Peace out Mr. Fuji

[Mr. Lacelle]

Fuji & Muraco were gold, I also dug him with Demolition, never really got into him with Killer Khan, Kamala, Powers of Pain, Orient Express or Yokozuna.

[Ricky Jackson]

Loved Fuji. Always brought a smile to my face

[Sidebottom]

The cooking the dog story will always be the most messed up "rib" I've ever heard of.

[El-P]

The cooking the dog story will always be the most messed up "rib" I've ever heard of.

 

Indeed. If true, it's downright perverted and sadistic.

[NintendoLogic]

If the dog story is true, I hope he rots in hell.

[C.S.]

I've never seen any of Mr. Fuji's ring work, but he was definitely one of the most solid and memorable managers of the '80s and early '90s.

 

Did Fuji ever got into the WON HOF, or are Meltzer and his minions still on their crusade to keep him out?

 

I found a list of Fuji's ribs with quotes from various wrestlers. The dog rib is indeed revolting. http://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/mrfuji/

[Phil Schneider]

Of course he isn't in the WON HOF, I doubt he was ever even on the ballot. A couple of funny skits with Don Muraco doesn't even pass the Ultimo Dragon bar.

[Matt D]

He won the Cow Palace battle royal one year. How does that compare with Ultimo Dragon having 9 belts?

[Ricky Jackson]

He's not a hall of famer but he did have a pretty solid career as a wrestler. From the late 60s until around 1982 he was a high midcarder/main eventer in Portland, New York, San Francisco, LA, and the South. A decade off and on as a WWF tag champ and a year long reign with the US title in San Fran in 76-77 among other accomplishments

[Strummer]

I remember watching this at the time. I was a freshman in high school. Surreal stuff.

 

 

 

RIP to the "devious one"

[Johnny Sorrow]

His tag team with Saito in WWF ruled. And if you believe the dog story .....I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.

[Gutenberger]

R.I.P.Mr.Fuji, may you be bettrer treated in afterlife than you treated your female servants on TNT.

[The Chief]

I remember a Fuji vs. Bruno TV match from 1974 that was shockingly good. Have the Titans reviewed that one yet? Not only is Fuji a lot more vicious than normal but he's also flying around and bumping all over the place by his normal standards.

[Ricky Jackson]

We watched the Bruno match for the Pro Wrestling Super Show last year. 2 part Fuji spotlight

 

http://placetobenation.com/pro-wrestling-super-show-49-the-wrestler-mr-fuji/

 

 

http://placetobenation.com/pro-wrestling-super-show-50-mr-fuji-the-manager/

[Grimmas]

If the dog story is true, I hope he rots in hell.

Not the place or the time.

[C.S.]

Of course he isn't in the WON HOF, I doubt he was ever even on the ballot. A couple of funny skits with Don Muraco doesn't even pass the Ultimo Dragon bar.

 

But wasn't he also named Worst Manager or Worst Character, or whatever the category was, several years in a row? That seems utterly ridiculous to me.

 

I can't speak for his wrestling career, but I'd argue he was a HOF manager. Think of all the shitty managers over the years, especially in WCW and the territories, and it's quite an accomplishment for Fuji to stand out as one of the better ones. Not quite on the level of the Three Wise Men or Heenan and Jimmy Hart (or Cornette and Heyman in NWA/WCW, Akbar, Gary Hart, and I better stop), but right below that and above most everyone else from that era.

 

 

 

If the dog story is true, I hope he rots in hell.

Not the place or the time.

 

 

Agreed. PWO is usually the best wrestling board for intelligent discussion, but priorities and proper context aren't a strong point with some of you folks. After all, there were posters here who celebrated the potential demise of Jerry Lawler's commentary career after he got suspended for domestic violence - because, obviously, better color commentary was the most important part of that story.

[flyonthewall2983]

When was his last match?

[Ricky Jackson]

I think 1992

[Hawkeye12]

His last matches were handicap matches with Kamala vs Undertaker. I would really like to see his match vs. Heenan from 1991, which was his last match before those.

[Ricky Jackson]

Would love to see the Heenan match too because it was the Brain's last match. It was from Nassau Coliseum but I don't think it was taped

[goc]

I like Fuji and his skits on TNT are awesome but I don't see any argument that he's a HOF level manager. He was never even in a big money drawing program. He's definitely not one of the worst ever like his dubious "awards" in the WON would lead you to believe but he's not even sniffing the HOF.

[flyonthewall2983]

His last matches were handicap matches with Kamala vs Undertaker. I would really like to see his match vs. Heenan from 1991, which was his last match before those.

 

Sure it wasn't him and Berzerker vs. Undertaker? He didn't manage Kamala in '92.

 

I liked the Fuji/Tanaka vs. Barbarian/Haku match from MSG where Heenan takes a face full of salt. Must have been the only time (in WWF at least) he came close to being a babyface.

[Hawkeye12]

 

His last matches were handicap matches with Kamala vs Undertaker. I would really like to see his match vs. Heenan from 1991, which was his last match before those.

 

Sure it wasn't him and Berzerker vs. Undertaker? He didn't manage Kamala in '92.

 

I liked the Fuji/Tanaka vs. Barbarian/Haku match from MSG where Heenan takes a face full of salt. Must have been the only time (in WWF at least) he came close to being a babyface.

 

Kamala was actually a sub for the Berzerker on those matches.

[Cox]

Jimmy Hart isn't even in the WON HOF. Not to speak ill of the dead, but if Hart isn't in, then the guy who WON voters voted Worst Manager of the Year 11 out of 12 years he was active, who wasn't a good promo, wasn't a good bumper, and rarely managed anybody of consequence, and never really added anything to the acts that he managed...well, that guy probably isn't making the WON HOF. No offense to the guy, I'm sure he was a wonderful man who made a lot of people in his life happy, and he lived a pretty cool life compared to most, but he was never anywhere near one of the best in his field, even compared only to WWF managers from 1984-1995.

[ChuckScumm]

Was really surreal to see him carry the American flag when Yoko had his face turn.