On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Jumbo Tsuruta, 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.
Tomomi Tsuruta (鶴田 友美) was born in Makioka, Yamanashi, Japan on March 25, 1951.
He died on May 13, 2000 at the age of 49.
Before becoming a pro wrestler, Tsuruta wrestled for Japan at the 1972 Olympics in Berlin. In the same decade Tsuruta was also an “idol-wrestler”, singing on the side with hits like “Rolling Dreamer” and “Don’t Say Goodbye”.
Jumbo Tsuruta was inducted in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2015 as part of the International wing.
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Tomomi Tsuruta (鶴田 友美)
- Ring Names
- Jumbo Tsuruta ( November 24, 1973 - February 20, 1999)
- Tomomi Tsuruta ( March 26, 1974 - March 24, 1977)
- Tommy Tsuruta ( March 24, 1973 - April 4, 1974)
- Born March 25, 1951
- Died May 13, 2000 (aged 49)
- Nationality
Japan - Birth Place Makioka, Yamanashi, Japan
- Billed From
- Makioka, Yamanashi, Japan ( March 24, 1973 - February 20, 1999)
- Height 6 ft 6 in (197 cm)
- Weight
- 290 lbs (132 kg)
- Nicknames Kaibutsu (Monster); The Terror of Yamanashi; Wakadaisho (The Young Ace)
- Notes Before becoming a pro wrestler, Tsuruta wrestled for Japan at the 1972 Olympics in Berlin. In the same decade Tsuruta was also an “idol-wrestler”, singing on the side with hits like “Rolling Dreamer” and “Don’t Say Goodbye”.
JapanCareer History
- Roles
- Wrestler ( March 24, 1973 - February 20, 1999)
- Coach ( January 1, 1981 - December 31, 1992)
- Promotions / Brands
Promotion from to Promotion 
AJPWMarch 24, 1973 March 6, 1999 Promotion AWAMarch 3, 1984 May 13, 1984 Promotion IWENovember 17, 1978 November 30, 1978 Promotion WWWFApril 1, 1974 April 1, 1974 Promotion NWAMarch 24, 1973 September 19, 1973 - Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Face June 3, 1993 February 20, 1999 Heel July 7, 1990 June 3, 1993 Face October 9, 1973 July 6, 1990 Tweener March 24, 1973 October 8, 1973 - Images History
Feb 1984Aug 1976Mar 1973
AJPW
AWA
IWE
WWWF
NWA
- Finishers
- Jumbo Lariat - Lariat ( March 24, 1973 - February 20, 1999)
- Flying Body Scissors Press ( March 24, 1973 - February 20, 1999)
- Backdrop Suplex - Belly-to-back Suplex ( January 1, 1980 - February 20, 1990)
- German Suplex ( March 24, 1973 - December 31, 1979)
- Theme Songs
- Theme Song “J (V1)” by Hiroshi Suzuki - Single ( January 1, 1990 - February 20, 1999)
- Theme Song “J (V2)” by Kagutogi Band - Single ( July 1, 1987 - December 31, 1992)
- Theme Song “J (V1)” by Hiroshi Suzuki - Single ( July 1, 1983 - June 30, 1987)
- Theme Song “T.T. Backdrop” - Single ( January 1, 1984 - December 31, 1984)
- Theme Song “Rolling Dreamer” by Jumbo Tsuruta - Single ( July 1, 1979 - June 30, 1983)
- Theme Song “Chinese Kung Fu” by Banzai - Single ( January 1, 1976 - June 30, 1979)
Titles & Accomplishments
- Halls of Fame
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2015, International
- Titles Won
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 3 NWA International Heavyweight Championship
- 9 NWA International Tag Team Championship (6 with Giant Baba, 2 with Genichiro Tenryu, 1 with Yoshiaki Yatsu)
- 5 NWA United National Championshop
- 1 PWF World Heavyweight Championship
- 2 PWF World Tag Team Championship (1 with Tiger Mask II, 1 with Yoshiaki Yatsu)
- 3 Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship
- 7 World Tag Team Championship (5 with Yoshiaki Yatsu, 1 with the Great Kabuki, 1 with Akira Taue)
American Wrestling Association
- 1 AWA World Heavyweight Championship
Championship Wrestling from Florida
- 1 NWA United National Championship
NWA Detroit
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (with Giant Baba)
- Other Accomplishments
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
- AJPW Champion Carnival Winner (1980, 1991)
- AJPW Champion Carnival Distinguished Service Award (1977, 1979)
- AJPW Champion Carnival Technical Award (1978)
- AJPW Champion Carnival Technique Award (1976)
- AJPW Champion Carnival Fighting Spirit Award (1975, 1982)
- AJPW World's Strongest Tag Determination League Awards
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League (1978, 1980 - with Giant Baba; 1984, 1986 - with Genichiro Tenryu; 1987 - with Yoshiaki Yatsu)
- Distinguished Service award (1977 - with Giant Baba)
- Outstanding Performance award (1982 - with Giant Baba)
- Technical award (1983 - with Genichiro Tenryu)
- Service Medal award (1985 - with Genichiro Tenryu)
- Outstanding Performance award (1988 - with Yoshiaki Yatsu)
- Special award (1989)
- Skill award (1990 - with Akira Taue)
- Fighting Spirit award (1991 - with Akira Taue)
- Tokyo Sports awards
- Wrestler of the Year (1983, 1984, 1991)
- Technique award (1974, 1986, 1988)
- Outstanding Performance award (1975, 1976, 1981)
- Service award (1999)
- Lifetime Achievement award (2000)
- Tag Team of the Year award (1978, 1980, 1982 - with Giant Baba; 1983, 1985 - with Genichiro Tenryu; 1989 - with Yoshiaki Yatsu)
- Match of the Year award (1976 - vs. Rusher Kimura on 03/28)
- Match of the Year award (1977 - vs. Mil Máscaras on 08/25)
- Match of the Year award (1978 - vs. Harley Race on 01/20)
- Match of the Year award (1980 - with Giant Baba vs. Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk on 12/20)
- Match of the Year award (1985 - vs. Riki Choshu on 11/04)
- Match of the Year award (1987 - vs. Genichiro Tenryu on 08/31)
- Match of the Year award (1989 - vs. Genichiro Tenryu on 06/05)
- WON Wrestler of the Year (1991)
- WON Feud of the Year (1990, 1991 - vs. Mitsuharu Misawa)
- 28° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
- 10° in PWI Years Top 500 Tag Teams (2003 - with Giant Baba)
- 14° in PWI Years Top 500 Tag Teams (2003 - with Genichiro Tenryu)
- 31° in PWI Years Top 500 Tag Teams (2003 - with Yoshiaki Yatsu)
Relations
- Tag Teams & Stables
- Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta - Giant Baba ( November 27, 1973 - September 11, 1998)
- Tsuruta-gun - Akira Taue, Jun Akiyama, Masanobu Fuchi, Mighty Inoue, Yoshiaki Yatsu, Yoshinari Ogawa ( July 7, 1990 - June 3, 1993)
- Olympics - Yoshiaki Yatsu ( October 28, 1987 - July 8, 1990)
- Kakuryu - Genichiro Tenryu ( June 1, 1981 - May 18, 1987)
