Tatsumi Fujinami (Fujinami Tatsumi, 藤波辰巳) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as "The Dragon." He is the one who is credited for inventing the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex. is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... Map showing location of Kunisaki in Oita Prefecture (as of 2006). ... Categories: American professional wrestlers | Professional wrestling stubs ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki[1] (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji), born February 20, 1943) is a Professional Wrestling Promoter and retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... ...

Career

Fujinami started in the old Japanese Wrestling Association under Antonio Inoki's wing. When Inoki was fired from JWA in 1971, Fujinami and a few others followed him in forming a new promotion, New Japan Pro Wrestling. Inoki, Fujinami, Osamu Kido and Kotetsu Yamamoto are recognized as NJPW's founding fathers. Nihon Puroresu Kyōkai (日本プロレス協会, Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance or Japan[ese] Wrestling Association) was the first professional wrestling promotion to be based in Japan. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki[1] (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji), born February 20, 1943) is a Professional Wrestling Promoter and retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... 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. ...

In those early days he served as opponent for debuting rookies, such as Mr. Pogo, Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Gran Hamada. Fujinami, Fujiwara, Hamada and three other rookies competed in the 1974 Karl Gotch Cup (a tournament for rookies, forerunner to the later Young Lions Cup). Tetsuo Sekigawa (born May 2, 1951 in Japan) is a former Japanese professional wrestler, very well known for his hardcore matches, competing in his most popular gimmick, Mr Pogo. ... 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. // Fujiwara was the first graduate of the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo (Mr. ... Gran Hamada (real name Hiroaki Hamada) is Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. ... Categories: American professional wrestlers | Professional wrestling stubs ...

In the late 1970s Fujinami was sent abroad, to Mexico's Universal Wrestling Association and to Jim Crockett Promotions in the U.S. In the late 1970s he went to the WWWF where he first made a name for himself. He won the WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship^[1] and brought it back to Japan, establishing it as the premier junior heavyweight title in Japan. Fujinami would be the first wrestler to be successful in both the junior heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Incorporated as Lucha Libre Internacional, S.C. in January 1975 after Ray Mendoza split from the EMLL to form a new organization with Fancisco Flores and Benjamin Mora Jr. ... Jim Crockett Promotions was the name of a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... The WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by the World (Wide) Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro Wrestling for wrestlers of smaller size. ...

His "most remembered" match in the U.S. was when he defended his NWA World Heavyweight title against Ric Flair in a title vs. title re-match at the first ever WCW SuperBrawl in Florida after a controversial match in Japan. Flair retained his WCW Championship and regained Fujinami's title by a school boy pin with a handful of tights. Richard Morgan Fliehr[2] (born on February 25, 1949 in Minneapolis, Minnesota[2]) better known by his ring name Ric Flair , is a legendary American professional wrestler of iconic staus signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its SmackDown! brand. ... WCW logo until 1999 World Championship Wrestling or WCW, was a professional wrestling promotion that existed from 1988 to 2001. ... This article is about the professional wrestling pay-per-view event. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ...

In recent years Fujinami has decreased his work load upon being named President of NJPW in 1999 (he was nevertheless ousted in 2004). His last title reign in NJPW was a IWGP Tag Team Championship with disciple Osamu Nishimura in October 2001, and his last title shot ever was a AJPW Triple Crown bout against Keiji Mutoh in December of the same year (Mutoh had not affiliated himself exclusively with AJPW at the time). Recently he and Nishimura began running their Muga promotion again, focusing on pure catch wrestling which seems to have been relegated by NJPW. Fujinami is set to take part in a tag team dream match along with his close friend Nishimura to take on Mitsuharu Misawa & Go Shiosaki at the end of September. Osamu Nishimura is a Japanese professional wrestler who formerly worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his ring name Osamu Nishimura. ... The AJPW Triple Crown World Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in All Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Keiji Mutoh , born December 23, 1962) is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. ... Mitsuharu Misawa ) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ...

