Super Strong Machine
| Born |
December 20, 1956 Hiratsuka, Kanagawa |
|---|---|
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Junji Hirata Sonny Two Rivers Strong Machine #1 Super Strong Machine Makai #1 Black Strong Machine Super Love Machine Super Strong Azteca Machine |
| Billed height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Billed weight | 115 kg (254 lb) |
| Debut | August 26, 1978 |
Junji Hirata (平田 淳嗣 Hirata Junji) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a trainer for the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, known primarily by his ring name Super Strong Machine (スーパー・ストロング・マシン Sūpā Sutorongu Mashin).
Hirata made his debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) on August 26, 1978, against Yoshiaki Fujiwara. In November 1982, he left on an overseas training expedition to Mexico, and later Canada, where in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling he would create the famous Super Strong Machine persona, as well as use a First Nations gimmick as Sonny Two Rivers. In April 1986, he left NJPW with Riki Choshu for rival wrestling promotion, All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). In June 1987, he returned to NJPW and would soon capture the IWGP Tag Team Championship on four separate occasions with George Takano, Hiro Saito, and Shinya Hashimoto as his tag team partners.
In the fall of 1986, the World Wrestling Federation introduced a stable of wrestlers called The Machines -- "The Giant Machine" (André the Giant), "Big Machine" (Blackjack Mulligan), and "Super Machine" (Bill Eadie) -- based on Junji Hirata's popular Super Strong Machine gimmick. In 1984, Hirata had tried to make his own "Machines" stable with Korean wrestler Yang Seung-hi and veteran Yasu Fuji as Strong Machine #2 and Strong Machine #3 respectively, but this version of the stable did not have the exposure or push of their American counterparts. Hirata briefly turned face and became "Super" Strong Machine, feuding with his former partners. When Hirata left for Japan Pro, Fuji retired and Yang went back to South Korea.
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