DORY FUNK JR. ASKS - IS THE GREAT MUTA THE GREATEST WRESTLER OF ALL TIME?
By Dory Funk Jr. on 9/29/2008 5:15 PM
Funk's Corner - Great Muta / Keiji Muto - Greatest Wrestler of All
Time?
September 28th 2008, in Yokohama Japan before a sellout crowd Keiji
Muto defeated Suwama to become Triple Crown Champion for the second time. As
Suwama was on the attack, Great Muto sprayed the mysterious "Green Mist"
into the eyes of Suwama and in a move that stirs memories of his days on
Turner Broadcasting System's World Championship Wrestling Muto hit a
Moonsault to win the Triple Crown Championship from Suwama. (Keiji Muto
is also current IWGP
Heavyweight Champion.)
Keiji Muto, who wrestled in America as the Great Muta, is president
of All Japan Pro Wrestling and the driving force behind the recent
resurgence of interest in professional wrestling in Japan.
Keiji Muto's record of accomplishments gives credibility to many who
believe Muto has become the best wrestler ever in Japan and a strong case
could be made that Keiji Muto has become the number one wrestler in the
world.
************************
Two Funking Conservatory Athletes, Shane Chung and Elvis Sharp will
make their debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo Japan
October 11th.
On our website at http://www.dory-funk.com
we have video of Keiji Muto, Osamu Nishimura, Shane Chung and Elvis Sharp
wrestling on !BANG! TV.
Osamu Nishimura comes to the Funking Conservatory October 4th and
5th to scout wrestling talent for All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Dory Funk Jr. - Coach of the Funking Conservatory Wrestling School -
The Official American Training Center for All Japan Pro Wrestling - For
tryouts for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Training Schedules at the Funking
Conservatory Wrestling School, Call 352-895-4658. For more information visit
http://www.dory-funk.com.
***********************************
Accomplishments of Great Muta / Keiji Muto
Credit Wikipedia
All Japan Pro Wrestling
AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times, Current)
AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Taiyō Kea (1),
Arashi (1) and Joe Doering (1)
Champion's Carnival (2002)
Champion's Carnival (2004)
Champion's Carnival (2007)
World's Strongest Tag Team League (2001) with Taiyō Kea
World's Strongest Tag Team League (2007) with Joe Doering
Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
IWGP Heavyweight Championship (4 times, current)
IWGP Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Hiroshi Hase (2), Masahiro Chono
(2), Shiro Koshinaka (1) and Taiyō Kea (1)
NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Greatest 18 Championship (1 time) (Last)
G1 Climax (1995)
G1 Climax Tag League (1999) with Scott Norton
Super Grade Tag League (1993, 1994) with Hiroshi Hase
Super Grade Tag League (1997) with Masahiro Chono
Super Grade Tag League (1998) with Satoshi Kojima
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI ranked him # 3 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002.
PWI ranked him # 4 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2001,
2003.
Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
Best Tag Team (2005) with Akebono
World Championship Wrestling
NWA World Television Championship (1 time)
WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Vampiro
WCW BattleBowl (1992)
World Wrestling Council
WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
WWC World Television Championship (1 time)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Best Wrestling Maneuver (2001) Shining Wizard
Match of the Year (2001) vs. Genichiro Tenryu on June 8, Tokyo, Japan
Most Improved Wrestler (2001)
Wrestler of the Year (2001)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1999)
