MASAHIRO CHONO:
Mr. G1
By Jasmine Olan
For nearly three decades, the G1 CLIMAX been the premier tournament in professional wrestling. Since its inception in 1991, one man has become synonymous with the prestigious and infamously grueling tournament. His name is Masahiro Chono. He’s the man they call ‘Mr.G1’, earning that moniker after making history when he set the record for most tournament wins which stands at five and has yet to be broken. As one of the legendary ‘three musketeers’, he helped carry the banner for New Japan Pro Wrestling as one of its top stars. In the 1990s Chono, Keiji Mutoh, and Shinya Hashimoto ruled atop the Heavyweight division of New Japan Pro WrestlingTogether they were dubbed the ‘Three Musketeers’ and each went on to become major icons of the international wrestling scene.
Masahiro Chono made his pro wrestling debut in 1984 against Keiji Mutoh. That first match marked the beginning of a storied rivalry that would become the stuff of legend and make huge stars out of both men. In 1991, at the very first G1 CLIMAX finals, the two went head to head in a match that would lay the groundwork for the honor and prestige that would come to be associated with the tournament over the next three decades. Until from their first encounter seven years earlier until the 1991 G1 finals, Chono had never pinned Keiji Mutoh in a one on one match. That night, he finally made it happen.
Their history with each other which dates back to their time as young lions played a crucial role in the storytelling of that iconic match which has managed to stand the test of time even twenty-seven years later. Over the next several years, Chono woulda go on to win the G1 a record setting four more times. Throughout his legendary career he found major success in NJPW and other promotions around the world, winning championship gold along the way and becoming one of the international wrestling scene’s biggest stars. His list of accolades includes the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Chono would also play an important role in several different wrestling factions including NWO Japan and Team 2000. In 1994 his Iconic Yakuza inspired look was born when he first joined NWO Japan and remains the look that he is best known for. In 1996 Chono joined the American NWO during his run in World Championship Wrestling. This ultimately helped inspire how many of the most popular factions in NJPW today like the Bullet Club and Los Ingobernables de Japon were formed. His return to New Japan Pro Wrestling would see him win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in 1998. He later went on to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships an astonishing six more times.
The legendary man in black remains fixture on the international wrestling scene and is still considered one of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s greatest legends. Every year at the G1 Climax tournament finals, Chono is there to present the overall winner with the famous gold trophy and watch them wave the G1 flag. Twenty-seven years after his very first G1 win, he is still an important part of the tradition associated with the tournament. His influence can be seen in the generations of young wrestlers who have followed in his footsteps and won the G1 Climax. Among the greatest examples of this are LIJ’s Tetsuya Naito and the Bullet Club’s Kenny Omega.
He also helped pave the way for future legends like the Ace Of The Universe, Hiroshi Tanahashi who would go on to be named one of the new ‘three musketeers alongside the King Of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura and Katsuyori Shibata. His step daughter, Jazzy Gabert has even followed in Chono’s famous footsteps having become a household name on the European independent scene as well as competing in Mae Young Classic tournament last year hosted by WWE. Masahiro Chono helped pave the way so many and remains one of the industry’s most respected names. He contributions to wrestling history as well as the history of the G1 Climax have been invaluable, and fans continue to show their love and support to this day. Throughout his thirty-four year career, his passion and talent have definitely earned Masahiro Chono the moniker of ‘Mr.G1’.
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