WRESTLER

Rikidōzan

1924 - 1963

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Mitsuhiro Momota (Japanese: 百田 光浩, Hepburn: Momota Mitsuhiro) (born Kim Sin-rak; Korean: 김신락; November 14, 1924 – December 15, 1963), better known as Rikidōzan (力道山), was a Korean-born Japanese wrestler who competed in sumo and professional wrestling. He was known as The Father of Puroresu (professional wrestling), and was one of the most influential persons in professional wrestling history. Initially, he had moved from his native country Korea to Japan to become a rikishi (sumo wrestler). He was credited with bringing the sport of professional wrestling to Japan at a time when the Japanese needed a local hero to emulate and was lauded as a national hero. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Rikidōzan is the 27th most popular wrestler (down from 14th in 2019). (up from 1,186th in 2019)

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Among WRESTLERS

Among wrestlers, Rikidōzan ranks 27 out of 1,027. Before him are Scott Hall, Roman Reigns, George Hackenschmidt, Pat Patterson, John Cena, and Anton Geesink. After him are Bob Orton Jr., Dave Finlay, Aleksandr Medved, Bruno Sammartino, Big Van Vader, and Ric Flair.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1924, Rikidōzan ranks 98. Before him are Dorothy Malone, Rudolf Vrba, Noboru Takeshita, Maria Riva, Madame Nhu, and Alexander Haig. After him are Katy Jurado, Stanley Donen, Daniel arap Moi, Ottmar Walter, Lee Iacocca, and Tengiz Abuladze. Among people deceased in 1963, Rikidōzan ranks 47. Before him are Sabu Dastagir, Pedro Armendáriz, Sylvanus Olympio, Mohammad Ali Bogra, Sivananda Saraswati, and Remedios Varo. After him are Alois Hudal, Hubert Pierlot, Alexander Marinesko, Eduard Spranger, Karl von Terzaghi, and William Beveridge.

Others Born in 1924

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Others Deceased in 1963

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