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Kotetsu Yamamoto
Kotetsu Yamamoto
Birth name	Masaru Yamamoto (山本勝, Yamamoto Masaru)
Born	October 30, 1941; Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Died	August 28, 2010 (aged 68); Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Cause of death	hypoxic encephalopathy
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Kotetsu Yamamoto; Little Yamaha
Billed height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Billed weight	100 kg (220 lb)
Trained by	Rikidozan; Antonio Inoki
Debut	July 19, 1963
Retired	April 4, 1980 (full time); December 18, 2008 (Last Match)

Masaru Yamamoto (山本勝, Yamamoto Masaru, October 30, 1941 – August 28, 2010), known by his ring name Kotetsu Yamamoto (山本小鉄, Yamamoto Kotetsu) was a Japanese professional wrestler, referee, and color commentator for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He was named "Kotetsu" ("Little Iron") by former Japanese pro wrestler Toyonobori after the famous knight, Aizu-No-Kotetsu. Originally a wrestler, Yamamoto was mostly known for his tag team the Yamaha Brothers with Kantaro Hoshino but made his biggest mark as a trainer in the New Japan Dojo having helped train Keiji Mutoh, Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru Suzuki, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Masahiro Chono among others.

Professional wrestling career

After graduating from high school, Yamamoto trained as a bodybuilder at a local YMCA while working for the then blossoming steel industry in Japan. In 1962, he was discovered by Rikidozan and trained as his last ever student. After Rikidozan died, he became the "tsukebito" or trainee of Antonio Inoki.

During January 1967, he along with Kantaro Hoshino were sent to the United States to gain experience. While there, the two became known as The Yamaha Brothers. They appeared at NWA Mid-America where Yamamoto won his first championship, when he and Hoshino defeated Bad Boy Hines and Billy Hines on August 3, 1967, to win the NWA Mid-America Southern Tag Team Championship but only held the titles for a week as they lost them to Bad Boy Hines and Len Rossi on August 10. He returned to Japan the same year.^[2] On May 2, 1969, he defeated Gorilla Monsoon gaining one of the largest upset victories of the time in less than 5 minutes. When Antonio Inoki was expelled from the JWA, Yamamoto went along with Inoki and helped start New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Along with Antonio Inoki and Karl Gotch, Yamamoto is said to be responsible for the fundamentals of the Japanese "strong style".

Yamamoto also participated in the first three New Japan World Leagues from 1974 to 1976. He placed 5th in his block with 3.5 points in 1974,^[3] 8th place with 8 points in 1975,^[4] and last place with zero points in 1976.^[5] He also took part in New Japan's Pre-Japanese Championship tournament but again finished last with 0 points.^[6]

By 1979, Yamamoto reunited with Hoshino at International Wrestling Enterprise where they defeated Animal Hamaguchi and Great Kusatsu to win the IWA World Tag Team Championship on January 21, 1979. They held the titles for a month before losing them to Hamaguchi and Mighty Inoue on February 23.^[7]

Post-retirement

In 1980, Yamamoto retired from Professional Wrestling as an active competitor. After that, he became a color commentator, coach, and referee for New Japan Pro-Wrestling until his death. He spent most of his retirement as a trainer in the New Japan Dojo where he helped train some of the greatest names in New Japan history including Yoshiaki Fujiwara, inventor of the legendary "Fujiwara armbar", the legendary Jyushin Thunder Liger, and modern wrestlers like Shinsuke Nakamura, Togi Makabe, Toru Yano and many more.

Despite retiring, Yamamoto would occasionally return to the ring from time to time including a nine-man NJPW Alumnus Battle Royal on May 1, 2003, which he co-won with Hoshino.^[8] On March 6, 2007, 35 years to the day of New Japan's first show, Yamamoto would be one of the inaugural inductees into the NJPW Greatest Wrestlers Hall of Fame. His final match would be on December 18, 2008, teaming with Hoshino against Great Kabuki and Great Kojika which went to a time limit draw.^[8]

Death

Yamamoto died on August 28, 2010, due to a hypoxic encephalopathy. He was 68 years old.^[9]^{[better source needed]} His passing came three months before long time tag team partner Kantaro Hoshino who died on November 25.

Championships and accomplishments

International Wrestling Enterprise
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kantaro Hoshino
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- NJPW Greatest Wrestlers (Class of 2007)
- New Japan Alumnus Battle Royal (2003) – with Kantaro Hoshino^[10]
NWA Mid-America
- NWA Mid-America Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kantaro Hoshino
Tokyo Sports
- Effort Award (1974)^[11]
- Lifetime Achievement Award (1979, 2010)

References

^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Kotetsu Yamamoto". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "AWA Southern Tag Team Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
^ "1st Annual World League". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "2nd Annual World League". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "3rd Annual World League". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ "Pre-Japanese Championship". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "IWA World Tag Team Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
^ ^a ^b Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Matches « Kotetsu Yamamoto « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
^ "Strong Style Spirit » Blog Archive » Kotetsu Yamamoto passes away". www.puroresufan.com. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
^ "PUROLOVE.com". www.purolove.com. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
^ "PUROLOVE.com". www.purolove.com. Retrieved 2017-12-28.