On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Riki Choshu, 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.
Mitsuo Yoshida (吉田 光雄) (born Kwak Gwang-ung (곽광웅)) was born in Tokuyama, Yamaguchi, Japan on December 3, 1951, and he is currently 73 years old.
He is the founder of Japan Pro Wrestling, Fighting of World Japan Pro Wrestling, and Riki Pro. He was also a longtime booker for New Japan during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.
Riki Choshu Profile Index
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Mitsuo Yoshida (吉田 光雄) (born Kwak Gwang-ung (곽광웅))
- Ring Names
- Riki Choshu ( April 22, 1977 - Present)
- Mitsuo Yoshida ( August 8, 1974 - April 21, 1977)
- Born December 3, 1951 (age 73)
- Nationality
Japan, 
South Korea - Birth Place Tokuyama, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Billed From
- Tokuyama, Japan ( August 8, 1974 - June 26, 2019)
- Height 6 ft 0 in (184 cm)
- Weight
- 265 lbs (120 kg)
- Nicknames Kakumei Senshi (Fighter of Revolution)
- Notes He is the founder of Japan Pro Wrestling, Fighting of World Japan Pro Wrestling, and Riki Pro. He was also a longtime booker for New Japan during the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.
Career History
-
Roles
- Part Time Wrestler ( September 27, 2010 - June 26, 2019)
- Promoter ( January 5, 1998 - June 26, 2019)
- Wrestler ( January 4, 2001 - September 26, 2010)
- Producer ( January 1, 1988 - September 26, 2010)
- Part Time Wrestler ( July 30, 2000 - January 3, 2001)
- Wrestler ( August 8, 1974 - January 4, 1998)
- Promoter ( October 9, 1984 - March 30, 1987)
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion 
INDYSeptember 27, 2010 June 26, 2019 Promotion 
NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
October 8, 2005 September 26, 2010 Promotion 
HUSTLEMarch 7, 2004 August 8, 2006 Promotion 
WJNovember 1, 2002 August 12, 2004 Promotion NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
June 1, 1987 May 31, 2002 Promotion 
WARFebruary 14, 1993 April 2, 1993 Promotion 
AJPWBrand
Heavyweight
December 12, 1984 February 5, 1987 Promotion NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
March 4, 1977 September 1, 1984 Promotion 
UWAApril 25, 1982 December 25, 1982 Promotion 
NWA, 
CWFJanuary 14, 1975 July 21, 1975 Promotion 
GCWMarch 2, 1975 March 2, 1975 Promotion 
SECWJanuary 31, 1975 January 31, 1975 Promotion NJPWBrand
Young Lions
August 8, 1974 August 31, 1974 -
Images History
Jan 2017
Jan 2010
Jan 1997
Dec 1984
Aug 1974 -
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Face June 1, 1987 June 26, 2019 Heel October 8, 1982 May 31, 1987 Tweener March 4, 1977 October 7, 1982 Heel January 14, 1975 March 3, 1977 Tweener August 8, 1974 January 13, 1975
-
Finishers
- Lariat ( August 8, 1974 - June 26, 2019)
- Sasori-gatame - Sharpshooter ( August 8, 1974 - June 26, 2019)
-
Theme Songs
- Theme Song "Power Hall" by Susumu Hirasawara - Single ( August 8, 1974 - June 26, 2019)
Titles & Accomplishments
-
World Wrestling Entertainment & New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- 3 IWGP Heavyweight Championship
- 1 Greatest 18 Club Championship
- 3 IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 with Kensuke Sasaki, 1 with Takashi Iizuka, 1 with Masa Saito / Mr. Saito)
- 1 NJPW Super Grade Tag League (1992) (with Shinya Hashimoto)
- 2 NJPW World Cup Tournament/NJPW G1 Climax (1989, 1996)
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1 NWA International Tag Team Championship (with Yoshiaki Yatsu)
- 1 PWF World Heavyweight Championship
Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1 WMG Tag Team Championship (with Genichiro Tenryu)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- 1 NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (with Seiji Sakaguchi)
Universal Wrestling Association
- 1 UWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 1 UWA World Tag Team Championship (with Gran Hamada)
-
Other Accomplishments
- International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (class of 2022)
- NJPW Super Grade Tag League Winner (1992) (with Shinya Hashimoto)
- NJPW Six Man Tag Team Cup League Winner (1988) (with Antonio Inoki and Kantaro Hoshino)
- NJPW World Cup Tournament Winner (1989)
- Tokyo Sports Distinguished Service Award (1983)
- Tokyo Sports Effort Award (1977)
- 4 Tokyo Sports Fighting Sport Award (1979, 1986, 1988, 1989)
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year (1983 - vs. Tatsumi Fujinami on April 3)
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year (1984 - vs. Antonio Inoki on August 2)
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year (1985 - vs. Jumbo Tsuruta on November 4)
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year (1993 - vs. Genichiro Tenryu on January 4)
- Tokyo Sports Service Award (1997)
- Tokyo Sports Technique Award (1981)
- WON Best Booker Award (1992)
- WON Promoter of the Year (1995, 1996, 1997)
- WON Wrestler of the Year (1987)
- WON Hall of Fame (class of 1996)
- 30° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
Teams & Relations
-
Tag Teams & Stables
- LEGEND - Jushin Thunder Liger, Masahiro Chono, Shiro Koshinaka, Super Strong Machine / Junji Hirata, Akira Nogami / AKIRA ( September 1, 2007 - October 26, 2009)
- Riki Choshu & Kensuke Sasaki - Kensuke Sasaki ( May 4, 1990 - December 7, 2003)
- Riki Choshu & Genichiro Tenryu - Genichiro Tenryu ( March 1, 2003 - September 24, 2003)
- Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu - Yoshiaki Yatsu ( October 19, 1994 - October 10, 1995)
- Riki Choshu & Masa Saito - Masa Saito / Mr. Saito ( May 24, 1988 - August 26, 1989)
- Takeshi Puroresu Gandan - Gedo, Jado, Vader , Super Delfin ( June 1, 1987 - December 27, 1987)
- Ishin Gundan / New Wolves - Animal Hamaguchi, Isamu Teranishi, Killer Khan, Kuniaki Kobayashi, Masa Saito / Mr. Saito, Tiger Toguchi / Kim Duk / Tiger Chung Lee, Yoshiaki Yatsu ( January 1, 1983 - February 5, 1987)
- Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu - Yoshiaki Yatsu ( October 9, 1983 - February 5, 1987)
