Animal Hamaguchi

Heigo Hamaguchi (濱口 平吾, Hamaguchi Heigo, born August 31, 1947) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Animal Hamaguchi (アニマル浜口, Animaru Hamaguchi). During his career he was recognized as a talented tag team wrestler despite his relatively small size for a heavyweight, and today he is recognized as a trainer in both professional and amateur wrestling. He is the father of freestyle wrestler Kyoko Hamaguchi.

Animal Hamaguchi
Hamaguchi in February 2011.
Birth nameHeigo Hamaguchi
Born (1947-08-31) August 31, 1947[1]
Hamada, Shimane, Japan
FamilyKyoko Hamaguchi (daughter)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Animal Hamaguchi
Heigo Hamaguchi
Higo Hamaguchi
Billed height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Billed weight103 kg (227 lb)
Trained byKarl Gotch
Rusher Kimura
Tsutomu Yoshihara
DebutSeptember 20, 1969[1]
Retired1995[1]
Animal Hamaguchi
Japanese name
Kanji濱口 平吾
Hiraganaはまぐち へいご
Katakanaハマグチ ヘイゴ

Professional wrestling career

Hamaguchi debuted in 1969 with International Wrestling Enterprise. He was a regular midcarder although his teams with Sueo Inoue and Rusher Kimura were main event. He also made forays into North American wrestling in the late 1970s, winning titles in Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council and Canada's Stampede Wrestling.

In 1981, when IWE collapsed, Hamaguchi teamed with Kimura and Isamu Teranishi in an "invasion" angle in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. When the angle was dropped, Hamaguchi joined Riki Choshu in forming the original Ishin Gundan rebel stable.

In 1984 Ishin Gundan left NJPW and formed Japan Promotion, which eventually became a mere stable of All Japan Pro Wrestling. AJPW promoter Giant Baba ordered Choshu to replace Hamaguchi, who was rather small-sized, with rookie Yoshiaki Yatsu in order to feud with Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu in the upper card. Hamaguchi thus reformed his team with Inoue in the lower card.

After Japan Pro Wrestling broke up and Choshu and others went back to NJPW in 1987, Hamaguchi chose to retire.

In 1990 he returned as Big Van Vader's partner against Antonio Inoki and Tiger Jeet Singh in Inoki's 30th anniversary match. Hamaguchi competed sporadically until settling in Tenryu's WAR in 1993. In his last earnest comeback he teamed with Tenryu and Koki Kitahara to win his last title, the WAR 6-Man Tag Team Championship.

Retirement

Hamaguchi retired in 1995, after his team lost the title, to dedicate full-time to his dojo, today recognized as one of the premier independent wrestling schools in Japan. Famous pros trained by him include Satoshi Kojima, Shinjiro Otani, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Bushi and Takao Omori.

He also trains amateur wrestlers, including his own daughter Kyoko, who is one of the premier amateurs in Japan. She is a two timer Olympic bronze medalist in 72 kg weight class and she has won the FILA Wrestling World Championship 5 times.

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Animal Hamaguchi". Puroresu Central. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  2. Hoops, Brian (January 20, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/20): HHH returns, wins 2002 Royal Rumble". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  3. "NJPW Greatest Wrestlers". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2014-08-23. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  4. "東京スポーツ プロレス大賞". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  5. "東京スポーツ プロレス大賞". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  6. "東京スポーツ プロレス大賞". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-01-20.
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