Freddie Blassie retired from pro wrestling in 1986 when his health began to suffer. But, he has often made appearances at wrestling conventions with his sweet Japanese wife, Miyako. Blassie was one of the most hated gaijin (foreign) wrestlers in Japanese wrestling history as "The Vampire." The WWA World Heavyweight title match between Rikidozan and Blassie at Tokyo Gym on April 23, 1962 (Live TV), and a six-man tag team match between Rikidozan, Toyonobori, & Great Togo and Lou Thesz, Blassie, & Mike Sharpe (Sr.) at Ohji Gym in Kobe City on April 27, 1962 (Live TV) caused heart attack deaths from shock to a total of eleven aged persons, who were watching Blassie's biting on TV, for a week. "A Rembrandt. He was an artist who had an amazing gift." (Jim Ross on Blassie)
One of the greatest Canadian pro wrestlers, Gene Kiniski will come back to Japan as a witness of the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship Tournament from October 14 to 28, 2000. Kiniski defeated Lou Thesz to win the NWA World Heavyweight title in St. Louis, Missouri on January 7, 1966, and lost it to Dory Funk Jr. in Tampa, Florida on February 11, 1969. We have still often had opportunities to watch the International Heavyweight title match between Kiniski and Giant Baba at Osaka Baseball Stadium on August 14, 1967,"65 minutes" time-up draw, n TV. Can we imagine if any boys will have such a tough and long match in midsummer today?
On June 17, 2000, Bruno Sammartino no longer wanted anything to do with pro wrestling and washed his hands of the sport. It has been nearly 20 years since he had his last match, teaming with Giant Baba against Tiger Jeet Singh & Umanosuke Ueda at Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall) in Tokyo on October 9, 1981. It is sad that the man who always had a passion and brought respect to pro wrestling was disgusted with it.
Don Leo Jonathan came to Japan for the first time for Rikidozan in September 1958. In the 1970s, we enjoyed "Battle of the Giants" matches between Jonathan and Giant Baba, Monster Roussimoff (Andre the Giant), and Abdullah the Butcher. Jonathan, 6'5", was a real, natural big man, who could do everything in the ring, and Japanese fans still love his large-scale wrestling. Jonathan has run a diving business (exploratory drilling) in Vancouver, British Columbia for years.
The Sheik has been gravely ill for the past few months. The feud between The Sheik & Abdullah the Butcher and Dory & Terry Funk was the prime mover to letting me become captivated by pro wrestling in the 1970's. Sheik had his retirement ceremony at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on December 11, 1998. Sheik, brandishing a sword, came into the hall and threw FIRE two times and walked around the ring and ran after fans. Sheik was screaming "Maki-m maki-m, Allah!" and kept threatening them with his sword. They did a 10-count gong, and Sheik ran after the fans again and went back to the dressing room. I hope and pray that you will tell us again that The Sheik IS always The Sheik.
King Curtis Iaukea (Prince Curtis Iaukea / Curtis "The Bull" Iaukea) was one of the toughest bad guys from Hawaii and a real uncle of All Japan Pro's "Taiyo Kea" Maunukea Mossman (They are NO relation to TAFKA Prince Iaukea in WCW). King Curtis's wrestling style influenced Bruiser Brody very much when Brody came to Japan for the first time in January 1979. Mossman was one of the most underrated young wrestlers, but he stayed in Mrs. Motoko Baba's All Japan Pro when Mitsuharu Misawa, who has had conflicts with her, and 24 other wrestlers and 18 office workers left her All Japan Pro in the middle of July. Finally, Mossman has a capital chance to be a passionate young main eventer.
Dick Murdoch died of heart attack on June 15, 1996, three weeks after having a classic match with Yoshiaki Fujiwara on Fujiwara's independent show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on May 23, and two months before celebrating his 50th birthday on August 16. Murdoch had a total of 53 Japan tours and really loved Japan. Perhaps "Captain Redneck" enjoys drinking Coors beer in Heaven over Amarillo, Texas now.
Chavo Guerrero (Sr.) was one of the pioneers of the Japanese junior heavyweight scene as a rival of Tatsumi Fujinami, Atsushi Onita, and Masanobu Fuchi from 1978 to the early 80s. Chavo teaches history at a school in Texas now. Lieutenant Loco (Chavo Guerrero Jr.) had trained to be a wrestler since childhood and learned both Lucha Libre and American style wrestling from his father and three uncles, Mando, Hector, and Eddie Guerrero. Blood will tell that he is not only a good wrestler but also a very nice person, like his father.
Jorge Gonzales, 7'6", 430 lbs., was a basketball prospect for the Atlanta Hawks, but bad knees kept him from the court. Gonzales debuted as "El Gigante" in WCW in 1990, and he headed to the WWF as "Giant Gonzales" in 1993. No doubt, Gonzales was not only one of the tallest but also one of the worst pro wrestlers. Gonzales came to New Japan Pro Wrestling and WAR and has gone back home to his native Argentina now. Gigante, you've got to go easy---no excitement, no strain.
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