Satoru Sayama
![]() | This poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "Satoru Sayama" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2017) |
Satoru Sayama | |
---|---|
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan | |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Satoru Sayama Tiger Mask Super Tiger Tiger King Sammy Lee The Mask of Tiger The Tiger |
Billed height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[1] |
Billed weight | 198 lb (90 kg)[1] |
Trained by | Karl Gotch Antonio Inoki Yoshiaki Fujiwara Kotetsu Yamamoto |
Debut | May 28, 1976 |
Satoru Sayama (佐山 聡, Sayama Satoru) (born November 27, 1957) is a
He is also recognized as a pioneer in
Professional wrestling and martial arts career
Early career; New Japan Pro-Wrestling and excursion (1976–1981)
Sayama debuted in
Return to NJPW (1981–1983)
Becoming Tiger Mask
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Tiger_Mask_I_high_kick_1983.png/200px-Tiger_Mask_I_high_kick_1983.png)
In 1981, NJPW was looking for a way to attract young fans to its wrestling. They looked to the popular Tiger Mask anime and created a wrestling character called Tiger Mask for the fans, with the recently returned Sayama playing the role. On the evening of Thursday, April 23, 1981, Satoru Sayama made his way to the ring in the Kuramae Kokugikan as Tiger Mask. Initially, many traditional Japanese fans scoffed at the thought of artist Ikki Kajiwara's popular comic book wrestling hero being pushed as a legitimate wrestling star, but he shocked the Japanese fans in the arena by pinning Dynamite Kid with his German suplex. As a result, he was immediately regarded as the premier star in New Japan's junior heavyweight ranks. Moreover, that match would be the first of many classic battles between the two men.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Tiger_Mask_German_Suplex_Black_Tiger.jpg/220px-Tiger_Mask_German_Suplex_Black_Tiger.jpg)
On May 6, 1982, Tiger Mask was forced to vacate the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship after injuring his right knee. Tiger Mask would go on to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight less than 3 weeks later on May 25, 1982. The next day, Tiger Mask defeated old UK rival Mark Rocco, wrestling in the guise of Black Tiger, in a match for the WWF Junior Heavyweight title. This victory was met with controversy, as some board members on the NWA declared the title vacant, as they felt that the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship was the premier title for the division. However, during an annual meeting between the NWA and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, it was declared that Tiger Mask was still recognized as the official champion, which made him the only man to simultaneously hold the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Around this time, Sayama trained in sambo under Victor Koga and kickboxing under Toshio Fujiwara.[5]
World Wrestling Federation tours
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Tiger_Mask_WWF_Junior_Heavyweight_Champion_1982.jpg/220px-Tiger_Mask_WWF_Junior_Heavyweight_Champion_1982.jpg)
In late 1982, while still a member of the New Japan roster, Sayama made at least two tours of the
Sayama defended the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating Dynamite Kid at Madison Square Garden in New York City on August 30, and Eddie Gilbert at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on November 25. During his time as Tiger Mask, Sayama had faced mainly English and Mexican opponents, with styles complementary to his own. As a result, the match with Gilbert would be regarded as one of his higher-profile matches against an American-style opponent.
Sayama also made appearances at WWF television tapings during these tours, in which he had televised matches against
Joe McHugh, the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission-appointed ring announcer for WWF events in the state and nearing 80 years of age, mistakenly introduced Sayama during one of his appearances as "Timer Mask."
Departure from NJPW
During a tag team match on April 3, 1983 he was injured by Dynamite Kid; two days later, he was forced to vacate the NWA World Junior Heavyweight title after it became clear that he would need time off to recuperate. However, once the determined Tiger Mask recovered, he regained his NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating Kuniaki Kobayashi on June 2, 1983, making him a simultaneous NWA/WWF Jr. champion for the second time. By 1983, however, Sayama started feeling dissatisfied as he hated the politics behind-the-scenes. As a result, he announced his retirement from active competition on August 12, 1983. His last match occurred on August 4, facing Isamu Teranishi. It was a shock to the wrestling world, as Tiger Mask was going to retire while he was at the top of his game and as the holder of two Junior Heavyweight Championships. Both titles were declared vacant, as he became a trainer to martial arts fighters.
Universal Wrestling Federation (1984–1985)
Sayama was inactive from the ring for nearly a year, having founded the Tiger Gym and spending most of his time training with his protege
Retirement and Shooto (1985–1996)
Sayama then left professional wrestling altogether.
In 1985 he founded
Return to wrestling and aftermath (1995–present)
In 1995, Sayama was offered to return to puroresu for a match against old mentor Antonio Inoki. As there was already a Tiger Mask on the scene (his disciple, Tiger Mask IV, who debuted with the mask), Sayama used the name and gimmick Tiger King, using a gold-colored outfit. Inoki ended up winning the match.
In subsequent years, he (using the Original [Shodai] Tiger Mask identity), competing sporadically in various independent promotions, often in legends matches and teams with his younger disciple. In 1998, he was invited by Inoki to be a part of the board of his new venture, Universal Fighting-Arts Organization. He did, but left a year later to form Seikendo.
In 1999, attempting to return to the world of martial arts and to create something similar to Shooto, he created a martial art named Seikendo. It was a
In 2005, he founded a new promotion called
He has also appeared in Tatsumi Fujinami's Dradition promotion, as well as Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation. Sayama is much heavier than he was in his younger days, and as a result, his style has changed; he focuses more on mat-based wrestling, though he still uses his trademark martial arts kicks.
