10 Wrestlers Who Died In 2016
2. Mr. Fuji
Mr. Fuji is widely regarded as one of the most infamous heel managers of all-time. From 1985 to 1996, Fuji managed a wide variety of colourful characters from Don Muraco to Demolition, with his greatest success coming in 1993. Fuji’s charge, Yokozuna, became WWE Champion on two occasions throughout the year, though Fuji was slowly phased out over the following years, and retired in 1996.
Though primarily remembered as a manager, Fuji was a tag team specialist earlier in his wrestling career. He amassed an impressive body of work for both the NWA and WWE, and held the WWE Tag Team Championships on five separate occasions: thrice with Toru Tanaka, and twice with Mr. Saito.
Fuji’s talents weren’t always restricted to tag matches, however. A devious, dastardly heel, Fuji earned a handful of shots at WWE Champion Pedro Morales in 1972, though he was unsuccessful in all attempts. He drifted in and out of WWE in the 1970s, but made a permanent return in 1981, and stayed with Vince McMahon’s company until his eventual retirement.
As a manager, Fuji was known for blinding opponents by throwing salt in their eyes, then whacking them with his ever-present cane. He managed multiple champions throughout his spell with the company, and was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2007.