Mr. Fuji: Ranking His WWE Managerial Clients From Worst To Best
3. The Magnificent Muraco
From Mr. Fuji’s first managerial client to his second, Fuji linked-up with The Magnificent Muraco (or Don Muraco, if you prefer) in 1985. It was a considerable coup for Fuji, as Muraco was a two-time Intercontinental Champion with significant pedigree, and he’d just returned to wrestling from a brief hiatus.
Alongside Fuji, Muraco headlined three consecutive WWE shows at Madison Square Garden, competing against WWE World Champion Hulk Hogan. The feud culminated in a brutal and bloody steel cage match that Hogan won, but Muraco won the first ever King of the Ring tournament a few weeks later, beating-out stern competition from the likes of Pedro Morales and The Iron Sheik.
Muraco would also feud with Ricky Steamboat during his time with Fuji, and though heels, the duo became immensely popular through their Fuji Vice video packages: a well-played mockery of Miami Vice. Fuji General, a parody of the ABC Soap Opera “General Hospital” followed shortly after, before Muraco entered a tag team with “Cowboy” Bob Orton.
Muraco would later ditch Mr. Fuji after turning face, but Fuji returned to manage him in a 1987 match against his former partner Orton. The Magnificent Muraco was victorious, thus ending his affiliation with Fuji on a high.