Keiji Muto
Keiji Muto | |
---|---|
Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan[2] | |
Spouse(s) | Hisae Ashida (m. 1992) |
Children | 2 |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Bach Mutoh[3] The Black Ninja[1] Great Mota[4] The Great Muta[1] Keiji Muto[1] Kokushi[1] Kokushi-Muso[1] The Space Lone Wolf[1] The Super Black Ninja[1] The Super Ninja[1] Takeda Shingen[5] Viet Cong Ming[1] The White Ninja[1] |
Billed height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[6] |
Billed weight | 104.5 kg (230 lb)[6] |
Billed from | The Land of the Rising Sun |
Trained by | Antonio Inoki Hiro Matsuda Kotetsu Yamamoto |
Debut | October 5, 1984[1][2] |
Retired | February 21, 2023 |
Keiji Muto (武藤 敬司, Mutō Keiji, born December 23, 1962)
Considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Muto is also one of the first Japanese wrestlers to gain an international fanbase. "The Great Muta"
Muto is one of the five wrestlers to win the three major championships of puroresu (AJPW's
In 2013, Muto founded W-1, where he also wrestled semi-regularly. He made special appearances for the American promotion
Professional wrestling career
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1984–1988)
Muto was an accomplished
In March 1987, Muto won the
Excursion to Puerto Rico and Texas (1988–1989)
In January 1988, Muto went on another excursion, this time in Puerto Rico for the Capitol Sports Promotions (CSP) under his new ring name, "The Super Black Ninja". He feuded with Miguel Perez Jr., with whom he lost a hair vs. hair match to that April. It was in Puerto Rico he formed The Three Musketeers with Masahiro Chono and Shinya Hashimoto. He wrestled only one match in New Japan during this period on July 29, before returning to Puerto Rico. In the fall of 1988, Muto moved to the Dallas, Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling, where he reunited with Kendo Nagasaki and had a very short lived feud with Kevin Von Erich before departing the organization in March 1989. Muto's personality and ring skills shown in his early American matches earned him a high billing within the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
World Championship Wrestling (1989–1990)
Muto first appeared as "Great Mota" in the NWA's
Return to NJPW
Rise to prominence (1990–1992)
Muto quickly rose in the ranks upon returning to New Japan in March 1990. He made his in-ring return to NJPW on April 27 by teaming with Masahiro Chono to defeat Shinya Hashimoto and Masa Saito to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship, marking Muto's second reign with the title. He and Chono would hold the titles for over six months, before finally losing them to Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki on November 1. During this time, Muto also entered the Kyushu Cup tournament on June 12, in which he defeated Chono to advance to the finals of the tournament, where he lost to Hashimoto. On September 7, Muto introduced his Great Muta moniker for the first time in NJPW during a match against Samurai Shiro, which Muto won. Muto would occasionally perform the Muta gimmick for major matches while competing under his real name for regular matches. On September 30, Muta picked up a huge win over Ricky Steamboat.
Muto revived his Great Muta moniker at the WCW and NJPW-jointly promoted Starrcade in Tokyo Dome event on March 21, 1991, where he defeated Sting. Later that year, Muto and Chono, along with Hashimoto, cemented their status as the next generation of New Japan, surpassing Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, and Riki Choshu, after the finals of the first G1 Climax tournament on August 11. He lost to Scott Norton but defeated Tatsumi Fujinami and Big Van Vader in his block to advance to the final against Chono, which turned out to be an epic thirty-minute match in which Muto was bested by Chono and, together with Hashimoto, the three celebrated in the ring, then afterwards they were officially labeled "The Three Musketeers" of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In October, Muto paired with Hiroshi Hase to participate in the 1991 Super Tag League, where they lost three of their tournament matches and won three, narrowly missing the chance to qualify for the knockout stage. However, shortly after the tournament, the duo found success as they defeated Rick Steiner and Scott Norton to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship at Budokan Hall on November 5.
