Time Machine: The match that propelled Rikidozan to the top of pro wrestling

This story was originally published in the Asian Literary Review in January 2014.

By Robert Whiting

In the history of Japanese sports there has perhaps been no more influential and no more fascinating character than Rikidozan, the former sumo wrestler who ignited an enormous professional wrestling boom in Japan in the mid-1950’s, defeating villainous American wrestlers in what were usually carefully choreographed matches, and lifting up the spirits of a nation still trying to recover from the defeat in war. An indication of his popularity at that time is that two of Rikidozan’s matches are ranked in the top 10 TV programs of all time. One of them was his October 6, 1957, sixty-minute draw with Lou Thesz in a match for National Wrestling Alliance world Heavyweight Championship, which earned a rating of 87.0. The other was a match, again a draw, with the Destroyer on May 24, 1963, which garnered a rating of 67.0.