Akihisa Mera

Akihisa Mera

Birth : 1948-09-08, Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan

History

Akihisa Mera, better known as The Great Kabuki, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He was famous for being the first to blow "Asian mist" in his opponents' faces. Mera was born on September 8, 1948 in Nobeoka, Japan. He started wrestling in 1964 at the age of 16 for the Japanese Wrestling Association. He left Japan to compete in the United States in the 1970s. From there he wrestled all over the world, including All Japan Pro Wrestling, several territories of the National Wrestling Alliance including Jim Crockett Promotions, Mid-South Wrestling, Mid-Southern Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling under the name Akihisa Takachihō. He also used the name Yoshino Sato (with authorization from his mentor the original Yoshinosato, former sumotori Junzo Hasegawa, who lead JWA during its dying days), which was later shortened to Mr. Sato (not to be confused with Akio Sato, who later used the moniker in other U.S. territories). Mera adopted the Great Kabuki persona in World Class in 1981. The character was created by Gary Hart, based on an old gimmick used by Filipino wrestler Rey Urbano, a former partner of Hasegawa's in the U.S. Kabuki kept his hair in a mop cut which kept his facial features mostly hidden; he also painted his face. Hart explained that his face was scarred in a bed of hot coals during a match with Tiger Jeet Singh in Singapore. He was most often a heel and was managed by most of the top heel managers of the 1970s and early 1980s. When he was a baby-face, he was very unpredictable and could turn at any time, making him somewhat of an anti-hero, or tweener. Kabuki had a pre-match ritual of showing his skills with the nunchaku that intimidated most opponents. In WCCW, he joined H & H Limited while managed by Arman Hussein and Gary Hart and tagged with masked wrestler Magic Dragon while building on his singles work. After an injury in 1983, he joined Skandor Akbar's Devastation Inc.

Profile

Akihisa Mera
Akihisa Mera

Movies

WWE: The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling
Great Kabuki
Documentary that chronicles the story of the Von Erich family, siblings and wrestlers who attained the heights of championship glory but who also struggled with despair, tragedy and suicide.
Heroes of World Class
The Great Kabuki
In 1983 World Class Championship Wrestling and its franchise stars, the Von Erich brothers, were known around the world. A small Dallas based promotion running out of a shack of a venue, the Sportatorium, World Class was one of the most syndicated television programs in America, making the Von Erichs household names. Run by legendary wrestler Fritz Von Erich, a.k.a. Jack Adkinsson, World Class made his oldest sons, Kevin, David and Kerry, three of hte biggest stars in the world of wrestling. Little did anyone know that just as the Von Erichs and World Class were reaching worldwide stardom they would begin a downfall that would cast a full eclipse on their meteoric rise to fame. Directed by Brian Harrison who, as a ten year old in 1983, watched on television as wrestling's world of staged combat between good and evil took a sharp turn into a surreal and tragic reality.
NJPW Summer Struggle 1994 - Day 8
The Great Kabuki
New Japan Pro Wrestling's Summer Struggle tour continues from Sapporo, Japan.
WWE Royal Rumble 1994
The Great Kabuki
Thirty Superstars compete in the annual Royal Rumble Match with the winner advancing to WrestleMania for an opportunity at the WWE Championship. The Undertaker battles Yokozuna in a Casket Match with the WWE Championship on the line. Plus, Razor Ramon, Bam Bam Bigelow, and much more!
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1993
The Great Kabuki
Wrestling Dontaku 1993 was the first Wrestling Dontaku professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The event took place on May 3, 1993, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka at the Fukuoka Dome.
NJPW Hyper Battle 1993 - Day 11
The Great Kabuki
NJPW's Hyper Battle Tour continues.
Female Neo-Ninjas
Three cute, sexy ninjas, around the age of 20, have been in training, building their powers for some vague future threat. Their destined mission becomes apparent when a handsome ninja from 400 years past drops from the sky into the hot tub of on of the girls. He comes with news of a grave threat: an evil industrialist has apparently joined forces with UFOs to take over Japan. The only solution, it seems, lies in the special talents of the three girls - notable as much for their martial arts as their skimpy costumes.
WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit
The Great Kabuki
A combined WWF, AJPW and NJPW supershow: April 13th, 1990 from the Tokyo Dome.
WCCW Parade of Champions '86
The Great Kabuki
World Class Championship Wrestling returns to Texas Stadium with some all-star action!
WCCW Christmas Star Wars '85
The Great Kabuki
Witness a brutal battle when The Von Erichs clash with The Freebirds
WCCW Thanksgiving Star Wars 1985
The Great Kabuki (Appearance)
WCCW hosts their Thanksgiving Day event from the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.
WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '85
The Great Kabuki
The Dynamic Duo of Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams square off with Kerry & Kevin Von Erich in a Hair vs. Hair Tag Team encounter.
WCCW Parade of Champions '85
The Great Kabuki
The second annual David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions held at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas
NWA Night of Champions
The Great Kabuki
The National Wrestling Alliance invades the 'Big Apple' with an all-star card featuring a main event of Ricky Steamboat coming out of retirement for one last shot at the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship, held by old rival "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair!
WCCW Parade of Champions
The Great Kabuki
The first annual David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas features David's brother Kerry Von Erich battling Ric Flair for The NWA World's Heavyweight Championship.
NWA Boogie Jam
The Great Kabuki
Paul Jones tries to escape the clutches of "The Boogie-Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant in a vital Hair vs. Hair Match!
NWA Starrcade 1983
The Great Kabuki
The first ever Starrcade features Ric Flair battling Harley Race in a Steel Cage Match for NWA World Heavyweight Championship. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper takes on Greg Valentine in a brutal Dog Collar Match. Plus, Abdullah the Butcher, Wahoo McDaniel, Ricky Steamboat, The Brisco Brothers, and more!
NWA The Last Battle of Atlanta
The Great Kabuki
Within the grizzly confines of a completely enclosed steel cage, and Paul Ellering hanging above the ring, the blood feud between "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer and "Wildfire" Tommy Rich comes to an end. and if Rich can manage to win, then Ole Anderson gets "Precious" Paul to himself for 5 minutes inside the cage!
WCCW Star Wars (August 1982)
The Great Kabuki
It's Kerry Von Erich vs. Ric Flair with the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship on the line in a grueling best 2 of 3 falls contest!
WCCW Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
The Great Kabuki
The Texas Legend rides off into the sunset. but tries to take down a mountain of a man in Big Daddy Bundy and take his Texas Championship before the sun sets.
WCCW Christmas Star Wars '81
The Great Kabuki
Christmas Day bring the action and excitement of World Class Championship Wrestling comes in the form of season's beatings when the Von Erich boys ride into town.
WCCW Star Wars (February 1981)
The Great Kabuki
Kerry Von Erich gets his shot at the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship. But to become a champion "The Modern-Day Warrior" will need to topple NWA kingpin Harley Race.