On January 4, 1992, Muto headlined the
IWGP Heavyweight Champion (1992–1996)
On August 16, Muto donned his Great Muta persona to beat Japanese legend Riki Choshu to win the
On January 4, 1993, Muta defeated Masahiro Chono in a title versus title match at Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome (known in North America as WCW/New Japan Supershow III) to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, thus becoming the second of the only two men to hold both titles at the same time, the first being Tatsumi Fujinami. After losing the NWA title in WCW, Muta had a variety of challengers in title matches and exhibitions throughout the year. He lost to Hulk Hogan at Wrestling Dontaku in May and then successfully defended his IWGP title against The Great Kabuki on June 15. After holding the title for longer than a year, Muta finally lost the title to Shinya Hashimoto on September 20. Following this title loss and a match with Hogan against the Hell Raisers (Hawk Warrior and Power Warrior) on September 23, Muto returned to fighting primarily under his real name, reviving the Muta name for certain matches. On December 10, Muto received a rematch against Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which he failed to win.
Muto resumed teaming with Hiroshi Hase in the fall of 1993 and the duo wrestled the Steiner Brothers in a losing effort at Battlefield on January 4, 1994. Muto reprised his Great Muta moniker for a dream match against the legendary Antonio Inoki at May's Wrestling Dontaku, which Muta lost. In October, Muto and Hase entered the Super Grade Tag League, where they lost only two matches in the tournament, winning rest of their matches and scored fourteen points, thus advancing to the finals on October 30, where they defeated Masahiro Chono and Super Strong Machine to win the tournament, thus earning an IWGP Tag Team Championship opportunity against Hell Raisers on November 25, which Muto and Hase won, thus marking their second reign as a team and Muto's fourth individual tag title reign. They successfully defended the titles against Steiner Brothers in their first title defense at Battle 7 on January 4, 1995.
On February 3, Muto lost to Scott Norton in a #1 contender's match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. However, Muto received an opportunity for the title against Shinya Hashimoto at Wrestling Dontaku on May 3, where he defeated Hashimoto to capture his second IWGP Heavyweight Championship and subsequently vacated the IWGP Tag Team Championship three days later on May 6 to focus on defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Muto successfully defended the title against Hiroyoshi Tenzan on June 14 and Hawk Warrior on July 13, before winning the G1 Climax in August, beating Hashimoto in the finals to become the first of two men to win the G1 Climax as IWGP Heavyweight Champion as Kensuke Sasaki would achieve this feat in 2000. Muto held the IWGP title throughout the rest of the year. On September 25, Muto successfully defended the title against Junji Hirata. He would then lead New Japan in the opening battles of the feud with Nobuhiko Takada and the UWF-i army, defeating Takada in his fourth title defense on October 9. Muto closed the year with his fifth successful title defense against Shiro Koshinaka on December 11. Muto finally lost the title to Takada at Wrestling World on January 4, 1996.
nWo Japan (1996–2000)
The latter half of 1996 had Muto pitted against Masahiro Chono's Ookami Gundan, which eventually blossomed into a war with the Chono-led
On January 4, 1998, Muto headlined Final Power Hall in Tokyo Dome as he unsuccessfully challenged Kensuke Sasaki for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Muto and Chono were forced to vacate the IWGP Tag Team Championship on April 21, when Muto injured his knees, as his years of using the moonsault press were finally catching up to him. During this time, he took a hiatus from action, returning just before the 1998 G1 Climax, from which he was eliminated by Genichiro Tenryu in the first round. Despite his return, Muto was plagued by this nagging injury, fighting through his pain throughout the rest of 1998 and all of 1999. Towards the end of 1998, Muto took the leadership of nWo Japan, after Chono suffered a neck injury and was out of action, turning the nWo into a face stable. Muto would then team with teammate Satoshi Kojima as they won the Super Grade Tag League by defeating Shinya Hashimoto and Tatsumi Fujinami in the final on December 6.
