The Great Muta
Photo credit: Etsuo Hara/Getty Images
Real name: Keiji Mutoh
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 245 lbs.
Date of birth: December 23, 1962
From: Yamanishi, Japan
Pro debut: October 5, 1984
Trained by: Hiro Matsuda & NJPW
Finishing move: Moonsault
Biography
– Muto was a national level judoka and amateur wrestler before turning to professional wrestling
– Muto debuted under his real name on October 5, 1984, defeating Masa Chono
– In late 1985, Muto was sent to the USA on a learning excursion. He would originally base himself in the Florida territory, where he worked as ‘The White Ninja’
– On May 21, 1986, The White Ninja defeated Kendall Windham to win the vacant NWA Florida Heavyweight Title
– In October 1986, Muto returned to New Japan under his real name
– On March 20, 1987, Muto & Shiro Koshinaka defeated Akira Maeda & Nobuhiko Takada to win the IWGP Tag League and with it, the vacant IWGP Tag Team Titles, but would lose them to Maeda & Takada a week later in their first defence
– In 1988, Muto was sent back to North America on a further learning excursion, this time beginning his run in Puerto Rico’s WWC as ‘Super Black Ninja’
– On May 14, 1988, Super Black Ninja defeated Miguel Perez Jr to win the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title, but lost it to Ricky Santana three weeks later
– In August 1988, Muto moved to the Texas territory, remaining under the ‘Super Black Ninja’ gimmick
– Muto debuted in WCW in March 1989 as ‘The Great Mota’, with Gary Hart introducing him as the son of The Great Kabuki. By his in-ring debut later that month, he had been re-dubbed ‘The Great Muta’
– At WrestleWar 1989, Muta defeated Doug Gilbert
– On September 3, 1989, Muta defeated Sting in a No-DQ Match to win the vacant NWA Television Title
– On the September 29 episode of Power Hour, Muta defeated Dick Murdoch to retain the NWA Television Title
– On the October 14 episode of WCW, Muta defeated Bobby Fulton to retain the NWA Television Title
– In March 1990, Muto returned to Japan under his real name
– On April 27, Muto & Masa Chono defeated Shinya Hashimoto & Masa Saito to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On May 28, Muto & Chono defeated Shiro Koshinaka & Hiroshi Hase to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On July 19, Muto & Chono defeated The Great Kokina & The Wild Samoan to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On August 19, Muto & Chono defeated The Destruction Crew (Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– Muto gave the Great Muta character its Japanese debut in a match against Samurai Shiro on September 7. He would occasionally bring out the Muta character for big matches going forward
– Muta returned to WCW at Starrcade 1990, competing alongside Mr Saito in a tag team tournament. The duo made it to the final, but lost to Rick & Scott Steiner
– At Starrcade 1991, Muta defeated Sting
– On November 5, Muto & Hiroshi Hase defeated Rick Steiner & Scott Norton to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On December 16, Muto & Hase defeated Shinya Hashimoto & Scott Norton to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On February 10, 1992, Muto & Hase defeated Scott Norton & Brad Armstrong to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On August 16, Muta defeated Riki Choshu to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On September 23, Muta defeated Shinya Hashimoto to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On October 18, Muta defeated Scott Norton to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On November 22, Muta defeated Sting to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– Muta won the Battle Bowl match at Starrcade 1992
– On January 4, 1993, Muta defeated Masa Chono to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title and win the NWA World Title
– On June 15, Muta defeated The Great Kabuki by DQ to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– Muto & Hiroshi Hase won the 1993 Super Grade Tag League defeating The Jurassic Powers (Scott Norton & Hercules Hernandez) in the final
– Muto & Hase retained their Super Grade Tag League in 1994, defeating Masa Chono & Super Strong Machine in that year’s final
– On November 25, Muto & Hase defeated The Hell Raisers (Power Warrior & Hawk Warrior) to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On January 4, 1995, Muto & Hase defeated The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– At Wrestling Dontaku 1995, Muto defeated Shinya Hashimoto to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– At Slamboree 1995, Muta defeated Paul Orndorff
– On June 14, Muto defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On July 13, Muto defeated Hawk Warrior to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– Muto won the 1995 G1 Climax Tournament, defeating Shinya Hashimoto in the final
– On September 25, Muto defeated Junji Hirata to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On October 9, at the NJPW vs. UWFi Super Show, Muto defeated Nobuhiko Takada to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On December 11, Muto defeated Shiro Koshinaka to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– In September 1997, Muto officially joined nWo Japan after months of teasing a turn
– On October 19, nWo Japan (Muto & Masa Chono) defeated Kensuke Sasaki & Kazuo Yamazaki to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– nWo Japan won the 1997 Super Grade Tag League, defeating Shinya Hashimoto & Manabu Nakanishi in the final
– On February 7, 1998, nWo Japan defeated Bull Powers (Satoshi Kojima & Manabu Nakanishi) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– On April 4, nWo Japan defeated Shinya Hashimoto & Osamu Nishimura to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– In late 1998, with Chono indefinitely out of action with a neck injury, Muto took control of the nWo Japan stable and turned them face
