Real Name - Mitsuo Yoshida
Birthdate - 12/3/51
5'10" 230 lbs. - Yamaguchi, Japan

Aliases - Choshu Riki, Mitsuo Yoshida

Athletic background - Wrestling (Senshu University and `72 Olympics)

Teachers - Masa Saito

Professional background - New Japan(`73-`84), Mexico(`82), Japan Pro(`84-`87), All Japan(`84-`87), New Japan(`87-`02)

Groups - Ishin Gundan

Peak Years - `82-`92

Career Highlights -
- Defeats El Canek to win the Mexican version of the World title
- Turns on partner Tatsumi Fujinami and starts the first big native feud
- Beats Fujinami, his long-time rival, to win the NWA International Heavyweight title
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- Defeats Shinya Hashimoto to win the 1989 World Cup Tournament

Finisher(s) -
- Sasorigatame

Favorites -
- Riki Lariat
- Side Back Suplex
- Stomps
- Suplex
- Body Slam

Ringwork Rating -
move set - 9
science - 3
aerial - 0
power - 7
strikes - 7

Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 10
selling - 8
bumping - 5
carrying - 6
heat - 10
legacy - 8

Place in History - In his day, Riki Choshu was practically the king of puroresu. Employing a faster style that challenged Japan's traditional style and became very popular as a result. New Japan never pushed him hard, until he returned from Mexico and became a heel. His feud with Fujinami stretched out and made Choshu wildly popular. Like Flair in America, Choshu was having the best matches in the country and was a top star as a result. He eventually left New Japan and tried his hand on his own and as part of All Japan, but neither avenue quite worked. Choshu returned to New Japan where his popularity was just as strong, if not stronger, and was a major force. He and Fujinami largely took over Inoki's spot and passed down the spots to Keiji Muto, Shinya Hashimoto and Masa Chono. Choshu remained a strong star for much of the 90s, largely because he was a booker and things work like that. His ideas helped make New Japan the biggest wrestling company in the world with exciting programs and excellent matches to go along with them. He's perhaps in the top ten biggest stars of puroresu and the fact he did it on his own terms without the assistance of his own successful company - an unprecidented feat in his time.