{"id":9209,"date":"2017-11-05T23:04:40","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T04:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=9209"},"modified":"2017-11-05T23:04:40","modified_gmt":"2017-11-06T04:04:40","slug":"hart-dungeon-trainer-tokyo-joe-passes-away-75","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2017\/11\/05\/hart-dungeon-trainer-tokyo-joe-passes-away-75\/","title":{"rendered":"Hart Dungeon Trainer Tokyo Joe Passes Away at 75"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This past Saturday, one of the most influential trainers in pro wrestling,\u00a0<strong>Yukihiro Sakada<\/strong>, passed away in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the age of 75. Better known by the name &#8220;<strong>Tokyo Joe<\/strong>&#8220;, Sakada was a talent scout for <strong>NJPW<\/strong> as well as trainer for <strong>Stampede Wrestling<\/strong>, helping <strong>Stu Hart<\/strong> in the famed Hart Dungeon as well as assuming the head position when Stu was physically unable to continue.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9210\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/11\/DN2Yxq5UMAEwh4u.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"484\" height=\"567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/11\/DN2Yxq5UMAEwh4u.jpg 484w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/11\/DN2Yxq5UMAEwh4u-256x300.jpg 256w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/11\/DN2Yxq5UMAEwh4u-359x420.jpg 359w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 484px) 100vw, 484px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sakada wrestled from the 1966 until 1974, when an auto accident left him unable to continue as an active wrestler. He remained in Calgary to work with Stu Hart at Stampede Wrestling, as a booker, agent and trainer, as well as working as a talent scout for NJPW. Through his connections, many Stampede stars would get continued training in Japan and work for NJPW early in their careers, including <strong>Bret &#8220;Hitman&#8221; Hart, Dynamite Kid, Owen Hart, Chris Benoit<\/strong>, and others. He trained such Japanese legends as <strong>Jushin &#8220;Thunder&#8221; Liger, Hiroshi Hase, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Hiro Saito<\/strong> and many more.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9211\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9211\" style=\"width: 398px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9211\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-10.58.53-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"398\" height=\"342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-10.58.53-PM.png 398w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2017\/11\/Screen-Shot-2017-11-05-at-10.58.53-PM-300x258.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9211\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Calgary Sun files<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>His final graduating class from the Hart Dungeon include current Smackdown Women&#8217;s Champion <strong>Natalya<\/strong>, her husband <strong>Tyson Kidd<\/strong>, WWE Superstar <strong>Viktor<\/strong> of <strong>The Ascension<\/strong>, <strong>Teddy Hart<\/strong>,\u00a0and NJPW&#8217;s <strong>Davey Boy Smith Jr<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Rest In Peace to Tokyo Joe Daigo San. \ud83d\ude22\ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\ude30 he was sensei. He showed me so much about Wrestling and life. R.I.P. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/njpw1972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@njpw1972<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JuWtbWFBj2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/JuWtbWFBj2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Harry Smith, \u201cDavey Boy Smith JR\u201d (@DBSmithjr) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DBSmithjr\/status\/926995796725321730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A nice piece I wrote about my coach and sensei who passed away today at 75. R.I.P. \u201cTokyo Joe\u201d Yukihiro Sakaeda \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf5\u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc4d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/20cblNtoyJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/20cblNtoyJ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Harry Smith, \u201cDavey Boy Smith JR\u201d (@DBSmithjr) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DBSmithjr\/status\/927057800672538624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tokyo Joe, thanks for training me &amp; believing in me as the 1st &amp; only female wrestler you ever trained. I\u2019ll never forget your life lessons. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LK40HYkxER\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/LK40HYkxER<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Nattie (@NatbyNature) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NatbyNature\/status\/926975539226775552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"tl\" dir=\"ltr\">Tokyo Joe <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ETYcrXYvaH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ETYcrXYvaH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TJ Wilson (@TJWilson) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TJWilson\/status\/926973866899013632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today I dawned the black\/black flag for the memory of my great mentor and friend Tokyo Joe Diago. R.I.P. and thank you for everything <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fZs5xsCaN2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/fZs5xsCaN2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Vik_The_Spacelord (@VikTheSpacelord) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VikTheSpacelord\/status\/927244340551999498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sorry to hear of the passing of \u201cTokyo\u201d Joe Diago.I was in his company a lot in the 80\u2019s when he\u2019d come to the UK and Germany to rep NJPW.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; William Regal (@RealKingRegal) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RealKingRegal\/status\/927172218806788097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">RIP <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/tokyojoe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#tokyojoe<\/a>. A friend and HUGE influence on the Hart\u2019s \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Georgia Joyce Smith (@georgiasmith87) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/georgiasmith87\/status\/927085645251608576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/LanceStorm\/status\/926974689758535680<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"qht\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RIPTokyoJoe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#RIPTokyoJoe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FUNAKI (@shofufu824) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/shofufu824\/status\/927024509114298369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is sad news.  Just talking about Joe the other day&#8230;.. helped many of us Canadians in the biz <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RIPTokyoJoe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#RIPTokyoJoe<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QE5s497yuV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/QE5s497yuV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Robert Roode (@RealRobertRoode) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RealRobertRoode\/status\/926975826272374784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RIPTokyoJoe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#RIPTokyoJoe<\/a> Your Students are my favorite tough wrestlers&amp;Awesome persons <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NatbyNature?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@NatbyNature<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DBSmithjr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@DBSmithjr<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TJWilson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TJWilson<\/a> You are the best!Thank you\ud83d\ude47\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; \u270c\ufe0fSumie Sakai\u270c\ufe0f (@SumieSakai) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SumieSakai\/status\/927273817050935299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This past Saturday, one of the most influential trainers in pro wrestling,\u00a0Yukihiro Sakada, passed away in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at the age of 75. Better known by the name &#8220;Tokyo Joe&#8220;, Sakada was a talent scout for NJPW as well as trainer for Stampede Wrestling, helping Stu Hart in the famed Hart Dungeon as well [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":649,"featured_media":9212,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,547,6],"tags":[1675,188,1038,1674],"class_list":["post-9209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-in-memorium","category-north-america","tag-hart-dungeon","tag-njpw","tag-stampede-wrestling","tag-tokyo-joe"],"modified_by":"Jamie Greer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/649"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9209\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}