Masa Saito passes away after long battle with Parkinson's disease (pro wrestler Mr. Saito)

Wrestling Observer Online / Figure Four ^ | July 16, 2017 | Dave Meltzer

[EveningStar]

Masanori Saito, a former Olympian as an amateur wrestler and Hall of Famer as a pro, passed away on Saturday after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Saito was 76.

Saito had the most successful long-term career of any Japanese native on the American scene, being a championship-level wrestler in multiple territories from 1968 to 1990. While Giant Baba in the 60s, Great Muta, and now Shinsuke Nakamura were as big or bigger stars, Saito spent the majority of his career in the United States as opposed to a brief version, and was always a headliner as a former Olympian who was a top tier in-ring worker, even with limited English speaking ability.

During most of his career he played the stereotypical salt-throwing Japanese heel, a role mostly played by Hawaiians rather than Japanese wrestlers in the 60s.

[EveningStar]

Wikipedia

[ScottinVA]

I remember him; he wrestled in the SF Bay Area back in the 1960s.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Bummer. I do believe it was him that keep saying”Merikan dorrars, Merican dorrars, hai, hai, hai. The good guys were Pepper Gomes and Pedro Morales. Throw in Bearcat wright and Rocky Soul Man Johnson. Who was that skinny ‘trainer’ that kept doing sneaky stuff in their corner? Saito had the death stomach grip.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I liked Professor Toro Tanaka and Mr. Fuji.

[bagster]

Oh, my.

Kinji Shibuya and Masa Saito were one of the deadliest and most formidable tag teams in wrestling history.

Saito's sleeper hold was unstoppable.

Saito had no Engrish, but he know how to say "Sreeeeep" in interviews.

They ruled the Olympic Auditorium along with "The Golden Greek" John Tolos, "Classy" Freddie Blassie, and Ernie "The Big Cat" Ladd.

Good night, Masa Saito. Sreep well.

Bagster

[Eric in the Ozarks]

There never will be another Ricky Dozan.

[fidelis]

"Kinji Shibuya and Masa Saito were one of the deadliest and most formidable tag teams in wrestling history.

They ruled the Olympic Auditorium along with "The Golden Greek" John Tolos, "Classy" Freddie Blassie, and Ernie "The Big Cat" Ladd."

You can throw in Mil Mascaras and Black Gordman and Goliath in there too. Good times.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Wait a minute. It was Haru Sasaki that kept sneaking in the punches from his corner when the ref had his back turned. Funny but I took it seriously back then. They certainly know their market.

[DAC21]

Ha, I remember him from the Olympic Auditorium gigs in LA that were broadcast locally. Always blinding his opponents with the old salt in the eye trick when the Ref. wasn't watching.