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| Tojo Yamamoto | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Tojo Yamamoto[1] P.Y. Chung[1] T.Y. Chung[1] |
| Born | 1927 or 1941[1] Hawaii |
| Died | February 19, 1992[1] Hermitage, Tennessee[1] |
| Debut | 1957[1] |
| Retired | 1991 |
Harold Watanabe (1927–February 19, 1992) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tojo Yamamoto. He was born in Hawaii.[1]
Contents |
Career
Yamamoto had success as a heel as an individual wrestler and part of a tag team, particularly in the southern United States, invoking the natural hatred for World War II enemies (in his case, Prime Minister Tojo and IJN admiral Yamamoto; as successful were the von Brauners, who wore Iron Crosses and goose-stepped around the ring). He was affiliated with Nashville-area wrestling promoter Nick Gulas for most of his career.
Yamamoto later became a manager of other wrestlers. 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. They were involved in a lengthy storyline with Eric Embry, involving control of the World Class promotion. Later, Yamamoto and Hickerson worked a storyline with Chris and Toni Adams, which began with an attack on Toni by Hickerson and Yamamoto during a wrestling match at the Sportatorium.
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.[1]
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
Championships and accomplishments
-
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) – with Taro Miyake
-
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Wayne Farris
- CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jerry Jarrett
- NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (12 times) – with Bill Dromo (2), Tommy Gilbert (1), Jackie Fargo (2), Johnny Marlin, George Gulas (2), Gypsy Joe (3) and Great Togo (1)
- NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with George Gulas & Dennis Hall (1), George Gulas & Tommy Rich (2), Gypsy Joe & The Beast (1), Dennis Condrey & Chris Colt (1), David Schultz & Great Togo (1) , and Bobby Eaton & The Secret Weapon (1)
- NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (23 times) – with Ivan Malenkov (1), Alex Perez (6), Mitsu Hirai (2), Tor Kamata (1), Great Higami (1), Johnny Long (2), Johnny Walker (1), Jerry Jarrett (5), Jerry Lawler (2), Eddie Marlin (1) and Jimmy Golden (1)
- NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship (Alabama version) (1 time) - with George Gulas
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time) – with Tommy Rich
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (8 times) – with Alex Perez (1), Mitsu Hirai (1), Tamaya Soto (1), Professor Ito (1), Johnny Long (3), and Ben Justice (1)
-
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Kamikaze
- NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jerry Jarret
References
External links
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