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This article is about the professional wrestler. For the politician, see Akio Sato (politician). is a Japanese Politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature
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. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass 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

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. The stone is a unit of Weight. It is part of the Imperial system of weights and measures used in the British Isles, and formerly used in most Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Kansas City Missouri only Items for the metro area Kansas City Kansas or North Kansas City MO should go on their respective pages officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Professional wrestling, or pro wrestling, is a non-competitive professional Sport, where all matches are scripted by the promotion's booking staff World Wrestling Entertainment Inc ( WWE) is a publicly traded privately controlled integrated media (focusing in Television, Internet, For the full article on Badd Company see Badd Company The Orient Express was a Professional wrestling tag team in the World Wrestling Federation Do not confuse this promotion with Riki Chōshū 's Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion which was spelled "Japan Puroresu" (ジャパンプロレス instead Shohei Baba ( Baba Shōhei, January 23 1938&ndashJanuary 31 1999 was a Professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. ( AJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972 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. Robert Geigel was an American Professional wrestling promoter and also a former Professional wrestler. In Professional wrestling, a face or babyface is a character who is portrayed as Heroic relative to the heel wrestlers who are analogous to villains 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]. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA World Tag Team Championship is the premier Tag team title within the NWA framework 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]. Patrick Pat O'Connor (1924-1990 was a Professional wrestler from New Zealand who held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Sato next attracts the spotlight in the NWA Western States territory booked by Dick Murdoch and Bob Windham in West Texas. Hoyt Richard "Dick" Murdoch ( August 16, 1946 - June 15 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]. Tetsuo Sekigawa (born May 2, 1951 in Japan) is a former Japanese Professional wrestler who was very well known for his hardcore matches Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase Sr (born January 18 1954 Pro wrestling career Mid-South Wrestling (First run 1975-1979 Ted DiBiase was trained Merced Solis (born May 10 1953) better known by his Ring name Tito Santana, is a retired Mexican American professional Blackjack Mulligan (Born Robert Deroy Windham on November 26, 1942 in Sweetwater Texas) is a former professional wrestler Akihisa Mera (born September 8, 1948 in Nobeoka, Japan) better known as The Sato would go on to win the title twice more, first with John Tolos [1] and then towards the end of 1979 with Mr. John Tolos, Nicknamed "The Golden Greek", is a retired Canadian Professional wrestler, and Professional wrestling manager Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Kiyomoto[1].

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. ( AJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972 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]. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Kerry Gene Adkisson ( February 3 1960 &ndash February 18, 1993) He is best known for his time with his father's promotion World Class David Allen Adkisson ( July 22[[ 958]] – February 10[[ 984]] was an American professional wrestler who competed as "The Yellow Rose of Texas" The All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship is a Professional wrestling Tag team title in Japanese promotion 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]. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) 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]. Nicholas Warren Francis Bockwinkel (born December 6 1934) is a former American Professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Nick Dennis McCord (born October 26 1949 in Tampa Florida) is a retired Professional wrestler. Curtis Hughes (born December 7 1964) better known by his ring name Mr Because Sato only toured with the AJPW and wasn’t a regular he mainly worked with the foreign talent between 1986 and 1989.

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]. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) 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. Jerry W Jarrett (born September 4, 1942 in Nashville Tennessee) is an American promoter and former professional wrestler Jerry Lawler (born November 29 1949 is an American Musician, Film Actor, Politician, professional wrestler and wrestling The Continental Wrestling Association (later on “Championship Wrestling Association” was a wrestling promotion managed by Jerry Jarrett. 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]. better known by his Ring name, was a Japenese Professional wrestler who wrestled in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW most of his career The CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship (also identified in Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine as the Mid-Southern International Tag Team Championship The duo beat future superstar Jeff Jarrett [1], tag-team legends the Sheeperhders [1]. Jeffrey "Jeff" Leonard Jarrett (born April 14, 1967) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. The Bushwhackers are a former Professional wrestling Tag team that also competed as The Sheepherders during their long career 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]. Patrick "Pat" Tanaka (born August 5, 1963 in Honolulu Hawaii) is a semi-retired American Professional wrestler best known Badd Company was a Professional wrestling tag team in the American Wrestling Association in the late 1980s which later went by the name The Orient Express

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. The American Wrestling Association (AWA was an American Professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis Minnesota that ran from 1960

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. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) In Professional wrestling, a battle royal (sometimes battle royale; plural battles royal or battle royals) is a multi-competitor match type The American Wrestling Association (AWA World Heavyweight Championship was the highest ranked championship in the now defunct American Wrestling Association. Larry Zbyszko won the title denying Sato his biggest opportunity ever[1]. Lawrence (Larry Whistler (born December 5 1953 is a professional wrestler, better known by his Ring name, Larry Zbyszko. Later on Sato would unsuccessfully challenged Greg Gagne for the AWA International Heavyweight Championship. Greg Gagne (ˈgɑːnjə born July 27, 1948 in Robbinsdale Minnesota) is a former professional wrestler and is the son of the legendary The AWA International Heavyweight Championship, originally known as the CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Championship (also identified in Pro Wrestling Illustrated 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].

