On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Akira Maeda, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Akira Maeda (前田 日明) (born Go Il-myeong (高日明) was born in Taisho Ward, Osaka, Japan on January 24, 1959, and he is currently 65 years old.
Maeda helped develop the shoot-style of professional wrestling; on various occasions he started hitting his opponents with shoot kicks during matches (such as in a famous one in April 1986 against André the Giant). He is the founder of the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF-i) and Fighting Network RINGS (MMA).
Akira Maeda was inducted in the NJPW Hall of Fame in 2009 as part of the NJPW Greatest Wrestlers wing.
Akira Maeda Profile Index
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Akira Maeda (前田 日明) (born Go Il-myeong (高日明)
- Ring Names
- Akira Maeda ( January 20, 1983 - Present)
- Kwik-kik-Lee ( March 9, 1982 - January 19, 1983)
- Akira Maeda ( August 25, 1978 - March 8, 1982)
- Born January 24, 1959 (age 65)
- Nationality
Japan, 
South Korea - Birth Place Taisho Ward, Osaka, Japan
- Billed From
- Osaka, Japan
- Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
- Weight
- 276 lbs (125 kg)
- Notes Maeda helped develop the shoot-style of professional wrestling; on various occasions he started hitting his opponents with shoot kicks during matches (such as in a famous one in April 1986 against André the Giant). He is the founder of the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF-i) and Fighting Network RINGS (MMA).
Career History
-
Roles
- Promoter ( January 21, 2008 - April 23, 2022)
- Promoter ( May 12, 1988 - February 15, 2002)
- MMA Fighter ( May 11, 1991 - February 21, 1999)
- Wrestler ( August 25, 1978 - October 25, 1990)
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion 
RINGSMarch 30, 2008 December 16, 2012 Promotion RINGSMarch 14, 1991 February 15, 2002 Promotion 
UWF NApril 8, 1988 December 1, 1990 Promotion 
NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
January 3, 1986 February 1, 1988 Promotion 
UWF JMarch 1, 1984 September 11, 1985 Promotion 
WWFMarch 14, 1984 May 28, 1984 Promotion NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
April 21, 1983 February 13, 1984 Promotion NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
August 25, 1978 February 9, 1982 -
Images History
Feb 2016
Jan 2008
Feb 1999
Apr 1997
Jan 1995
Nov 1987
Apr 1983
Aug 1978 -
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Heel August 25, 1978 October 25, 1990
-
Finishers
- Capture Suplex ( August 25, 1978 - October 25, 1990)
-
Theme Songs
- Theme Song "Captured" by Camel - Single ( January 3, 1986 - February 21, 1999)
- Theme Song "Dunbine Tobu" by Mio - Single ( November 18, 1983 - February 13, 1984)
- Theme Song "Gonna Fly Now" by Maynard Ferguson - Single ( April 21, 1983 - November 17, 1983)
- Theme Song "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner - Single ( February 10, 1982 - April 20, 1983)
- Theme Song "The Room, pt. 1" by Rick Wakeman - Single ( August 25, 1978 - February 9, 1982)
Titles & Accomplishments
-
Halls of Fame
- NJPW Hall of Fame - Year 2009, NJPW Greatest Wrestlers
-
World Wrestling Entertainment & New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- 2 IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 with Nobuhiko Takada, 1 with Osamu Kido)
Joint Promotions
- 1 European Heavyweight Championship
Universal Wrestling Federation
- 1 UWF Heavyweight Championship
-
Other Accomplishments
- RINGS Mega Battle Tournament Winner (1993, 1995)
- Tokyo Sports MVP Award (1989)
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year Award (1986 - vs. Tatsumi Fujinami on 06/12)
- Tokyo Sports Special Grand Prize (1988)
- Tokyo Sports Technique Award (1983)
- Tokyo Sports Effort Award (1981)
- 13° in PWI Years Top 100 Tag Teams (2003 - with Nobuhiko Takada)
- 40° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
- WON Wrestler of the Year (1988)
- WON Promoter of the Year (1989)
Teams & Relations
-
Tag Teams & Stables
- Akira Maeda & Osamu Kido - Osamu Kido ( July 10, 1983 - November 19, 1987)
- Nobuhiko Takada and Akira Maeda - Nobuhiko Takada ( March 2, 1987 - September 16, 1987)
