Masahiro Chono is an American-born Japanese-American retired professional wrestler and actor best known for his 26 year stint with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
32 Facts About Masahiro Chono
2.
Masahiro Chono debuted in 1984 against Keiji Mutoh at a New Japan Pro-Wrestling event in Saitama, Japan.
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Masahiro Chono came back to the United States in October 1988 and teamed with Mike Davis in Continental Championship Wrestling, by then renamed the Continental Wrestling Federation, and won that company's tag titles as the Japanese Connection.
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The next year, Masahiro Chono solidified his main-event status with an amazing performance in the first G1 Climax tournament, winning the tournament in a thirty-minute final over Mutoh.
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Masahiro Chono won the tournament again in 1992, winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in the process.
6.
On September 23,1992, Masahiro Chono suffered a serious neck injury from a botched sitdown tombstone piledriver while defending the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Steve Austin.
7.
Masahiro Chono changed his image and adopted a yakuza gimmick, complete with sunglasses, menacing mannerisms and black coats and tights.
8.
Masahiro Chono's partnering with Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Hiro Saito as "Team Wolf" provided a foundation to NJPW's nWo Japan.
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Masahiro Chono would join its successor, Team 2000, which would eventually restructure again.
10.
Masahiro Chono won the IWGP Tag Team Titles on six occasions and won the very prestigious IWGP Heavyweight Title in 1998.
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In 2002, Masahiro Chono won his fourth G1 Climax tournament and had a brief, memorable feud with WWE's Chyna.
12.
Masahiro Chono became a booker for NJPW around this time.
13.
In 2003, Masahiro Chono briefly joined Pro Wrestling NOAH for a handful of matches and was defeated by GHC Champion Kenta Kobashi on 2 May of that year.
14.
In early 2004, Masahiro Chono became the leader of the Black New Japan stable, which was the most dominating heel stable in NJPW until it was disbanded by Riki Choshu.
15.
Masahiro Chono won the 2005 G1 Climax tournament, thus having achieved a record-setting five G1 victories.
16.
Masahiro Chono formed a stable with Shinsuke Nakamura in 2006 called Chono and Nakamura-gun, which began feuding with Tenzan's new group, GBH.
17.
Masahiro Chono continued to wrestle full-time in 2007, but began working as a promoter, with New Japan permitting him to set up cards in different areas of Japan.
18.
Outside wrestling, Masahiro Chono began appearing on Gaki no Tsukai's "No Laughing Batsu Game" as one of the attackers, usually giving Hosei Tsukitei a slap to the face.
19.
In January 2010 it was reported that Masahiro Chono would be leaving New Japan and becoming a freelancer, after spending most of his career with the company.
20.
In March 2010, Masahiro Chono portrayed Nobunaga Oda in two matches during a Samurai Festival after leaving New Japan.
21.
Masahiro Chono wrestled AKIRA, who portrayed Mitsuhide Akechi, on both days, winning the first match and losing the second.
22.
In December 2010, Masahiro Chono began working for Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation as a booker.
23.
On March 6,2011, Masahiro Chono entered Pro Wrestling ZERO1 for their 10th Anniversary Show, where he defeated Daichi Hashimoto in his debut match.
24.
On October 3,2011, Masahiro Chono returned to NJPW for a Team Wolf reunion match, teaming with Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Hiro Saito to defeat Osamu Nishimura, Koji Kanemoto, and Shinjiro Otani.
25.
In January 2013, Masahiro Chono signed with All Japan Pro Wrestling as an advisor.
26.
Masahiro Chono teamed with Daisuke Masaoka and Hayata in a loss to Super Delfin, Hub, and Gran Hamada.
27.
Since 2014, Masahiro Chono's appearances have been limited to non-active roles such as commentary, talk battles and special appearances.
28.
On February 21,2023, Masahiro Chono was challenged to an impromptu match by Muto during Muto's retirement show at the Tokyo Dome, which Masahiro Chono won.
29.
On December 28,1991, Masahiro Chono married Martina Carlsbad, whom he met while on an excursion in Germany in 1987.
30.
Masahiro Chono's death forced Chono to miss an IWGP Tag Team title defense and take a hiatus, which forced him and Hiroyoshi Tenzan to vacate the title on July 7,1995.
31.
Since 1999, Masahiro Chono has owned his own clothing brand, Aristrist, with his wife Martina.
32.
Masahiro Chono appears as a gang member in the 2017 video game Yakuza Kiwami 2, alongside Genichiro Tenryu, Keiji Mutoh, Riki Choshu and Tatsumi Fujinami.