Strong Kobayashi: Profile, Career Stats, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won & Gimmicks

Strong Kobayashi - Pro Wrestlers Database

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Strong Kobayashi, 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.

Shozo Kobayashi (ストロング小林) was born in Hongō, Tokyo, Japan on December 25, 1940.

He died on December 31, 2021 at the age of 81.

Kobayashi’s "forbidden battle" with Antonio Inoki in 1974 was groundbreaking for putting two top Japanese wrestlers against each other, a move rarely done prior.

Strong Kobayashi was inducted in the NJPW Hall of Fame in 1990 as part of the NJPW Greatest 18 Club wing.

Strong Kobayashi Profile Index

Profile Info

Gender Male
Real Name Shozo Kobayashi (ストロング小林)
Ring Names
- Strong Kongô ( November 1, 1982 - December 31, 1995)
- Strong Kobayashi ( July 30, 1974 - October 16, 1981)
- The Korean Assassin ( June 10, 1974 - July 29, 1974)
- Strong Kobayashi ( July 8, 1969 - June 9, 1974)
- Shozō Kobayashi ( January 3, 1968 - July 7, 1969)
- Fukumen Taro ( September 21, 1967 - January 2, 1968)
Born December 25, 1940
Died December 31, 2021 (aged 81)
Nationality Japan
Birth Place Hongō, Tokyo, Japan
Billed From
- Hongō, Tokyo, Japan ( July 30, 1974 - December 31, 1995)
- Korea ( June 10, 1974 - July 29, 1974)
- Hongō, Tokyo, Japan ( July 21, 1967 - June 9, 1974)
Height 6 ft 2 in (187 cm)
Weight
- 276 lbs (125 kg)
Nicknames Dotō no Kairiki (Raging Super Power)
Notes Kobayashi’s "forbidden battle" with Antonio Inoki in 1974 was groundbreaking for putting two top Japanese wrestlers against each other, a move rarely done prior.

Career History

Roles
- Actor ( November 1, 1982 - December 31, 1995)
- Part Time Wrestler ( March 1, 1992 - March 1, 1992)
- Wrestler ( July 21, 1967 - October 16, 1981)

Promotions History

Promotion	from	to
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	March 1, 1992	March 1, 1992
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	August 29, 1981	October 16, 1981
Promotion WWF	June 12, 1981	July 20, 1981
Promotion UWA	February 27, 1981	May 1, 1981
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	June 23, 1978	February 12, 1981
Promotion WWWF	April 4, 1978	June 3, 1978
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	December 12, 1974	March 30, 1978
Promotion JCP	June 9, 1977	June 10, 1977
Promotion WWWF	August 3, 1974	November 18, 1974
Promotion CWF	June 10, 1974	July 29, 1974
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	March 19, 1974	March 19, 1974
Promotion IWE	July 21, 1967	February 1, 1974

Images History

Oct 1981
Jul 1974
Jun 1974
Jul 1969
Jan 1968
Jul 1967

Face / Heel Turns

Alignment	from	to
Face	December 12, 1974	October 16, 1981
Tweener	August 3, 1974	December 11, 1974
Heel	June 10, 1974	August 2, 1974
Face	June 19, 1971	June 9, 1974
Tweener	July 21, 1967	June 18, 1971

Finishers
- Canadian Backbreaker Rack ( July 21, 1967 - March 1, 1992)
Theme Songs
- Theme Song "Strong Hug" by First Brand - Single ( June 23, 1978 - February 12, 1981)

Titles & Accomplishments

Halls of Fame
- NJPW Hall of Fame - Year 1990, NJPW Greatest 18 Club
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1 Asia Tag Team Championship (with Seiji Sakaguchi)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1 Asia Tag Team Championship (with Seiji Sakaguchi)
- 2 NWA North American Tag Team Championship (with Seiji Sakaguchi)
International Wrestling Enterprise
- 2 IWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 3 IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 with Great Kusatsu, 1 with Haruka Eigen, 1 with Toyonobori)
Other Accomplishments
- Tokyo Sports Best Tag Team Award (1976)
- Tokyo Sports Fighting Spirit Award (1974)
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year Award (1974 - vs. Antonio Inoki on 03/19)