Masa Saito / Mr. Saito: Profile, Career, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won, Gimmick Evolution and Stats

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Masa Saito / Mr. Saito, 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.

Masanori Saito (斎藤昌典) was born in Tokyo, Japan on February 1, 1942.

He died on July 14, 2018 at the age of 76.

Profile Info

Gender Male

Real Name Masanori Saito (斎藤昌典)

Ring Names

The Unknown Soldier ( February 16, 1989 - February 16, 1989)
The Pirate ( February 20, 1988 - February 21, 1988)
Assassin #3 ( July 1, 1981 - October 14, 1981)
Masa Saito ( July 13, 1968 - December 31, 2014)
Mr. Saito ( April 24, 1968 - February 16, 1990)
Masanori Saito ( January 1, 1965 - April 23, 1968)

Born February 1, 1942

Died July 14, 2018 (aged 76)

Nationality

Japan

Birth Place Tokyo, Japan

Billed From

Tokyo, Japan ( January 1, 1965 - January 4, 1997)

Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)

Weight

265 lbs (120 kg)

Nicknames Chopstick Charlie; Mr. Torture

Career History

Roles

Producer ( February 14, 1999 - December 31, 2014)
Coach ( February 14, 1999 - December 31, 2014)
Ambassador ( February 14, 1999 - December 31, 2014)
Commentator ( December 18, 1991 - October 9, 2000)
Producer ( January 1, 1989 - January 1, 2000)
Part Time Wrestler ( February 14, 1999 - February 14, 1999)
Wrestler ( January 1, 1965 - January 4, 1997)

Companies / Promotions

Promotion	from	to
Promotion NJPW	February 14, 1999	January 1, 2003
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	March 26, 1987	January 4, 1997
Promotion WCW	January 27, 1995	January 27, 1995
Promotion WCW	March 21, 1991	March 21, 1991
Promotion WCW	December 16, 1990	December 16, 1990
Promotion AWA	December 26, 1986	April 19, 1987
Promotion AWA	May 22, 1983	May 28, 1984
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	January 1, 1983	April 21, 1983
Promotion WWF	September 21, 1981	December 28, 1982
Promotion NWA	March 5, 1980	November 26, 1981
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	April 27, 1979	February 8, 1980
Promotion NWA	January 8, 1969	February 10, 1979
Promotion AWA	June 8, 1968	December 28, 1968

Face / Heel Turns

Alignment	from	to
Face	January 4, 1997	February 14, 1999
Heel	June 8, 1968	January 3, 1997
Tweener	January 1, 1965	June 7, 1968

Images

Jan 1997

Mar 1987

May 1983

Sep 1981

Apr 1979

Oct 1977

Oct 1974

Jun 1968

Jan 1965

Finishers

Kangokugatame / Prison Lock - Kneeling Figure-four Leglock ( January 1, 1965 - February 14, 1999)
Saito Suplex ( January 1, 1965 - February 14, 1999)
Dragon Screw ( January 1, 1965 - February 14, 1999)
Scorpion Death Lock ( January 1, 1965 - February 14, 1999)
Shinin-no-maki - Cobra Clutch ( September 25, 1981 - December 31, 1981)

Theme Songs

Theme Song “The Fight” by Giorgio Moroder - Single ( March 26, 1987 - January 4, 1997)
Theme Song "Nip Hop" - Single ( December 16, 1990 - January 27, 1995)
Theme Song "Blue Flash" by Koji Makaino - Single ( April 27, 1979 - April 21, 1983)

Titles & Accomplishments

Titles Won

World Wrestling Federation

2 WWF World Tag Team Championship (with Mr. Fuji)

New Japan Pro Wrestling

2 IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 with Riki Choshu, 1 with Shinya Hashimoto)
1 NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (with Hiro Matsuda)

American Wrestling Association

1 AWA World Heavyweight Championship

Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco)

2 NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (with Kenji Shibuya)

Championship Wrestling from Florida

2 NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
5 NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (3 with Ivan Koloff, 2 with Mr. Sato)

NWA All-Star Wrestling

2 NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (1 with Gene Kiniski, 1 with Dale Lewis)

NWA Hollywood Wrestling

3 NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (with Kenji Shibuya)
2 NWA “Beat the Champ” Television Championship

Southeastern Championship Wrestling

2 NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship

Other Accomplishments

George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2008)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 2009)
Tokyo Sports Service Award (1999)
Tokyo Sports Special Grand Prize (1987)
WON Best Technical Wrestler (1984)
89° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)

Relations

Tag Teams & Stables

Masa Saito & Shinya Hashimoto - Shinya Hashimoto ( August 25, 1989 - July 4, 1996)
Masa Saito & Riki Choshu - Riki Choshu ( May 24, 1988 - September 26, 1989)
Ishin Gundan / New Wolves - Animal Hamaguchi, Kuniaki Kobayashi, Riki Choshu, Isamu Teranishi, Killer Khan, Yoshiaki Yatsu ( January 1, 1983 - May 20, 1985)
Mr. Saito & Jesse Ventura - Jesse Ventura ( December 18, 1983 - May 2, 1984)
Mr. Saito & Nick Bockwinkel - Nick Bockwinkel ( July 13, 1984 - April 28, 1985)
New Wolves - Kuniaki Kobayashi, Riki Choshu, Gran Hamada, Killer Khan ( January 1, 1982 - December 31, 1982)
Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito - Mr. Fuji ( August 11, 1981 - December 28, 1982)
The Assassins - Assassin (#1) ( July 2, 1981 - October 14, 1981)
Mr. Saito & Mr. Sato - The Great Kabuki ( February 23, 1978 - February 10, 1979)
Mr. Saito & Ivan Koloff - Ivan Koloff ( July 5, 1977 - February 14, 1978)
Masa Saito & Shinji Kabuya - Shinji Kabuya ( June 22, 1968 - October 25, 1974)