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. World Wrestling Entertainment Inc ( WWE) is a publicly traded privately controlled integrated media (focusing in Television, Internet, In early 1990 Sato along with former rival Pat Tanaka were introduced to the WWF as The Orient Express by manager Mr. Fuji[4]. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) For the full article on Badd Company see Badd Company The Orient Express was a Professional wrestling tag team in the World Wrestling Federation Harry Fujiwara (born May 4 1935) As a manager he would often throw salt in the eyes of face wrestlers During this run, Sato introduced the Sitout Powerbomb to mainstream American wrestling for the first time. A Powerbomb is a Professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up (usually so that they are sitting on the wrestler's shoulders and then slammed back-first 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 Rockers were a Professional wrestling Tag team consisting of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty that teamed from 1985 to 1991 WrestleMania VI was the World Wrestling Federation 's (WWF sixth WrestleMania Professional wrestling Pay-per-view event and the first to The Orient Express got involved in the Legion of Doom / Demolition because Mr. The Road Warriors were a Professional wrestling Tag team famously composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis Demolition is a Professional wrestling Tag team most prominent during the late 1980s / early 1990s in World Wrestling Federation (WWF made up of 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]. SummerSlam (1990 was the third annual SummerSlam Professional wrestling Pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF James Stuart Duggan (born January 14, 1954) and in WCW he was a 1 time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and a 1 time Josip Nikolai Peruzović (born October 14 1947) better known by his Ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, is a professional wrestler who is Secondly as part of the Sgt. Slaughter led team “The Mercenaries” (that also included Boris Zhukov. This article is about the wrestler Robert Remus For the GI Joe character (based on Remus see Sgt Jim Barrell (born December 13 1959) is an American professional wrestler best known as Boris Zhukov (sometimes spelled Boris 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]. Butch Miller (born October 21, 1944) is a retired Professional wrestler best known as one half of the tag team known as "The Sheepherders" Merced Solis (born May 10 1953) better known by his Ring name Tito Santana, is a retired Mexican American professional

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]. Badd Company was a Professional wrestling tag team in the American Wrestling Association in the late 1980s which later went by the name The Orient Express 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.

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]. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Kensuke Shinzaki (新崎 健介 Shinzaki Kensuke, born December 2, 1966 in Tokushima Tokushima) is a Japanese Professional 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. Kansas City Missouri only Items for the metro area Kansas City Kansas or North Kansas City MO should go on their respective pages

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Mr. Pogo (2), John Tolos (1), and Mr. A suplex is an Offensive move used in wrestling both in competitive Sport wrestling, including Olympic and collegiate wrestling and Professional wrestling A Powerbomb is a Professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up (usually so that they are sitting on the wrestler's shoulders and then slammed back-first In Martial arts, Combat sports or Violence, a kick is a strike using the Foot, leg, or Knee (also known as a knee Tojo Yamamoto was the Stage name of Harry Tanabe (1927– February 19, 1992) a professional wrestler. Harry Fujiwara (born May 4 1935) As a manager he would often throw salt in the eyes of face wrestlers ( AJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972 The All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship is a Professional wrestling Tag team title in Japanese promotion The All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship is a Professional wrestling Tag team title in Japanese promotion Heart of America Sports Attractions, also known as the Midwest Wrestling Association, Central States Wrestling and the World Wrestling Alliance, was The NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship was the main title for the National Wrestling Alliance's Central States Wrestling region The NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship was the main title for the National Wrestling Alliance's Central States Wrestling region The NWA Central States Television Championship was the secondary singles chamoionship for the Heart of America Sports Attractions / Central States Wrestling promotion from The NWA Central States Television Championship was the secondary singles chamoionship for the Heart of America Sports Attractions / Central States Wrestling promotion from The Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1958 to 1960 1962 to 1963 and then from 1973 until 1979 which was promoted by Central States Wrestling The Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship existed from 1958 to 1960 1962 to 1963 and then from 1973 until 1979 which was promoted by Central States Wrestling The Continental Wrestling Association (later on “Championship Wrestling Association” was a wrestling promotion managed by Jerry Jarrett. The CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship (also identified in Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine as the Mid-Southern International Tag Team Championship The CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship (also identified in Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine as the Mid-Southern International Tag Team Championship The National Wrestling Alliance ( NWA) is the largest governing body for a group of independent Professional wrestling promotions and sanctions various NWA The NWA Western States Tag Team Championship was a Professional wrestling title in the National Wrestling Alliance 's Amarillo Texas territory The NWA Western States Tag Team Championship was a Professional wrestling title in the National Wrestling Alliance 's Amarillo Texas territory Tetsuo Sekigawa (born May 2, 1951 in Japan) is a former Japanese Professional wrestler who was very well known for his hardcore matches John Tolos, Nicknamed "The Golden Greek", is a retired Canadian Professional wrestler, and Professional wrestling manager Kiyomoto (1)

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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