Tojo Yamamoto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tojo Yamamoto was the stage name of Harry Watanabe (1927–February 19, 1992), a professional wrestler. He was born in Hawaii.
As Yamamoto, he had great success in tag team wrestling and in regional wrestling bouts. He was affiliated with wrestling promoter Nick Gulas.
Yamamoto later became a wrestling manager. His rise to fame late in his career took place in the late-1980s, when Yamamoto, while in World Class Championship Wrestling was managing Phil Hickerson, who was known as P.Y. Chu-Hi, and was involved in a lengthy storyline with Eric Embry for control of World Class. Later, Yamamoto and Hickerson worked a storyline with Chris and Toni Adams, which began in an attack on Toni by Hickerson and Yamamoto at the Sportatorium during a wrestling match.
Yamamoto and Hickerson left World Class in 1990, but Yamamoto returned to the Sportatorium in early 1991 (under the USWA banner) to manage Embry, who had turned heel.
He retired in 1991 due to health problems which included diabetes. He died in Hermitage, Tennessee of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1992. He was 65 years old.
Contents |
[edit] Profile
- Height: 5'9
- Weight: 226
[edit] Famous quotes
"I own this World Class...SHUT UP, YOU! I own this World Class and I am the President of this World Class" - during an 1989 interview segment on WCCW during the Eric Embry-Devastation Inc. storyline involving Yamamoto.
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
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- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Wayne Farris
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- CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jerry Jarrett
- International Championship Wrestling
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- ICW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gypsy Joe
- World
- NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with George Gulas (3), Dennis Hall, Tommy Rich (2), Gypsy Joe, The Beast, Dennis Condrey, Chris Colt, Great Togo, David Schultz, Bobby Eaton and The Secret Weapon
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (8 times) – with Alex Perez, Mitsu Hirai, Tamaya Soto, Professor Ito, Johnny Long (3) and Ben Justice
- National
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) – with Taro Miyake
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time) – with Tommy Rich
- Regional
- NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (12 times) – with Bill Dromo (2), Tommy Gilbert, Jackie Fargo (2), Johnny Marlin, George Gulas (2), Gypsy Joe (3) and Great Togo
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mr. Kamikaze and Jerry Jarrett
- NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (23 times) – with Ivan Malenkov, Alex Perez (6), Mitsu Hirai (2), Tor Kamata, Great Higami, Johnny Long (2), Johnny Walker, Jerry Jarrett (5), Jerry Lawler (2), Eddie Marlin and Jimmy Golden
