:Seiji Sakaguchi

{{Short description|Japanese professional wrestler and judoka (born 1942)}}

{{Infobox professional wrestler

|name = Seiji Sakaguchi

|image = Dory Funk Jr, Seiji Sakaguchi and Giant Baba.jpg

|image_size = 250px

|caption = Sakaguchi (center) along with Dory Funk, Jr. (left) and Giant Baba (right), c. 1973.

|birth_name = Seiji Sakaguchi

|names = Big Saka
Giant Saka
Great Saka
Great Sakaguchi
Mighty Saka
Seiji Sakaguchi

|children = Kenji Sakaguchi
Yukio Sakaguchi

|height = 196 cm

|weight = 125 kg

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1942|2|17|mf=y}}

|birth_place = Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

|billed = Tokyo, Japan

|trainer = Karl Gotch
Michiaki Yoshimura

|debut = 5 August 1967

|retired = 15 March 1990

|}}

{{MedalCountry | {{JPN}} }}

{{Nihongo|Seiji Sakaguchi|坂口征二|Sakaguchi Seiji|extra=born February 17, 1942}} is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and judoka, Sakaguchi holds a 7th dan{{Citation needed|reason=|date=August 2019}} red and white belt in judo. Sakaguchi was a mainstay of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and also competed for the World Wide Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance. His sons are professional wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Yukio Sakaguchi and television actor Kenji Sakaguchi. Sakaguchi currently works for New Japan as an advisor.{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result_game2.php?e=812&c=6173|script-title=ja:旗揚げ記念日|access-date=2014-03-07|work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|language=ja}}

Judo career

Before becoming a professional wrestler, Sakaguchi was a judoka with a fifth degree black belt and won the 1965 All Japan Judo Championship. Coach Koji Sone was accused by Anton Geesink's teammates in the 1965 World Judo Championships of having Sakaguchi throw the match against the more rested Matsunaga in order to allow Matsunaga take on the weary Geesink in the final round.{{cite book|title=Black Belt Vol. 4, No. 2|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|date=Feb 1966|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X84DAAAAMBAJ&q=sone&pg=PA14|page=14}}

Professional wrestling career

Sakaguchi debuted in August 1967 for the Japan Wrestling Association. When JWA closed down in 1973, he joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He retired from the ring in March 1990. He was the president of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1992 to 1993.

At age 61, Seiji Sakaguchi came out of retirement to team up with Masahiro Chono against Yoshihiro Takayama and Shinya Makabe on September 14, 2003.

Acting career

Sakaguchi appeared in the 1982 American film Forced Vengeance. His role was a minor one, though he did appear in the film's climactic fight scene, battling star Chuck Norris.

Championships and accomplishments

Cauliflower Alley Club
Other honoree (1996)
European Wrestling Union
EWU World Super Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Japan Wrestling Association
All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Michiaki Yoshimura
NWA International Tag Team Championship (2 time) - with Giant Baba (1 time) and Kintarō Ōki (1 time)
NWA United National Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Strong Kobayashi{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/nj-asia-t.html|title=Asia Tag Team Title|access-date=2016-06-01|publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com}}
NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (3 times) - with Antonio Inoki (1 time) and Strong Kobayashi (2 times)
NWF North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
WWF North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time, final)
World League (1976-1977)
Greatest 18 Club inductee
Greatest Wrestlers (Class of 2007){{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/english/data/list_greatest.html|title=NJPW Greatest Wrestlers|work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|access-date=2014-08-23|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323204902/http://www.njpw.co.jp/english/data/list_greatest.html|archive-date=2013-03-23}}
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (2 times) - with Antonio Inoki (1 time) and Riki Choshu (1 time)
NWA United National Championship (1 time)
World Tag League (1971) - with Antonio Inoki
World Tag League (1972) - with Akihisa Takachiho
NWA Polynesian Wrestling
NWA Polynesian Pacific Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Lars Anderson
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI ranked him # 146 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003
Tokyo Sports
Best Tag Team Award (1975) with Antonio Inoki{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past1/|script-title=ja:東京スポーツプロレス大賞|access-date=2014-01-20|work=Tokyo Sports|language=ja}}
Best Tag Team Award (1976) with Strong Kobayashi
Fighting Spirit Award (1977)
Lifetime Achievement Award (1990, 2012){{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past3/|script-title=ja:東京スポーツプロレス大賞|access-date=2014-01-20|work=Tokyo Sports|language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/61838/|script-title=ja:「２０１２年度プロレス大賞」受賞者|date=2012-12-11|access-date=2012-12-10|work=Tokyo Sports|language=ja|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230930/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/61838/|url-status=dead}}
Outstanding Performance Award (1976)
Special Award (2003){{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past4/|script-title=ja:東京スポーツプロレス大賞|access-date=2014-01-20|work=Tokyo Sports|language=ja}}