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Revision as of 08:14, 23 June 2005 by Lakes (talk | contribs) (Testing if defined call1)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Masahiro Chono (born September 17, 1963 in Mitaka, Tokyo) is a Japanese professional wrestler.
Career
Masahiro Chono debuted in 1984 against Keiji Mutoh at an event in Saitama, Japan. He soon came to the United States and wrestled in the Kansas City and Alabama areas.
He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), but he has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling as a member of the nWo. Chono, called "Mister Black Jack" when he first started as a heel, is one of the top heels in Japan wrestling history. Originally a clean cut face during his NWA title reign, he turned heel beginning in 1995. His team with Hiroyoshi Tenzan was called "Team Wolf" and it was the core for the formation of the stables nWo Japan in NJPW when the nWo was huge in WCW, and its successor stable, Team 2000 which eventually was restructured again.
In a match against WCW's Bill Goldberg, Chono supposedly "shot the match" (actually hurting the opponent) and dislocated his shoulder. Given Goldberg's temperment and abuse of other wrestlers, it would stand to reason his actions and personality would conflict with NJPW employees seeing as how Japanese pro-wrestling puts more emphasis on the match instead of the gimmick.
In Wrestling
Styles used
- Catch-as-Catch-Can
- British Style Grappling
- Judo Locks
Finishing / Signature Moves
- STF
- FTS (reverse airborne STF)
- Kenka ("Yakuza") Kick
- Shining Yakuza: a jumping Yakuza kick (modeled on Keiji Mutoh's "Shining Wizard" knee bash)
- Butterfly Lock: a front face full nelson applied to the opponent when he is in the mat
- Rolling Butterfly Lock: A standing variation of the butterfly lock. Chono locks on the shoulder/neck lock and rolls either forward or backward.
Managers
Championships/Accomplishments
- 1-Time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NJPW IWGP Heavyweight Champion
- 6-Time NJPW IWGP Tag Team Champion (with Keiji Mutoh once, Mutoh as Great Muta once and Hiroyoshi Tenzan four times)
- 1-Time NWA Central States Television Champion
- 1-Time WWA Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time CWF Tag Team Champion (with Mike Davis)
- 1-Time Hawaiian Kamehameha Heritage Champion
- Winner 1991 NJPW G1 Climax Tournament (beat Keiji Mutoh)
- Winner 1992 NJPW G1 Climax Tournament (beat Rick Rude)
- Winner 1994 NJPW G1 Climax Tournament (beat Kensuke Sasaki)
- Winner 2002 NJPW G1 Climax Tournament (beat Yoshihiro Takayama)
- Winner 1987 NJPW Young Lions Cup (beat Shinya Hashimoto)
- Winner 1990 NJPW Japan/China Friendship Tournament (beat Kensuke Sasaki)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 70 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.