WWE isn’t the only promotion that’s paid tribute to Hulk Hogan so far this weekend, about a day after the 71-year-old pro wrestling legend died from cardiac arrest stemming from a neck fusion surgery weeks before.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling also held a ceremony for Hogan before the sixth show of their annual G1 Climax Tournament. Video of the ceremony is embedded above.
Before the first match on the card, NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi and former referee Tiger Hattori came to the ring. Hattori held
a framed photo of Hogan while the WWE Hall of Famer’s wrestling career was recounted over the speakers in Ota City General Gymnasium. It was in Japanese, but seemed to include the information about Hogan’s time in Japan from New Japan’s obituary for him from Thursday:
While Hogan’s status as a blockbuster attraction and pop culture icon in the US is well documented, he also left a significant mark on Japanese and New Japan Pro-Wrestling history. Trained by Hiro Matsuda, Hogan first came to Japan in 1980, participating in the third MSG (Madison Square Garden) League that brought names from America to battle NJPW’s top stars.
In late spring of 1983, the International Wrestling Grand Prix League saw the IWGP letters known today first used in NJPW competition. A league tournament brought wrestlers from across the world from various member promotions to determine an IWGP Champion that would then defend their status in the next year’s tournament. The league boiled down to Hogan and Antonio Inoki in the final, and to massive shock, Hogan would upset Inoki, landing his Ax Bomber lariat to send Inoki off the apron and to count out defeat to be the first IWGP League winner. Later that year, Inoki teamed with Hogan, and the two won the MSG Tag League together.
Hogan continued to compete in multiple in NJPW until 1985, and then returned to Japan in the early 1990s for the Genichiro Tenryu operated SWS. In 1993, Hogan created a stir when he targeted IWGP Heavyweight Champion Great Muta at Wrestling Dontaku while still carrying the WWF Championship; Hogan would defeat Muta in a non title bout in Fukuoka that May, and faced Tatsumi Fujinami the following January 4 in the Tokyo Dome before transitioning to WCW Stateside. Hogan’s last match in Japan came at Ultimate Crush in October 2003 with a victory over Masahiro Chono.
That was followed by a moment of silence and a ten-bell salute, with New Japan wrestlers and trainees surrounding the ring.
Hattori spoke about Hogan backstage:
“He was definitely outstanding, more than your average wrestler. He was big in size, but I don’t know, I think he was just a little different. He had such great success so it’s sad that he passed away so early, but I have a lot of respect for him as a professional wrestler.
“I bet he’s up there again wrestling in heaven. We’ve lost a truly wonderful person. I hope we’ll see another wrestler like him. I want to say thank you for all the great times we had.”
His remarks are included in the video embedded at the top.
More from cagesideseats.com:
- Not everyone is marking out about Eva Marie’s return
- Mansoor’s Raw Debut was classic WWE
- Is this who caught Lilly’s eye?
- Former WWE champs face off on (checks notes) Main Event
- Yes, Angel Garza shoved a rose up Drew Gulak’s butt on Raw
- Raw recap & reactions: Flip the switch
- Flair already added to title match at WrestleMania Backlash
- EVA MARIE IS BACK
