultimatum of either Riki Chōshū leave or Fujinami leave. New Japan stuck with Chōshū, causing Fujinami to leave. Another veteran and Fujinami's long-time tag team partner, Kengo Kimura, would follow suit.

Muga / Dradition (2004-present)[link]

Recently he and Nishimura began running their Muga promotion again, focusing on pure catch wrestling which seems to have been relegated by NJPW. In a tag team dream match, Fujinami, along with his close friend Nishimura beat Mitsuharu Misawa and Go Shiozaki in the main event of the first "Muga World" show. The name of Fujinami's new promotion has since been changed to Dradition, after the departure of Nishimura.

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • Dragon Backbreaker (Belly to back suplex backbreaker)
  • Dragon sleeper – Innovated
  • Dragon suplex – Innovated

• Signature moves
  • Abdominal stretch, sometimes to a grounded opponent
  • Double underhook DDT
  • Dragon Rocket (Suicide dive)
  • Dragon screw – Innovated
  • Enzuigiri
  • Figure four leglock
  • Front dropkick
  • Gory special
  • Reverse rolling prawn hold
  • Running sitout powerbomb
  • Sharpshooter

• Nicknames
  • "Honoo no Hiryū"
  • "The Dragon"

• Entrance themes
  • "Dragon Suplex" (1978–1985, 1987–1988, 1998–present)
  • "Macho Dragon (Instrumental)" (1985–1987)
  • "Rising" (1988–1989)
  • "Rising - Epilogue" (1990–present)
  • "Super Dragon" (1997–1998)

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Catch Wrestling Association
  • CWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
  • IWGP Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Kengo Kimura (4) and Osamu Nishimura (1)
  • NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WCWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WWF International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kengo Kimura
  • WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • G1 Climax (1993)^[2]
  • Super Grade Tag League (1991) – with Big Van Vader^[3]

• Pacific Northwest Wrestling
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #31 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003

• Universal Wrestling Association
  • UWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Best Technical Wrestler (1985, 1986, 1988)
  • Most Outstanding Wrestler (1988)
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

References[link]

Genichiro Tenryu
Ring name(s)	Genichiro Tenryu Tenryu Hayabusa Hustle General Big Hayabusa
Billed height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Billed weight	124 kg (270 lb)[1]
Born	(1950-02-02) February 2, 1950 (age 62) Katsuyama, Fukui
Trained by	Dory Funk, Jr. Terry Funk Giant Baba
Debut	November 13, 1976

Genichiro Tenryu (天龍源一郎 Tenryū Gen'ichirō), real name Genichiro Shimada (嶋田源一郎 Shimada Gen'ichirō, born February 2, 1950), is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling. "Tenryu" was his shikona.

Sumo wrestling career[link]

As a sumo wrestler, Tenryu was ranked as a sekitori for 27 tournaments, 16 of them in the top makuuchi division. His highest rank was Maegashira 1. He retired from sumo in September 1976 at the early age of 26 after a dispute with the Japan Sumo Association over his transfer to a newly created training stable.

Professional wrestling career[link]

Scouted by Giant Baba, the All Japan Pro Wrestling owner, Tenryu was sent to the Amarillo territory to get trained by Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk, and debuted in Texas in 1976, against Ted DiBiase. After returning to Japan, he stayed in the undercard until about 1982 when he began to get a slight push in that year's Champion's Carnival tournament. In 1983, following a brief stint in Jim Crockett Promotions, his push began in earnest when Jumbo Tsuruta pursued the NWA International heavyweight title, now the main title in the Triple Crown.

1984 saw Tenryu winning the NWA United National title, now also part of the Triple Crown, as well as the NWA International tag team title with Tsuruta. Their combination was called "Kakuryu" (鶴 = kaku = tsuru (the "tsuru" in Tsuruta) + 龍 = ryū in Tenryū). The team feuded with Riki Chōshū and Yoshiaki Yatsu, who were the leaders in an "invasion" angle by the Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, an All Japan satellite made up of former New Japan Pro Wrestling talent.

