NJPW Roster in 1981: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions
On this page you find the full NJPW Roster in the year 1981. This includes the list of all NJPW Wrestlers from Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight, active Tag Teams & Stables, the current reigning Champions, as well as Managers, Announcers, Authority figures, Producers and other personalities in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Our complete Pro Wrestlers Database allows you to travel through time and see the NJPW Roster by Year or any specific Date in history. Simply use the filters below! You even have the option to view a breakdown of the rosters split by Face and Heel divisions.
![NJPW Logo 1981 NJPW Logo 1981](/images/wrestling/promotions/white/njpw.png)
NJPW: All (47)
![Abdullah the Butcher Abdullah the Butcher](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/abdullah-the-butcher-1981.png)
![Afa Afa](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/afa-1978.png)
![Akira Maeda Akira Maeda](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/akira-maeda-1978.png)
![André the Giant André the Giant](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/andre-the-giant-june-1980.png)
![Animal Hamaguchi Animal Hamaguchi](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/animal-hamaguchi-1981.png)
![Antonio Inoki Antonio Inoki](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/antonio-inoki-1976.png)
![Bad News Allen Bad News Allen](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/bad-news-brown.png)
![Black Cat Black Cat](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/black-cat-1981.png)
![Bob Backlund Bob Backlund](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/bob-backlund-1980.png)
![Chris Adams Chris Adams](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/c/chris-adams-1980.png)
![Dick Murdoch Dick Murdoch](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_d_dick-murdoch-1981.webp)
![Dusty Rhodes Dusty Rhodes](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/d/dusty-rhodes-1974.png)
![Gran Hamada Gran Hamada](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_g_gran-hamada-1979.webp)
![Haruka Eigen Haruka Eigen](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_h_haruka-eigen-1979.webp)
![Hidekazu Tanaka Hidekazu Tanaka](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_k_kero-tanaka-1980.webp)
![Hiro Matsuda Hiro Matsuda](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hiro-matsuda-2.png)
![Hiro Saito Hiro Saito](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hiro-saito-1.png)
![Hisashi Shinma Hisashi Shinma](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hisashi-shinma-1970.png)
![Hulk Hogan Hulk Hogan](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hulk-hogan-1979.png)
![Isamu Teranishi Isamu Teranishi](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_i_isamu-teranishi-1979.webp)
![Jim Duggan Jim Duggan](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/j/jim-duggan-1988.png)
![Junji Hirata Junji Hirata](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/super-strong-machine-1.png)
![Kantaro Hoshino Kantaro Hoshino](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kantaro-hoshino-1979.png)
![Karl Gotch Karl Gotch](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/karl-gotch-1980.png)
![Ken Patera Ken Patera](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/ken-patera-1981-2.png)
![Kengo Kimura Kengo Kimura](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_k_kengo-kimura-1979.webp)
![Makoto Arakawa Makoto Arakawa](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/d/don-arakawa-1979.png)
![The Masked Superstar The Masked Superstar](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/ax-1974-the-masked-superstar.png)
![Nobuhiko Takada Nobuhiko Takada](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_n_nobuhiko-takada-1981.webp)
![Norio Honaga Norio Honaga](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/n/norio-honaga-1.png)
![Osamu Kido Osamu Kido](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/o/osamu-kido-1972.png)
![Riki Choshu Riki Choshu](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/r/riki-choshu-1970s.png)
![Rusher Kimura Rusher Kimura](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_r_rusher-kimura-1980.webp)
![Seiji Sakaguchi Seiji Sakaguchi](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/seiji-sakaguchi-1979.png)
![Sgt. Slaughter Sgt. Slaughter](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/sgt-slaughter-1980.png)
![Shoji Kai Shoji Kai](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/shoji-kai-1976.png)
![Sika Sika](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_s_sika-1978.webp)
![Stan Hansen Stan Hansen](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/stan-hansen.png)
![Stan Lane Stan Lane](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_s_stan-lane-1979.webp)
![Strong Kobayashi Strong Kobayashi](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/strong-kobayashi-1981.png)
![Tatsumi Fujinami Tatsumi Fujinami](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tatsumi-fujinami-1980.png)
![Tiger Jeet Singh Tiger Jeet Singh](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tiger-jeet-singh-1981.png)
![Tiger Mask Tiger Mask](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_t_tiger-mask-1981.webp)
![Tiger Toguchi Tiger Toguchi](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_t_tiger-toguchi-1979.webp)
![Tom Prichard Tom Prichard](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tom-prichard-1980s.png)
![Yoshiaki Fujiwara Yoshiaki Fujiwara](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/y/yoshiaki-fujiwara-1979.png)
![Yoshiaki Yatsu Yoshiaki Yatsu](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_y_yoshiaki-yatsu-1981.webp)
Teams
Animal Hamaguchi & Rusher Kimura
Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami
Golden Combi
Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami
Power Fighters
The Texas Outlaws
Wild Samoans
Champions
Asia Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Tiger Jeet Singh
Defeated Seiji Sakaguchi in Asia Heavyweight League finals to become the inaugural champion. | 1729
|
Asia Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() | Tiger Jeet Singh & Umanosuke Ueda
| 1378
|
WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Vacant
The title was vacated when Fujinami entered the heavyweight division. | 30+
|
![]() | Tatsumi Fujinami
| 789
|
WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Antonio Inoki
The WWWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship was created for a partnership between WWWF and NJPW, and was awarded by Vincent J. McMahon to Inoki for his achievements in matches against fighters from other combat sports. During this reigns the title changes name to WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship. | 1109+
|
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship![]() | Les Thornton
| 47+
|
Extras
Ring Announcer
Presidents
Promoters
Referees
Producers
Coaches
Ambassador
The profile of each NJPW wrestler features their Career History, Ring Names, Face / Heel Turns, Accomplishments, Pictures, Bio and more information and statistics.
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