Masashi Aoyagi
{{Short description|Japanese professional wrestler (1956–2022)}}
{{Expand Japanese|topic=bio|青柳政司|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Masashi Aoyagi
|image = Masashi Aoyagi.jpeg
|alt =
|caption =
|names = {{Unbulleted list|Masashi Aoyagi|Seiji Aoyagi}}
|height = {{Height|metres=1.72}}
|weight = {{Convert|93|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|12|27|mf=y}}
|birth_place = Kasuya District, Fukuoka, Japan
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|7|6|1956|12|27|mf=y}}
|death_place =
|death_cause =
|resides =
|billed =
|trainer =
|debut = October 6, 1989
|retired = August 15, 2021
}}
{{nihongo|Masashi Aoyagi|青柳 政司|Aoyagi Masashi|extra=December 27, 1956 – July 6, 2022|lead=yes}} was a Japanese professional wrestler and karateka. He worked for numerous Japanese promotions for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH and many others.
Early life
Born into a family of coal miners, Aoyagi was born in Kasuya District, Fukuoka, and raised in Toyota, Aichi after his father lost his job due to the energy revolution.参考文献『週プロ』2014-10-15 pp72 「実は福岡生まれ」の節よりプロフィール上は青柳が生まれてほどなく転居した愛知県 豊田市出身となっている He was a swimmer while he was in elementary and junior high school, and was occasionally selected as a representative of the prefectural convention.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbm-japan.com/article/detail/33921|title=ジャイアント馬場＆アントニオ猪木よりも外国人選手が好きだった…青柳政司さん伝説(1)プロレスとの出会い【週刊プロレス】|publisher=BBM Sports|accessdate=7 July 2022}}
Karate Career
Although he aspired to become a professional wrestler in middle school, the lack of wrestlers under 180 cm at the time discouraged him. He entered Chukyo High School on a swimming scholarship but dropped out after three months due to financial difficulties. While working for a transportation company, he discovered a nearby Shitō-ryū karate dojo and began training in karate.
He went on to win several tournaments in the Tōkai region and, in 1978, at age 22, participated in the10th Open Tournament All Japan Karate Championship organized by Kyokushin Kaikan, where he reached the top 16. The following year, he quit his job and moved to Tokyo to join Kyokushin Kaikan but left after six months. Returning to his hometown, he founded Seishin Kaikan with his former students and continued competing in tournaments such as those hosted by Seidokaikan.
Professional wrestling career
{{expand section|date=July 2022}}
Aoyagi started his professional wrestling debut in 1989. Early in his career Aoyagi worked for Wrestle Association-R from 1992 to 1994 and 1997 to 1998, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling from 1989 to 1994, and New Japan Pro Wrestling from 1990 to 1994.{{cite web |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/160739/masashi-aoyagi-passes-away-at-65.html?p=1 |title=MASASHI AOYAGI PASSES AWAY AT 65
|author= |date=July 7, 2022 |website=PWInsider.com |access-date=November 7, 2022 }}
In May 1994, when the World Wrestling Federation was on tour in Japan, Aoyagi wrestled a few matches for WWF. He defeated Bob Backlund on May 8 and later lost to Owen Hart and Bam Bam Bigelow.{{cite web |url=http://thehistoryofwwe.com/94.htm |title=Yearly Results: 1994 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date= |website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com |publisher= |access-date=November 7, 2022}}
In 2000, Aoyagi made his debut for the new promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH where he would work there until his retirement in 2015.
On February 18, 2018, Aoyagi came out of retirement. He wrestled his last match on August 15, 2021.
Death
Aoyagi died on July 6, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2022/07/07/masashi-aoyagi-passes-away/|title=Masashi Aoyagi passes away|date=7 July 2022}} His death was announced by Pro Wrestling Zero1 the following day.{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/4303754/|title=元平成維震軍、誠心会館館長の青柳政司さんが死去|publisher=Tokyo Sports|date=7 July 2022|accessdate=8 July 2022}}{{Cite web |title=【訃報】青柳館長が死去 週刊プロレスmobile |url=https://wp.bbm-mobile.com/sp2/News/Detail.asp?c=tuma&n=122542 |website=wp.bbm-mobile.com |access-date=7 July 2022}}
Championships and accomplishments
- Daiwa Entertainment Pro Wrestling
- DEP Openweight Champion (1 time)
- WAR
- International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gokuaku Umibozu
- ''Tokyo Sports
- Newcomer Award (1990)
- Best Tag Team Award (1992) – with Akitoshi Saito, Kengo Kimura and Shiro Koshinaka
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aoyagi, Masashi}}
Category:Professional wrestlers from Fukuoka Prefecture
Category:Japanese male professional wrestlers
Category:Japanese catch wrestlers
Category:Japanese male karateka
Category:Professional wrestlers from Aichi Prefecture
Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century Japanese professional wrestlers
Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers
Category:21st-century Japanese professional wrestlers
Category:Tenryu Project International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions