History of Muta/Mutoh

[Guest fallenangel7]

Can anyone explain to me who was around first, and why Mutoh uses both names? I've been curious about this for a while, is Muta his evil personality or something? He still uses both, is there any reason for using one or the other? Thanks!

[The Metal Maniac 0]

If I'm not mistaken, I read once that Muta's storyline father is the Great Kabuki, so he wrestled as the Great Muta in tribute of his "dad".

 

But once he was in the biz long enough, he became his own man, so to speak, and could wrestle as Mutoh, or something like that.

 

I'm sure someone else can give you better details, but I do think that's the bare-bones explination....

[Guest ligerbomb03]

SOURCE: http://www.cooldudesandhotbabes.com/greatmuta.html

 

The Great Muta is one of the greatest wrestlers ever. He has made his mark in Japan, in addition to the USA, in WCW.

 

The Great Muta is easily the most recognized and arguably the most talented Japanese wrestler ever to compete in the United States. Muta revolutionized the way most Americans viewed the sport during his run with NWA in the late 80’s. Muta is also one of a very select few wrestlers that can lay claim to truly being a ‘world’ champion. From his classic feud with Sting, to his multiple world titles won around the world, the Great Muta is a wrestling legend and will certainly go down in history as one of the greatest wrestlers ever to compete in Japan and well as the United States.

 

Keiji Mutoh, or if you prefer, the Great Muta, was trained by the legendary Hiro Matsuda at the New Japan Wrestling Academy, and made his wrestling debut on October 5, 1984. Mutoh’s first stint in New Japan wasn’t all together special. He wrestled mainly in tag teams, often teaming with Masahiro Chono and Shiro Koshinaka. Although Mutoh and Koshinaka were able to capture the IWGP (New Japan) World Tag Team Titles, their run was brief and he decided to try his skills elsewhere. Mutoh soon emerged in Puerto Rico at the World Wrestling Council, a federation that would form the basis of his alter ego, the Great Muta. Mutoh, dubbed as the Super Ninja, had a well-balanced blend of speed, technical ability, agility and eye pleasing moves that quickly won over the lucha libre crowd. While in Puerto Rico, Mutoh would win the WWC Puerto Rican title as well as the WWC TV Title. But the young Mutoh also quickly found out what the WWC was most famous for, their blood baths. Mutoh received a baptism in blood by the likes of Carlos Colon, Abdullah the Butcher, Bruiser Brody and TNT. His stay in the WWC was brief, yet brutal, but it gave him notoriety in the United States, where he would travel to next.

 

Mutoh had a brief run in Florida, where he won the Florida Heavyweight title, until a reversal of the decision returned it to Barry Windham and in the Von Erich’s back yard, World Class Championship Wrestling. Stilled dubbed as the Super Ninja, Mutoh was managed by Gary Hart and teamed with the Great Kabuki. Mutoh soon caught the eye of Jim Crockett, the NWA (National Wresting Alliance) promoter at the time. Crockett wasted no time and signed Mutoh immediately. Mutoh’s career was about to take off. With the 90’s fast approaching, Jim Crockett knew it was time to create some new stars to carry the NWA into next decade. Lex Luger and Sting were the front-runners, but Luger was occupied in a feud with the World Champion Ric Flair, leaving Sting with basically nothing to do, until Gary Hart arrived.

 

Hart brought along with him Kendo Nagasaki, renamed the Dragon Master, and his "son" the Great Muta. Like his "father," Muta sported face paint and would spew mist into the air before and even during his matches. It wasn’t long before Muta and the NWA’s most popular grappler, Sting crossed paths. Sting was the reigning NWA World Television Champion and was quickly targeted by Muta, thus beginning one of the greatest feuds in wrestling history, spanning over a decade. This was the first major feud for both of the young, up and coming stars and both men gave it their all in every encounter. Their first major encounter occurred at the Great American Bash on July 23, 1989. The undefeated Muta was challenging Sting for his Television Title; unfortunately neither competitor arose victorious as both men’s shoulders were counted down, forcing the match to be declared a "no contest" and the title held up. The subsequent rematch took place on September 3, 1989 to determine the rightful holder of the Television Title. Muta bested Sting in this classic rematch to wear the NWA TV title, his first championship gold in over two years.

