Salman Hashimikov, the fifth man to ever hold the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, has passed away at the age of 73, per Fightful.
Hashimikov’s relatively short tenure in professional wrestling saw him compete largely in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he defeated Vader for the top championship in the company in May 1989 and held it for 48 days.
He later competed at NWA Starrcade 1990 as part of the Pat O’Connor International Tag Team Tournament, before wrapping up his active in-ring career in UWF-I in 1994.
His accolades outside the squared circle include gold medals at the World Wrestling Championships in 1979 and from 1981-1983 in the heavyweight division in freestyle wrestling.
Wrestleview sends its condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Salman Hashimikov.