Munenori Higo

[KinchStalker]

Munenori Higo (肥後宗典)

Real name: Atsushi Hongo (本郷篤)
Professional names: Seikichi Hongo, Atsushi Hongo, Munenori Higo
Life: 5/15/1945-7/23/2002
Born: Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan
Career: 1969-1980
Height/Weight: 184cm/102kg
Signature moves: Knee drop
Promotions: International Wrestling Enterprise, All Japan Pro Wrestling
Titles: none

Summary: Munenori Higo was an IWE product most notable for his 1972 transfer to the newly formed AJPW.

A "baseball ace" at Kusari Nishi High School, Atsushi Hongo decided to join the International Wrestling Enterprise instead of going professional. He was reportedly inspired to do so by IWE star and Kumamoto native Great Kusatsu, for whom he would serve as a valet. Hongo was permanently transferred to All Japan Pro-Wrestling at its formation, alongside Thunder Sugiyama. It was at this point that he adopted the new ring name Munenori Higo. Giant Baba was apparently fond of him and had been his matchmaker. In 1974, Baba sent Higo on a three-month expedition to Australia. Despite this, Higo never managed to break out, and remained an undercarder for the rest of his career. In January 1979, Higo put over Bruiser Brody in his Japanese debut. The following April, Higo retired after a woman filed an assault charge. His former IWE coworker Mighty Inoue has claimed that it was a false accusation, but there have been no other comments on it to my knowledge. Higo worked as a promoter afterward, running AJPW shows in his hometown.