Still training young wrestlers, Sayama endorsed a second Super Tiger, played by seikendoka and
At the March 20, 2015, Real Japan event, Sayama was defeated by All Japan wrestler
Other media
In 1995, Sayama starred along
He also had an appearance in the 2004 movie Shinsetsu Tiger Mask, a biographical film about Sayama's life in which he is played by Masakatsu Funaki. Sayama himself plays Tiger Mask's trainer.
Works
- (1984) Super Tiger Shooting: The road to the strongest combat sports (スーパー・タイガーシューティング―格闘技最強への道, Sūpā taigāshūtingu ― kakutōgi saikyō e no michi)
- (1986) Introduction to Satoru Sayama's shooting (佐山聡のシューティング入門, Sayamasatoru no shūtingu nyūmon) ISBN 9784062027113
- (1989) Satoru Sayama's advanced shooting: The road to pankration (佐山聡のシューティング上級編―パンクラチオンへの道, Sayamasatoru no shūtingu jōkyū-hen ― pankurachion e no michi) ISBN 9784062032391
- (1989) Kayfabe (ケーフェイ, Kēfei) ISBN 9784795220720
- (1998) This is sambo! (これがサンボだ!, Kore ga sanbo da!) ISBN 9784583025643 - with Victor Koga
- (1999) The Kakutoka: The true face of the warrior aiming to be the best (ザ・格闘家―最強を目指した戦士たちの素顔, Za kakutō-ka ― saikyō o mezashita senshi-tachi no sugao) ISBN 9784334972325
- (2000) Satoru Sayama's seikendo (佐山聡の掣圏道, Sayamasatoru no seikendō) ISBN 9784893741448
- (2001) Brave on heart, with a true hero: If you break, you lose (ブレイヴ・オン・ハート 真の勇者とは―キレたら負ける, Bureivu on hāto shin no yūsha to wa ― Kiretara makeru) ISBN 9784828409092
- (2002) Self-defense: The strongest real technique (護身―最強のリアルテクニック, Goshin ― saikyō no riarutekunikku) ISBN 978-4537201024
- (2010) Sayama's principles for neworn modern martial arts (佐山原理 新生武道真陰, Sayama genri Shinsei budō shin'in) ISBN 9784809408502
- (2014) The real immovable mind: Mental training (「リアル不動心」メンタルトレーニング, `Riaru fudō kokoro' mentarutorēningu) ISBN 9784062728799
Championships and accomplishments
- PWI ranked him #274 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2006[14]
- PWI ranked him #274 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the
- Real Japan Pro Wrestling
- TWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Yoji Anjo
- MVP Award (1982)[15]
- Popularity Award (1981)[15]
- Technique Award (1982, 1984)[15]
- UWF Tournament winner (1984)[16]
- Kakuto Nettai Road "A" League Tournament (1985)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Best Flying Wrestler(1982, 1983)
- Most Impressive Wrestler(1982)
- Best Technical Wrestler(1982, 1983)
- Match of the Year(1982) vs. Dynamite Kid, August 5, Tokyo, Japan
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
Luchas de Apuestas record
Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Satoru Sayama (hair) | Alfonso Dantés (hair) | México City | Live event | June 15, 1979 | |
Tiger Mask (mask) | Masked Hurricane (mask) | Tokyo, Japan | Live event | October 8, 1981 |
Kickboxing record
0 wins, 1 loss | ||||||||
Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 14, 1977 | Loss | Marc Costello | Kakutōgi Daisensō | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (unanimous) | 6 | 2:00 | 0-1 |
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest |
Mixed martial arts exhibition record
Exhibition record breakdown | ||
3 matches | 1 win | 0 losses |
By knockout | 1 | 0 |
Draws | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Draw | 1–0–2 | Yoshinori Nishi | Technical Draw | Lumax Cup - Tournament of J'95 | October 13, 1995 | 1 | 5:30 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Win | 1–0–1 | Kuniaki Kobayashi | KO (high kick) | Shooto: Vale Tudo Perception | September 26, 1995 | 1 | 6:05 | Tokyo, Japan | |
Draw | 0–0–1 | Yuji Ito | Technical Draw | VTJ 1994 - Vale Tudo Japan 1994 | July 29, 1994 | 2 | 3:00 | Tokyo, Japan |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1995 | Roppongi Soldier | Ken Washizu |
2004 | Shinsetsu Tiger Mask | Tiger Mask's trainer |
2006 | Waru | |
2006 | Waru: kanketsu-hen |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Tiger Mask". WWE. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Satoru Sayama profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ^ "Profile at Puroresu Central". Puroresu Central. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ^ Gould, KJ (July 24, 2012). "Satoru Sayama, Shooto And The Style Of Japanese Catch Wrestling". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ MMA History Part III: Proto MMA Evolves Out of Worked Pro Wrestling in Japan
- ^ "Japanese MMA fan pays attention to SEIKAN-DO". www20.tok2.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "SRC y 2 nuevos conceptos de artes marciales mixtas en Japón. — Diarios del versus". November 18, 2011. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Seikendo Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ 選手生命の危機!初代タイガーマスクが心臓緊急手術. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). May 23, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ 狭心症が発覚した初代タイガーマスクは復帰の目処たたず!愛弟子S・タイガーが覚悟の出陣!リアルジャパン6.11後楽園の全カード決定. Battle News (in Japanese). May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^ 手術の初代タイガー “遺言”伝えてた. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. June 5, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
- ^ 初代タイガーが狭心症から実戦復帰. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. June 23, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ "Induction Weekend 2021 | Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame".
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2006". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ^ a b c 東京スポーツ プロレス大賞. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ "Original UWF Tournaments".
External links
- Tiger Mask on WWE.com
- Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama) biography
- Satoru Sayama's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database