Tatsumi Fujinami (藤波 辰巳, Fujinami Tatsumi; ring name: 藤波 辰爾) (born December 28, 1953) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known for his long tenure with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was a six-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and four-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. He is also the owner and founder of the Dradition wrestling promotion.
Known for his fluid catch wrestling submission style, Fujinami is nicknamed "The Dragon"; he is credited with inventing moves such as the dragon sleeper and the dragon suplex. Other championships held by Fujinami include the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Champion and World Wrestling Federation (WWF) International Heavyweight Champion. He is an inductee of the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, and WWE Hall of Fame. Bret Hart said of Fujinami: "I always wanted to be the great wrestler that Tatsumi Fujinami was."
Japanese Wrestling Association (1971)
Fujinami was trained to wrestle by Antonio Inoki, Karl Gotch, and Kotetsu Yamamoto. He debuted in the Japanese Wrestling Association (JWA) in 1971 at the age of 17. His early opponents included Akio Sato and Mitsuo Momota.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1972–1975)
When Inoki was fired from JWA in 1971, Fujinami and several other wrestlers followed him to his new promotion, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Fujinami wrestled his first match for NJPW in March 1972, shortly after its formation. In the early years of his career, he competing in the junior heavyweight division, serving as an opponent for debuting rookies, such as Mr. Pogo, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, and Gran Hamada.
In late-1974, Fujinami, Fujiwara, Hamada and three other rookies competed in the Karl Gotch Cup (a tournament for rookies, forerunner to the later Young Lion Cup). Fujinami won the Cup by defeating Masashi Ozawa in Kariya, Aichi.
International seasoning (1975–1978)
Beginning in 1975, Fujinami was sent to wrestle abroad for seasoning. In June 1975, he began wrestling for the Internationaler Berufsringkämpfer-Verband (IBV) in Germany. He made his final appearance for the IBV in October 1975.
In December 1975, Fujinami made his United States debut in a match for NWA Hollywood Wrestling, defeating Mickey Doyle in a bout in Los Angeles' Grand Olympic Auditorium.
In March 1976, Fujinami began wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions in the United States as "Dr. Fujinami" (or "Dr. Fujiani"). He wrestled his final match for Jim Crockett Promotions in March 1977, losing to Ricky Ferrara in the Richmond Arena.
In May 1977, Fujinami began wrestling for Mexico's Universal Wrestling Association (UWA). In his debut match, he unsuccessfully challenged UWA World Middleweight Champion René Guajardo in Monterrey's Plaza de Toros La Monumental. Later that month, he unsuccessfully challenged UWA World Light Heavyweight Champion El Solitario in the Palacio de los Deportes. He left the UWA in December 1977.
After a brief return to NWA Hollywood Wrestling, in January 1978, Fujinami debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). In his debut match in New York City's Madison Square Garden, he defeated José Estrada for the WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship. Later that month, he successfully defended the title against the Masked Canadian in the Grand Olympic Auditorium. In February 1978, he successfully defended the title against Ted Adams in Madison Square Garden.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1978–2006)
Junior Heavyweight Champion (1978–1981)
In March 1978, Fujinami returned to NJPW, having spent nearly three years wrestling around the world. He brought the WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship with him, defending it both in NJPW and overseas. In April–May 1978, Fujinami competed in the inaugural MSG Series round robin tournament, placing fourth with 38 points. In November–December 1978, he competed in the Pre-Japan Championship League, which was won by Antonio Inoki.
In April–June 1979, Fujinami took part in the second MSG Series tournament, placing fifth with 22 points. In October 1979, he lost the WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship to Ryuma Go in the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, ending his reign after 21 months. He regained the title from Go just two days later in Tokyo's Kuramae Kokugikan.
In February 1980, Fujinami faced NWA International Junior Heavyweight Champion Steve Keirn in a title versus title match in the Nakajima Sports Center in Sapporo; he defeated Keirn to become a double champion. Later that month, he lost the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship to Mike Graham in a bout for Championship Wrestling from Florida in the Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood, Florida. In April 1980, Fujinami regained the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship from Graham in a bout in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. In April–June 1980, he competed in the third MSG Series, placing six with 20 points. In July 1980, he vacated the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship. In August 1980, Fujinami successfully defended his WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship against Chavo Guerrero at the WWWF's Showdown at Shea event in New York City's Shea Stadium. In November–December 1980, Fujinami and Kengo Kimura competed in the inaugural MSG Tag League, placing sixth with 15 points.