Profile last updated by: David Buckler

Mr. Fuji

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Wrestlers Managed:

  • George Steele
  • Magnificent Muraco
  • The Moondogs Killer Kahn
  • Jim Neidhart
  • Sika Kamala
  • Demolition
  • Ax / Smash / Crush Powers of Pain
  • Warlord
  • Barbarian Berzerker
  • Orient Express
  • Crush
  • Yokozuna
  • Owen Hart

Title History

  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Curtis Iaukea defeating Neff Maivia & James Blears (January 7, 1965);
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Haru Sasaki defeating Pepper Martin & Rene Goulet (July 27, 1966);
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Tony Borne defeating Shag Thomas & Rene Goulet (October 27, 1966);
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Haru Sasaki defeating The Claw & Beauregard (August 1, 1970);
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title defeating Moondog Mayne (August 8, 1970);
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Haru Sasaki defeating Tony Borne & Moondog Mayne (November 12, 1970);
  • IWA (Australia) World Tag Team titles w/Tiger Jeet Singh defeating Curtis Iaukea & Mark Lewin (May ??, 1971);
  • WWWF World Tag Team titles w/Toru Tanaka defeating Jay Strongbow & Sonny King (June 27, 1972);
  • WWWF World Tag Team titles w/Toru Tanaka defeating Haystacks Calhoun & Tony Garea (September 11, 1973);
  • NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Toru Tanaka won a tournament (September 19, 1975);
  • NWA (San Francisco) United States Heavyweight title defeating Pat Patterson (Febuary 7, 1976);
  • WWWF World Tag Team titles w/Toru Tanaka defeating Larry Zbyszko & Tony Garea for vacant titles (September 27, 1977);
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Karl Von Steiger defeating John Tolos & Steve Strong (August 16, 1978);
  • AWA Southern Tag Team titles w/Toru Tanaka defeating Robert Fuller & Bill Dundee (May 14, 1979);
  • NWA Southeastern Tag Team titles w/Toru Tanaka defeating Buddy & Ron Fuller (June 29, 1979);
  • NWA (New Zealand) British Empire Commonwealth Heavyweight title defeating Peter Maivia (September 3, 1979);
  • WWC (World Wrestling Council) North American Heavyweight title defeating Invader I (January 26, 1980);
  • WWC (World Wrestling Council) North American Tag Team titles w/Pierre Martel beat Dick Brower & Luke Graham (May 23, 1980);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Tag Team titles w/Genichiro Tenryu defeating George Wells & Dewey Robertson (Febuary 7, 1981);
  • NWA (Toronto) Canadian Heavyweight title defeating Angelo Mosca (July 12, 1981);
  • WWF World Tag Team titles w/Mr. Saito defeating Rick Martel & Tony Garea (October 31, 1981);
  • WWF World Tag Team titles w/Mr. Saito defeating Jay Strongbow & Jules Strongbow (July 13, 1982);

Career Highlights

NWA: Pacific Northwest Wrestling:

  • July 27, 1966: Mr. Fuji & Haru Sasaki defeated Rene Goulet & Pepper Martin to win the Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles..
  • October 6, 1966: Rene Goulet & Shag Thomas beat Mr Fuji & Haru Sasaki for the Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles..
  • October 27, 1966: Mr. Fuji & Tony Bourne defeated Rene Goulet & Shag Thomas for the Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles..
  • December 10, 1966: Pepper Martin & Shag Thomas dethrone Mr Fuji & Tony Bourne for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag titles..
  • August 1, 1970: Mr. Fuji & Haru Sasaki defeat Beauregard & The Claw to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles..
  • August 8, 1970: Mr. Fuji defeats Moondog Mayne to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title..
  • October 28, 1970: Tony Bourne & Moondog Mayne beat Mr. Fuji & Haru Sasaki for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles..
  • November 12, 1970: Mr. Fuji & Haru Sasaki regain the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles..
  • November 28, 1970: Tony Bourne & Moondog Mayne defeated Mr. Fuji & Haru Sasaki for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles..
  • May 1971 – IWA: Mr. Fuji & Tiger Jeet Sigh defeated Mark Lewin & King Curtis Iaukea to win the IWA Tag Team titles..