At Wrestling World on January 4, 1999, Muto defeated one of Chono's right-hand men, Scott Norton to win his third IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The following month, Masahiro Chono returned to NJPW and disagreed with Muto over Muto's philosophy and leadership of the nWo Japan, thus leaving the group and Muto feuded with Chono for the name of the nWo, which evolved into a war between the nWo, led by Muto, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Satoshi Kojima and Chono's new Team 2000 unit, with himself, Don Frye, Super J, and others from the old generation of the nWo. Muto successfully defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kensuke Sasaki at St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Team 2000 member Don Frye at Strong Style Symphony, Genichiro Tenryu on May 5 and Satoshi Kojima on July 20.
In August, Muto entered the G1 Climax, where he lost only one match to Tatsumi Fujinami while winning the rest of his matches in the block thus qualifying to the final against Manabu Nakanishi, which he lost, leading to a match between Muto and Nakanishi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Final Dome, where Muto retained. Muto revived Great Muta character at Jingu Climax on August 28 for a No Rope Explosive Barbed Wire Barricade Explosive Land Mine Double Hell Deathmatch against Great Nita, which Muta won. The following month, Muto entered the Super Grade Tag League with stablemate Scott Norton, which they won by defeating Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata in the final. On December 10, Muto finally lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Genichiro Tenryu. The war between Chono and Muto was lost by Muto at the 2000 Wrestling World event as he was defeated by Chono. Muto took an extended hiatus to rehabilitate his damaged knees after that, focusing instead on one last run in America for WCW, thus marking the dissolution of nWo Japan as it merged into Chono's Team 2000.
Bad Ass Translate Trading (2001–2002)
After a planned tag team match with FMW's
Muto would then enter the 2001 G1 Climax, where he won all matches in his block, with the exception of a loss to Satoshi Kojima, thus qualifying for the semi-final on August 11, in which he defeated Tadao Yasuda and then lost to Yuji Nagata in the final a day later. Muto would then defend the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the first time in New Japan against Scott Hall on September 23, which Muto retained. Muto and Hase would then lose to Yuji Nagata and Jun Akiyama at Indicate of Next.
Muto captured more gold by winning All Japan's World Tag Team Championship alongside stablemate Taiyō Kea by defeating Genichiro Tenryu and Yoji Anjo on October 22. Muto would then successfully defend the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against Masahiro Chono at an All Japan event on October 27. The following day, at a New Japan event, Muto and Kea defeated Osamu Nishimura and Tatsumi Fujinami in a title versus title match to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship as well, thus giving Muto a total of six belts at one time.[12] Muto and Kea would win that year's Real World Tag League by defeating Mitsuya Nagai and Toshiaki Kawada in the final. Muto closed out the year with a successful title defense of the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against Tatsumi Fujinami at a New Japan event on December 11.
Muto wrestled his last match as a member of the New Japan roster at Wrestling World on January 4, 2002, where he alongside his teammate Hiroshi Hase defeated Osamu Nishimura and Tatsumi Fujinami. Muto would then defect full-time to All Japan, which led to him and Kea being stripped off the IWGP Tag Team Championship on February 2.
Return to WCW
Sporadic appearances (1990–1999)
Meanwhile, in World Championship Wrestling, it was announced on
Muta continued to make sporadic appearances within WCW during 1991 while wrestling regularly in New Japan. He was shown in attendance at
In May he returned again to WCW and began appearing on house shows in tag-team matches with
On April 17, 1994, Muto returned to WCW to face Stunning Steve Austin at Spring Stampede for the WCW United States Championship. Austin defeated him by disqualification. This would be his last US appearance for nearly a year, and he would not return until February 19, 1995, when he was shown in the crowd at
Dark Carnival (2000)
After suffering a knee injury in early 2000, Muto took a hiatus from NJPW and returned to WCW in mid-2000 to team with
After leaving WCW, a no-compete clause in his WCW contract prevented him from competing in the
All Japan Pro Wrestling
Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion (2001–2003)
Muto, as a member of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, made part-time appearances to All Japan in 2001, fighting Toshiaki Kawada and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams in major singles matches on pay-per-view. 2001 proved to be Muto's year of renewal besides the formation of his BATT unit in New Japan, as he challenged, and defeated Genichiro Tenryu for All Japan's coveted Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship on June 8. In Muto's first title defense on July 14, Steve Williams lost to Muto for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in a pay-per-view main event, where it ended in an altercation. After leaving the backstage area Williams would then going on a huge swearing tirade, where he kicked a trash can, was about to cry in tears, and then throwing his armpads to the ground while swearing again.[17] Such scenes never happened in the traditional All Japan and was characteristic to the "crash TV" style of Vince Russo's writing. This would ultimately lead Muto to a grudge feud with Williams into 2002.
