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.
Championships and accomplishments
- 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)
- 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.
Notes
Further reading
- I am a Korean - Biography of Rikidozan, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Pyongyang, 200 pages.
- Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan - Discuses Rikidozan's impact on Japanese pop-culture and the Yakuza underworld during the American occupation of Japan, and also includes a small photo collection of Riki, and his killer, Katsuji Murata. Vintage Books. 400 pages.