DLVH84
04-21-2010, 12:43 PM
Katsuji Adachi, better known as Mr. Hito in Stampede Wrestling, has passed away at his home in Osaka, Japan. He was 67 years old.
Adachi made his wrestling debut in 1956, at the young age of 14, in the old Japan Wrestling Association promotion. Adachi would soon take the name "Tokyo Joe" and rose up in the ranks of JWA, until the promotion folded in 1973, due to Antonio Inoki forming New Japan Pro Wrestling and Giant Baba forming All Japan Pro Wrestling the year before.
After JWA died, Adachi went to North America, where he started in Central States territory of the National Wrestling Alliance. In 1974, he moved up to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he wrestled for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling. While there, he teamed with the likes of Mr. Sakurada (Kendo Nagasaki, The Dragonmaster), Sekigawa (Mr. Pogo), and Animal Hamaguchi.
It was in Canada that Stu Hart hired Adachi as his right-hand man in training up-and-coming wrestlers in the famous Dungeon.
In 1982, Adachi suffered a near-career ending automobile accident in Lethbridge, Alberta, which he suffered facial injuries, a broken wrist, and a dislocated knee, after hitting the back tires of a semi-trailer as it was pulling into a roadside gas station.
In 1986, after 30 years in the ring and at the young age of 44, Adachi retired from in-ring competition, and for the next several years, helped Stu Hart train wrestlers in the Dungeon.
In 2004, Adachi moved back to Japan, just 31 years after leaving for North America.
On April 21, 2010, Katsuji Adachi passed away. He was 67 years old.
Katsuji Adachi had a hand in training the following wrestlers with Stu Hart...Ben Bassarab, Chris Benoit, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Hiroshi Hase, Shinya Hashimoto, Keiichi Yamada, Kensuke Sasaki, Ricky Fuji, Chris Jericho, and Lance Storm.
Adachi made his wrestling debut in 1956, at the young age of 14, in the old Japan Wrestling Association promotion. Adachi would soon take the name "Tokyo Joe" and rose up in the ranks of JWA, until the promotion folded in 1973, due to Antonio Inoki forming New Japan Pro Wrestling and Giant Baba forming All Japan Pro Wrestling the year before.
After JWA died, Adachi went to North America, where he started in Central States territory of the National Wrestling Alliance. In 1974, he moved up to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he wrestled for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling. While there, he teamed with the likes of Mr. Sakurada (Kendo Nagasaki, The Dragonmaster), Sekigawa (Mr. Pogo), and Animal Hamaguchi.
It was in Canada that Stu Hart hired Adachi as his right-hand man in training up-and-coming wrestlers in the famous Dungeon.
In 1982, Adachi suffered a near-career ending automobile accident in Lethbridge, Alberta, which he suffered facial injuries, a broken wrist, and a dislocated knee, after hitting the back tires of a semi-trailer as it was pulling into a roadside gas station.
In 1986, after 30 years in the ring and at the young age of 44, Adachi retired from in-ring competition, and for the next several years, helped Stu Hart train wrestlers in the Dungeon.
In 2004, Adachi moved back to Japan, just 31 years after leaving for North America.
On April 21, 2010, Katsuji Adachi passed away. He was 67 years old.
Katsuji Adachi had a hand in training the following wrestlers with Stu Hart...Ben Bassarab, Chris Benoit, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Hiroshi Hase, Shinya Hashimoto, Keiichi Yamada, Kensuke Sasaki, Ricky Fuji, Chris Jericho, and Lance Storm.