On January 11, 2002, following the end of a year-long cross-promotional angle with
At the Nippon Budokan on July 20, Muto wrestled as three different characters on the card: "Kokushi Muso", defeating Kaz Hayashi on the second match, himself in a six-man tag team match in the mid-card, and in the second-to-last match, he defeated Satoshi Kojima, under his "Great Koji" persona, as The Great Muta. On September 30, during an All Japan 30th Anniversary party at the famed Tokyo City Hotel, Mokoto Baba officially announced Muto's appointment as the new president of All Japan, transferring all of the Baba family stock to him.[11][19] Despite this position, however, Muto continued to wrestle full-time for the promotion.
At Royal Road 30 Giant Battle In Budokan Final Battle on October 27, Muto under his Great Muta moniker, defeated Genichiro Tenryu to win his second Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. The following month, he lost to Bob Sapp in a non-title match at Wrestle-1. Muto then entered the Real World Tag League alongside Animal Warrior but failed to advance in the tournament. Muta successfully defended the title against The Gladiator in his first title defense on January 13, 2003. On January 19, Muto teamed with Goldberg to defeat KroniK in a tag team match, which led to KroniK being injured in the match and being forced to retire. On February 23, Muta lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to Shinya Hashimoto.
Various feuds and title reigns (2003–2008)
Shortly after his title loss, Muto entered the
Muto would then support AJPW in its feud with
On March 10, 2006, Muto revived his Great Muta moniker as he unsuccessfully challenged Satoshi Kojima for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. Muto failed in the
He made his British debut on January 12, 2007, wrestling for Real Quality Wrestling at the
In the fall of the year, Muto and his partner Joe Doering participated in the 2007 Real World Tag League, which they won by defeating Satoshi Kojima and Suwama in the final on December 9. This earned them a title shot for the World Tag Team Championship against Kojima and TARU on January 3, 2008, which Muto and Doering won. In April, Muto entered the 2008 Champion Carnival, winning only two matches and failing to advance in the round robin stage. Muto and Doering lost the World Tag Team Championship to Minoru Suzuki and Taiyo Kea after a five-month reign on June 28.
Dual world champion (2008–2009)
Muto had won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in NJPW earlier in 2008 and successfully defended the title in All Japan against
In 2009, Muto took part in a tournament for the vacant All Asia Tag Team Championship by teaming with Kaz Hayashi, defeating Ryota Hama and Shuji Kondo in the quarter-final before losing to Minoru Suzuki and Nosawa Rongai in the semi-final. On March 14, Muto defended his Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against Yoshihiro Takayama. He bloodied him severely, as is his trademark, and even used the Shining Wizard to his opponent on the barricade. During the course of the match, however, his mask was ripped off, and he was bleeding profusely. Towards the end of the match, Takayama dominated Muta, but Muta reversed a kick into a Dragon Screw, and attempted to use the Asian Mist against him, but Takayama blocked it, and performed an Everest Suplex Pin on Muta, and won the match. Muta subsequently walked away in shock of what had happened.
Following the title loss, Muto participated in the 2009 Champion Carnival, where he won four out of five matches in his block, losing only to Kaz Hayashi. As a result, Muto advanced to the semi-final of the tournament, where he lost to Minoru Suzuki. Muto would spend the entire year representing All Japan in matches against Voodoo Murders, Tokyo Gurentai and F4. In November, Muto teamed with Masakatsu Funaki to participate in the 2009 Real World Tag League. The duo won the tournament by defeating Masayuki Kono and Suwama.