World Wide Wrestling Federation:

  • 1972: Mr. Fuji joined Vince McMahon Sr’s World Wide Wrestling Federation..
  • Mr. Fuji forms a tag team with Professor Toru Tanaka and were managed by the Grand Wizard ———- [Fuji/Tanaka Profile]..
  • ~~~Toru Tanaka provided his massive physical strength while Mr Fuji brought his devious ring psychology to the team..
  • June 27, 1972: Mr. Fuji & Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated Sonny King & Chief Jay Strongbow to win the WWWF Tag Team titles..
  • August 22, 1972: Mr. Fuji receives a WWWF title shot against champion Pedro Morales..
  • October 16, 1972 – MSG: Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka wrestle Pedro Morales & Bruno Sammartino in the main event of the card..
  • May 30, 1973: Tony Garea & Haystacks Calhoun defeated Mr Fuji & Toru Tanaka to win the WWWF Tag Team titles..
  • September 11, 1973: Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka defeated Tony Garea & Haystacks Calhoun to recapture the WWWF Tag Team titles..

Touring the Territories:

  • September 19, 1975 – NWA Georgia: Mr. Fuji & Prof. Toru Tanaka win the NWA Georgia Tag Team titles in a tournament final..
  • November 14, 1973: Tony Garea & Dean Ho defeated Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka to win the WWWF Tag Team titles..
  • February 7, 1976 – NWA San Francisco: Mr. Fuji defeats Pat Patterson for the NWA United States title..
  • February 12, 1977: Mr. Fuji leaves the NWA San Francisco territory and is stripped of the U.S. title and banned..

World Wide Wrestling Federation:

  • Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka take Classy Freddie Blassie on as their manager..
  • September 27, 1977: Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka defeated Tony Garea & Larry Zbyszko in the tournament final to win their 3rd Tag titles..
  • January 23, 1978 – MSG: Fuji/Tanaka/Stan Stasiak/Mikel Scicluna wrestled Bob Backlund/Peter Maivia/Tony Garea/Larry Zbyzsko..
  • February 20, 1978 – MSG: Mil Mascaras defeated Mr. Fuji..
  • May 20, 1978 – MSG: Dusty Rhodes/Mil Mascaras/Andre the Giant defeated Mr. Fuji/Toru Tanaka/Ken Patera in a 2/3 falls match..

Touring the Territories:

  • August 16, 1978 – NWA Hawaii: Mr. Fuji & Karl Von Steiger defeated Steve Strong & John Tolos to win the NWA Hawaii Tag titles..
  • May 14, 1979 – AWA: Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka defeated Bill Dundee & Robert Fuller to win the AWA Southern Tag Team titles..
  • June 29, 1979 – NWA Southeastern: Fuji/Tanaka beat Ron Fuller & Buddy Fuller to win the NWA Southerneastern Tag Team titles..
  • 1979 – NWA New Zealand: Mr. Fuji defeated Peter Maivia to win the British Empire/Commonwealth title..
  • ~~~Rick Martel defeated Mr. Fuji for the British Empire/Commonwealth title..
  • January 26, 1980 – WWC: Mr. Fuji defeated Invader 1 to win the WWC North American title..
  • May 23, 1980: Mr. Fuji & Pierre Martel defeated Luke Graham & Bulldog Brower to win the WWC North American Tag Team titles..
  • Feb 7, 1981 – NWA Mid-Atlantic: Mr. Fuji & Gen’ichiro Tenyru beat Dewey Robertson & George Wells for the Mid-Atlantic Tag titles..
  • July 12, 1981 – NWA Canada: Mr. Fuji defeated Angelo Mosca to win the NWA Canadian Heavyweight title..

World Wrestling Federation:

  • Mr. Fuji returns to the WWF and forms a new tag team with Mr. Saito, managed by Captain Lou Albano ———- [Fuji/Saito Profile]..
  • October 13, 1981: Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito defeated Tony Garea & Rick Martel to win the WWF Tag Team titles..
  • June 28, 1982 – MSG: Chief Jay Strongbow & Jules Strongbow defeated Mr Fuji & Mr Saito for the WWF Tag Team titles..
  • July 13, 1982: Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito defeated the Strongbows to regain the WWF Tag Team titles..

