Akio Sato

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Akio Sato
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Akio Sato Sato Mr. Rising Sun Shima Shima Shinja
Billed height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Billed weight	106 kg (234 lb)
Born	February 13, 1953
Billed from	Tokyo, Japan (WWF)
Debut	1970
Retired	1995

Akio Sato (born February 13, 1953) is a retired professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the World Wresting Federation as Sato, a member of the Orient Express

1 Career
2 In Wrestling
3 Championships and achievments

[edit] Career

[edit] American Experience

Akio Sato made his professional wrestling debut in 1970 working mainly in Japan at the time. During the middle of the 70s Sato went to the US and competed in various territories. He first attracts the attention of the US fans when he competes for the NWA Central States territory run by Bob Geigel as a face teaming with people like Jerry Oates and the Viking. On February 19, 1976 Sato teams up with promoter Bob Geigel to win the “Central States” version of the NWA World Tag-Team Titles. The team vacated the titles by July most likely so that Geigel could focus on booking the territory. Sato and new partner Pat O’Connor are unable to win the vacant titles.

Sato next attracts the spotlight in the NWA Western States territory booked by Dick Murdoch and Bob Windham in West Texas. Working as the heel Mr. Sato along with fellow Japanese wrestler Mr. Pogo the two win the Western States tag-team titles twice while feuding with Ted Dibiase, Merced Solis, Blackjack Mulligan and Akihisa Takachiho (the future Great Kabuki). Sato would go on to win the title twice more, first with John Tolos and then towards the end of 1979 with Mr. Kiyomoto.

[edit] AJPW

After gaining experience in the United States Sato returned back to Japan and started working for All Japan Pro Wrestling a company he would regularly tour with through out the 80s. On June 11, 1981 Sato and Takashi Ishikawa beat Kerry and David Von Erich for the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship in Tokyo, Japan. The team would hold the titles for 18 months until they were forced to vacate the titles when Sato was injured. Saot and Ishikawa won the titles once more when they defeated Animal Hamaguchi and Masanobu Kurisu for the vacant titles on April 15, 1985. The team held the gold for 3 months before being upended by Isamu Teranishi & Animal Hamaguchi.

Over the years Sato would compete on AJPW’s “Budokan Hall” shows which are considered the highlight of the tours. During these tours Sato would face off against such varied competition as Nick Bockwinkel, Austin Idol and Curtis Hughes. Because Sato only toured with the AJPW and wasn’t a regular he mainly worked with the foreign talent between 1986 and 1989.

[edit] Return to the US

In 1986 Sato returned to the US and his old stomping grounds of the NWA Central States territory. Here he won a 14 man battle royal on March 13, 1986 to win the NWA Central States Television title., eliminating Tommy Wright last to win the title. 3 months later he would lose the title to Mike George before moving to a new territory. Sato found himself working in Memphis for Jerry Jarrett & Jerry Lawler’s Continental Wrestling Association. In the CWA Akio Sato and Tarzan Goto formed a formidable team that managed to win the CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship no less than five times. The duo beat future superstar Jeff Jarrett, tag-team legends the Sheeperhders. Sato’s future partner Pat Tanaka as well as future partner Paul Diamond both on separate occasions and when they joined up to form Badd Company.

Sato made one last run with the Central States territory in it’s dying days. Sato became the last ever Central States heavyweight champion holding the belt when the promotion closes it’s doors in 1989. After the CWA/AWA partnership was dissolved Sato went to the AWA to compete.

In the AWA Sato was nicknamed the "Asian Assassin" and pushed as a coldhearted heel. On February 7, 1989 Sato participated in an very known battle royal for the vacant AWA World Heavyweight Championship. Larry Zbyszko won the title denying Sato his biggest opportunity ever. Later on Saot would unsuccessfully challenged Greg Gagne for the AWA International Heavyweight Championship. Near the end of his time in the AWA he participated in a feud between Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond following the breakup of Badd Company.

[edit] WWF

Sato’s next move is the one that got him the most media attention as he signed with the World Wrestling Federation for the first time in his career. In early 1990 Sato along with former rival Pat Tanaka were introduced to the WWF as The Orient Express by manager Mr. Fuji. During this run, Sato introduced the Sitout Powerbomb to mainstream American wrestling for the first time. The Orient Express initially feuded with The Rockers whom they fared well against due to their similar sizes & styles. Then the Orient Express got involved in the Legion of Doom / Demolition Where the Orient Express were overwhelmed by the much bigger Legion of Doom.

When Akio Sato decided leave the US wrestling scene in the latter days of 1990 the WWF decided to reunite the team known as Badd Company only this time with Paul Diamond wearing a mask to hide the fact that he’s not oriental and using the name of Kato. Sato would return in 1992 to team with Tanaka and “Kato” for a series of 6-man tag-team matches on various WWF house show but Sato and Tanaka both left the WWF after only a handful of matches together.

Sato retired from in ring competition around 1992/1993 but did return to the WWF in 1995 as the white faced manager Shinja who adviced Hakushi during his heel run with the company. When Hakushi was turned face Shinja was quietly written out of the storyline and Sato retired to focus on no wrestling ventures. Sato now resides in Kansas City, MO.