31. Karl Gotch

Published in WWE
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A legitimate amateur wrestler and all around tough guy, Karl Gotch was one half of the WWWF World Tag Team Champions with Rene Goulet back in 1971. Gotch’s style struggled to make him a star in America, but it translated well in Japan where his mat based style of wrestling made him popular. Gotch was a huge influence on later Japanese wrestlers and trained many who became early shoot wrestlers in Japan. It can be argued that his style was one of the precursors to Mixed Martial Arts and he may actually be a better fit for an MMA Hall of Fame as opposed to a WWE one. Either the way man called by some as “The God of Japanese Wrestling” deserves enshrinement somewhere.

Should Karl Gotch be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 77.8%

Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 17.8%

Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 2.2%

No opinion. - 0%

No way! - 2.2%

The Bullet Points

Other Aliases: Karl Istaz (Real Name)
Karl Krauser
Billed From: Hamburg, Germany
Key Championships Held: AWA Ohio Heavyweight
IWA Australia Heavyweight
WWF World Tag Team w/Rene Goulet
Why they will get in: At times the WWE shows respect to legitimate shooters.
Why they won't get in: Despite a championship in the WWE, his legend is in Japan, not the United States
Five Greatest Matches/Moments: 1. Allegedly beat up Buddy Rogers for real for his refusal to wrestle him (1962)
2. Defeats Don Leo Jonathan for the AWA Ohio Heavyweight Title(9/14/62)
3. Loses the above mentioned AWA title to a man he respected, Lou Thesz (8/9/64)
4. Along with Rene Goulet, won the WWWF Tag Team belts (12/6/71)
5. Defeated Antonio Inoki in the first main event for New Japan Pro Wrestling (1972)