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Great Matsuda

Great Matsuda

Nickname: The Master of the Japanese Sleeper

Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 230 lbs.

From: Yokohama, Japan

Birthday: Jul 22nd

Pro Debut: 1957

Aliases: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hiro Matsuda, Matti Matsuda, Ernesto Kojima, Kojima Saito, Matsuda, Mr. Samurai, Rising Sun, Yasuhiro Kojima

Feds Worked For: MSW, NWA-West, TSW, UWF, NWA, WCW, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (Mexico), Empresa Mexicana De La Lucha Libre (Mexico), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling (AL/KY/TN), Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), M & M Promotions (NM/TX), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), NWA Mid-America (AL/TN), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Stampede Wrestling (Canada)

Finisher: Japanese Sleeper (Cobra Clutch)

 

Career Highlights: -AJPW/JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion (w/ Michiaki Yoshimura)
-NWA (Florida) Southern Champion (5x)
-NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (4x; 2 w/ Missouri Mauler, 1 each w/ Tim Woods and Bob Orton)
-NWA (Florida) World Tag Team Champion (5x; 4 w/ Duke Keomuka, 1 w/ Dick Steinborn)
-NWA (Los Angeles) North American Tag Team Champion (w/ Masa Saito)
-NWA (Mid-Atlantic) Southern Champion
-NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion (2x)
-NWA World Tag Team Champion (w/ Kanji Inoki)

Affiliates: Lex Luger, The Yamasaki Corporation, The J-Tex Corporation, Michiaki Yoshimura, Missouri Mauler, Bob Orton, Tim Woods, Duke Keomuka, Dick Steinborn, Masa Saito, Kanji Inoki, The Four Horsemen, Kendall Windham, Butch Reed, Michael Hayes, Kanji Inoki, Homer O'Dell, Masa Saito, Giant Baba

Notable Feuds: Sam Steamboat, Eddie Graham, Danny Hodge, Don Curtis, Jack Brisco, Tim Woods/Mr. Wrestling, George Scott, Sandy Scott, Abe Jacobs, Johnny Weaver, José Lothario, Nelson Royal, Bob Orton, Paul Jones, Dale Lewis, Art Thomas, Jerry Brisco, George Becker, Rocky Smith, Cyclone Negro, Ronnie Garvin, Missouri Mauler, Louis Tillet, Ramón Torres, Great Mephisto, Rene Goulet, The Assassins, Amazing Zuma, Bob Roop, Grizzly Smith, Alberto Torres, Dick Murdoch, Bobby Duncum, Lester Welch, Dan Miller, Ole Anderson, Curtis Smith, Dusty Rhodes

Other Facts: -Real name was Yasuhiro Kojima
-Played baseball in Japan, but eventually came to the United States because wrestling was his first love.
-As Hiro Matsuda, he used the nickname "The Shogun"
-Trained many professional wrestlers including Hulk Hogan, Paul Orndorff, Lex Luger, Ron Simmons, Ric Flair & the Great Muta.
-Famous for being extraordinarily stiff during training. He did that in an effort to toughen up the wrestlers and teach them respect for the business. His most famous story involved him being very tough on a young Hulk Hogan in his first day of training and breaking his leg. After Hogan healed, he came right back to Matsuda's school, looking to continue his training. Matsuda was so impressed by his display of "guts" that he trained him properly from that day on.
-Former leader of Yamasaki Corporation
-Former co-leader of The J-Tex Corporation
-Passed away on November 27, 1999 from colon & liver cancer at the age of 62
-Posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2018 (as Hiro Matsuda)
-Posthumously inducted into the Legacy Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018

Supplemental Information

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1

Spotlight in History

  • 1983 King Parsons def. Tola Yatsu for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2003 Sonny C def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 2004 Ty Magnus & Li'l Joe def. X2C (Cade Sydal & X-Cal) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2004 Chris Matthews def. Angel Williams for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2021 Maui Mike became the ASP Livestream Champion

