Just heard- Tojo Yamamoto dead

[Dale R. Hamilton]

The great grappler- whose real name was Harry Watanabe, is no more. No more sneaking up on his opponent while the ref looked the other way, and the whole house screamed out. I'm sure he used the same sneak attack thru St Peter's gate. He never besmirched himself by playing the good guy. farewell Harry.

[ishmael]

? ? ?

[Donn]

He shot himself to death in 1992.

[Dale R. Hamilton]

wow- 1992- and I'm just now hearing about it. How about some details Don?

[John of Phoenix]

Tojo Yamamoto was the stage name of Harry Watanabe (1927–February 19, 1992), a professional wrestler. He was born in Hawaii.

As Yamamoto, he had great success in tag team wrestling and in regional wrestling bouts. He was affiliated with wrestling promoter Nick Gulas.

Yamamoto later became a wrestling manager. His rise to fame late in his career took place in the late-1980s, when Yamamoto, while in World Class Championship Wrestling was managing Phil Hickerson, who was known as P.Y. Chu-Hi, and was involved in a lengthy storyline with Eric Embry for control of World Class. Later, Yamamoto and Hickerson worked a storyline with Chris and Toni Adams, which began in an attack on Toni by Hickerson and Yamamoto at the Sportatorium during an wrestling match.

Yamamoto and Hickerson left World Class in 1990, but Yamamoto returned to the Sportatorium in early 1991 (under the USWA banner) to manage Embry, who had turned heel.

He retired in 1991 due to health problems which included diabetes. He died in Hermitage, Tennessee of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1992. He was 65 years old.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tojo_Yamamoto

[JimD]

It never rains but it pours. I just heard Marilyn Monroe had died as well, apparently also a suicide. First Yamamoto now this. I just hope they find the Lindberg baby soon. I could use a happy ending.

[The Bigfella]

At least we've still got Elvis!