time) – with Jumbo Tsuruta Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 26 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003 Ranked No. 10 of the top 100 tag teams of the PWI Years with Jumbo Tsuruta in 2003 Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Class of 2008 The Top 100 Historical Persons in Japan Ranked the 92nd greatest person from history by the people of Japan Tokyo Sports 30th Anniversary Special Achievement Award (1990) Best Tag Team Award (1978, 1980, 1982) with Jumbo Tsuruta Lifetime Achievement Award (1999) Match of the Year (1979) with Antonio Inoki vs. Abdullah The Butcher and Tiger Jeet Singh on August 26, 1979 Match of the Year (1980) with Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr. on December 11, 1980 Match of the Year (1981) vs. Verne Gagne on January 18, 1981 Match of the Year (1982) vs. Stan Hansen on February 4, 1982 Outstanding Performance Award (1974, 1980) Popularity Award (1976, 1988) Special Award for breaking 5000 Matches (1993) Special Grand Prize (1983) Wrestler of the Year (1975, 1979) Wrestling Observer Newsletter Best Booker (1989–1991) Promoter of the Year (1990–1994) Worst Tag Team (1990, 1991) with André the Giant Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996) References External links 1938 births 1999 deaths All Japan Pro Wrestling Deaths from cancer in Japan Japanese baseball players Japanese male professional wrestlers NWA World Heavyweight Champions People with gigantism Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Professional wrestling promoters Professional wrestling trainers Baseball people from Niigata Prefecture Yomiuri Giants players 20th-century professional wrestlers All Asia Tag Team Champions NWA International Heavyweight Champions NWA International Tag Team Champions All Asia Heavyweight Champions PWF World Heavyweight Champions