World Wrestling Federation – Manager:

  • 1985: Mr. Fuji slowly makes the transition from wrestler to manager and took on George “the Animal” Steele as his first client..
  • In one of the WWFs most infamous moments, George Steele & Mr. Fuji team up against Hulk Hogan & “Mean” Gene Okerlund..
  • George Steele would eventually turn face and leave Mr. Fuji, who would then begin managing Magnificent Don Muraco..
  • Mr. Fuji and Don Muraco were part of a famous Tuesday Night Titans skit called “Fuji Vice” – a mock soap opera..
  • Mr. Fuji briefly managed Jim Neidhart before selling his contract to Jimmy Hart, who would create the Hart Foundation..
  • Mr. Fuji also managed a tag team known as the Moondogs — an unorthadox team made up of Rex, King & Spot..
  • September 14, 1985 WWF Championship Wrestling: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat defeated Mr. Fuji..
  • October 31, 1985 – Saturday Night Main Event: Ricky Steamboat defeated Mr. Fuji in a Martial Arts match..
  • December 19, 1985 – Saturday Night Main Event: Junkyard Dog & Ricky Steamboat defeat Mr. Fuji & Magnificent Muraco..
  • WrestleMania II: Mr. Fuji managed the Magnificent Muraco in the opening match against Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff..
  • Mr. Fuji brings Kamala into his stable for a brief time and even had Kamala eat a live chicken on the Tuesday Night Titans program!
  • Magnificent Muraco hosts the Body Shop, a WWF Talk Show that replaced Pipers Pit when Piper left for a brief time..
  • ~~~Mr. Fuji also gained the services of “Cowboy” Bob Orton who came with the Talk Show deal..
  • WrestleMania III: Mr. Fuji manages Magnificent Muraco & Bob Orton in the opening match against the Can-Am Connection..
  • Mr. Fuji gains the contracts of Demolition from Johnny V, and also re-introduced Killer Khan back into the WWF, as well as Sika..
  • ~~~Killer Khan received a number of WWF title shots against Hulk Hogan..
  • WrestleMania IV: Mr. Fuji leads Demolition to victory when they defeated Strike Force for the WWF Tag Team titles..
  • SummerSlam 1988: Mr. Fuji (accompanied by Jimmy Hart) manages Demolition to defeat the Hart Foundation to retain the Tag titles..
  • Survivor Series 1988: Mr. Fuji turns against Demolitions and aligns himself with the Powers of Pain..
  • ~~~Mr. Fuji helps the Powers of Pain become the sole survivors when Fuji deliberately trips one of the Conquestadors with his cane..
  • ~~~After the match, Warlord and Barbarian lift up Mr. Fuji onto their shoulders as the crowd gives a confused reaction..
  • ~~~Later on in the card, Mr. Fuji & the Powers of Pain cut a promo which then confirms their heel status..
  • WrestleMania V: Demolition defeated Mr. Fuji & the Powers of Pain in a handicapped match to retain the Tag titles..
  • Mr. Fuji managed Kendo Nagasaki during his very brief stint with the WWF..
  • Royal Rumble 1990: Mr. Fuji & Bobby Heenan get into a brief shoving match over Andre the Giant eliminating the Warlord..
  • February 13, 1990 – Superstars of Wrestling: Mr. Fuji introduces the Orient Express (Pat Tanaka & Akio Sato)
  • February 20, 1990 – Superstars of Wrestling: Mr. Fuji sells the Warlord & Barbarian separate contracts to Slick and Bobby Heenan!
  • WrestleMania VI: Mr. Fuji manages the Orient Express to victory over the Rockers by count out..
  • SummerSlam 1990: Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Nikolai Volkoff defeat the Orient Express..
  • Akio Sato leaves the WWF and is replaced by the masked Kato (Paul Diamond-’secret’ reunion of ex-AWA tag team Badd Company)..
  • October 9, 1990 – Superstars: Mr Fuji organised an ambush where Orient Express & Demolition ran out for a 5-on-2 attack the LOD..
  • ~~~The signified Mr. Fuji’s reunion with Demolition – Ax, Smash, and Crush..
