Sad news coming out of Mexico and Japan-Gran Hamada, a legendary Japanese wrestler who also made a name for himself in Mexico, has died. He was believed to be 74. No cause of death was mentioned but he had been living in Mexico, most recently in San Luis Potosi.
Hamada, real name Hiroaki Hamada, debuted in New Japan Pro Wrestling when the promotion began in 1972 and was perhaps the first Japanese wrestler to travel to and compete in Mexico, and also would compete for All-Japan and even appeared in WWF (WWE) and ECW in the late 1990s. His final match was in 2018. Additionally, he competed with and raised 2 wrestling daughters, Ayako & Xochitl, both splitting their careers between Mexico & Japan. Ayako is still active while Xochitl has mostly retired. Additionally, current New Japan wrestler Tiger Mask 4 is his ex-son-in-law.
Hamada’s accolades include many titles in Mexico and on the independent circuit in Japan, being the first and only WWF Intercontinental Tag Team Champion in 1981 with Perro Aguayo (the titles lasted 6 months before WWF ended their partnership with UWF Japan) and was also ranked #87 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s 2003 PWI 500 rankings. He even appeared in 2 movies according to IMDB (what appears to be a Mexican movie called La Llave Mortal in 1990 and possibly a 1977 Japanese non-wrestling-themed film called Hakkosan.
I join in sending my deepest condolences to Xochitl & Ayako Hamada and the many fans & friends of Gran Hamada on his passing. Q.E.P.D., RIP and GOD BLESS…