Finishing and signature moves

• Dragon Sleeper
• Dragon Suplex - 1971-1978
• Dragon Backbreaker (Back suplex backbreaker) - Used after injuring his neck and being forced to stop using the Dragon Suplex
• Dragon Rocket (Suicide dive)
• Cobra Twist (Abdominal stretch)
• Grounded Cobra Twist (Outside cradle roll-up)
• Dragon screw
• Enzuigiri
• Figure four leglock
• Front dropkick
• Gory special
• Running sit-out powerbomb
• Double arm DDT
• Japanese leg roll clutch
• Grapevined Boston crab

Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents or lead to a submission. ... The Big Show performs a Vertical suplex on JBL during a house show. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Aerial techniques are used in professional wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents or lead to a submission. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents or lead to a submission. ... Professional wrestling throws are the application of techniques that involve lifting the opponent up and throwing or slamming him or her down, which makes up most of the action of professional wrestling. ... Attacking maneuvers in the kayfabe of professional wrestling are mainly used to wear down an opponent for a submission hold or as a set up for a throw. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents or lead to a submission. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents or lead to a submission. ... A Powerbomb is a professional wrestling move in which an opponent is lifted up (usually so that they are sitting on the wrestlers shoulders) and then slammed back-first down to the mat. ... In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler falls down or backwards to drive a held opponents head into the mat. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents or lead to a submission. ...

Championships and accomplishments

• Catch Wrestling Association
  • CWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
  • IWGP Tag Team Championship (5 times) - with Kengo Kimura (4 First) and Osamu Nishimura (1)
  • NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WCWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WWF International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Kengo Kimura (Last)
  • WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Pacific Northwest Wrestling
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Universal Wrestling Association
  • UWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• World Wide Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him # 31 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Best Technical Wrestler award in 1985
  • Best Technical Wrestler award in 1986
  • Best Technical Wrestler award in 1988
  • Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 1988
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

Based out of Germany and run by legendary European champion Otto Wanz, the CWA established itself among the continent’s premier wrestling organizations while featuring a traditional brand of mat wrestling and various “Strong Man” competitions. ... 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. ... The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) World Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) World Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Osamu Nishimura is a Japanese professional wrestler who formerly worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his ring name Osamu Nishimura. ... The NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship started in 1979. ... The NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship started in 1979. ... The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship is the primary professional wrestling title in the National Wrestling Alliance. ... This is a chronological list of wrestlers that have been NWA World Heavyweight Championship by ring name. ... The World Class Heavyweight Championship was the major title in World Class Championship Wrestling. ... The WCWA Heavyweight Championship was the major title in World Class Championship Wrestling. ... The WWF International Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by NWA Northeast, the World Wrestling Federation, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the Japanese UWF. The title existed from 1959 through 1963 and again from 1982 through 1985. ... The WWF International Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by NWA Northeast, the World Wrestling Federation, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the Japanese UWF. The title existed from 1959 through 1963 and again from 1982 through 1985. ... The WWE or WWF International Tag Team Championship Title Belts were a short lived title in the wwe. ... The WWE or WWF International Tag Team Championship Title Belts were a short lived title in the wwe. ... The WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by the World (Wide) Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro Wrestling for wrestlers of smaller size. ... The WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by the World (Wide) Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro Wrestling for wrestlers of smaller size. ... Pacific Northwest Wresting (PNW) was a Portland, Oregon based professional wrestling company. ... The NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. ... The NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. ... Incorporated as Lucha Libre Internacional, S.C. in January 1975 after Ray Mendoza split from the EMLL to form a new organization with Fancisco Flores and Benjamin Mora Jr. ... The UWA World Heavyweight Championship was the top title contested for in the Mexican lucha libre promotion the Universal Wrestling Association, which operated from 1975 to 1995. ... The UWA World Heavyweight Championship was the top title contested for in the Mexican lucha libre promotion the Universal Wrestling Association, which operated from 1975 to 1995. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... The WWF International Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by NWA Northeast, the World Wrestling Federation, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the Japanese UWF. The title existed from 1959 through 1963 and again from 1982 through 1985. ... The WWF International Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by NWA Northeast, the World Wrestling Federation, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the Japanese UWF. The title existed from 1959 through 1963 and again from 1982 through 1985. ... The WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by the World (Wide) Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro Wrestling for wrestlers of smaller size. ... The WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by the World (Wide) Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro Wrestling for wrestlers of smaller size. ... Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) is a professional wrestling magazine. ... This is a list of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, current and defunct. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ...

References