Mack Mitsukazu Arakawa
(May 23, 1927 – April 17, 1997) was an American
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
.
He is best known for his appearances with the
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
-based
NWA Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club/American Wrestling Association.
Early life
Arakawa was born in Hawaii in 1927. He enlisted in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
in 1945.
Professional wrestling career
Arakawa was trained to wrestle by The Great Yamato. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1953. Wrestling as a
heel throughout his career, Arakawa was billed as being a Japanese citizen who had survived the
atomic bombing of Hiroshima
The United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, respectively. The two bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and remain the onl ...
and bore a grudge against the United States as a result. He spent the early years of his career wrestling throughout the
Midwest United States
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...
.
In 1957, Arakawa debuted in the
NWA Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club (later renamed the
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 until 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo. The territory was originally part o ...
), where he was billed as
Kinji Shibuya
Robert "Kinji" Shibuya (May 16, 1921 – May 3, 2010) was an American professional wrestler and actor.
Professional wrestling career
In 1952, promoter Al Karasick suggested Shibuya try professional wrestling. He was originally given a villainous ...
's cousin. In August 1957, he and Shibuya defeated
The Kalmikoffs
The Kalmikoffs were a professional wrestling group of fictitious soviet brothers. It began as a tag team consisting of Ivan (Edward Bogucki) and Karol (Karol Piwoworczyk) who were later joined by "brothers" Nikita (Nikita Mulkovitch) and Stan (o ...
to win the
NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Minneapolis version)''. They lost the championship to Joe Brunetti and Guy Brunetti in November 1957.
In December 1967, Arakawa and
Dr. Moto defeated
Pat O'Connor and
Wilbur Snyder
Wilbur Snyder (September 15, 1929 – December 25, 1991) was an American football player and professional wrestler.
Wrestling career
Snyder's wrestling debut occurred during football's 1953 off-season. He was trained by Sandor Szabo and Warren ...
for the
AWA World Tag Team Championship
The American Wrestling Association (AWA) World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.
History
When the NWA Minneapoli ...
. They held the championship for over a year before losing to
The Crusher and
Dick the Bruiser
William Fritz Afflis (June 27, 1929 – November 10, 1991) was an American professional wrestler, promoter, and former NFL player, better known by his ring name, Dick the Bruiser. During his NFL days he played four seasons with the Green Bay Pac ...
in December 1968.
In 1959, Arakawa joined the
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
-based
World Wrestling Association
The World Wrestling Association (WWA) (Asociación Mundial de Lucha Libre in Spanish) is a lucha libre promotion based in the Tijuana-area of Mexico. It was founded in 1986 by Benjamin Mora Jr.. It featured some of Mexico's best ''luchadores'' a ...
(WWA). In October 1966, he defeated Dick the Bruiser to win the
WWA World Heavyweight Championship
The World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA) World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in World Wrestling All-Stars. It was the primary championship in the WWA. The title was sanctioned by WWA as their world ...
. He lost the championship to Wilbur Snyder in September 1967.
Arakawa toured Australia in 1965, 1966 and 1970, winning the
IWA World Heavyweight Championship during his first tour. In the mid-1960s, he performed in Canada with Shibuya, with the duo winning the
Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
The Stampede International Tag Team Championship was the main tag team title in the Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. It was created in 1958 as the NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version). When promote ...
in 1963.
In the late 1960s, Arakawa and
Toru Tanaka
Charles J. Kalani Jr. (January 6, 1930 – August 22, 2000) was an American professional wrestler, professional boxer, college football player, soldier, actor, and martial artist who, in fighting rings, was also known as Professor Toru Tanaka, ...
began wrestling for the
World Wide Wrestling Federation
Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. was an American sports promotion company. It was run by Vincent J. McMahon from 1953 to 1982. Operating as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC), the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing ...
(WWWF) as "The Rising Suns". In June 1969, The Rising Suns were crowned the inaugural
WWWF International Tag Team Champions (they were billed as having won a tournament that never took place). They lost the championship to
Tony Marino
Tony Silipini (April 20, 1931 – May 28, 2021) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tony Marino.
Professional wrestling career Early career (1954-1963)
Tony Silipini was born in 1931. He started wrestling i ...
and
Victor Rivera in December 1969.