– nWo Japan (Muto & Satoshi Kojima) won the 1998 Super Grade Tag League, defeating Shinya Hashimoto & Tatsumi Fujinami in the final
– At Wrestling World 1999, Muto defeated Scott Norton to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On February 14, Muto defeated Kensuke Sasaki to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On April 10, Muto defeated Don Frye to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On May 3, Muto defeated Genichiro Tenryu to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On July 20, Muto defeated Satoshi Kojima to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– nWo Japan (Muto & Scott Norton) won the 1999 G1 Tag League, defeating Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata in the final
– On October 11, Muto defeated Manabu Nakanishi to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– Following a loss to Masa Chono at Wrestling World 2000, Muto took a leave of absence to rehab various injuries
– At WCW New Blood Rising, Dark Carnival (Muta & Vampiro) defeated KroniK (Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke) to win the WCW Tag Team Titles, but would lose them to Rey Misterio Jr & Juventud Guerrero on the following episode of Nitro
– At Wrestling World 2001, Muto & Shinjiro Otani defeated Jushin Liger & Manabu Nakanishi
– Muto appeared for All Japan on January 28, defeating Taiyo Kea. He would become a semi-regular face on All Japan shows through 2001
– On June 8, Muto defeated Genichiro Tenryu to win the AJPW Triple Crown Title
– On July 14, Muto defeated Steve Williams to retain the AJPW Triple Crown Title
– On September 23, Muto defeated Scott Hall at a New Japan tour event to retain the AJPW Triple Crown Title
– On October 22, Muto & Taiyo Kea defeated Genichiro Tenryu & Yoji Anjo to win the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– On October 27, Muto defeated Masa Chono to retain the AJPW Triple Crown Title
– The next day, Muto & Taiyo Kea defeated Osamu Nishimura & Tatsumi Fujinami to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles. At this stage, Muto held the tag belts in both All Japan and New Japan, as well as the main singles title in All Japan
– Muto & Kea won the 2001 All Japan Real World Tag League Tournament, defeating Toshiaki Kawada & Mitsuya Nagai in the final
– On December 11, Muto defeated Tatsumi Fujinami to retain the AJPW Triple Crown Title
– At Wrestling World 2002, Muto & Hiroshi Hase defeated Osamu Nishimura & Tatsumi Fujinami. Immediately after the show, Muto would defect full-time to All Japan
– On January 14, Muto & Taiyo Kea defeated Mike Barton & Jim Steele to retain the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– Muto won the 2002 AJPW Champion Carnival, defeating Mike Barton in the final
– In September 2002, Muto was announced as the new President of All Japan
– On October 27, Muta defeated Genichiro Tenryu to regain the AJPW Triple Crown Title
– On January 13, 2003, Muta defeated The Gladiator to retain the AJPW Triple Crown Title
– On June 8, Muto & Arashi defeated Satoshi Kojima & Jimmy Yang in the final of a tournament to win the vacant AJPW Tag Team Titles
– On September 6, Muto & Arashi defeated TAKA Michinoku & Gigantes to retain the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– On October 26, Muto & Arashi defeated D-Lo Brown & Buchanan to retain the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– At ROH Final Battle 2003, Muta & Arashi defeated Christopher Daniels & Dan Maff to retain the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– On January 3, Muto & Arashi defeated Shawn Hernandez & The Eagle to retain the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– Muto made a one-night return to New Japan at Wrestling World 2004, teaming with Bob Sapp to defeat Masa Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
– Muto won the 2004 AJPW Champion Carnival, defeating Kensuke Sasaki in the final
– At All Japan’s Battle Banquet event, Muto defeated Osamu Nishimura
– Muto was honoured with a 20th Anniversary Show on October 31, 2004. At the event, he teamed with Mitsuharu Misawa to defeat Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki
– At NJPW Nexess VI, Muto defeated Ron Waterman
– At the Shinya Hashimoto Memorial Show, Muto & Satoshi Kojima fought Kensuke Sasaki & Arashi to a time-limit draw
– In May 2005, Muto made a brief trip to Mexico, wrestling a few dates for CMLL and Toryumon
– At Wrestle Kingdom 2007, Muto & Masa Chono defeated Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
– Muto won the 2007 AJPW Champion Carnival, defeating Toshiaki Kawada in the final
– Muto & Joe Doering won the 2007 AJPW Real World Tag League, defeating Satoshi Kojima & Suwama in the final
– On January 3, 2008, Muto & Doering defeated Satoshi Kojima & TARU to win the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– At Wrestle Kingdom III, Muta defeated Hirooki Goto
– On April 27, 2008, Muto (still President of AJPW and an active member of their roster) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On April 29, Muto & Joe Doering defeated TARU & Zodiac to retain the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– On July 21, Muto defeated Manabu Nakanishi to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On August 31, Muto defeated Hirooki Goto to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On September 21, Muto defeated Togi Makabe to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On September 28, Muta defeated Suwama to win the AJPW Triple Crown Title, becoming only the second man to hold the top titles in All Japan and New Japan simultaneously
– At Destruction 2008, Muto defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– On November 3, Muta defeated Minoru Suzuki to retain the AJPW Triple Crown Title
– On December 1, 2008, The Great Muta was inducted into the GERWECK.NET Hall of Fame.
