Former IWGP Champion Tadao Yasuda Passes Away at Age 62

Former New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestler Tadao Yasuda passed away on Tuesday at the age of 62.

Yasuda’s passing was first announced by Tokyo Sports who reported that Yasuda was found dead at his home on Toyko on Tuesday. It was also reported that prior to his death, Yasuda had been working for a security company.

Yasuda’s pro wrestling career spanned from 1994 to 2011 and was most known for his time in NJPW.

Besides his pro wrestling career, Yasuda also competed in mixed martial arts following an excursion to the United States in 2000.

Yasuda’s wrestling career received a big boost following his debut MMA victory in Pride resulting in him reaching the semifinals of the 2001 NJPW G1 Climax Finals. Yasuda’s biggest achievement in his career took place in February of 2002 following him defeating Yuji Nagata in the finals of the Vacant IWGP World Championship tournament to be crowned the champion. Yasuda would hold onto the IWGP title for 48 days before dropping it to Nagata in April of 2002.

Following his departure from NJPW in 2004, Yasuda sporadically worked for ZERO-ONE and Hustle before retiring from his wrestling career in 2011.

Besides his pro wrestling and MMA careers, Yasuda also had a career as a sumo wrestler from 1979 to 1992 and reached the highest rank of Komusubi in 1990.

Yasuda’s life almost turned tragic in 2007 following reports of an attempted suicide via carbon monoxide poisoning. Yasuda later denied the claim and stated that the situation was an accident.

Yasuda’s notable career achievements and accolades included being a one-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, one-time HUSTLE Hardcore Champion, one-time HUSTLE Super Tag Team Champion, and winner of the 2006 HUSTLE King Hashimoto Memorial Six-Man Tag Team tournament with Masato Tanaka & Shinjiro Otani.