In 1987, following the departure of the Japan Pro talent, Kakuryu broke up after losing the tag team titles to the Road Warriors, which led to Tenryu forming his own stable, "Revolution", with former International Pro Wrestling wrestlers Ashura Hara and Hiromichi Fuyuki, as well as All Japan rookies Toshiaki Kawada, and Yoshinari Ogawa; Tatsumi Kitahara would join the group upon his debut in 1988. Tenryu and Hara feuded with Tsuruta and his new partner Yatsu over the PWF (Pacific Wrestling Federation) tag team titles and later with their replacement, the Double Cup tag team titles (a combination of the PWF and NWA International tag belts). Hara was kicked out of the promotion in late 1988, and Tenryu replaced him with Stan Hansen, with whom he held the Double Cup as well.

1989 was Tenryu's banner year. Tsuruta became the first Triple Crown champion on April 18 of that year, and just two days later Tenryu became his first challenger. The Tsuruta-Tenryu series that ensued set the standard for all Triple Crown matches and feuds to follow. When Tenryu won the belts on June 5, the match was so spectacular it was deemed Match of the Year by major Japanese publications. The same year saw him finally pin his mentor Baba, albeit in a tag match - but still a major success for a Japanese wrestler. Only Mitsuharu Misawa would follow him to that. In addition, Tenryu was chosen to be one-third of the NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champions with the Road Warriors after the Road Warriors turned heel against their former co-holder of the title, Dusty Rhodes. However, Tenryu's increasing commitments to All Japan meant less time to wrestle in the United States, and this resulted in the six man championship being vacated and temporarily being abandoned until 1991, when it was temporarily resurrected as a World Championship Wrestling championship.

Tenryu's most high-profile North American match was for the World Wrestling Federation in 1991 at WrestleMania VII, where he teamed with Koji Kitao to defeat Demolition.^[1] He also appeared in both the 1993 Royal Rumble and 1994 Royal Rumble;^[1] in the latter he made it to the final five but was eliminated by eventual co-winners Lex Luger and Bret Hart. An angle had he and The Great Kabuki hired as mercenaries by Yokozuna's manager, Mr. Fuji, to attack Luger and prevent him from winning.

In April 1990, Tenryu left All Japan to form SWS. After its collapse in June 1992, Tenryu, aided by Masatomo Takei (brother of his wife Makiyo) formed WAR. WAR became his base from where he would take on top wrestlers from other promotions, such as Atsushi Onita, Nobuhiko Takada, The Great Muta, Shinya Hashimoto and Masahiro Chono, all of whom he defeated. He also traded victories with Tatsumi Fujinami and Antonio Inoki, thus becoming the only Japanese wrestler to defeat both Inoki and Baba by pinfall.

In 1998, as WAR went into decline, Tenryu began an earnest comeback, this time in New Japan. He first joined Heisei Ishingun, allied with its leader Shiro Koshinaka, and they won the IWGP Tag Team Championship from Team Wolf, Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. In December 1999, Tenryu made history as the first native to win the top two distinctions of professional wrestling in Japan (All Japan's Triple Crown and New Japan's IWGP Heavyweight title) by beating Mutoh for the IWGP title. (The first man to win both titles was Big Van Vader, an American.)

In 2000, following the near-collapse of All Japan due to the Pro Wrestling Noah split, Tenryu closed WAR and rejoined All Japan, eager to test his mettle against the remaining ace, his former disciple Kawada. Tenryu beat Kawada in the subsequent tournament for the vacant Triple Crown, winning the belts for a second time. In his second stay in All Japan, he would capture the belts a third time and also the Double Cup with former WAR-UWFI feud rival Yoji Anjo.

In 2003, he joined Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling for a few matches, but as it declined rapidly, he switched back and forth aimlessly between New Japan and All Japan.

