New Japan has posted a brief obituary piece about Hisashi Shinma, a former executive with the promotion who died yesterday at 90. Nikkan Sports also reported on his passing. Shinma was with New Japan at the beginning in 1972 as senior managing director, among his accolades were making the Muhammad Ali-Antonio Inoki fight in 1976 happen and the creation of the International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP), the promotion’s sanctioning body for its championships. He also helped create the Tiger Mask character made famous by Satoru Sayama. He left NJPW in 1983 to start the original UWF, then worked elsewhere around the world and even as WWF President at one time. He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2019. He was still active working with Sayama in his Real Japan Pro Wrestling until the end.
I join in sending condolences to Shinma’s family and friends.