World Tag Team Champion (2010–2011)
The 2009 Real World Tag League win earned Muto and Masakatsu Funaki, a title match for the World Tag Team Championship against Minoru Suzuki and Taiyo Kea on January 3, 2010, which Muto and Funaki won. On January 30, Muto, under his Great Muta gimmick, made a special appearance for
Muto would win the junior heavyweight and heavyweight battle royals at the
Final years and departure (2011–2013)
On June 7, 2011, Muto announced his resignation as the president of All Japan Pro Wrestling, remaining in the promotion as an active wrestler and a member of the Supervisory Board.
On June 1, Muto returned to the United States to make an appearance for Pro Wrestling Syndicate (PWS) in Rahway, New Jersey, teaming with Kai to defeat Anthony Nese and Sami Callihan in a tag team match.[24] In November 2012, Muto and his business partners sold all of their All Japan shares to the Speed Partners corporation for ¥200 million.[19][25][26] On June 1, 2013, Speed Partners president Nobuo Shiraishi took over as the new president of All Japan, firing the previous president, Muto's longtime right-hand man Masayuki Uchida, in the process, which led to Muto resigning from the promotion, effective June 30, 2013.[19][27][28]
Sporadic appearances in NJPW
2004–2005
Muto returned to NJPW as a member of the All Japan roster at Wrestling World on January 4, 2004, to team with Bob Sapp to defeat Cho-Ten. Muto next appeared at Pro-Wrestlers Be Strongest by teaming with Osamu Nishimura in a loss to Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura. Muto would wrestle only one match for NJPW in 2005 at Nexess VI, where he defeated Ron Waterman.
2007–2009
He then appeared at Wrestle Kingdom I in 2007 where he reunited with former partner and rival Masahiro Chono to defeat Tencozy in a "Super Dream Tag match" pitting NJPW and AJPW wrestlers together.
On January 4, 2008, at
2012–2014
On January 4, 2012, Muto made a return to New Japan at
2019–2023
Muto, in his Great Muta persona, was the last entrant in the Honor Rumble at the G1 Supercard Show on April 6, 2019. This marked his first appearance for the promotion in 5 years. On February 19, 2020, Muto made an appearance at the Tiger Hattori Retirement Show, appearing alongside fellow NJPW alumni Riki Choshu, The Great Kabuki, and Hiroshi Hase.
On January 8, 2022, at
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling/Impact Wrestling
2007–2009
In 2007, while Muto was in
2014–2015
On March 2, 2014, at
Muta returned to TNA on the July 25, 2014, defeating
2019
On June 8, 2019, Muto returned to TNA, now renamed Impact Wrestling, wrestling as The Great Muta in the main event of their A Night You Can't Mist event in a tag team match where he teamed with Tommy Dreamer to defeat Michael Elgin and Johnny Impact.
Wrestle-1 (2013–2020)
On July 10, 2013, Muto announced the foundation of a promotion named
All Elite Wrestling (2019, 2022)
On November 9, 2019, Muto made a surprise special appearance at All Elite Wrestling's Full Gear as one of the judges for the AEW World Championship match, in the event of a draw.[57]
On September 23, 2022, he made a surprise appearance at
Pro Wrestling Noah (2020–2023)
On February 12, 2021, Muto successfully won the GHC Heavyweight Championship in a match against Go Shiozaki at Pro Wrestling Noah's Destination 2021 event in Nippon Budokan.[59] On March 14, He made his first successful title defense, defeating Kaito Kiyomiya at the Noah: Great Voyage 2021. He made another successful defense against Masa Kitamiya on April 29 at Noah: The Glory 2021. On June 6, at CyberFight Festival, Muto lost the title to Naomichi Marufuji.
