History Wrestling / Rikidozan

* Crossover: The ''JWA WWA World Championship Series'', among others.

'''Kim Sil-lak''' (1924-1963) was a [[UsefulNotes/NorthKorea Korean]] sumo and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er and promoter as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he was a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x Wrestling/{{N|ationalWrestlingAlliance}}WA [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Wrestling/AntonioInoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into the ''[[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'' Hall of Fame in 1996.

* CaptainErsatz: A favorite for them in ''Videogame/FireProWrestling''.

'''Kim Sil-lak''' (1924-1963) was a [[UsefulNotes/NorthKorea Korean]] sumo and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er and promoter as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he was a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x Wrestling/{{N|ationalWrestlingAlliance}} [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Wrestling/AntonioInoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into the ''[[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'' Hall of Fame in 1996.

'''Kim Sil-lak''' (1924-1963) was a [[UsefulNotes/NorthKorea Korean]] sumo and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er and promoter as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he was a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Wrestling/AntonioInoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into the ''[[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'' Hall of Fame in 1996.

* [[FountainOfExpies Iconic Wrestler]]: As the man who essentially ''introduced'' pro wrestling in Japan and trained the two biggest names, who would go on to establish the two biggest promotions, how could he ''not'' be one?

* ShortLivedBigImpact: To say the least.

'''Kim Sil-lak''' (1924-1963) was a [[UsefulNotes/NorthKorea Korean]] sumo and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er and promoter as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he was a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into the ''[[Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'' Hall of Fame in 1996.

'''Kim Sil-lak''' (1924-1963) was a [[UsefulNotes/NorthKorea Korean]] sumo and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er and promoter as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he was a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into ''Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Hall of Fame'' in 1996.

'''Kim Sil-lak''' was a [[UsefulNotes/NorthKorea Korean]] sumo and {{Professional Wrestl|ing}}er and promoter as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he was a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into ''Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Hall of Fame'' in 1996.

'''Kim Sil-lak''' (Japanese name: '''Mitsuhiro Momota''') (1924-1963) was a Korean-[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] sumo and [[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrestler]] as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he was a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into ''Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Hall of Fame'' in 1996.

'''Mitsuhiro Momota''' (1924-1963) was a Korean-[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] sumo and [[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrestler]] as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he was a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into ''Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Hall of Fame'' in 1996.

!!! Tropes Associated with Rikidozan:

* DefeatMeansFriendship: With Lou Thesz

!! Tropes Associated with Rikidozan:

* WrestlingFamily: His son, Mitsuo Momota debuted in 1972 and did not have much success beyond a brief run with the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/aj-j.html All Japan World Junior Heavyweight Title]], though he is still competing in different promotions. Mitsuo's brother Yoshiro Momota had a run in All Japan in the 1980s but never had much success. He died of liver cancer in 2000 at the age of 54.

* WrestlingFamily: His son, Mitsuo Momota, started in 1972, without much success beyond a brief run with the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/aj-j.html All Japan World Junior heavyweight Title]], though he is still competing in different promotions. Mitsuo's brother Yoshiro Momota had a run in All Japan in the 1980s but never had much success. He died of liver cancer in 2000 at the age of 54.

'''Mitsuhiro Momota''' (1924-1963) was a Korean-[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] sumo and [[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrestler]] as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan. He was inducted into ''Wrestling/TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter Hall of Fame'' in 1996.

* ForeignWrestlingHeel: In the U.S.

'''Mitsuhiro Momota''' (1924-1963) was a Korean-[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] sumo and [[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrestler]] as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan.

'''Mitsuhiro Momota''' (1924-1963) was a Korean-[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] sumo and [[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrestler]] as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan.

'''Mitsuhiro Momota''' (1924-1963) was a Korean-[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] sumo and [[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrestler]] as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling. He started his pro wrestling career in 1951, defeating every American wrestler who came to Japan. While he was a huge {{Face}} in Japan, he was booked as a {{Heel}} in the U.S., especially coming less than ten years after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He held many titles in the JWA (Japanese Wrestling Association) which would later continue on into Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling. Among his achievements, he a 4x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/asia-t.html JWA All Asia Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=], a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/jwa/japan-t.html JWA All Japan Tag Team Champion]] with [=Toyonobori=] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/int-h.html NWA International Heavyweight Champion]]. He defeated Lou [=Thesz=] for that title and held it for over '''FIVE YEARS''', right until his death from stab wounds on December 15, 1963. He also helped train Antonio Inoki, who would go on to establish Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling, and Giant Baba, who would create All Japan.

'''Mitsuhiro Momota''' (1924-1963) was a Korean-[[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] sumo and [[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrestler]] as '''Rikidozan.''' He is celebrated as the "Father of ''[=Puroresu=]''", or Japanese pro wrestling.

[[quoteright:220:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rikidozan_1360.jpg]]