Akio Sato (wrestler)

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This article is about the professional wrestler. For the politician, see Akio Sato (politician).
Akio Sato
An image of Akio Sato.
Statistics
Ring name(s) Akio Sato
Sato
Mr. Rising Sun Shima
Shima
Shinja
Billed height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Billed weight 106 kg (230 lb/16.7 st)
Born February 13, 1953 (1953-02-13) (age 55)
Resides Kansas City, MO
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 Wrestling Federation as Sato, a member of the Orient Express

Contents

[edit] Career

Akio Sato made his professional wrestling debut in 1970 in the old Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance but left that promotion in 1972 to co-found (with Giant Baba) All Japan Pro Wrestling. 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 [1]. 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 were unable to win the vacant titles[1].

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 duo would win the Western States tag-team titles twice while feuding with Ted DiBiase, Merced Solis, Blackjack Mulligan and Akihisa Takachiho (the future Great Kabuki) [1]. Sato would go on to win the title twice more, first with John Tolos [1] and then towards the end of 1979 with Mr. Kiyomoto[1].

[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[1]. The team would hold the titles for 18 months until they were forced to vacate the titles when Sato was injured[1]. Sato and Ishikawa won the titles once more when they defeated Animal Hamaguchi and Masanobu Kurisu for the vacant titles on April 15, 1985 [1]. The team held the gold for 3 months before being upended by Isamu Teranishi & Animal Hamaguchi[1].

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 [2] and Curtis Hughes [3]. 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[1]. 3 months later he would lose the title to Mike George[1] 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[1]. The duo beat future superstar Jeff Jarrett [1], tag-team legends the Sheeperhders [1]. Sato’s future partner Pat Tanaka[1] as well as future partner Paul Diamond [1] both on separate occasions and when they joined up to form Badd Company [4].

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[1]. 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 cold-hearted heel. On February 7, 1989 Sato participated in a very well known battle royal for the vacant AWA World Heavyweight Championship. Larry Zbyszko won the title denying Sato his biggest opportunity ever[1]. Later on Sato 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[4].

[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[4]. During this run, Sato introduced the Sitout Powerbomb to mainstream American wrestling for the first time. The Orient Express kicked off a prolonged feud with The Rockers that started at WrestleMania VI[5] and continued off and on for well over a year[6]. The Orient Express got involved in the Legion of Doom / Demolition because Mr. Fuji managed both teams. Demolition was being phased out and the Orient Express took on the Legion of Doom instead[7]. The Legion of Doom / Orient Express feud was extremely onesided due to the Legion of Doom’s massive size advantage[8].

After WrestleMania VI Tanaka and Sato only made two Pay Per View appearances while in the WWF. Firstly at SummerSlam 1990 where the team were defeated by ”Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Nikolai Volkoff [9]. Secondly as part of the Sgt. Slaughter led team “The Mercenaries” (that also included Boris Zhukov. Sato was pinned by Butch Miller 1:46 into the match and Tanaka was pinned by Tito Santana only moments later, 2:13 into the match[10].

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 Asian and using the name of Kato[4]. Sato would return in 1991 to team with Tanaka and “Kato" for a series of 6-man tag-team matches on various WWF house show [11], but Sato left the WWF after only a handful of matches together.

[edit] Retirement

Sato retired from in ring competition around 1992/1993 but did return to the WWF in late 1994 as the white faced manager Shinja who advised Hakushi during his heel run with the company[12]. When Hakushi was turned face Shinja was quietly written out of the storyline and Sato retired to focus on non-wrestling ventures. Sato now resides in Kansas City, Missouri.

[edit] In wrestling

  • Finishing Moves
  • Managers

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  2. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. AJPW Budokan Hall Show results (Aug 87). Retrieved on 04-03, 2007. “Nick Bockwinkel, Dick Slater, & Austin Idol beat Masanobu Fuchi, Akio Sato, & Samson Fuyuki (10:30)”
  3. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. AJPW “International Bash” results. Retrieved on 04-03, 2007. “Akio Sato pinned Curtis Hughes (8:20)”
  4. ^ a b c d Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson (2005). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-5502-2683-6. 
  5. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. WWF WrestleMania Results (VI). Retrieved on 04-03, 2007. “The Orient Express (Sato & Tanaka) beat The Rockers (7:38) via countout”
  6. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. WWF UK Tour Results (UK Rampage 91). Retrieved on 04-03, 2007. “The Rockers beat The Orient Express via pinfall.”
  7. ^ Graham Cawthon. WWF Show Results 1990. Retrieved on 04-03, 2007. “October 9, 1990: The Legion of Doom defeated the Orient Express (w/ Mr. Fuji) via disqualification at 3:21 when Demolition Ax, Smash, & Crush interfered; after the bout, LOD were assaulted by all five wrestlers, with Fuji using his cane as a weapon (Fuji's reunion with Demolition”
  8. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. WWF The Main Event Results (V). Retrieved on 04-03, 2007. “The Legion of Doom beat The Orient Express (Kato & Tanaka) (5:11).”
  9. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. WWF SummerSlam Results (1990). Retrieved on 04-03, 2007.
  10. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. WWF Survivor Series Results (1990). Retrieved on 04-03, 2007.
  11. ^ Graham Cawthon. WWF Show Results 1991. Retrieved on 04-07, 2007. “Ricky Steamboat, Davey Boy Smith, & Kerry Von Erich defeated the Orient Express (Kato, Tanaka, & Sato) (w/ Mr. Fuji) when Steamboat pinned Kato with the flying crossbody at 10:28”
  12. ^ Graham Cawthon. WWF Show Results 1991. Retrieved on 04-07, 2007. “Hakushi (w/ Shinja) defeated Gary Scott via count-out at 1:52 after executing a flying bodypress over the top to the floor (Hakushi's TV debut)”
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