In 2005, he entered Noah, and began feuds with Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and other wrestlers he knew from his first All Japan stint, as well as new faces he's never met in the ring before, such as Jun Akiyama. Tenryu has been also been with the HUSTLE promotion and was a part of the main heel group led by “Generalissimo” Takada. During this time, he teamed with Kawada mainly. At HUSTLE Aid 2007, however, Tenryu was defeated by Razor Ramon HG and joined the main face group led by Razor Ramon HG.

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves

• 53 Sai (Snap brainbuster) – 2003; used when Tenryu turned 53 years old
• Folding powerbomb
• Delayed Northern Lights Bomb

• Signature moves

• Backhand chop, sometimes done repeatedly in succession
• DDT, Sometimes rope-hung to ringside
• Diving back elbow drop
• Guh Punch (Jab to the opponent's jaw)
• Kesagiri chop
• Lariat
• Leg–feed enzuigiri
• Throwing his water bottle at opponents in disrespect
• WAR Special (Seated double chickenwing)

• Nicknames

• "Mr. Puroresu"

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• All Japan Pro Wrestling

• AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Masanobu Fuchi
• AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
• AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Stan Hansen (3), Ashura Hara (1), and Yoji Anjo (1)
• NWA International Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jumbo Tsuruta
• NWA United National Championship (2 times)
• PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• PWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ashura Hara
• Champion's Carnival (2001)
• World's Strongest Tag Team League (1984) – with Jumbo Tsuruta
• World's Strongest Tag Team League (1986) – with Jumbo Tsuruta
• World's Strongest Tag Team League (1989) – with Stan Hansen

• Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling

• WMG Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Riki Chōshū

• HUSTLE

• Hustle Super Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tadao Yasuda

• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / World Championship Wrestling

• NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Fuji
• NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with the Road Warriors

• New Japan Pro Wrestling

• IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shiro Koshinaka

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him #44 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
• PWI ranked him #14 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Jumbo Tsuruta in 2003

• Tenryu Project
  • Tenryu Project Six Man Tag Team Championship (1 Time, Current) - with Arashi and Tomohiro Ishii^[2]

• Tokyo Sports Grand Prix

• Wrestler of the Year (1986, 1987, 1988, 1993) ^[3][4]
• Popularity Award (1977) ^[5]
• Technique Award (1990) ^[4]
• Performance Award (1981, 1984, 1996) ^[3][4]
• Fighting Spirit Award (1983) ^[3]
• Tag Team of the Year (1983, 1985)- with Jumbo Tsuruta ^[3]
• Tag Team of the Year (1987)- with Ashura Hara ^[3]
• Match of the Year (1987)- vs. Jumbo Tsuruta on August 31, 1987 ^[3]
• Match of the Year (1988)- vs. Stan Hansen on July 27, 1988 ^[3]
• Match of the Year (1989)- vs. Jumbo Tsuruta on June 5, 1989 ^[3]
• Match of the Year (1991)- vs. Hulk Hogan on December 12, 1991 ^[4]
• Match of the Year (1993)- vs. Riki Choshu on January 4, 1993 ^[4]
• Match of the Year (1994)- with Ashura Hara vs. Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto on March 2, 1994 ^[4]
• Match of the Year (1996)- vs. Nobuhiko Takada on September 11, 1996 ^[4]
• Match of the Year (1999)- vs. Keiji Mutoh on May 3, 1999 ^[4]

• Wrestle Association "R"

• J-1 Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Koki Kitahara and Animal Hamaguchi (1), and Nobutaka Araya and Último Dragón (1)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

• 5 Star Match (1989) vs. Jumbo Tsuruta on June 5
• Match of the Year (2001) vs. Keiji Mutoh on June 8, Tokyo, Japan
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

Sumo Top Division Record[link]

References[link]

See also[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• List of past sumo wrestlers
• List of sumo tournament second division winners