It was reported on Monday by Weekly Wrestling out in Japan that former WWE star and Japanese wrestling legend Masa Saito passed away over the weekend at the age of 76 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
【訃報】マサ斎藤さん逝去 https://t.co/0l4mHODu0n #週プロモバイル
— 週刊プロレス (@shupromobile) July 16, 2018
Saito is known for his then-WWWF Tag Team Title reigns with the late Mr. Fuji back in the 1970s and an infamous two-hour long Island Death Match with WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki for New Japan in 1987, but is most known for a famous incident in 1984 when he and Ken Patera were arrested and put in jail for two years for throwing a boulder through a McDonald’s drive-thru window following a WWE show in Wisconsin.
Saito is also heavily regarded as one of the first international stars to come from Japan and have success in the United States, winning many titles in NWA territories throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Saito finally found success in AWA, becoming one of the last AWA Champions during the company’s final year in 1990.
Shinsuke Nakamura and Kassius Ohno commented on Saito’s passing.
Rest in Peace the legendary Japanese wrestler Masa Saito #goforbroke pic.twitter.com/wxyI1GD82Y
— Shinsuke Nakamura (@ShinsukeN) July 16, 2018
Do yourself a favor and watch a few Masa Saito matches today. Man… he was awesome. Go For Broke. RIP. pic.twitter.com/pDHB5L78cN
— Chris Hero (Is Back) (@ChrisHero) July 16, 2018
On behalf of the entire staff here at Wrestleview.com, we would like to send out our condolences to the family and friends of Saito during this tough time.