Masanori "Masa" Saito (February 1, 1942 – July 14, 2018) was a Japanese professional wrestler who competed for decades in Japan and North America. Often billed simply as Mr. Saito, he became known for a hard-hitting ring style, an imposing presence as a heel in international promotions, and several high-profile tag and singles title runs. He was born in Tokyo and began training and wrestling in Japan before extending his career to the United States and other territories.
Career overview
Saito established himself in Japanese promotions and in the regional territories affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). In Japan he worked for major companies of the era, including All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he faced many of the era's top stars and earned a reputation as a rugged competitor. He traveled frequently to North America, wrestling in NWA territories and later appearing in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the 1980s.
Persona, style and notable partnerships
Inside the ring Saito was characterized by a stiff, physical grappling style and simple but effective offense. He was often cast as a villainous foreigner during his U.S. stints, and one of his best-known partnerships was with fellow Japanese heel Mr. Fuji. Together they captured the WWF World Tag Team Championship on two occasions, combining Fuji's managerial tactics with Saito's in-ring toughness. Saito's work bridged Japanese strong style and North American storytelling, and he was respected as a tough in-ring worker by peers and fans.
Titles and accomplishments
Saito collected championships in several promotions during his long career. Highlights commonly cited in accounts of his career include tag team gold in the WWF and recognized singles titles in U.S. and Japanese promotions. Selected accomplishments are listed below:
- WWF World Tag Team Championship — two reigns (with Mr. Fuji)
- Recognized singles titles and tournament victories across NWA territories and Japan
- Late-career singles championships reported in independent sources, including a noted title run in 1990
Later life and legacy
After retiring from active competition, Saito remained a remembered figure for his contributions to the international exchange between Japanese and American professional wrestling. In 2000 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological condition that affected his later years. He died in Tokyo on July 14, 2018, at age 76. Obituaries and retrospectives emphasized his durability, the memorable chemistry with tag partner Mr. Fuji, and his role in bringing elements of Japanese wrestling to broader audiences.
Saito's career is also notable for his long association with Japan's major promotions — he performed for both All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling at different times — and for appearing across many NWA-affiliated territories in the United States and elsewhere. His life and work are documented in wrestling histories and by fans; further reading and archival match listings can be found through specialized wrestling histories and databases. Tokyo remained central to his biography as both his birthplace and the city where he died.
For more detailed career statistics and match histories, consult dedicated wrestling archives and retrospectives that compile title histories and match records from the eras in which Saito competed. These sources place his contributions within the broader developments of professional wrestling in the 1970s through 1990s.