Rikidōzan: Biography, Facts and Career

Mitsuhiro Momota (born Kim Sin-rak; November 14, 1924 – December 15, 1963), better known by the ring name Rikidōzan (力道山), was a Korean-Japanese professional wrestler and sumo wrestler. He was known as the father of professional wrestling in Japan, nicknamed "The Father of Puroresu" (日本プロレス界の父), and is considered one of the most influential people in professional wrestling history. Born in Korea under Japanese rule, in an area that is now part of North Korea, Momota initially practiced ssireum before moving to Nagasaki to become a sumo wrestler. As a member of the Nishonoseki stable, he was given the shikona Rikidōzan Mitsuhiro (力道山 光浩). He competed in sumo until 1951, retiring as a sekiwake, and was introduced to professional wrestling by members of the American National Wrestling Alliance. Credited with popularizing professional wrestling in Japan at a time when its people needed a hero to emulate, he was lauded as a national icon. At the age of 39, Momota died from peritonitis, which had been caused by stab wounds he suffered a week prior in an altercation with a yakuza member at a Tokyo nightclub. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017, becoming the first ethnic Korean inductee and the third puroresu inductee (after Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami).

Quick facts about Rikidōzan

• Full name: Rikidōzan
• Born: 1924-11-14
• Nationality: Japan
• Known as: Actor
• Wikidata ID: Q484173

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.