On June 12, 2022, at CyberFight Festival 2022, Muto announced his intention to retire from professional wrestling in 2023.[60] On October 30, it was announced that Shinsuke Nakamura (while still under a WWE contract) would be Muto's opponent for the Noah The New Year show on January 1, 2023.[61][62] At the event, Nakamura defeated Muto, who was wrestling under his Great Muta persona.
On January 22, 2023, at
WWE (2023)
On March 15, 2023, The Great Muta was announced as the second individual inductee for the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023.[66] At the ceremony, Muta was inducted by Ric Flair.[66]
Professional wrestling style and persona
Muto frequently wrestled under two ring names: the first as Keiji Muto and the second, The Great Muta. Muto innovated the
Characters
The Great Muta is Muto's best-known
The gimmick was deeply expanded during the 2000s in the promotion Hustle, where he appeared in a storyline in which he gained a son in the form of The Great Bono (played by Muta's wrestling trainee Akebono), forming a tag team reminiscence of Muta's team with his own father Great Kabuki. Some of those elements were later used in All Japan Pro Wrestling as well. In November 2023, Pro Wrestling Noah introduced Muta's storyline daughter, Great Sakuya.[73]
Kokushi-Muso, a gimmick used on special occasions, is a play-off of
White Ninja, a Japanese ninja gimmick, was used in Championship Wrestling from Florida between November 1985 and October 1986.
Super Black Ninja, a gimmick similar to that of the White Ninja, was used in World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas and also was used in the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico, between January 1988 and March 1989. This was Muto's first gimmick to sport face paint.
Space Lone Wolf, a space-age type character, was used in New Japan between October 1986 and December 1987. Space Lone Wolf's entrance attire would feature the numbers "610" which means "Muto" in Japanese numerics. Muto had also stated that NJPW founder Antonio Inoki insisted on wearing a helmet to the ring in order to attract sponsorship from a Japanese motorcycle helmet manufacturer.
Other portrayers of the Great Muta character
- Troy Endres (2002–2003): Endres, a professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, briefly used the Great Muta gimmick in New Japan Pro-Wrestling from 2002 to 2003. Endres died on August 3, 2014, at age 46.[74]
- Johnny Stamboli (2004–2005): After being released by WWE, Stamboli worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling as the Great Muta from 2004 to 2005, where he feuded with Muto. In his penultimate match under the gimmick on December 5, 2004, Stamboli, as the Great Muta, lost a match to Muto's version of the character.[75] In 2007, Stamboli began portraying a new character "Rellik" in TNA, which was based on the Great Muta gimmick.[76]
Other media
Muto has appeared in a vast number of media appearances in Japan, including many commercials and films. Muto was interviewed for wrestling documentary Bloodstained Memoirs.[77]
In 1995, Muto starred in the Japanese thriller Yajuu Densetsu: Dragon Blue, as Ryusaki, a suave detective who joins forces with a beautiful young spiritualist named Mazuki (played by Hiroko Tanaka) to solve a bizarre case of killings from a mystical sea creature.
In 2000, he made his video game debut as The Great Muta in Virtual Pro Wrestling 2.[78]
In 2004, he played the role of
In 2006, he appeared as a guest star in the Japanese historical
Muto has worked extensively with Japanese clothing company A Bathing Ape, helping them to produce a number of t-shirts featuring his likeness and the All Japan Pro Wrestling logo. Muto was also responsible for organizing Bapesta Pro Wrestling, a previously annual wrestling event sponsored and promoted by Bape.[79]
Muto appears as a gang member in the 2017 video game Yakuza Kiwami 2, alongside Genichiro Tenryu, Masahiro Chono, Riki Choshu and Tatsumi Fujinami.[80]
In 2024 Muto was added to
Personal life
In 1992, Muto married his wife, Hisae Ashida. Together they have two children, a son (born 1996) and a daughter, Airi (born 2000), who is an actress.
Outside of professional wrestling, Muto also owns a yakiniku restaurant, opened in 2015, called "Yakiniku Dining 610" (焼肉Dining 610) which was inspired by Muto's early "Space Lone Wolf" gimmick. In Japanese, the numbers 610 (which were featured on Lone Wolf's entrance attire) can be read as "Muto", lit. translated as "Six-Ten".
