Masa Saito dead at age 76

By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

Masa Saito died on Saturday at age 76 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Saito competed for Japan in freestyle wrestling in the 1964 Summer Olympics. He started his pro wrestling career in 1965 and had successful runs in the AWA, NWA, and the WWF in addition to working in Japan.

Powell’s POV: I grew up on Saito wrestling in the AWA territory where he eventually formed the Far East-West Connection with Jesse Ventura. He had two runs as a WWF Tag Champion with Mr. Fuji, and also had a brief run as AWA Champion. Saito held titles in nearly every promotion he worked for. He was an excellent wrestler and his Saito suplex is still used and referred to by name in New Japan Pro Wrestling. My condolences to his friends and family.

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