The Three Musketeers had supplanted the old guard of Inoki and co at the top of the card. Mutoh, and Chono, well and truly grabbed the torch, at the G1 Climax in 1992. Chono, winning not only the tournament but also the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Just four days later, Mutoh’s demented alter ego The Great Muta, defeated Riki Choshu for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Two of the three musketeers had reached pro wrestling nirvana.

In November, Muta defeated WCW’s Sting in Tokyo to further stake his claim as an international sensation. Muta’s next challenge came in the form of the always dangerous, Hiroshi Hase. A battered and bloody Muta, somehow held on for a win, despite, suffering severe blood loss from his own over-enthusiastic blade job.

Mutoh / Muta, once again appeared at WCW’s annual showcase Starrcade. Mutoh’s successful teaming with Barry Windham ensured Muta and Windham would qualify for that nights BattleBowl. Muta, eventually gaining victory over his partner to win the BattleBowl bout. Mutoh’s greatest achievement was yet to come.

In early 1993 Mutoh defeated his fellow musketeer Chono, in a rare title versus title match at The WCW NJPW Supershow III. Becoming both the IWGP & NWA champion Mutoh, was arguably the most dominant force in wrestling. Barry Windham would later relieve Mutoh of dual duty by winning the NWA title at SuperBrawl III. Mutoh’s International appeal, however, would lead to an exhibition against WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, in what would prove to be Hogan’s last appearance in Japan under the WWF banner. Domestically the Three Musketeers, Mutoh, Chono and Hashimoto, were a box office success, the three would have many memorable matches, none more so than the clash between The Great Muta, & Hashimoto. Muta, dropped the belt to the hugely popular Hashimoto, in September 1993. The year had been huge for Mutoh, the Musketeers were running the show.

By contrast, 1994 was a quieter year for Mutoh. Far from uneventful, but less than stellar, he captured the IWGP Tag Team championship with old enemy Hiroshi Hase, he also returned to the US for a brief feud with the up and coming Stunning Steve Austin over the WCW US Strap. On the whole 1994 may have been Mutoh’s first disappointing year. 1995 however, saw his star rise again 95 was Mutoh’s year. NJPW management had huge plans, Shinya Hashimoto; by now the IWGP champion for over a year was in need of a break from the grind as champion, this lead to Mutoh’s second reign as champion. Mutoh would also defeat Hashimoto to claim G1 Climax Crown later that year, making history as the first champion to win the G1. Mutoh continued to successfully defend the IWGP title throughout the rest of the year but New Japan soon would have a new story to tell.

Back in the late 80’s the second incarnation of the UWF had showcased a shoot wrestling style that would later catch on throughout Japan. Whilst the company had popularised realism, a series of financial mistakes meant it had ceased operations by 1990. Many of the wrestlers involved in the UWF had gone on to form the Union of Wrestling Forces International, (UWF-I) and continued promoting the hard-hitting style. This realistic old school style had even received support from the great Lou Thesz, who acted as the promotions commissioner for a time. Whilst popular, UWFi always struggled financially in a crowded marketplace, several talents left the promotion to seek paydays elsewhere, the wolves were seemingly closing in. Eager to succeed where others had failed Yoji Anjo and the UWFi booking committee approached NJPW, proposing cross-promotion. NJPW booker Riki Choshu saw an opportunity for an invasion type angle and agreed.

NJPW would be given full creative control over all inter-promotional matches. NJPW would use UWF-i star. Nobuhiko Takada and the UWF-i army to great effect. In October 1995, Takada battled Mutoh, the match drew 67,000 fans to the Tokyo Dome, then the largest crowd in NJPW history. Mutoh, held onto the title that night but his reign as champion would end less than 3 months later when Takada defeated him in January 1996.

Mutoh would once again take part in an extended feud with his friend Chono and his faction Wolf Army. Chono would later lead nWo Japan. Many fans speculated that Mutoh would himself join the nWo. Ever the innovator, Mutoh, began working as a face and a heel. As a face, he would back NJPW, and as a heel, he would resurrect The Great Muta character and support nWo Japan. Mutoh’s full heel turn came in Autumn of 1997, when Mutoh turned on partners Sasaki and Kazuo Yamazaki, temporarily retiring The Great Muta guise and formally joining nWo Japan as Keiji Mutoh.

Two-thirds of the Three Musketeers were once again united. Chono & Mutoh once again a devastating team would soon score their second IWGP tag championship. By early 1998 years of hard-hitting matches were starting to catch up on Mutoh. Despite winning his third IWGP Heavyweight championship by defeating Scott Norton, 1998 was a tough year for both Mutoh & Chono. Chono suffered a nasty neck injury and was forced to hand the keys of nWo Japan to Mutoh, who himself was struggling with knee problems. Mutoh’s now legendary status and popularity amongst fans slowly turned the nWo face. On return Chono had a ready-made feud, he and Mutoh would once again clash Heel leader vs Face leader for control of the nWo. Mutoh led the team. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Satoshi Kojima against Chono’s new faction Team 2000. Mutoh later lost the IWGP Championship to Tenryu and was defeated by Chono at the first Tokyo Dome show of the new Millennium.

In part four we will look at post 2K Keiji Mutoh, and his continued legacy.

Puroresu-Gaijin