Week of Sun 03-24 to Sat: 03-30

  • 03-24 1978 Dale Valentine def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-24 1978 Steven Little Bear & Ray Candy became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 03-24 1979 Charlie Cook def. Ron Bass for the TSW Arkansas Champion
  • 03-24 1986 Lance Von Erich def. Buddy Roberts for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 03-24 1999 Tarantula def. Grunt for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-24 2001 Miss Venom def. Heather Savage for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 03-24 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. Legion (Rob Cabella & Samedi) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 03-24 2019 The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-24 2023 Stormi Renee def. Erica for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 03-24 2024 Malik Mayfield became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-24 2024 Johnny Kove became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 03-25 1983 Terry Gordy def. The Great Kabuki for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-25 1988 King Parsons def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Champion
  • 03-25 2000 Bull Schmitt def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-25 2000 Ichiban [2nd] def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-25 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Korvin Sage for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 03-25 2016 The Mid-South Express (Tyson Jaymes & Will Chambers) def. The Creepsters (Buster Cherry & Mr. Barnes) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Nikki Knight became the ASP Women's Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Fuego del Sol became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
  • 03-25 2018 Adam Patrick def. Brock Landers for the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 03-25 2023 Pyro def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
  • 03-26 1956 Bull Curry def. Don Evans for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-26 1977 The Medics (Medic 1 & Medic 2) def. Bob Sweetan & Tony Rocco for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 03-26 1980 Bull Ramos def. Mike Sharpe, Jr. for the MSW Mississippi Champion
  • 03-26 1995 Wild Maverick became the PZWA Junior Heavyweight Title Champion
  • 03-26 2010 Dutch Hagen def. Shane Morbid for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 03-26 2011 The Saints of Twilight (Ignition & Reckless) def. Cold Blooded Chris & Max McGuirk for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 03-26 2011 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-26 2011 Ryan Styles def. David Kyzer for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 03-26 2023 Wolf of War became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-26 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Tank Bryson) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-27 1939 John Swenski def. Bob Kenaston for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 1952 Marshall Estep became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 2010 Maniac Mike def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-27 2021 Spike became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 03-27 2022 Maui Mike def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-27 2022 Chosen Influence (Luke Richmond & Malik Mayfield) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-27 2022 Mr. Nasty became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 03-28 1983 King Parsons def. Tola Yatsu for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 03-28 2003 Sonny C def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-28 2004 Ty Magnus & Li'l Joe def. X2C (Cade Sydal & X-Cal) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 03-28 2004 Chris Matthews def. Angel Williams for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-28 2021 Maui Mike became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-29 1968 Spoiler #1 def. Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 1976 Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 03-29 1982 Bugsy McGraw def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Anthony Jackson def. The Canadian Red Devil for the FCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 2008 La M (Jesus Rodriguez & El Choppo) def. The Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) for the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 03-29 2008 Al Farat def. Thug Nasty for the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Carnage def. Slash for the GPCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Xavior def. Jeff Knight for the GPCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Bud Barnes def. Tyson Jaymes for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 03-29 2014 David Kyzer def. L. J. McDaniels for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Rick Russo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Rick Russo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-30 1981 Bob Sweetan def. Mike George for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 03-30 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 03-30 1986 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams) for the UWF Tag Team Champions
  • 03-30 2013 Bobby Burns & Psycho Sawyer def. The Golden Alliance (Jake O'Brien & C. M. Chunk) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
03-28
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  • K-Rob Apr 1st
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  • Clover Botello Apr 2nd
  • Humongous Apr 3rd
  • Erica Torres Apr 3rd
  • Izzy High Apr 3rd
  • Billy Wicks Apr 4th
  • Johnny Kove Apr 4th
  • Sika Apr 5th
  • Great Bolo [2nd] Apr 5th
  • Standing Bear Apr 5th
  • Ivan the Terrible Apr 6th
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