Professor Toru Tanaka - Pro Wrestlers Database

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Professor Toru Tanaka, 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.

Charles J. Kalani Jr. was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 6, 1930.

He died on August 22, 2000 at the age of 70.

Professor Toru Tanaka was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 as part of the Legacy wing.

Profile Info

  • Gender Male
  • Real Name Charles J. Kalani Jr.
  • Ring Names
    • Professor Toru Tanaka ( April 22, 1966 - July 1, 1986)
    • Mr. Akanat ( March 17, 1977 - April 9, 1977)
    • Charlie Kalani ( June 2, 1958 - August 31, 1966)
  • Born January 6, 1930
  • Died August 22, 2000 (aged 70)
  • Nationality Nationality: United StatesUnited States
  • Birth Place Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Billed From
    • Hiroshima, Japan
  • Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
  • Weight
    • 280 lbs (127 kg)

Career History

  • Roles

    • Wrestler ( June 2, 1958 - July 1, 1986)
    • Actor ( August 14, 1981 - December 31, 1995)
  • Promotions History

    Promotionfromto
    Promotion World Wrestling FederationWWF November 23, 1984 November 27, 1984
    Promotion National Wrestling AllianceNWA February 14, 1966 March 27, 1981
    Promotion NWA Big Time WrestlingBTW DALLAS February 24, 1980 July 21, 1980
    Promotion Gulf Athletic ClubGAC February 22, 1980 May 30, 1980
    Promotion Georgia Championship WrestlingGCW September 10, 1979 February 18, 1980
    Promotion Southeastern Championship WrestlingSECW September 29, 1978 October 12, 1979
    Promotion Continental Wrestling AssociationCWA January 21, 1979 June 11, 1979
    Promotion World Wide Wrestling FederationWWWF May 3, 1977 March 26, 1978
    Promotion Southeastern Championship WrestlingSECW January 10, 1976 December 17, 1976
    Promotion NWA Mid-AmericaMID AMERICA January 4, 1976 February 16, 1976
    Promotion Championship Wrestling from FloridaCWF April 3, 1974 November 19, 1975
    Promotion Georgia Championship WrestlingGCW February 5, 1975 November 3, 1975
    Promotion World Wide Wrestling FederationWWWF March 27, 1967 August 3, 1974
    Promotion All Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBrand Heavyweight January 4, 1974 January 30, 1974
    Promotion Gulf Athletic ClubGAC October 9, 1970 November 26, 1971
    Promotion NWA Big Time WrestlingBTW DALLAS October 6, 1970 November 23, 1971
    Promotion NWA Western States SportsWSS September 15, 1966 March 16, 1967
  • Images History

    Jun 1958
    Jun 1958
  • Face / Heel Turns

    Alignmentfromto
    Heel June 2, 1958 July 1, 1986

  • Finishers

    • Cobra Clutch ( June 2, 1958 - July 1, 1986)

Titles & Accomplishments

  • Halls of Fame

    • WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2019, Legacy
  • World Wrestling Entertainment

  • National Wrestling Alliance

    • 2 NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division)

    50th State Big Time Wrestling

    • 1 NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version)

    All-California Championship Wrestling

    • 2 ACCW Tag Team Championship (with Peter Maivia Jr.)

    California Pro Wrestling

    • 1 CPW Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 CPW Brass Knuckles Championship

    Championship Wrestling from Florida

    • 1 NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (with Dick Slater)

    Continental Wrestling Association

    • 2 AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship
    • 2 AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 with Robert Fuller, 1 with Mr. Fuji)

    Georgia Championship Wrestling

    • 1 NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWA Macon Heavyweight Championship
    • 2 NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 with Assassin #2, 1 with Mr. Fuji)

    L&G Promotions

    • 1 L&G Caribbean Heavyweight Championship

    Northeast Championship Wrestling (Tom Janette)

    • 1 NCW Heavyweight Championship

    NWA Big Time Wrestling

    • 2 NWA American Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWA American Tag Team Championship (with Thunderbolt Patterson)
    • 4 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version)

    NWA Hollywood Wrestling

    • 1 NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (with Dr. Hiro Ota)

    NWA New Zealand

    • 2 NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship

    Southeastern Championship Wrestling

    • 1 NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (with Mr. Fuji)

    World Championship Wrestling (Australia)

    • 2 IWA World Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 IWA World Tag Team Championship (with Skull Murphy)
  • Other Accomplishments

    • AWA Southern Tag Team Title Tournament Winner (1979 - with Ron Fuller)

Teams & Relations

  • Tag Teams & Stables

    • Mr. Fuji & Professor Toru Tanaka - Mr. Fuji ( August 29, 1975 - July 26, 1980)
    • Mr. Fuji & Professor Toru Tanaka - Mr. Fuji ( June 27, 1972 - April 1, 1974)
    • Dick Slater & Prof. Toru Tanaka - Dick Slater ( September 24, 1974 - January 20, 1975)
    • The Rising Suns - Mitsu Arakawa ( June 7, 1969 - December 12, 1969)
    • Mitsu Arakawa & Toru Tanaka ( April 27, 1966 - July 8, 1966)
  • Managers

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