Riki Chōshū
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| Riki Chōshū | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Riki Chōshū Yoshida |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Billed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Born | December 3, 1951 |
| Debut | August 8, 1974 |
Mitsuo Yoshida (吉田光雄 Yoshida Mitsuo, born December 3, 1951), better known by his stage name Riki Chōshū(長州力 Chōshū Riki), is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and a booker. He is considered one of the most influential wrestlers in Japan in the 80's and 90's and known as the first wrestler to popularize the Sasori-Gatame, better known in English as Scorpion Deathlock or Sharpshooter.
After Mitsuo left New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002, he formed Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling(WJ), which is now known as Riki Pro as he is the promoter of the promotion. In October 2005, he returned to New Japan as a site foreman, a booker, and a part-time wrestler.
Contents |
[edit] Finishing and signature moves
- Sasori-Gatame (Translated to Scorpion Hold in English) - Innovated
- Lariat
- Belly to back suplex
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Yoshiaki Yatsu
- PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling
- WMG Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Genichiro Tenryu
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- IWGP Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Masa Saito (1), Takashi Iizuka (1), and Kensuke Sasaki (1)
- NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Japan version) (1 time) - with Seiji Sakaguchi (Last)
- WWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Greatest 18 Championship (1 time)
- World Cup Tournament winner in 1989
- SG Tag League winner in 1992
- G-1 Climax winner in 1996
- Universal Wrestling Association
- UWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- UWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Gran Hamada (First)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him #30 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Wrestler of the Year award in 1987
- Best Booker award in 1992
- Promoter of the Year award in 1995
- Promoter of the Year award in 1996
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
- Promoter of the Year award in 1997
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- He is of Korean descent, and participated in the 1972 Summer Olympics as a South Korean wrestling representative. His Korean name is Kwak Kwang-ung.
- The name "Riki Chōshū" means "Strength of Chōshū", the Edo Period name for Yamaguchi Prefecture.
- His nickname is "Kakumei Senshi (Fighter of Revolution)".
- In the mid-1970's Choshu was sent to North America to gain experience. Wrestling under his real name, Yoshida appeared in George Cannon's "Superstars of Wrestling" promotion as a heel, managed by Superstar (or Supermouth) Dave Drasen. Yoshida would have a brief feud with the then face of Cannon's promotion, Luis Martinez.
- Chōshū was the first "traitor heel" in a Japanese promotion. In 1983, upset at not being selected for the inaugural tournament for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, he turned on Tatsumi Fujinami during a match and formed his own stable, Ishin-gun (Revolutionary Army), which was the core for the later Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion that "invaded" All Japan Pro Wrestling.
- In recent, a comedian and Chōshū mimic Koriki Chōshū appeared and became popular in Japan. Since many young people don't know Riki Chōshū, Koriki made him famous with a new audience. A DDT (Dramatic Dream Team) wrestler called Riki Senshu also mimics Chōshū.
- Choshu's theme song, "Power Hall", was composed by Susumu Hirasawa
