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Tor Kamata

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For the fictional Japanese secret agent who appeared in a series of novels byJohn P. Marquandbetween the 1930s and 1950s, seeMr. Moto.
Tor Kamata
Kamata, circa 1979
Birth nameMcRonald Kamaka
Born(1937-03-09)March 9, 1937[1]
Hawaii,U.S.[1]
DiedJuly 23, 2007(2007-07-23)(aged 70)
Saskatoon, SaskatchewanCanada[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Tor Kamata
Tor Kamaka
"King" Tor Kamaka
Mr. Moto
Dr. Moto
Killer Moto
Billed height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[3]
Billed weight350 lb (159 kg)[3]
Billed fromJapan,Polynesia
Debut1959
Retired1987

McRonald Kamaka[2](March 9, 1937 – July 23, 2007) was an American-Canadianprofessional wrestlerknown by thering nameTor Kamata.He won several heavyweight and tag team championships, most notably thePWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipinAll Japan Pro Wrestlingand theAWA World Tag Team Championshipin theAmerican Wrestling Association.He was a classicheel,reviled for dirty tricks in the ring, included rubbing salt in his opponent's eyes.

Professional wrestling career

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Kamata wrestling as "Mr. Moto", circa 1951.

After returning to Hawaii after leaving theUnited States Air Force,50th State Big Time WrestlingpromoterEd Francisconvinced Kamaka to try professional wrestling.[1]He was given the name Tor Kamata in reference toTomas De Torquemadaof theSpanish Inquisition.[1]He also worked as Mr. Moto, holding theAmerican Wrestling Association'sAWA World Tag Team ChampionshipwithMitsu Arakawa.One of his signature moves, the "judo chop" became a popular phrase for all types of martial arts strikes in the 1960s, even being mentioned bySnoopyin the comic strip "Peanuts"(21 December 1964, 14 January 1967). A generation later, the phrase was satirised in theAustin Powersfilms.[1]

In the early 1970s, Kamata worked forStampede Wrestlingin Canada, where he held theStampede North American Heavyweight Championshipthree times.[1]In the promotion, he feuded withDan Kroffat.[1]

In 1976 and 1977, Kamata wrestled in theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation.Managed byFreddie Blassie,he had two memorable matches withBob Backlundwhen Backlund was on the brink of becoming theWWWF Champion.In the first, Kamata threw salt into Backlund's eyes, which set the stage for a televisedTexas Death match,aired May 7, 1977. Again Kamata threw salt in Backlund's eyes, so Backlund merely used the referee's shirt to wipe it out. Then Backlund delivered anAtomic Knee Dropand won the match. At the time,Superstar Billy Grahamhad just defeatedBruno Sammartinofor the championship and Backlund was being built up as the number one contender.

After WWWF, Kamata worked forAll Japan Pro Wrestlingin 1978 where he worked there to the end of his career.

Kamata returned to WWWF now WWF in 1980 feuding with WWF Champion Bob Backlund andPedro Morales.He left later that year and returned to Japan. He worked in various territories.

Personal life

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Kamata was an amateur wrestler during high school.[1]He was a club bouncer before becoming a professional wrestler.[1]He joined theUnited States Air Forceand trained with amateur wrestlers in Turkey.[1]During the 1970s, he owned restaurants inCalgary, Alberta,andSaskatoon, Saskatchewan,where he also ran ashiatsubusiness.[1][2]

Kamata died on July 23, 2007, in Saskatoon after almost a decade ofheart disease.[2]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghijklOliver, Greg (July 7, 2004)."Tor Kamata: Mean but nice".SLAM! Wrestling.Retrieved2009-12-20.
  2. ^abcdOliver, Greg (July 26, 2007)."Tor Kamata dead at 70".SLAM! Wrestling.Retrieved2009-12-20.
  3. ^abShields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009).WWE Encyclopedia.DK.p.310.ISBN978-0-7566-4190-0.
  4. ^Real World Tag League 1978at purolove retrieved on October 6, 2018
  5. ^Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]".Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present.Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  6. ^"National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas]".Wrestling-Titles.RetrievedFebruary 21,2017.
  7. ^Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "(Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: North American Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. p. 253.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^"NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States version)".wrestling-titles.RetrievedMarch 24,2015.
  9. ^Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006) [2000.]. "(Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title [Roy Welsch & Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett from 1977]".Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present.Waterloo, Ontario: Archeus Communications. pp. 185–189.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  10. ^"Southern Tag Team Title".Wrestling-Titles.RetrievedJanuary 19,2020.
  11. ^Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990".Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart.Event occurs at 27:55.Shaw Cable.Calgary 7.
  12. ^"Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)".Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  13. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000).Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  14. ^"W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)".Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
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