Akira Maeda is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport . He is best known as the innovator of the shoot-style of professional wrestling, as the top star of the second incarnation of the Universal Wrestling Federation during the late 80's. January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Osaka Castle Location in Japan Osaka (Japanese: 大阪市, Ōsaka-shi, ▶ (help· info)) is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ... Categories: American professional wrestlers | Professional wrestling stubs ... Yoshiaki Fujiwara applying the Fujiwara armbar Yoshiaki Fujiwara (藤原喜明 Fujiwara Yoshiaki) is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, and UWF. // Career Fujiwara was the first graduate of the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo (Mr. ... August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Korean Japanese(韓国系日本人, 한국계일본인) is a person of Korean ancestry who was either born in or is an immigrant to Japan. ... ... British Wrestling or UK Wrestling is Professional wrestling performed within the boundaries of the United Kingdom. ... World of Sport was a British television sport anthology programme launched on ITV on January 2, 1965 in response to Grandstand. ... The name Universal Wrestling Federation may refer to: An American professional wrestling promotion, forerunner to the WCW. See Universal Wrestling Federation (United States). ...

Career

New Japan

A former karate student, Maeda entered the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo in 1978 and debuted the same year. Easily able to absorb and apply the "Strong Style" set as New Japan's norm by Antonio Inoki, he was a strong member of the undercard and like many New Japan stars before and after him embarked on a foreign tour, to the United Kingdom, where he adopted the Kwik-kik-Lee moniker. Karate or karate-dō is a martial art of Okinawan origin. ... New Japan Pro Wrestling (新日本プロレス, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who now resides in California. ...

In 1983 he participated in the first IWGP World Heavyweight Championship tournament, won by Hulk Hogan. He was one of three sole Japanese entrants to the international tournament, alongside Inoki and Rusher Kimura. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Terrence Gene Bollea (born August 11, 1953 in Augusta, Georgia), best known professionally as Hulk Hogan (and occasionally Hollywood Hulk Hogan), is an American professional wrestler and actor. ...

In 1984 he, Kimura, and other New Japan defectors formed the Japanese UWF. It folded just a year later, and Maeda returned to New Japan, where he soon became one of their biggest stars. For the next few years, he would become more known for his actions outside the ring than his actions inside. He became involved in a real-life fued with New Japan booker and top star, Antonio Inoki , refusing to work with him in what could of been a huge moneymaking program. The original Japanese-based Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1984 to 1986, formed by wrestlers who had left New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who now resides in California. ...

In April of 1986, he was involved in one of the most surreal moments in wrestling history, as his match with Andre The Giant turned all too real. Neither man could agree to losing the match, and for the next 15 minutes, Maeda proceeded to kick Andre's legs, as the giant could only stand there defenseless. Antonio Inoki came to the ring and demanded the match to end, much to the bewilderment of the audience. André the Giant (May 19, 1946 – January 27, 1993) was a professional wrestler and actor, born André René Roussimoff in Grenoble, France. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who now resides in California. ...

The most infamous moment of his career came on November 19, 1987. During a six-man tag team match, as Riki Choshu was putting opponent, Osamu Kido, in a Scorpion Deathlock, Maeda delivered a legitimate kick to Choshu's eye, breaking his orbital bone and instantly knocking him out. The resulting injury would sideline Choshu for well over a month. Maeda was suspended, and later fired, by New Japan. Mitsuo Yoshida(吉田光雄), better known by his stage name Riki Choshu(長州力), is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and a booker. ...

UWF

In 1988, Maeda reformed the Universal Wrestling Federation, with Nobuhiko Takada and others, this time as its number one star, using the notoriety he gained in New Japan to draw large crowds. In the UWF, he became the biggest draw in Japan, and his emphasis on clean finishes influenced other promotions, such as New Japan and All-Japan Pro Wrestling to follow suit. Maeda's UWF became the first promotion to hold a show at the Tokyo Dome, drawing 60,000 to watch Maeda defeat Willie Wilhelm in the main event. The name Universal Wrestling Federation may refer to: An American professional wrestling promotion, forerunner to the WCW. See Universal Wrestling Federation (United States). ... Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:髙田延彦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestling legend. ... All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) (全日本プロレス, zen nihon puroresu) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. ... Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム Tōkyō Dōmu, (TYO: 9681)) is a 55,000-seat stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan. ...

RINGS

In 1990, the UWF dissolved due to disagreements over the direction of the company. Maeda would go on to form Fighting Network RINGS in 1991, while Nobuhiko Takada formed Union of Wrestling Force International with most of the UWF roster. Fighting Network RINGS would no longer bill itself as wrestling. In 1997, after the collapse of UWF International, Maeda switched his promotion's style from shoot-style to real mixed martial arts fighting. RINGS was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1991 to 2002. ... Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:髙田延彦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestling legend. ... Union of Wrestling Force International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFI, was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... RINGS was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1991 to 2002. ... Union of Wrestling Force International, better known as UWF International or simply UWFI, was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. ... Shoot wrestling is a general term that describes a broad set of unarmed fighting styles that originated in Japan in the late 1970s, in close association with Japanese professional wrestling. ... Ryan Purwick (top) works the guard of Joaquin Velasco. ...

In 1999 he retired from active competition after a match against three-time Olympic Gold medallist(in Greco-Roman wrestling), Alexander Karelin, drawing an incredible gate of $ 2.5 million. The match gained widespread media coverage, including mentions in The New York Times and Sports Illustrated. Alexandr Alexandrovich Karelin, or simply Alexander Karelin, (Russian: Александр Александрович Карелин; born September 19, 1967 in Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR) was a dominant Greco-Roman wrestler for the Soviet Union and later, after its dissolution, for Russia. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... July 1999 cover showing soccer star Brandi Chastain Sports Illustrated is a popular weekly American sports magazine owned by media giant Time Warner. ...

RINGS folded in 2002, due to the growing popularity of PRIDE. Since then, he's co-promoted some MMA events. Pride refers to a strong sense (or desire) of self-respect, a refusal to be humiliated as well as joy in the accomplishments of oneself or a person, group, or object that one identifies with. ...

Finishing and signature moves

• Modified Boston Crab
• Rolling Heel Kick
• Reverse Heel Hold
• Crossface Chickenwing
• Capture Suplex

Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ... A suplex is an offensive move used in wrestling, both in competitive sport wrestling, including Olympic and collegiate wrestling, and professional wrestling. ...

Championships and accomplishments

• 1-time European Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time WWF International Heavyweight Champion
• 2-time NJPW IWGP Tag Team Champion (once with Osamu Kido and once with Nobuhiko Takada).
• Winner 1993-94 RINGS Battle Dimensions Tournament (beat Tariel Bitsadze)
• Winner 1995-96 RINGS Battle Dimensions Tournament (beat Yoshihisa Yamamoto)

The European (Union) Heavyweight Championship is a top title competed for throught out the European Unions professional wrestling circuit. ... The WWF International Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by NWA Northeast, the World Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... New Japan Pro Wrestling (新日本プロレス, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:髙田延彦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestling legend. ... RINGS was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1991 to 2002. ...

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• He is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996)
• 1988 Wrestler of the Year

Dave Herbert Meltzer (born October 24, 1961 in San Jose, California) is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, an insider newsletter for the world of professional wrestling. ... Summary The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) only exists on paper, but nonetheless is considered one of the highest honors that professional wrestling has to offer. ...

Trivia

• A character in the Cromartie High School anime is based on Maeda and is even named after him.