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- F-1 Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kannazuki1[82]
- Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[2][83]
- World Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Taiyō Kea (1), Arashi (1), Joe Doering (1), Masakatsu Funaki (1) and Kenso (1)[2][84]
- Akiho Yoshizawa Cup (2010) – with Masakatsu Funaki and S1 Mask[82]
- Champion Carnival (2002, 2004, 2007)[85]
- Giant Baba Six Man Cup (2002) – with George Hines and Kaz Hayashi[86]
- January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (2011)
- January 3 Korakuen Hall Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal (2011)
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2001) – with Taiyō Kea[87]
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2007) – with Joe Doering[87]
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2009) – with Masakatsu Funaki[87]
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- Continental Wrestling Federation
- International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling
- NWA World Television Championship (1 time)[90]
- WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Vampiro[2][91]
- BattleBowl (1992)[92]
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- IWGP Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Shiro Koshinaka (1), Masahiro Chono (2), Hiroshi Hase (2) and Taiyō Kea (1)[2][94]
- NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[95]
- Greatest 18 Championship (1 time)[96]
- G1 Climax (1995)[97]
- 1994) – with Hiroshi Hase[98]
- G1 Tag League (1997) – with Masahiro Chono[98]
- G1 Tag League (1998) – with Satoshi Kojima[98]
- G1 Tag League (1999) – with Scott Norton[98]
- MVP Award (2001)[99]
- Singles Best Bout (2001) vs. Yuji Nagata on August 12[99]
- Tag Team Best Bout (2001) with Hiroshi Hase vs. Jun Akiyama and Yuji Nagata on October 8[99]
- Nikkan Sports
- Match of the Year (1999) vs. Genichiro Tenryu on May 3[100]
- Match of the Year (2001) with Hiroshi Hase vs. Yuji Nagata & Jun Akiyama on October 8[100]
- Outstanding Performance Award (1998)[100]
- Tag Team of the Year (2009) with Masakatsu Funaki[100]
- Technique Award (1997)[100]
- Wrestler of the Year (1999, 2001, 2008)[100]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Pro Wrestling Noah
- Tokyo Sports
- Best Bout Award (2021) vs. Go Shiozaki (February 12 at Destination 2021: Back to Budokan)[105]
- Best Bout Award (2023) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last" Love[106][107]
- Match of the Year (1999) with Genichiro Tenryu on May 3, 1999[108]
- Match of the Year (2011) with
- Outstanding Performance Award (1998)[108]
- Rookie of the Year (1986)[110]
- Special Award (1989)[110]
- Tag Team of the Year (1990) with Masahiro Chono[108]
- Tag Team of the Year (2005) with Akebono[111]
- Wrestler of the Year (1995, 1999, 2001, 2008)[108][111]
- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
- Rockstar Spud, Sonjay Dutt and Tigre Uno)
- World Wrestling Council
- Wrestle-1
- 1 time)[50]
- F-1 Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kannazuki[114]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Shining Wizard
- Most Improved Wrestler(2001)
- Wrestler of the Year(2001)
- Readers' Favorite Wrestler(2001)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1999)
- WWE
- Other achievements
- Bahamut Championship (1 time) – with Sugi-chan[3]
1 Championship not officially recognized by All Japan Pro Wrestling.
2 Championship reign not officially recognized due to outside interference.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Great Muta profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 武藤 敬司. Wrestle-1 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ a b "「バッハ+武藤=バハムート」でお馴染みのバッハ武藤が、スギちゃんとのタッグで初代バハムート級王者に!W-1で防衛戦も!?". Battle News (in Japanese). September 10, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ a b "The Great Muta debuts against Cougar Jay: World Championship Wrestling, March 18, 1989". YouTube. World Wrestling Entertainment. April 3, 2013. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "DDT ProWrestling" Judgement2017~DDT旗揚げ20周年記念大会~ (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2017.
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