Animal Hamaguchi
| Animal Hamaguchi | |
|---|---|
Hamaguchi in February 2011.
|
|
| Born |
August 31, 1947 Hamada, Shimane |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Billed height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Billed weight | 103 kg (227 lb) |
| Debut | 1969 |
| Retired | 1995 |
Heigo Hamaguchi (濱口 平吾 Hamaguchi Heigo?, born August 31, 1947) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Animal Hamaguchi (アニマル浜口 Animaru Hamaguchi?). During his career he was recognized as a talented tag team wrestler despite his small size for a heavyweight, and today he is recognized as a trainer in both professional and amateur wrestling.
Hamaguchi debuted in 1969 in the old International Wrestling Enterprise. He was a regular mid-carder although his teams with Mighty Inoue and Rusher Kimura were main event. He also made forays into North American wrestling in the late 1970s, winning titles in Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council and Canada's Stampede Wrestling.
In 1981, when IWE collapsed, Hamaguchi teamed with Kimura and Isamu Teranishi in an "invasion" angle in New Japan Pro Wrestling. When the angle was dropped, Hamaguchi joined Riki Choshu in forming the original Ishin Gundan rebel stable.
In 1984 Ishin Gundan left NJPW and formed Japan Promotion, which eventually became a mere stable of All Japan Pro Wrestling. AJPW promoted Giant Baba ordered Choshu to replace Hamaguchi, who was rather small-sized, with rookie Yoshiaki Yatsu in order to feud with Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu in the upper card. Hamaguchi thus reformed his team with Inoue in the lower card.
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