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Great Kojika

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Great Kojika
Kojika in 2015
Birth nameShinya Koshika
Born (1942-04-28) April 28, 1942 (age 82)
Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kung Fu Lee
Raizō Kojika
Shinya Kojika
Great Kojika
Dory Boy
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Billed weight251 lb (114 kg)
Trained byRikidozan
DebutOctober 13, 1963

Shinya Koshika (小鹿 信也, Koshika Shinya, born April 28, 1942),[1] known by his ring name Great Kojika (グレート小鹿, Gurēto Kojika), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He co-founded the promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW).[2][3][4][5][6] Kojika is the oldest active Japanese wrestler as well as the one with the longest career, having debuted in 1963. He is also the oldest active wrestler in the world.

Career

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Early career (1963–1967)

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Kojika made his debut on October 13, 1963, for Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) against Kakutaro Koma (future NWA World Middleweight Champion Mashio Koma). In 1967, he left Japan to wrestle in North America.

North America (1967-1970)

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In 1967, Kojika made his debut in North America for NWA Mid-America in Tennessee. He teamed with Motoshi Okuma and they also worked for Georgia Championship Wrestling. They disbanded in 1968 and Kojika went to Florida, Detroit and St. Louis. In 1969, Kojika went to Los Angeles and won the NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship by defeating Pepper Martin on November 19. A month later he dropped the title back to Martin. On August 26, 1970, he defeated Les Roberts for the TV title and held it until losing to The Great Goliath on September 16. After the loss, Kojika went back to Japan.

Return to Japan and folding of JWA (1970–1973)

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After a few years in the United States, Kojika returned to Japan and stayed with Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance until the company folded on April 14, 1973.

Return to North America (1973–1974, 1980)

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In 1973, Kojika returned to the United States to wrestle in Texas as Kung Fu Lee. He would feud with Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Ricky Romero and Akio Sato. He left Texas in 1974. In 1980, he went to Hawaii to work for NWA Polynesian.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1973–1986)

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After the folding of JWA, Kojika went to Giant Baba's All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) where he reunited with Motoshi Okuma. From 1976 to 1981, he and Okuma won the All Asia Tag Team Championship three times. They were together until 1986 when Kojika retired from wrestling.

Big Japan Pro Wrestling (1995–2002)

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Kojika returned to wrestling in 1995, co-founding Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) with Kazuo Sakurada where it was a style based on deathmatches and King's Road style. He started wrestling again in 1996. He retired for the second time in 2002. He continued co-promoting Big Japan.

Second return to wrestling (2006–present)

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In 2006, Kojika return to wrestling for the second time. He still wrestles for Big Japan and numerous Japanese promotions at 80 years old.

Return to All Japan Pro Wrestling (2019)

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Kojika returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2019 after having last worked for them in 1986.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ "大日本・グレート小鹿、実は「こしか」だった! 75歳誕生日に最年長記録更新". デイリースポーツ. 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  2. ^ "70歳プロレスラー小鹿「曙をブン投げる」". 東京スポーツ. 2012-06-03. Archived from the original on 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  3. ^ "70歳グレート小鹿「毒霧」噴射か". 東京スポーツ. 2012-06-15. Archived from the original on 2012-09-17. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  4. ^ "グレート小鹿が「古巣」乗っ取り計画". 東京スポーツ. 2012-06-16. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12.
  5. ^ "曙の肉弾プレスで小鹿 〝圧死〟". 東京スポーツ. 2012-06-21. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  6. ^ "70歳Ｇ小鹿、曙に玉砕も報復「狙う」". デイリースポーツ. 2012-06-18.
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