Kazuo Sakurada Kazuo Sakurada ( September 26 , 1948 ) is a retired Japan ese professional wrestler . He is best known , under various monikers , for his work in Stampede Wrestling , National Wrestling Alliance , and World Championship Wrestling . Sakurada is also highly regarded by Bret Hart as one of his most significant trainers alongside Katsui Adachi ( Mr . Hito ) , who he taught with extensively in Stu Hart ' s " Dungeon . " Professional wrestling areer . Early years ( 1971 - 1976 ) . Kazuo Sakurada debuted on June 21 , 1971 , in the old Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance against Kim Duk . When the JPWA collapsed in 1973 , he joined All Japan Pro Wrestling . In 1976 he made a North American tour , and his stock increased in earnest . Stampede Wrestling ( 1976 - 1981 ) . Mr . Sakurada found his earliest success in Stampede Wrestling . He defeated two - time champion Leo Burke to win his first and only Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship on May 20 , 1978 in Edmonton , Alberta . He held the title for a little over three months before losing to Paddy Ryan on September 1 . He then became highly regarded in Stampede ' s tag team division , defeating Keith and Bret Hart in early 1979 to win his first International Tag Team title with Mr . Hito . Their second win came later on the same year after the defeat of Dory Funk , Jr . and Larry Lane , only to be toppled once again by the Hart brothers . By 1980 , Hito had moved on to singles competition , leaving Sakurada to form a team with Kasavudu . They , too , defeated the Harts , marking Sakurada ' s third and final Tag Team Championship victory in Stampede . This reign would be ended at the hands of the Harts ' brother - in - law Jim Neidhart and Hercules Ayala that same year . Sakurada ' s feud with Ayala would become one of the most notable of his Stampede tenure . Continental Wrestling Association ( 1981 - 1982 ) . In the early 1980s , Sakurada had started working in various southern American promotions , starting with the Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis . During this time , he began using the " Kendo Nagasaki " gimmick , a Japanese Samurai character previously made famous by British wrestler Peter Thornley dating back to 1964 . This incarnation was vastly different however ; rather than wearing a mask , Sakurada wore face paint and a highly alternate style all together . His fierce character also made famous the Asian mist and frequently employed the Kendo stick as his signature weapon . As Nagasaki , he found a most prominent win in his victory over Jerry Lawler for the NWA / AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in 1982 . He would lose the title back to Lawler before pursuing new territory . National Wrestling Alliance ( 1982 - 1990 ) . After the Memphis territory , Nagasaki worked for NWA territories Florida Championship Wrestling and Southeastern Championship Wrestling . He faced some of the top competition in the Florida territory throughout 1983 and 1984 , and on January 22 , 1984 , he captured the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship from Mike Rotundo . This kicked off a rivalry with the reputable Billy Jack Haynes , resulting in his title victory over Nagasaki in March of the same year . During his time with CWF , Nagasaki would also tag team with White Ninja . Following his departure from CWF , Nagasaki briefly worked for Von Erich ' s World Class Championship Wrestling in the mid ' 80s , frequently partnered with Super Black Ninja , the new moniker of White Ninja . During the 1980s , Nagasaki teamed with Mr . Pogo as the Ninja Express . In 1989 , he performed on WCW television , using the stage name s " The Dragonmaster " and " Mr J " ( the latter a backward - walking bodyguard character ) . While there , he joined Gary Hart ' s J - Tex Corporation stable consisting of Terry Funk , Dick Slater , Buzz Sawyer , and The Great Muta ( previously Super Black Ninja ) . This heel group , conceived in July 1989 , feuded with the Four Horsemen until ultimately disbanding in February 1990 after a blow off steel cage match at the Clash of the Champions , a match largely overshadowed by the other Horsemen turning heel on Sting . Return to Japan ( 1990 - present ) . In 1990 , after so many years competing in North America , he returned to Japan as Kendo Nagasaki . He first joined Frontier Martial - Arts Wrestling , but later joined Super World of Sports . Following SWS ' s collapse in 1992 , he formed his own promotion , NOW ( Network of Wrestling ) . In 1995 , he closed NOW and with a new business partner , Great Kojika ( who had retired from AJPW and wrestling in 1988 ) , formed Big Japan Pro Wrestling . He stayed there until 1999 , when he left . He attempted to promote again under the banner " New NOW " but the promotion only lasted a few shows . Today Kendo Nagasaki is semi - retired for all practical purposes . Legacy . According to Bret Hart , Sakurada was one of Stu Hart ’ s most trusted foremen and reliable workers in the heyday of Stampede Wrestling ; Bret ' s DVD set also features rare footage of Sakurada and Adachi demolishing him in a highly physical match .