Rocky Hata

**Mitsuo Hata** (September 12, 1948 – October 27, 1991), better known by his ring name **Rocky Hata** was a Japanese professional wrestler who competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1970s & 1980s.

## Professional wrestling career

Hata originally began in the Japan Wrestling Alliance and trained at their dojo. He made his debut for the JWA on August 3, 1972, under his real name during their 1972 Summer Big Series I tour losing to Kazuo Sakurada. Hata spent his time in the JWA like a lot of rookies, working in the undercard and paying his dues while usually being on the losing end of matches. He won his first match on September 3 when he defeated Tsutomu Oshiro. By 1973, the JWA began to decline due to the firing of Antonio Inoki & the departure of Giant Baba and them forming their own promotions New Japan Pro-Wrestling (Inoki) & All Japan Pro Wrestling (Baba). Hata's last match with JWA would be at the promotion's final show on April 20, 1973, during their Iron Claw Series defeating Kim Sung-ho by disqualification.

When the JWA closed, Hata jumped to All Japan Pro Wrestling debuting on June 30, 1973, during their 1973 Summer Action Series tour where he again lost to Kazuo Sakurada. Like with the JWA, Hata spent the next year and half working the undercard with his only notable highlight being winning an eight-man battle royal on July 14, 1974. As is tradition in Japan, Hata was sent on a learning excursion to the United States in early 1975 to gain experience.

After originally spending a brief period in NWA Tri-State, Hata then went to Championship Wrestling from Florida where he engaged in singles and tag matches with the likes of Dutch Mantell, Doug Somers, Eddie Graham, Jimmy Golden, Billy Robinson, Mike George, Mark Lewin, & Hiro Matsuda. In mid-1976, Hata then briefly went to Georgia Championship Wrestling having matches with Jos Leduc & Ray Stevens.

By the fall, Hata went to Missouri with the St. Louis Wrestling Club & Central States Wrestling. Hata formed a successful tag team with Bob Brown with Hata winning his first title when he & Brown defeated Pat O'Connor & Harley Race for the Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship on December 17. Hata & Brown would lose the titles back to O'Connor & Race sometime in January 1977 only to reclaim them for a second time on January 16. Hata & Brown held the belts for over a month before dropping them to Akio Sato & Ted Oates on February 25. Hata would then finish up back in CWF having matches with the likes of The Briscos, Mike Graham, Gino Hernandez, Hiro Matsuda, & LeDuc.

Hata returned to All Japan on May 27 teaming with Jumbo Tsuruta to defeat Baron Von Raschke & Mario Milano. After a few matches back, Hata began using the name **Rocky Hata** and began receiving a small push teaming with Tsuruta & Baba while having matches with the likes of Kevin Sullivan, Don Muraco, Dick Murdoch, Bobo Brazil, Ken Patera, & Mil Mascaras.

By the summer, Hata began teaming with the young up and coming Genichiro Tenryu and the two challenged Great Kojika & Motoshi Okuma for the All Asia Tag Team Championship in a two-out-of-three-falls match on September 7 but the match went to a sixty-minute time limit draw with both teams tied one fall. In the fall, Hata & Tenryu entered the first World's Strongest Tag Determination League tournament but placed in eighth with 1 point as they went to a 45-minute draw against Mighty Inoue & Akihisa Takachiho.

Hata then earned his biggest achievement in All Japan when he won the yearly New Year's Battle Royal on January 3, 1978. In the spring, Hata entered his first Champion Carnival but finished in 13th place with 4 points. Hata continued to get some big matches throughout 1978 wrestling Billy Robinson, Ric Flair, Pat O'Connor, & Terry Funk. In the fall, Hata entered the Japan League for the International Wrestling Enterprise finishing in 6th place of Block A with 11 points. In March 1979, Hata entered the Champion Carnival and fared better as he finished 11th place with 6 points.

By 1980, Hata would settle into the midcard as he wouldn't challenge for titles or participate in the World's Strongest Tag League. He still did get some big matches taking on Robinson, Bruiser Brody, & Murdoch while scoring wins over Bill Irwin, Johnny Valiant, & Rick Martel. Hata entered the 1980 Champion Carnival and finished 10th place with 6 points. A year later, Hata entered the 1981 Champion Carnival tying 10th place with 6 points along with Prince Tonga & Great Kojika.

In August, Hata teamed with Tenryu in the PWF Cup Tag Team Tournament but lost in the first round to Chavo Guerrero Sr. & Ricky Steamboat on August 21. Hata then participated in the 1982 Champion Carnival finishing in 11th place with 8 points. On March 30, 1983, Hata and Takashi Ishikawa lost to Ashura Hara & Mighty Inoue for the All Asia Tag Team Championship. Hata finished his career in the undercard no longer challenging for championships or participating in tournaments. His last match would be on November 27, 1986, during the 1986 World's Strongest Tag Determination League tour teaming with Mighty Inoue in a losing effort against Animal Hamaguchi & Kuniaki Kobayashi.

He retired afterwards due to an internal disease. Mitsuo had become unable to see his children and began living in All Japan’s dojo. Spiraling into alcoholism, his work and condition deteriorated until Baba advised him to retire. After this, Hata worked for a time as a Nagano-based promoter, but “things happened, and he became a drunkard”. The Japanese fanzine Showa Puroresu recounts an instance where Hata appeared at an AJPW show, and shocked fans with his emaciated appearance.

## Death

Hata died on October 27, 1991, due to complications from diabetes at the age of 43.