 

While Muta took on all challengers for his title, his feud with Sting continued on hotter than ever. These two met in singles and tag matches all over the country, with Muta emerging victorious in nearly every encounter. Sting was able to gain a measure of revenge against Muta at Halloween Havoc on October 29, 1989, as Sting and Ric Flair defeated the team of Terry Funk and the Great Muta in a thrilling cage match. Enraged that his partner cost his team the match, Muta violently attacked Funk until Sting and Flair made the save. Muta continued defending the TV Title successfully and rode his undefeated streak into the NWA’s biggest event of the year, Starrcade ‘89. The format for Starrcade was an Iron Man Tournament; Ric Flair, Lex Luger, The Great Muta and Sting would all compete against one another in individual matches and the man with the most points at the end of the show would be winner and subsequent number one contender to Flair’s World Heavyweight Title. If Flair won, none of these men would be in line for his next title defense. Hopes were high that Muta would emerge as the number one contender to finally get a shot at Flair, but unfortunately Muta was not at his best that evening. In his first match of the evening, Muta’s year long undefeated streak came to an end as Ric Flair won their match via pinfall. Muta’s long time foe Sting was his next opponent. Every match between these two were classics, this one was no exception. Sting was able to escape Muta’s moonsault to finally score a pinfall victory over his archrival. Muta’s hopes of winning the tournament were gone, but he had one last shot at redemption. His final match of the tournament was against Lex Luger. As Luger attempted to put Muta into the "Torture Rack" Muta sprayed his mist into Luger’s eyes, getting himself disqualified. Sting would go on to win the tournament and align himself with Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, thus reforming the Four Horsemen. Although Muta’s performance in the tournament was disappointing and his undefeated streak was over, he still had his Television Title, but not for long. Arn Anderson challenged and defeated Muta for the Television Title, with a little help from Sting and Ole Anderson, on January 20, 1990. Muta left the NWA shortly thereafter.

 

Although his tenure with the NWA ended on a bad note, he returned to his homeland a hero, ready to conquer Japan just as he did America. Upon returning to Japan, it didn’t take Mutoh long to capture championship gold again. He and Masahiro Chono defeated the team of Masa Saito and Shinya Hashimoto on April 27, 1990 to become the IWGP World Tag Team Champions. They would hold the titles for seven months before getting dethroned by Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki. Mutoh and Hase would have several blood baths with one another in Japan, with Mutoh usually emerging victorious. After briefly settling their feud, they teamed up with one another to win the IWGP Tag Titles from Rick Steiner and Scott Norton, who was subbing for Scott Steiner. During their reign, Mutoh won the biggest match of his career, defeating Riki Choshu on January 4, 1992 to become the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. This victory established Mutoh as a singles star in Japan. Mutoh briefly defended both the IWGP Heavyweight Title and the IWGP Tag Team Titles, but he and Hase eventually ran into the monster team of Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow, leaving Mutoh to concentrate on his singles title. During his reign, Mutoh wrestled his old rival from the US, Sting on several occasions, reviving their old feud. After a few encounters, they put their differences aside and teamed together against the Steiner Brothers in arguably some of the greatest tag team matches ever. Mutoh would next accomplish a task no other wrestler before or after him has been able to do.

 

Mutoh defeated the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Masahiro Chono, on January 4, 1993 at the WCW/New Japan Super Show III in Tokyo, Japan to unify the IWGP and NWA World Titles. Mutoh was now holding one of Japan’s and America’s most prominent and prestigious titles simultaneously. Muta would drop the NWA Title to Barry Windham within a month in Ashville, North Carolina at Super Brawl III. Mutoh continued defending the IWGP title throughout 1993 until Shinya Hashimoto was able to take the title from him in September. Mutoh would go over a year before becoming champion again. The re-formed team of Mutoh and Hiroshi Hase defeated the Hell Raisers, Road Warrior Hawk and Kensuke Sasaki, to become IWGP Tag Team Champions on November 11, 1994. Their reign lasted half a year until history repeated itself. Mutoh became a two time IWGP World Champion by defeating Shinya Hashimoto on May 3, 1995. Intelligently, Mutoh and Hase vacated the Tag Team belts so Mutoh could concentrate on defending his newly won World championship. Mutoh was able to unify the IWGP and UWIF world titles by defeating Nobuhiko Takada in May of 95. Takada eventually got revenge and won the unified titles on January 4, 1996. A knee injury slowed Mutoh down for a while, but upon his return he and Masahiro Chono formed the Japanese version of the N.W.O. and defeated the team of Kensuke Sasaki and Kazuo Yamazaki to once again become the IWGP Tag Team Champions. This marked the second time this duo had captured the tag titles and fifth time for Mutoh. Unfortunately, their seventh month reign ended on May 7, 1998 when Mutoh had to undergo knee surgery. After returning from successful knee surgery, Mutoh captured the IWGP World title once again by defeating Scott Norton on January 4, 1999. He would hold the title for nearly a year before being upset by Japanese legend Genichiro Tenryo in December.