In 1973, Arakawa appeared in ''The Wrestling Queen'', a documentary on rookie professional wrestler
Vivian Vachon
Diane Vachon (January 23, 1951 – August 24, 1991) was a Canadian professional wrestler and singer, best known by her ring name Vivian Vachon. A member of the Vachon family of wrestlers, she was the sister of Maurice and Paul Vachon, and the au ...
.
Arakawa retired in 1976.
Personal life
Arakawa was married to Patti, with whom he had two sons, David and Michael, and a daughter, Teresa.
Death
Arakawa died of
heart failure
Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, a ...
on April 17, 1997.
Filmography
Film
Championships and accomplishments
*American Wrestling Alliance
**AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with
Kinji Shibuya
Robert "Kinji" Shibuya (May 16, 1921 – May 3, 2010) was an American professional wrestler and actor.
Professional wrestling career
In 1952, promoter Al Karasick suggested Shibuya try professional wrestling. He was originally given a villainous ...
*
NWA Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club/American Wrestling Association
**
AWA World Tag Team Championship
The American Wrestling Association (AWA) World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.
History
When the NWA Minneapoli ...
(1 time) – with
Dr. Moto
**
NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Minneapolis version)'' (1 time) – with Kinji Shibuya
*
NWA All-Star Wrestling
NWA All Star Wrestling (sometimes referred to as NWA Vancouver) is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. All-Star Wrestling folded in 1989 but returned in 2007 no longer affiliated with the National Wr ...
**
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship
The NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship is a National Wrestling Alliance-sanctioned tag team professional wrestling championship based mainly in the Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling promotion, although the title has been contested for in the ...
(1 time) – with Kinji Shibuya
**
NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Moto
*
NWA San Francisco
NWA San Francisco was a professional wrestling promotion headquartered in San Francisco, California in the United States. Founded in 1935 by "The Utica Panther" Joe Malcewicz (1897–1962), the promotion joined the National Wrestling Alliance in ...
**
NWA World Tag Team Championship
The NWA World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship created by the National Wrestling Alliance. From 1948 to 1982, the NWA allowed member promotions to create their own territorial version of the "NWA World ...
(1 time) – with Kinji Shibuya
*
National Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation (NWF) was a professional wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970 to 1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin. The revive ...
**
NWF World Tag Team Championship
The NWF World Tag Team Championship was the top tag team championship in the National Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation (NWF) was a professional wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter ...
(1 time) – with
Yoshino Sato Yoshino may refer to:
* Yoshino cherry, another name for '' Prunus × yedoensis'', a flowering cherry tree
* Japanese cruiser ''Yoshino'', a protected cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Places
* Yoshino, Nara, a town located in Yoshino Dist ...
*
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling was a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta. For nearly 50 years, it was one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies. Originally established by Stu Hart in 1948, the prom ...
**
Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship
The Stampede International Tag Team Championship was the main tag team title in the Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. It was created in 1958 as the NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version). When promote ...
(1 time) – with Kinji Shibuya
*
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of Nation ...
**
IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*
World Wrestling Association
The World Wrestling Association (WWA) (Asociación Mundial de Lucha Libre in Spanish) is a lucha libre promotion based in the Tijuana-area of Mexico. It was founded in 1986 by Benjamin Mora Jr.. It featured some of Mexico's best ''luchadores'' a ...
**
WWA World Heavyweight Championship
The World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA) World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in World Wrestling All-Stars. It was the primary championship in the WWA. The title was sanctioned by WWA as their world ...
(1 time)
**
WWA World Tag Team Championship
The WWA World Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team title in the Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. A ...
(2 times) – with Dr. Moto
*
World Wide Wrestling Federation
Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. was an American sports promotion company. It was run by Vincent J. McMahon from 1953 to 1982. Operating as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC), the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing ...
**
WWWF International Tag Team Championship (1 time, inaugural) – with
Toru Tanaka
Charles J. Kalani Jr. (January 6, 1930 – August 22, 2000) was an American professional wrestler, professional boxer, college football player, soldier, actor, and martial artist who, in fighting rings, was also known as Professor Toru Tanaka, ...
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arakawa, Mitsu
1927 births
1997 deaths
20th-century professional wrestlers
American male professional wrestlers
American people of Japanese descent
Faux Japanese professional wrestlers
People from Honolulu
Professional wrestlers from Hawaii
United States Army soldiers
AWA World Tag Team Champions
NWF World Tag Team Champions
Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Champions
IWA World Heavyweight Champions (Australia)