On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Karl Gotch, 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.
Karel Charles Istaz was born in Antwerp, Belgium on August 3, 1924.
He died on July 28, 2007 at the age of 82.
Known as the God of Wrestling in Japan, Gotch was influential in developing the style of puroresu, training numerous future legends, and paving the way for mixed martial arts worldwide. The German Suplex was itself named after Gotch.
Karl Gotch was inducted in the NJPW Hall of Fame in 1990 as part of the NJPW Greatest 18 Club wing and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2007 as part of the International wing.
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Karel Charles Istaz
- Ring Names
- Karl Gotch ( January 21, 1961 - July 28, 2007)
- Karl Krauser ( August 29, 1961 - December 9, 1961)
- Karl Krauser ( July 18, 1959 - November 25, 1960)
- Pierre LeMarin ( June 17, 1959 - October 14, 1959)
- Karl Krauser ( January 1, 1954 - June 16, 1959)
- Karel Istaz ( January 1, 1950 - December 31, 1953)
- Born August 3, 1924
- Died July 28, 2007 (aged 82)
- Nationality
BelgiumGermanyUnited States - Birth Place Antwerp, Belgium
- Billed From
- Hamburg, Germany ( January 1, 1954 - July 28, 2007)
- Antwerp, Belgium ( January 1, 1950 - December 31, 1953)
- Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Weight
- 245 lbs (111 kg)
- Nicknames God of (Japanese) Wrestling
- Notes Known as the God of Wrestling in Japan, Gotch was influential in developing the style of puroresu, training numerous future legends, and paving the way for mixed martial arts worldwide. The German Suplex was itself named after Gotch.
Belgium
Germany
United StatesCareer History
- Roles
- Ambassador ( July 1, 2006 - July 28, 2007)
- Coach ( January 1, 1957 - December 31, 2003)
- PromoterProducer ( January 13, 1972 - December 31, 1984)
- Part Time Wrestler ( January 1, 1982 - January 8, 1982)
- Part Time Wrestler ( January 13, 1972 - October 19, 1974)
- Wrestler ( January 1, 1950 - January 12, 1972)
- Promotions / Brands
Promotion from to Promotion 
NJPWJanuary 13, 1972 December 31, 1984 Promotion WWWFAugust 25, 1971 February 1, 1972 Promotion IWEMarch 31, 1971 May 25, 1971 Promotion NWAFebruary 7, 1968 December 15, 1969 Promotion JWAJanuary 3, 1968 January 3, 1968 Promotion NWAFebruary 24, 1962 May 17, 1967 Promotion AWAAugust 29, 1961 December 9, 1961 Promotion NWAJuly 16, 1959 April 21, 1961 - Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Face January 1, 1950 July 28, 2007 - Images History
Jan 1980Jan 1972Aug 1971Jul 1959Apr 1954
NJPW
WWWF
IWE
NWA
JWA
AWA
- Finishers
- German Suplex ( January 1, 1950 - January 8, 1982)
- Cradle piledriver ( January 1, 1950 - January 8, 1982)
- Kneeling belly to belly piledriver ( January 1, 1950 - January 8, 1982)
Titles & Accomplishments
- Halls of Fame
- NJPW Hall of Fame - Year 1990, NJPW Greatest 18 Club
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2007, International
- Titles Won
World Wide Wrestling Federation
- 1 WWWF World Tag Team Champion (with Rene Goulet)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- 2 Real World Championship
American Wrestling Alliance (Ohio)
- 1 AWA World Heavyweight Championship
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- 1 IWA World Heavyweight Championship
World Wide Wrestling Associates
- 2 WWA World Tag Team Championship (with Mike DiBiase)
- Other Accomplishments
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2009)
- International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2022)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
- Tokyo Sports Service Award (2007)
Relations
- Tag Teams & Stables
- Karl Gotch & Rene Goulet - Rene Goulet ( October 2, 1971 - February 1, 1972)
- Karl Gotch & Mike DiBiase - Iron Mike DiBiase ( June 16, 1967 - August 23, 1967)
