Legendary referee passes away!!!

**DLVH84** · 11-08-2010, 03:54 PM

Legendary referee Joe Higuchi passed away recently after a long battle with lung cancer; he was 81 years old.

Higuchi practiced judo since he was a kid. After World War II, he became a judo instructor. It was during this time he learned English, which was beneficial for foreign talent years later.

Higuchi started out in pro wrestling as a wrestler in 1954. After six years, he retired as a wrestler in 1960 after joining the JWA. After a five-year hiatus, Higuchi returned to pro wrestling as a referee in 1965.

Higuchi would be one of the original members of All Japan Pro Wrestling, when Giant Baba formed the promotion in 1972. He was their senior referee. He was also the first Japanese referee for the National Wrestling Alliance. He would referee an NWA World title match in St. Louis between Jack Brisco and Dory Funk, Jr. He would retire from refereeing in 1997, becoming a caretaker to foreign talent. He would retire from All Japan in 1999, after the death of Giant Baba.

At the time of his death, Higuchi was the chairman of the Global Honored Crown championship committee for Pro Wrestling NOAH, a position he held since 2001.

Higuchi was the main man who help foreign talent get around in Japan. Outside pro wrestling, he was a chef.

He was also known for his "ref bumps," which would be used by many pro wrestling referees around the world. Although he was criticized for being slow, he was consistent. The speed of his counting, especially for pinfalls, rarely changed.

11-08-2010, 03:54 PM	#1
DLVH84 Samurai Rocker Posts: 2,876	Legendary referee passes away!!! Legendary referee Joe Higuchi passed away recently after a long battle with lung cancer; he was 81 years old. Higuchi practiced judo since he was a kid. After World War II, he became a judo instructor. It was during this time he learned English, which was beneficial for foreign talent years later. Higuchi started out in pro wrestling as a wrestler in 1954. After six years, he retired as a wrestler in 1960 after joining the JWA. After a five-year hiatus, Higuchi returned to pro wrestling as a referee in 1965. Higuchi would be one of the original members of All Japan Pro Wrestling, when Giant Baba formed the promotion in 1972. He was their senior referee. He was also the first Japanese referee for the National Wrestling Alliance. He would referee an NWA World title match in St. Louis between Jack Brisco and Dory Funk, Jr. He would retire from refereeing in 1997, becoming a caretaker to foreign talent. He would retire from All Japan in 1999, after the death of Giant Baba. At the time of his death, Higuchi was the chairman of the Global Honored Crown championship committee for Pro Wrestling NOAH, a position he held since 2001. Higuchi was the main man who help foreign talent get around in Japan. Outside pro wrestling, he was a chef. He was also known for his "ref bumps," which would be used by many pro wrestling referees around the world. Although he was criticized for being slow, he was consistent. The speed of his counting, especially for pinfalls, rarely changed.