Genichiro Tenryu

Sumo wrestling career As a sumo wrestler, Tenryu was ranked as a sekitori for 27 tournaments, 16 of them in the top makuuchi division. His highest rank was maegashira 1. Upon the death of his stablemaster at Nishonoseki stable he wanted to join former stablemate Daikirin's newly established Oshiogawa stable, which had just broken off from Nishonoseki, but the Japan Sumo Association insisted he stay at Nishonoseki whose new stablemaster, Kongō, he did not get along with. He finished one more tournament, and even though his career still showed promise, he decided to leave the sumo world at the young age of 26 in September 1976.

Professional wrestling career All Japan Pro Wrestling (1976–1990) Scouted by Giant Baba, the All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) owner, Tenryu was sent to Amarillo, Texas to be trained by Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk, and debuted in Texas in 1976, against Ted DiBiase. After returning to Japan in 1977, he stayed in the undercard until about 1982 when he began to get a slight push in that year's Champion Carnival tournament. In 1983, following a brief stint in Jim Crockett Promotions, his push began in earnest when Jumbo Tsuruta pursued the NWA International heavyweight title, now the main title in the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.

1984 saw Tenryu winning the NWA United National title, now also part of the Triple Crown, as well as the NWA International tag team title with Tsuruta. Their combination was called "Kakuryu" ( = kaku = tsuru (the "tsuru" in Tsuruta) + = ryū in Tenryū). The team feuded with Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Yatsu, who were the leaders in an "invasion" angle by the Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, an All Japan satellite made up of former New Japan Pro-Wrestling talent.

In 1987, following the departure of the Japan Pro talent, Kakuryu broke up after losing the tag team titles to The Road Warriors, which led to Tenryu forming his own stable, "Revolution", with former International Pro Wrestling wrestlers Ashura Hara and Hiromichi Fuyuki, as well as All Japan rookies Toshiaki Kawada, and Yoshinari Ogawa; Tatsumi Kitahara would join the group upon his debut in 1988. Tenryu and Hara feuded with Tsuruta and his new partner Yatsu over the Pacific Wrestling Federation World tag team titles and later with their replacement, the World Tag Team Championship (a combination of the PWF World and NWA International tag belts). Hara was kicked out of the promotion in late 1988, and Tenryu replaced him with Stan Hansen, with whom he held the World Tag Team Championship as well.

1989 was Tenryu's banner year. Tsuruta became the first Triple Crown champion on April 18 of that year, and just two days later Tenryu became his first challenger. The Tsuruta-Tenryu series that ensued set the standard for all Triple Crown matches and feuds to follow. When Tenryu won the belts on June 5, the match was so spectacular it was deemed Match of the Year by major Japanese publications. The same year saw him finally pin his mentor Baba, albeit in a tag match - but still a major success for a Japanese wrestler. Only Mitsuharu Misawa would duplicate this feat. In addition, Tenryu was chosen to be one-third of the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions with the Road Warriors after the Road Warriors turned heel against their former co-holder of the title, Dusty Rhodes. However, the relationship between All Japan Pro Wrestling and the NWA was significantly strained when Tenryu and the Road Warriors were scheduled to compete in a match Baba had advertised to his Japanese audience, but American booking decisions prevented the match from taking place. This created an uncomfortable situation where Giant Baba had to apologize to his Japanese audience for a match he had promoted not taking place, and was a key factor in All Japan Pro Wrestling's ultimate withdrawal from the NWA. This also resulted in the six man championship being vacated and abandoned until 1991, when it was temporarily resurrected as a World Championship Wrestling championship.

Super World of Sports (1990–1992) In April 1990, Tenryu left All Japan Pro Wrestling to form Super World of Sports (SWS). He wrestled his first match for the nascent promotion in September 1990, teaming with Takashi Ishikawa as "Revolution" to defeat Dojo Geki (Isao Takagi and Yoshiaki Yatsu).

