The WWE Hall of Fame has announced that Japanese legend, Tatsumi Fujinami will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and become along with Antonio Inoki, the second Japanese wrestler inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Fujinami has a past history with the WWE, as he would win the WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship in 1978 and would often appear for them at the fabled Madison Square Gardens and was also at the Showdown at Shea card where he successfully defended the championship against Chavo Guerrero. Internationally, Fujinami made that championship relevant in Japan, where it become one of the highest regarded Junior Heavyweight Championships in that country.
The mid 1980’s saw Fujinami move up to the heavyweight division and in 1988 he would defeat Big Van Vader for the vacated title to win his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He would hold that belt six times in total over his career as well as the IWGP World Tag Team Championship five times.
While he was known in the WWE in the late 70’s and early 80’s, his biggest mark in an American promotion was winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Ric Flair in 1991 at the Tokyo Dome, though that title change was not recognized by WCW at the time and Flair would “win it back” at the main even of Superbrawl in St. Petersburg, Florida.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com applaud the WWE Hall of Fame for looking internationally and would like to congratulate Tatsumi Fujinami for receiving this honor.
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