Crappler El 0 M
Dalek
Never Forgets an Octagon
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Post by Crappler El 0 M on Mar 29, 2019 9:15:56 GMT -5
Former sumo wrestler, pro wrestler, and MMA fighter Koji Kitao has died, according to Nikkan Sports. He reached the level of Yokozuna in sumo, but was expelled from the sport after a falling out with his master. Kitao wrestled with NJPW and Tenryu's SWS promotion and even appeared at Wrestlemania VII, teaming with Tenryu to beat Demolition. He would soon be out of wrestling after an incident where he got on the mic and said wrestling was fake. He apparently did not want to lose to Earthquake, and gave these comments saying he could beat him if it were real. During one of his matches with Eartquake, he was not completely cooperative, and Tenta yelled at him that this was a work. Kitao would go on to MMA, as well as coaching sumo. www.nikkansports.com/m/battle/sumo/news/201902120000630_m.html |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2019 9:23:44 GMT -5
Damn. RIP Koji
"I smell kikkoman."
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auph10imitated
Dennis Stamp
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Post by auph10imitated on Mar 29, 2019 10:02:47 GMT -5
John Tenta is stood waiting at the gates for round 2.
RIP.
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Post by Aceorton on Mar 29, 2019 10:45:57 GMT -5
Wow. We were just talking about this guy here in the Demolition WM7 thread.
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Post by Joe Neglia on Mar 29, 2019 11:28:48 GMT -5
I'll say RIP and leave it at that.
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Crappler El 0 M
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Post by Crappler El 0 M on Mar 29, 2019 11:36:51 GMT -5
He was fired from NJPW for using a Korean ethnic slur toward Riki Choshu, essentially calling him a stupid Korean (Choshu's Korean background wasn't well-known to many fans). Clearly Kitao had terrible attitude and behavior issues.
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Post by 2coldMack is even more baffled on Mar 29, 2019 11:42:25 GMT -5
Not worth delving into the guy's more...problematic moments, so yeah, RIP is pretty much where it should be left.
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auph10imitated
Dennis Stamp
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Post by auph10imitated on Mar 29, 2019 14:42:46 GMT -5
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Mar 29, 2019 15:07:03 GMT -5
He had serious problems. In addition to the stories here, I remember Lance Storm having a dim view of him, saying that when they wrestled, Koji stiffed him on basically every move, and only let up when Storm blasted him back, and only then did he seem to get that Storm was TRYING to make him look good, if he'd get his head out of his ass and play ball.
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Post by Stone Coke Miami Watson 🥃 on Mar 29, 2019 15:24:15 GMT -5
bye...
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Crappler El 0 M
Dalek
Never Forgets an Octagon
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Post by Crappler El 0 M on Mar 29, 2019 15:40:36 GMT -5
Read a story today where he worked in the USA for Steel City. Preston Steele told him that they work very light, not a stiff style. Apparently Kitao resented how he spoke loudly and slowly to him, saying he could speak English. Kitao ended up immediately slamming Steele hard and separating Steele's shoulder.
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MolotovMocktail
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Post by MolotovMocktail on Mar 29, 2019 16:01:37 GMT -5
I wonder, did Barry Darsow (or Brian Adams before he died) ever do a shoot about this match, and dealing with Kitao in and out of the ring?
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wildojinx
Wade Wilson
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Post by wildojinx on Mar 29, 2019 18:10:00 GMT -5
Did they have another match prior to that one? I ask because I remember an article in WWF magazine reporting on that show that included a pic of Earthquake giving Kitao a powerslam, but there was sure no powerslam in that match. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2019 18:15:35 GMT -5
Tents should have slapped the shit out of this dude. |
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Post by Joe Neglia on Mar 29, 2019 18:15:46 GMT -5
Did they have another match prior to that one? I ask because I remember an article in WWF magazine reporting on that show that included a pic of Earthquake giving Kitao a powerslam, but there was sure no powerslam in that match. They had four matches total - three singles and one tag: SWS/WWF Wrestlefest @ Tokyo Dome 30. März 1991 @ Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan) Earthquake defeated Koji Kitao SWS Wrestle Dream In Kobe 1. April 1991 @ World Kinen Hall in Kobe, Hyogo (Japan) John Tenta defeated Koji Kitao WAR 4th Anniversary of Revolution - Super Battle of Six 20. Juli 1996 @ Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan) Arashi, John Tenta and Osamu Taitoko defeated Koji Kitao, Koki Kitahara and Masaaki Mochizuki [WAR World 6-Man Tag Team Titles Tournament, Quarter Final] WAR @ Tokyo 13. Dezember 1996 @ Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan) Koji Kitao defeated John Tenta (wrestlingdata.com) |
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El Pollo Guerrera
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Mar 30, 2019 2:19:32 GMT -5
Apparently he passed away back in February (on the 10th). His history in sumo is also not well looked upon... he had a promising start in sumo in the early 80's but was promoted to yokozuna without the required number of wins (to fill some kind of void at the top of the rankings), and then failed to win any tournaments after that. He was also rough on his trainees, which lead to a mass revolt against him... which lead to the argument with his stable boss, and the striking of his boss' wife, and his forced retirement from sumo. (here's a link to YouTube about Kitao's life)Rest in peace. |
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Post by CeilingFan on Mar 30, 2019 6:24:57 GMT -5
I remember Bobby Heenan's comment about him at WrestleMania 7 "I smell Kikkoman, and its coming out of Kitao".
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mattperiolat
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Post by mattperiolat on Mar 31, 2019 21:29:20 GMT -5
To quote Heenan from 7: “Looks like Fred is dead.”
I saw him at 7. That is all I got. History is not kind to him, let’s see what legacy says.
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Post by 2coldMack is even more baffled on Mar 31, 2019 22:01:44 GMT -5
To quote Heenan from 7: “Looks like Fred is dead.” I saw him at 7. That is all I got. History is not kind to him, let’s see what legacy says. I think, ultimately, the headline on his career will be "Guy who probably could have been great, but allowed his ego to get in the way". When he was picked from on high by no less a name than Tenryu, he SHOULD have had a legendary career. But, what happened happened. |
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El Pollo Guerrera
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Apr 1, 2019 1:58:17 GMT -5
To quote Heenan from 7: “Looks like Fred is dead.” I saw him at 7. That is all I got. History is not kind to him, let’s see what legacy says. I think, ultimately, the headline on his career will be "Guy who probably could have been great, but allowed his ego to get in the way". When he was picked from on high by no less a name than Tenryu, he SHOULD have had a legendary career. But, what happened happened. And not just in wrestling, in his sumo career before it. |
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