  • Late 1990: Mr. Fuji teamed up with the Orient Express to face Legion of Doom in handicapped matches..
  • Royal Rumble 1991: Mr. Fuji leads the Orient Express in the match against the Rockers..
  • ~~~Later in the card, Mr. Fuji accompanied Smash & Crush to the ring for the Royal Rumble match..
  • WrestleMania VII: Koji Kitao & Genichiro Tenryu defeat Demolition (managed by Mr. Fuji)..
  • Not long after, Mr. Fuji severed his ties with Demolition and Crush leaves the WWF..
  • Mr. Fuji adds the Berzerker to his stable of wrestlers..
  • April 24, 1991 – UK Rampage ’91: The Rockers (accompanied by Andre the Giant) defeat the Orient Express..
  • ~~~Before the match started, the Rockers brought out Andre to counter Mr. Fuji’s interference..
  • Royal Rumble 1992: Mr. Fuji accompanies the Orient Express in the opening match against the New Foundation..
  • Mr. Fuji brings in the mammoth Yokozuna..
  • Survivor Series 1992: Yokozuna makes his WWF ppv debut squashing Virgil..
  • Royal Rumble 1993: Yokozuna wins the Royal Rumble, earning him a shot at the WWF Title at WrestleMania IX..
  • Mr. Fuji abandons the Berzerker..
  • WrestleMania IX: Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart for the WWF title when Mr. Fuji throws salt into Bret Harts eyes..
  • ~~~After the match, Mr. Fuji issues an open challenge to the “Immortal” Hulk Hogan, who comes out and wins the WWF title!
  • King of the Ring 1993: Yokozuna defeated Hulk Hogan to regain the WWF title..
  • July 12, 1993 – Monday Night Raw: Mr. Fuji is in the corner of Yokozuna as he defeats Crush to retain the WWF title..
  • ~~~After the match, Yokozuna repeatedly executes the Bonzai drop on Crush until Randy Savage makes the save!
  • Mr. Fuji & Yokozuna enlist the help of Jim Cornette as their American Spokesperson..
  • SummerSlam 1993: Lex Luger defeats Yokozuna by count out..
  • Royal Rumble 1994: Yokozuna needed 9 other men to help him defeat the Undertaker in a Casket Match..
  • WrestleMania X: Mr. Fuji accompanies Crush to the ring for his match against “Macho Man” Randy Savage..
  • ~~~Later in the card, Mr. Fuji appeared two more times to co-manage Yokozuna for his matches against Lex Luger and Bret Hart..
  • King of the Ring 1994: Mr. Fuji accompanies Yokozuna & Crush to the ring for their match against the Headshrinkers..
  • Survivor Series 1994: Mr. Fuji accompanies Yokozuna for his second casket match against the Undertaker..
  • WrestleMania XI: Mr. Fuji accompanies Yokozuna to the ring as Owen Harts mystery tag team partner!
  • ~~~Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated the Smokin’ Gunns for the WWF Tag Team titles!
  • In Your House: Owen Hart & Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji & Jim Cornette) defeated The Smoking Gunns to retain..
  • King of the Ring 1995: Savio Vega defeats Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji) by count out to qualify for the 2nd round of the KotR tournament..
  • July 23, 1995 – In Your House: Owen Hart & Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji & Jim Cornette) defeated the Allied Powers to retain..
  • October 22, 1995 – In Your House: Yokozuna and Mabel wrestle to a Double DQ..
  • Mr. Fuji’s long WWF career comes to and end and is phased out of the picture..
  • Mr. Fuji retires due to health problems that prevent him from travelling
  • WrestleMania XII: Mr. Fuji makes a special appearance accompanying Yokozuna (recently turned face) in the opening match..

American Wrestling Federation:

  • Mr. Fuji made a few brief appearances in Tito Santana’s upstart American Wrestling Federation, airing on the FOX network..
  • Mr. Fuji retired from wrestling and became a ticket-taker at a movie theatre (I think?) somewhere in Tennessee.

WWE Hall of Fame: