Akihisa Mera
Acting
Biography
Akihisa Mera, better known as The Great Kabuki, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He was famous for being the first to blow "Asian mist" in his opponents' faces. Mera was born on September 8, 1948 in Nobeoka, Japan. He started wrestling in 1964 at the age of 16 for the Japanese Wrestling Association. He left Japan to compete in the United States in the 1970s. From there he wrestled all over the world, including All Japan Pro Wrestling, several territories of the National Wrestling Alliance including Jim Crockett Promotions, Mid-South Wrestling, Mid-Southern Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling under the name Akihisa Takachihō. He also used the name Yoshino Sato (with authorization from his mentor the original Yoshinosato, former sumotori Junzo Hasegawa, who lead JWA during its dying days), which was later shortened to Mr. Sato (not to be confused with Akio Sato, who later used the moniker in other U.S. territories). Mera adopted the Great Kabuki persona in World Class in 1981. The character was created by Gary Hart, based on an old gimmick used by Filipino wrestler Rey Urbano, a former partner of Hasegawa's in the U.S. Kabuki kept his hair in a mop cut which kept his facial features mostly hidden; he also painted his face. Hart explained that his face was scarred in a bed of hot coals during a match with Tiger Jeet Singh in Singapore. He was most often a heel and was managed by most of the top heel managers of the 1970s and early 1980s. When he was a baby-face, he was very unpredictable and could turn at any time, making him somewhat of an anti-hero, or tweener. Kabuki had a pre-match ritual of showing his skills with the nunchaku that intimidated most opponents. In WCCW, he joined H & H Limited while managed by Arman Hussein and Gary Hart and tagged with masked wrestler Magic Dragon while building on his singles work. After an injury in 1983, he joined Skandor Akbar's Devastation Inc.
Known For
From the Sportatorium comes the groundbreaking sports-entertainment brand World Class Championship Wrestling, featuring legendary competitors such as The Von Erichs, Bruiser Brody, The Fabulous Freebirds and more.
World Class Championship Wrestling
Mid-South Wrestling was one of the most successful wrestling territories in the 1981s; featuring future WWE Hall of Famers.
Mid-South Wrestling
Relive the glory days of the National Wrestling Alliance through Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling's weekly television show.
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Three cute, sexy ninjas, around the age of 20, have been in training, building their powers for some vague future threat. Their destined mission becomes apparent when a handsome ninja from 400 years past drops from the sky into the hot tub of on of the girls. He comes with news of a grave threat: an evil industrialist has apparently joined forces with UFOs to take over Japan. The only solution, it seems, lies in the special talents of the three girls - notable as much for their martial arts as their skimpy costumes.
Female Neo-Ninjas
WCW Arena Shows takes you into the heart of classic professional wrestling, featuring intense matches, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable moments that defined a golden era of the sport.
WCW Arena Shows
The first ever Starrcade features Ric Flair battling Harley Race in a Steel Cage Match for NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Roddy Piper takes on Greg Valentine in a brutal Dog Collar Match. Plus, Abdullah the Butcher, Wahoo McDaniel, Ricky Steamboat, The Brisco Brothers, and more.
NWA Starrcade 1983
Wrestling Dontaku 1993 was the first Wrestling Dontaku professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The event took place on May 3, 1993, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka at the Fukuoka Dome.
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1993
Thirty Superstars compete in the annual Royal Rumble Match with the winner advancing to WrestleMania for an opportunity at the WWE Championship. The Undertaker battles Yokozuna in a Casket Match with the WWE Championship on the line. Plus, Razor Ramon, Bam Bam Bigelow, and much more!
WWE Royal Rumble 1994
The legends of Texas sports-entertainment compete in the annual supershow WCCW Star Wars, presented by World Class Championship Wrestling. Witness the in-ring highlights of countless WWE Hall of Famers, including the Von Erich Family, The Fabulous Freebirds and more.
WCCW Star Wars
A combined WWF, AJPW and NJPW supershow: April 13th, 1990 from the Tokyo Dome.
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
The National Wrestling Alliance invades the 'Big Apple' with an all-star card featuring a main event of Ricky Steamboat coming out of retirement for one last shot at the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship, held by old rival "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair!
NWA Night of Champions
In 1983 World Class Championship Wrestling and its franchise stars, the Von Erich brothers, were known around the world. A small Dallas based promotion running out of a shack of a venue, the Sportatorium, World Class was one of the most syndicated television programs in America, making the Von Erichs household names. Run by legendary wrestler Fritz Von Erich, a.k.a. Jack Adkinsson, World Class made his oldest sons, Kevin, David and Kerry, three of hte biggest stars in the world of wrestling. Little did anyone know that just as the Von Erichs and World Class were reaching worldwide stardom they would begin a downfall that would cast a full eclipse on their meteoric rise to fame. Directed by Brian Harrison who, as a ten year old in 1983, watched on television as wrestling's world of staged combat between good and evil took a sharp turn into a surreal and tragic reality.
Heroes of World Class
The first annual David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas features David's brother Kerry Von Erich battling Ric Flair for The NWA World's Heavyweight Championship.
WCCW Parade of Champions
Witness some of the most electrifying action in sports-entertainment history from the promotion that broke all the rules, WCCW.
The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling
Super World of Sports presents WrestleFest in TokyoDome on March 30, 1991.
SWS WrestleFest
New Japan Pro Wrestling's Summer Struggle tour continues from Sapporo, Japan.
NJPW Summer Struggle 1994 - Day 8
Within the grizzly confines of a completely enclosed steel cage, and Paul Ellering hanging above the ring, the blood feud between "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer and "Wildfire" Tommy Rich comes to an end. and if Rich can manage to win, then Ole Anderson gets "Precious" Paul to himself for 5 minutes inside the cage!
NWA The Last Battle of Atlanta
Kerry Von Erich gets his shot at the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship. But to become a champion "The Modern-Day Warrior" will need to topple NWA kingpin Harley Race.
WCCW Star Wars (February 1981)
World Class Championship Wrestling returns to Texas Stadium with some all-star action!
WCCW Parade of Champions '86
Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat add another chapter to their storied history in this epic battle from 1984.