Masaru Yamamoto, known by his ring name Kotetsu Yamamoto was a Japanese professional wrestler, referee, and color commentator for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
10 Facts About Kotetsu Yamamoto
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Kotetsu Yamamoto was named "Kotetsu" by former Japanese pro wrestler Toyonobori after the famous knight, Aizu-No-Kotetsu.
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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.
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Kotetsu Yamamoto participated in the first three New Japan World Leagues from 1974 to 1976.
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Kotetsu Yamamoto placed 5th in his block with 3.5 points in 1974,8th place with 8 points in 1975, and last place with zero points in 1976.
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Kotetsu Yamamoto took part in New Japan's Pre-Japanese Championship tournament but again finished last with 0 points.
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In 1980, Kotetsu Yamamoto retired from Professional Wrestling as an active competitor.
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Kotetsu Yamamoto 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.
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On March 6,2007,35 years to the day of New Japan's first show, Kotetsu Yamamoto would be one of the inaugural inductees into the NJPW Greatest Wrestlers Hall of Fame.
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Kotetsu Yamamoto died on August 28,2010, due to a hypoxic encephalopathy.