On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Professor Toru Tanaka, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Charles J. Kalani Jr. was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 6, 1930.
He died on August 22, 2000 at the age of 70.
Professor Toru Tanaka was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 as part of the Legacy wing.
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Charles J. Kalani Jr.
- Ring Names
- Professor Toru Tanaka ( April 22, 1966 - July 1, 1986)
- Mr. Akanat ( March 17, 1977 - April 9, 1977)
- Charlie Kalani ( June 2, 1958 - August 31, 1966)
- Born January 6, 1930
- Died August 22, 2000 (aged 70)
- Nationality
United States - Birth Place Honolulu, Hawaii
- Billed From
- Hiroshima, Japan
- Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
- Weight
- 280 lbs (127 kg)
United StatesCareer History
- Roles
- Wrestler ( June 2, 1958 - July 1, 1986)
- Actor ( August 14, 1981 - December 31, 1995)
- Promotions / Brands
Promotion from to Promotion 
WWFNovember 23, 1984 November 27, 1984 Promotion NWAFebruary 14, 1966 March 27, 1981 Promotion CWAJanuary 21, 1979 June 11, 1979 Promotion WWWFMay 3, 1977 March 26, 1978 Promotion WWWFMarch 27, 1967 August 3, 1974 Promotion AJPWJanuary 4, 1974 January 30, 1974 - Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Heel June 2, 1958 July 1, 1986 - Images History
Jun 1958
WWF
NWA
CWA
WWWF
WWWF
AJPW
- Finishers
- Cobra Clutch ( June 2, 1958 - July 1, 1986)
Titles & Accomplishments
- Halls of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2019, Legacy
- Titles Won
World Wide Wrestling Federation
- 3 WWWF World Tag Team Championship (with Mr. Fuji)
- 1 WWWF International Tag Team Championship (with Mitsu Arakawa)
National Wrestling Alliance
- 2 NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division)
50th State Big Time Wrestling
- 1 NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version)
All-California Championship Wrestling
- 2 ACCW Tag Team Championship (with Peter Maivia Jr.)
California Pro Wrestling
- 1 CPW Heavyweight Championship
- 1 CPW Brass Knuckles Championship
Championship Wrestling from Florida
- 1 NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (with Dick Slater)
Continental Wrestling Association
- 2 AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship
- 2 AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 with Robert Fuller, 1 with Mr. Fuji)
Georgia Championship Wrestling
- 1 NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA Macon Heavyweight Championship
- 2 NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 with Assassin #2, 1 with Mr. Fuji)
L&G Promotions
- 1 L&G Caribbean Heavyweight Championship
Northeast Championship Wrestling (Tom Janette)
- 1 NCW Heavyweight Championship
NWA Big Time Wrestling
- 2 NWA American Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA American Tag Team Championship (with Thunderbolt Patterson)
- 4 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- 1 NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (with Dr. Hiro Ota)
NWA New Zealand
- 2 NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Championship
Southeastern Championship Wrestling
- 1 NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (with Mr. Fuji)
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- 2 IWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 1 IWA World Tag Team Championship (with Skull Murphy)
- Other Accomplishments
- AWA Southern Tag Team Title Tournament Winner (1979 - with Ron Fuller)
Relations
- Tag Teams & Stables
- Mr. Fuji & Professor Toru Tanaka - Mr. Fuji ( August 29, 1975 - July 26, 1980)
- Mr. Fuji & Professor Toru Tanaka - Mr. Fuji ( June 27, 1972 - April 1, 1974)
- Dick Slater & Prof. Toru Tanaka - Dick Slater ( September 24, 1974 - January 20, 1975)
- The Rising Suns - Mitsu Arakawa ( June 7, 1969 - December 12, 1969)
- Mitsu Arakawa & Toru Tanaka ( April 27, 1966 - July 8, 1966)
- Managers Bobby Heenan, Captain Lou Albano, Freddie Blassie, The Grand Wizard