After reconstructive knee surgery on 4/5, the legendary Mutoh might be set to retire. Given that this is Japan, I’d expect a retirement dream tag, but that’s likely more ceremonial than anything and he has probably had his last real run.
Mutoh is most famous in the States for his late 80s run as the Great Muta, where he helped introduce a high flying style in the NWA. From there, he returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling, Japan’s biggest company, and was a headliner for their new generation, one of the Three Musketeers with Masahiro Chono and the deceased Shinya Hashimoto. Mutoh was in possibly the best matches of the three early and was certainly the most physically gifted, but never was as believable or quite really overtook Hashimoto to be ace of the company, though he was still a top draw. After a decade on top, Mutoh left New Japan and headed to the second biggest company, which was struggling to survive, becoming All Japan Pro Wrestling’s top draw and eventual booker. Through this, he changed his style radically, going from a flier to a technical mastermind to a striker, but always retaining a mystique that made his matches feel special.
Credit: <a href=www.f4wonline.comThe Wrestling Observer.