 

In 2000 New Japan came up with a way to send Muta back for a brief run in the United States. The angle was that of WCW stealing Muta away from New Japan for six months, WCW realizing Muta’s drawing potential jumped at the opportunity. This would mark Muta’s longest stint in the States since 1989. Muta appeared briefly in 1991 at the Clash of the Champions in a televised loss to Lex Luger and wrestled on a few Monday Nitro’s in 1997. Muta made an immediate impact upon his arrival in WCW. He competed in and advanced deep in a tournament to crown a new United States Champion. Muta would soon form a team with WCW star Vampiro and they quickly won the WCW Tag Team Titles from Kronik at New Blood Rising on August 13, 2000. This was a very significant moment in Muta’s career, as he can now lay claim to holding both the singles and tag team world heavyweight titles in Japan and America. Rey Misterio Jr and Juventud Guerra dethroned Muta and Vampiro the following night, thanks to interference by Muta’s long time rival-Sting. Sting and Muta’s rivalry was renewed, but failed to recapture the magic of their earlier encounters. They only met two times with any significance, with Muta getting a win on Nitro, and Sting picking up the victory at Fall Brawl 2000. Soon thereafter, Muta left WCW and returned to Japan.

 

There is no denying the fact that Muta is one of top wrestlers in the world, not only today, but of all time. His accomplishments speak for themselves. Muta is a rare breed of wrestlers who can out wrestle his opponent on the mat, out brawl his opponent or beat them with high flying, dare devil moves. He has perfected his craft in the ring and it is a true joy to watch him perform. If a wrestler ever deserved to be called ‘Great’ it is the Great Muta.

[Guest Dave O'Neill, Journalist]

I guess its pointless me posting his Puroresu Fan profile?

[Guest ligerbomb03]

Profile at PuroresuFan.com

http://www.puroresufan.com/roster/muto.php

 

Fan Website:

http://dracul.batcave.net/muta/main.html

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

nice read bro....

[Guest fallenangel7]

That didn't really answer my question..

 

I was wondering why he uses Great Muta one night, and Keiji Mutoh the other. Could someone also explain his new Kokushi Muso gimmick too? What makes him use whatever one he wrestles under?

[Guest RickyChosyu]

I'm really not sure how much stock you can place in something that calls Muta one of the greatest wrestlers ever. Actually, that alone should probably disqualify the entire article from consideration.

[Guest ligerbomb03]

Never said I agreed with what it said, I just passed it along.

[Guest Dave O'Neill, Journalist]

I was wondering why he uses Great Muta one night, and Keiji Mutoh the other. Could someone also explain his new Kokushi Muso gimmick too?

Wasnt that a oneoff because he was teaming with Hakushi

[LucharesuFan619 0]

That didn't really answer my question..

 

I was wondering why he uses Great Muta one night, and Keiji Mutoh the other. Could someone also explain his new Kokushi Muso gimmick too? What makes him use whatever one he wrestles under?

He stopped going by Muta a few years ago, I think, but I may be wrong. From what I'm aware of, he goes by Muto now, with the exception of the upcoming AJPW US tour, on which he'll be competing as Muta, due to the US fans knowing him better as that than as Muto, presumably.

[Guest Dynamic A]

He stopped going by Muta a few years ago, I think, but I may be wrong.

You are

 

MUTA (now in capitals and without "Great" because of a NJPW trademark) comes out on special shows, such as Fan Appreciation Day, etc. Mutoh just held the Triple Crown as "MUTA" this year. Someone else covered the "Kokushi-Muso" angle, it was his spin off of Jinsei Shinzaki's "Hakushi" gimmick, complete with the kanji all over his face and chest. Hakushi means "White Angel" and Kokushi means "Black Angel."

 

-DA