Tag: hisashi shinma

For subscribers: Dave Meltzer’s obituary for Hisashi Shinma

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Subscribers can get an early look at Dave Meltzer’s obituary for Hisashi Shinma who passed away at 90 years old.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Hisashi Shinma, one of the most influential figures in the history of pro wrestling, as a promoter, booker, business manager and political figure who had a long association with Antonio Inoki, passed away on 4/21 at the age of 90.

Shinma was a key figure from the start of New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1972.  New Japan was started by Inoki after he failed in a takeover attempt of the JWA, the top promotion in Japan.  He is historically credited with so many concepts that led to building New Japan into the largest grossing pro wrestling company in the world in the early 80s.  His reputation is that he put together many of the most iconic matches and concepts.

Other historians claim that he was perhaps the most overrated figure and most of what he was credited for were ideas of Inoki.  The idea is that with Inoki as an active wrestler and top star, he could not publicly be associated with the idea he was the key business decision-maker.”

Click here to read the full obituary.

Former NJPW booker, WWE Hall of Famer Hisashi Shinma passes away at 90

Posted on by F4W Staff

Hisashi Shinma — a key figure from the early days of NJPW who was once recognized as the in-storyline president of the WWF — has passed away at 90 years old.

His death was reported on Monday by Tokyo Sports, who note that Shinma was not suffering from any specific illness but had been hospitalized three weeks ago due to poor health. He was discharged from the hospital two days ago before passing away today.

Shinma, the right-hand man of Antonio Inoki, was the booker of NJPW and helped run the promotion’s business in the 1970s-1980s. He later founded the original UWF promotion in Japan after departing NJPW due to an embezzlement scandal.

From 1978-1984, Shinma was the on-screen president of the WWF — which had a working relationship with NJPW at the time. Shinma served in that storyline role after Willie Gilzenberg and before Jack Tunney.

Shinma joined the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 as a Legacy inductee. Dave Meltzer wrote the following about Shinma’s impact on NJPW, crediting him for helping create the famed Inoki vs. Muhammad Ali match and pushing NJPW’s junior heavyweight division:

  • In New Japan, Shinma’s booking led to tremendous television ratings and great live arena business in the early 80s. At its peak, New Japan sold out 70 percent of its live events and averaged 20 ratings in prime time. Shinma’s major roles were the creation of Inoki as a larger-than-life figure though fighting outsiders, the non-pro wrestlers who came from boxing (including Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner), karate, judo, kickboxing and other disciplines; the bringing in of stars from other promotions to create famous dream matches (which in many ways created a fan appetite in Japan for the later UWF-style promotions and MMA); focusing on Japanese vs. Japanese main event feuds like Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Riki Choshu and Inoki vs. Rusher Kimura, and the creation and push of a unique high-flying junior heavyweight division. The latter gave Fujinami his first stardom and got even bigger with Satoru Sayama as Tiger Mask and his bouts with Dynamite Kid, Black Tiger (Rollerball Rocco) and even a young Bret Hart.

WWE posted a tribute to Shinma on its website today, extending their condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

“Behind the scenes, he was known as a master booker. Assisting Antonio Inoki in bringing the legendary New Japan Pro Wrestling to prominence, he is credited with, among other things, giving Satoru Sayama the Tiger Mask character,” WWE wrote. “Shinma served a crucial role in helping negotiate a talent-sharing arrangement between New Japan and WWE that helped many talented competitors and launched Tatsumi Fujinami as an international Superstar.”