gold star for USAHOF

Rikidozan

Rikidozan
The WWE Hall of Fame inducted Antonio Inoki, who might lay claim as the greatest Japanese wrestler of all time. However, he was not the most important, that would be Rikidozan, who is not only the “Father of puroresu” but the man who helped restore pride to the Japanese after World War II.
Rikidozan was actually of Korean descent, and ventured to Japan to compete in Sumo Wrestling. After he left Sumo, he took to Professional Wrestling (puroresu) which had taken foothold in Japan. With his size and strength, he was an instant sensation and was booked to stand up to the evil Americans. Like El Santo did in Mexico and Hulk Hogan would later do in the United States, Rikidozan transcended the industry and his matches set records for viewership on Japanese Television. 

He would die as the result of complications from a stab wound in 1963 from a member of the Yakuza at a Tokyo nightclub that he owned. Details are sketchy, but it is believed that he refused medical attention and continued to party, and the lack of proper treatment caused a fatal infection.

The end of Rikidozan may be a bit of a mystery but the impact in Japan was undeniable. He trained future legends Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki and created a legacy that ran throughout wrestling and not just in Japan. Should the WWE Hall of Fame ever present itself as a complete wrestling Hall of Fame (and some of their inductions do show this), Rikidozan would have to be included.

Should Rikidozan be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 66.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 25%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 8.3%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%

The Bullet Points

  • Other Aliases: Mitsuhiro Momota (Real Name)
  • Billed From: Nagasaki, Japan
  • Key Championships Held: NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team (San Francisco) w/Dennis Clary
    Japanese Heavyweight
    NWA Hawaii Tag Team (2) 1w/Azuma Fuji, 1w/Koukichi Endoh
    All Asia Heavyweight
    NWA World Tag Team (San Francisco) w/Koukichi Endoh
    NWA International Heavyweight
    All Japan Tag Team w/Toyonobori
    All Asia Tag Team (4) w/Toyonobori
    WWA Heavyweight (Los Angeles)
  • Why they will get in: Rikidozan is flat out the most important man in the history of Japanese Professional Wrestling.
  • Why they won't get in: Does that fact really impact the WWE?
  • Five Greatest Matches/Moments: 1.   Defeated Masahiko Kimura for the Japanese Heavyweight Title; the first major championship in Japan, and a match that allegedly turned into a shoot (12/22/54)
    2.   Defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA International Heavyweight Title and became a certifiable star in Japan (8/27/58)
    3.   With Toyonobori, established a reign of Tag Team dominance with their first All Asia Tag Team Title (6/7/60)
    4.   Defeated Freddie Blassie for the WWA Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles (3/2/62)
    5.   Set the television viewing record in Japan in a sixty minute draw with the Destroyer (5/24/63)

Should Rikidozan be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 66.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 25%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 8.3%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%

WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN

Mar 29, 2024

Buy your Tickets to see WWE Friday Night SmackDown HERE!

WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN

Mar 29, 2024

Buy your Tickets to see WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN HERE!

WWE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA

Mar 30, 2024

Buy your Tickets to see WWE Road to WrestleMania HERE!

WWE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA

Mar 31, 2024

Buy your Tickets to see WWE Road to WrestleMania HERE!

 
Tagged under

Comments powered by CComment