Famous Japanese Wrestlers

One of the most promising young wrestlers from Japan, Kanako Urai, better known as Asuka and Kana (previously), has been making a name for herself as part of the WWE. Known for her multi-colored hair, she is a Grand Slam Champion, and holds the NXT, Raw, and SmackDown Women’s titles.

Shinsuke Nakamura is a Japanese wrestler best known for appearing in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where he has won several championships, such as the Intercontinental Championship, United States Championship, and SmackDown Tag Team Championship. In 2016, Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine named him the Most Popular Wrestler of the Year. He is also known for his association with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. 

WWE wrestler and actor Kaori Housako, better known as Kairi Sane, initially represented Japanese women’s wrestling promotion Stardom, as Kairi Hojo, and also won many honors, such as the Artist of Stardom. She is also skilled in yachting, holds a degree in Japanese literature, and has taught Japanese in Cambodia.

Once a reputed Japanese martial artist and wrestler, Antonio Inoki grew up in Brazil, where he won several contests of shot put, discus, and javelin. At 17, he went to the Japanese Wrestling Association and was mentored by Rikidōzan. He later established the New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Japanese martial artist and wrestler Kota Ibushi stunned his fans when he rejected an offer from All Elite Wrestling, choosing to remain with New Japan Pro-Wrestling instead, as he did not wish to move to the U.S. for good. The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion had initially ditched karate for wrestling.

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. He is the current NEVER Openweight Champion at  New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is one of the most decorated wrestlers in New Japan's history with eight reigns as IWGP Heavyweight Champion and three reigns as IWGP Tag Team Champion. 

Japanese wrestler Masami Odate, better known by her pseudonym, Io Shirai, performs for WWE and is a former NXT Women's Champion. Japanese newspaper Tokyo Sports named her the top female wrestler of the year thrice. She is best known for her trademark moonsaults, springboard dropkicks, and hurricanranas.

Japanese wrestler Yoshihiro Tajiri has been known by many pseudonyms, such as Aquarius and Tigre Blanco. Trained in lucha libre and Japanese wrestling, Tajiri has also amused audiences with his backstage comedy during his association with organizations such as WWE and ECW. He later popularized his signature goatee.

Jushin Thunder Liger is a Japanese retired wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is best known for his association with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) where he was an important wrestler from 1984 to 2020. He was also popular in America's WWE stable and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020.

Considered the best judoka of all time, Masahiko Kimura had begun training in martial arts at age 9. The skilled fighter later lent his name to the reverse ude-garami arm lock which he had used in his win against Hélio Gracie, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu founder. He had also penned his memoir, My Judo.

Nicknamed Tiger Mask, Japanese MMA fighter and wrestler Satoru Sayama has also fought under the name Sammy Lee. Known as the Bruce Lee of wrestling, he has been the only person to hold both the WWF and the NWA world junior heavyweight titles simultaneously. He also founded the combat sport Shooto.

Genki Sudo is a Japanese MMA fighter, singer, dancer, and politician. Known for his unorthodox fighting style and elaborate ring entrances, Sudo was a kickboxer before focusing on his career in the Japanese entertainment industry. He then became a member of a prominent political party in Japan in 2019. Sudo is currently serving as a Member of House of Councillors.

Killer Khan is a Japanese former professional wrestler best known for appearing alongside wrestlers like André the Giant in several high-profile matches during the 1980s in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Khan also took part in Canada's Stampede Wrestling where he was the Stampede North American Heavyweight Champion for a couple of months.

Renowned Japanese MMA fighter Yuki Nakai is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and now serves the Japanese confederation of jiu-jitsu as its president. He is best known to fans for his 1995 match against Gerard Gordeau, in which he was eye-gouged and lost his eyesight partially, but eventually won.