Rikidozan

Rikidōzan (November 14, 1924 - December 15, 1963) was a professional wrestler, known as the "Father of Puroresu" and one of the most influential men in wrestling history. He was credited with bringing the sport of professional wrestling to Japan at a time when the Japanese needed a local hero to look up to.

Early years
Born Kim Sin-nak (or Kim Sin-rak) (Hangul: 김신락; Hanja: 金信洛) in South Hamgyong, North Korea on November 14, 1924), he travelled to Japan and trained to be a sumo wrestler. Due to the discrimination against Koreans by the Japanese at the time, Shin-rak claimed that his name was Mitsuhiro Momota (Momota being the surname of the family from Nagasaki which adopted, but later disowned, him), and used the shikona of Rikidozan. He was runner-up to yokozuna Haguroyama in the tournament of June 1947. His highest rank was sekiwake.

Professional wrestling
Frustrated with neverending discrimination in matches and in his dojo, he gave up sumo in 1950 and made his professional wrestling debut in 1951 with a ten minute draw against Bobby Bruns. He established himself as Japan's biggest wrestling star by defeating one American wrestler after another. This was shortly after World War II, and the Japanese needed someone who could stand up to the Americans. Rikidozan thus became immensely popular in Japan. His American opponents assisted him by portraying themselves as villains who cheated in their matches. Ironically, Rikidozan was always booked himself as a villain when he wrestled in America.

Rikidozan gained worldwide renown when he defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship on August 27, 1958. In another match, Thesz willingly agreed to put over Rikidozan at the expense of his own reputation. This built up mutual respect between the two wrestlers, and Rikidozan never forgot what Thesz did. He would go on to capture several NWA titles in matches both in Japan and overseas. Rikidozan also trained professional wrestling students, including soon-to-be wrestling legends Kanji "Antonio" Inoki, Ooki Kintaro, and Shohei "Giant" Baba.

His signature move was the karate chop, which was actually based on sumo's harite, rather than actual karate. It is rumoured that he had been coached by fellow Korean Masutatsu Oyama, but he is more likely to have been coached by another Korean karateka, Nakamura Hideo.

With his success in pro wrestling, Rikidozan began acquiring properties such as nightclubs, hotels and boxing promotions. He established the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA), Japan's first professional wrestling promotion, in 1953. His first major feud was against Masahiko Kimura, the famous judoka who had been invited by Rikidozan to compete as a professional wrestler. Other famous feuds included those against Thesz in 1957-58, against Freddie Blassie in 1962, and against The Destroyer in 1963. Two of his matches are still (as of 2002) in the top ten rated television programs of all time in Japan. His October 6, 1957 sixty-minute draw with Lou Thesz for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship drew an 87.0 rating, and his May 24, 1963 sixty-minute two out of three falls draw with The Destroyer drew a 67.0 rating, but a larger viewing audience (the largest in Japanese history) than the previous match, since by 1963 more people had television sets.

Death
In 1963, he ran afoul of a rivalry between his friend Nicola "Nick" Zapetti, a yakuza boss who helped him fund the JWA, and a warring crime family. On December 8, 1963, while partying in a Tokyo nightclub, Rikidozan was stabbed with a urine-soaked blade by gangster Katsuji Murata. Reportedly, Rikidozan threw Murata out of the club and continued to party, refusing to seek medical help. He died a week later of peritonitis at the age of 39 on December 15.

One of his sons, Mitsuo Momota, followed his father into the ring in 1970 and still competes in Pro Wrestling NOAH, but was never able to earn the recognition that once made his father famous.

Championships and accomplishments

 * Japan Wrestling Association
 * JWA Japanese Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
 * JWA All Asia Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Toyonobori
 * JWA All Japan Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Toyonobori
 * NWA International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)


 * National Wrestling Alliance
 * NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) – with Koukichi Endoh
 * NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Bobby Bruns (1), Azumafuji (1) and Koukichi Endoh (1)
 * NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) – with Dennis Clary


 * North American Wrestling Alliance / World Wrestling Association
 * NAWA / WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Popular culture
In 2004, A South Korean film, Rikidozan was made about the life of the wrestler, with Sol Kyung-gu playing the titular role.