The Great Muta
Real Name - Keiji Muto
Birthdate - 12/23/63
6'1" 245 lbs. - Tokyo, Japan
Aliases - Viet Kong Minh, The Ninja, White Ninja, Super Black Ninja, Keiji Muto
Athletic background - Judo (High School)
Teachers - (Koshigaya Gym)
Professional background - New Japan (`84-`02), CFL(`85-`86), Alabama, WWC, NWA/WCW(`88-`00), WAR(`94), MPro(`01)
Groups - Gary Hart International, New World Order, nWo Japan, BATT
Peak Years - `89-`94
Career Highlights -
- Beats Barry Windham to capture the Florida Heavyweight title
- Defeats Sting for the NWA Television title
- Wins the second Battlebowl by eliminating Barry Windham
- Beats Riki Choshu to win the IWGP Heavyweight title
- Defeats Masa Chono for the NWA World title
Finisher(s) -
- Moonsault
Favorites -
- Poison Fog
- Handspring Back Elbow
- Fast Elbowdrop
- Backbreaker
- Back Kick
Ringwork Rating -
move set - 8
science - 5
aerial - 5
power - 5
strikes - 6
Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 10
selling - 6
bumping - 7
carrying - 8
heat - 8
legacy - 9
Serious Injuries - Knees
Place in History - Muta is perhaps the greatest Japanese star in America. He has accomplished much, despite only brief stays. New Japan is Keiji Muto's home and where he saw his greatest success, but WCW was where the Great Muta displayed his greatness. Though an almost direct copy of the Great Kabuki, Muta's athleticism made his character superior. He played the sneaky Japanese heel as well, if not better, than anyone and as a result is a true superstar of puroresu. Aside from a few appearences in the mid-90s, the Great Muta is largely a retired character and when Keiji Muto left New Japan in 2002 it drew an end to the Muto/Muta connection.