– At HUSTLEMANIA 2008, Muta & Bono-chan defeated Toshiaki Kawada & Kawada’s Father
– At Masa Chono’s 25th Anniversary Show, Muto, Chono & Kenta Kobashi defeated Satoshi Kojima, Jun Akiyama & Manabu Nakanishi
– Muto & Masakatsu Funaki won the 2009 Real World Tag League, defeating Masayuki Kono & Suwama in the final
– On January 3, 2010, Muto & Funaki defeated GURENTAI (Minoru Suzuki & Taiyo Kea) to win the AJPW Tag Team Titles, but would be forced to vacate the titles soon after due to Muto requiring knee surgery
– Muto resigned as President of All Japan Pro Wrestling in June 2011, but would continue as a member of the active roster
– On June 19, Muta & KENSO defeated SMOP (Ryota Hama & Akebono) to win the vacant AJPW Tag Team Titles
– On July 31, Muta & KENSO defeated Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori to retain the AJPW Tag Team Titles
– At the 2011 All Together event, Muto & Kenta Kobashi defeated CHAOS (Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka)
– At Wrestle Kingdom VI, Muto defeated Tetsuya Naito
– At the 2012 All Together event, Muto & Kenta Kobashi defeated Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori
– At the NJPW/AJPW 40th Anniversary special, Muto, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Tomohiro Ishii, Takashi Iizuka & Toru Yano
– Muto resigned from All Japan in June 2013 after disagreements with their management
– On July 10, 2013, Muto announced the formation of a new promotion, WRESTLE-1, bringing with him many of the former All Japan roster
– At Wrestle Kingdom 8, Muta & Toru Yano defeated Minoru Suzuki & Shelton Benjamin
– At the TNA/WRESTLE-1 Outbreak event, Muto, Rob Terry & Taiyo Kea defeated Samoa Joe, Masayuki Kono & Rene Dupree
– At TNA Lockdown 2014, Muta, Sanada & The Great Yasu defeated Chris Sabin, Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian
– At Bound For Glory 2014, Muta & TAJIRI defeated James Storm & The Great Sanada
– At Muto’s 30th Anniversary show, Muto defeated Masayuki Kono to win the WRESTLE-1 Title
– On December 22, Muto defeated Seiya Sanada to retain the WRESTLE-1 Title
– On January 30, 2015, Muto defeated Manabu Soya to retain the WRESTLE-1 Title
– At One Night Only: Global Impact 2015, Muta (representing Team International) defeated Mr Anderson (representing Team USA)
– On October 19, Muto & Kannazuki defeated Manabu Soya & Sugichan to win the vacant F1 Tag Team Titles
– In March 2017, Muto stepped down as President of WRESTLE-1, handing duties over to Kaz Hayashi. He remained in an executive position with the company but would effectively wrestle as a freelancer
– WRESTLE-1 closed its doors in April 2020 and Muto aligned himself with Pro Wrestling NOAH
– On February 12, 2021, Muto defeated Go Shiozaki to win the GHC Heavyweight Title
– On March 14, Muto defeated Kaito Kiyomiya to retain the GHC Heavyweight Title
– On April 29, Muto defeated Masa Kitamiya to retain the GHC Heavyweight Title
– On November 13, Muto & Naomichi Marufuji defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Masa Kitamiya to win the GHC Tag Team Titles
– On January 1, 2022, Muto & Marufuji defeated Masaaki Mochizuki & Masato Tanaka to retain the GHC Tag Team Titles
– On January 16, Muto & Marufuji defeated Manabu Soya & Kenoh to retain the GHC Tag Team Titles. Mutoh suffered a hip injury shortly after the match and was forced to vacate the titles
– In June 2022, Muto announced his intention to retire from wrestling in 2023
– At the NJPW/Stardom X-Over event, Muta, Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano defeated United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Aaron Henare & Great O-Khan)
– At Wrestle Kingdom 17, Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & SANADA)
– At The Great Muta’s Final Bye-Bye event, Muta, Darby Allin & Sting defeated Naomichi Marufuji, AKIRA & Hakushi
– Muto wrestled his final match on February 21, 2023, losing to Tetsuya Naito
– The Great Muta was inducted into the WWE hall of fame on March 31, 2023.
