As one of the top draws of New Japan, Shinya Hashimoto won numerous titles and successfully wrestled a hybrid of stiff pre-MMA style wrestling and the technical Japanese wrestling style that dominated the country.  Hashimoto may have looked like a fat version of Japanese Elvis, but his in ring work had few equals and he was a top draw of the Japanese wrestling circuit for years.  The former New Japan and All Japan World Heavyweight Champion died prematurely at the age of 40, but his in ring accomplishments had few equals.

Another Japanese wrestler who is not well known to North American audiences (although he did have many matches here in the 70’s), Riki Choshu also was one of the top stars in Japan and was a constant fixture in the Heavyweight ranks there for decades.