Tenryu wrestled his final match for SWS in June 1992, teaming with Ashura Hara and Último Dragón to defeat Jerry Estrada, King Haku, and The Great Kabuki. Tenryu held a press conference two days later to confirm the report, announcing that his retirement event would be taking place in November and would feature participation from All Japan, New Japan and Noah. On August 16, Tenryu made a surprise return to New Japan, having a confrontation with Kazuchika Okada to set up his retirement match on November 15. In the meantime, he embarked on a multipromotional "Retirement Road" tour, including matches in Kyushu Pro-Wrestling, DDT, BJW, Wrestle-1 and Pro Wrestling Freedoms. On November 15, Tenryu was defeated by Okada in his retirement match. Tokyo Sports named Tenryu's retirement match the 2015 Match of the Year.

Other media Tenryu appears as a gang member in the 2017 video game Yakuza Kiwami 2, alongside Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono, Riki Choshu and Tatsumi Fujinami. Tenryu is also a regular guest on the annual 24-hour comedy special, Gaki no Tsukai - No Laughing Challenge, often appearing as a character who occasionally (and intentionally) speaks unintelligibly to cause the contestants to laugh.

Championships and accomplishments All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Masanobu Fuchi NWA International Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jumbo Tsuruta NWA United National Championship (2 times) PWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) PWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ashura Hara Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (3 times) World Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Stan Hansen (3), Ashura Hara (1), and Yoji Anjo (1) Champion Carnival (2001) World's Strongest Tag Determination League (1984) – with Jumbo Tsuruta World's Strongest Tag Determination League (1986) – with Jumbo Tsuruta World's Strongest Tag Determination League (1989) – with Stan Hansen January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (1982) United National Title League (1986) Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship Tournament (2000) World's Strongest Tag Determination League New Wave Award (1981) – with Ashura Hara World's Strongest Tag Determination League Fighting Spirit Award (1982) – with Ashura Hara World's Strongest Tag Determination League Technique Award (1983) – with Jumbo Tsuruta World's Strongest Tag Determination League Outstanding Performance Award (1985) – with Jumbo Tsuruta World's Strongest Tag Determination League Outstanding Performance Award (1987) – with Ashura Hara World's Strongest Tag Determination League Outstanding Fighting Spirit Award (1987) – with Ashura Hara World's Strongest Tag Determination League Best Player Award (1989) Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling WMG Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Riki Choshu Hustle Hustle Super Tag Team Championship (1 time, inaugural) – with Tadao Yasuda International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling/World Championship Wrestling NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Fuji NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Road Warriors New Japan Pro-Wrestling IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time) IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shiro Koshinaka Nikkan Sports Match of the Year (1999) vs. Keiji Mutoh on May 3 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 44 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003 Ranked No. 14 and 30 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Jumbo Tsuruta and Ashura Hara, respectively, in 2003 Super World of Sports SWS vs WWF Tournament (1990) One Night Tag Team Tournament (1990) – with Koji Kitao Tenryu Project Tenryu Project World 6-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Arashi and Tomohiro Ishii Hidden Genius R League (2013) - with Ryuichi Kawakami Tokyo Sports Best Tag Team Award (1983, 1985) Match of the Year Award (1987) Outstanding Performance Award (1981, 1984, 1996) Technique Award (1990) WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Koki Kitahara and Animal Hamaguchi (1), and Nobutaka Araya and Último Dragón (1) Six Man Tag Team Tournament (1994) - with Atsushi Onita and Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow One Night Tag Team Tournament (1995) - with Último Dragón J-1 Heavyweight Championship Tournament (1998) Wrestling Observer Newsletter Match of the Year (2001) Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

Sumo career record

Video games Tenryū Gen'ichirō no Puroresu Revolution HammerLock Wrestling Fire Pro Wrestling: Combination Tag Fire Pro Wrestling 2nd Bout Fire Pro Wrestling 3 Legend Bout Super Fire Pro Wrestling Super Fire Pro Wrestling 2 Super Fire Pro Wrestling III: Final Bout Super Fire Pro Wrestling III: Easy Type Super Fire Pro Wrestling Special Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium Gekitou Burning Pro Wrestling Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Super Star Pro Wrestling Virtual Pro Wrestling 64 Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: Ōdō Keishō King of Colosseum: Red King of Colosseum II Wrestle Kingdom Wrestle Kingdom 2