Mr. Fuji Shoot Interview

RF Video sat down with Mr. Fuji on 10/22/04 in Long Island, NY for a shoot interview on his entire life and career. Here is a partial list of topic we talked with Rocky about: -How did you wind up in Portland -Thoughts on Don Owen and his brother -Memories of Pat Patterson from this period -Memories of Stan Stasiak -Road stories -Memories teaming with Tony Borne -Memories of Moondog Mayne -What was life like on the road during this time period 66-70 -Did you work with Jimmy Snuka at all back then -Memories of Jim Barnett -How did you wind up in the WWWF for your first run in 72 -Thoughts on Vince Sr. and Toots Mondt -Was it a big deal to you to win a tag team belt -How quick in your run did you get the belts ( I think immediately) -Memories of your series with Jay Strongbow and Sonny King -Memories of Pedro Morales matches -Memories of Moolah back during this time period and her husband -memories of JimmY Valiant -Memories of Bruno Sammartino -How close was the locker room back then? -How big was kayfabe in New York -Memories of being managed by Grand Wizard -What was the heat like in the building when you wrestled Pedro and Bruno in MSG -Memories of working with Jack Brisco at Shea Stadium -Memories of Haystacks Calhoun -memories of Andre The Giant -Was there a noticeable increase in crowds and payoffs when Bruno got the belt. -Memories of matches with Tony Garea and Dean Ho -Was Bruno a locker room leader -What lead to you and Toru Tanaka leaving -How close were you with Toru Tanaka over the years -Memories working for the Fullers -Memories of Lou Thesz -Thoughts on Robert Fuller as a booker -How did you wind up back in the WWWF in 77′ -Memories of Vince JR. around this time -Memories of being managed by Fred Blassie -Were things any different as far as the locker room, etc -Memories of working Peter Maivia -Do you remember Rock as a kid -Memories of Billy Graham during this time period -Are you surprised at how he has influenced some of the biggest stars in the history of the business -Memories of Dusty Rhodes -Memories of Mil Mascaras -What circumstances lead to you leaving the WWWF again -Memories of Ricky Steamboat -Memories of Roddy Piper -Why do you think you were used primiarly as a tag team wrrestler -Memories working in Georgia -Thoughts on Ole Anderson -Memories wrestling a young Bob Backlund (surprised at his success) -Early memories of Don Muraco from Hawaii -Memories working in Memphis -Thoughts on Lawler and Jarrett as bookers -Memories of working with Bill Dundee -Memories working for Jim Crockett -Memories teaming with Tenryu -Are you surprised at Tenryus success -Did you rib him since he was a young boy -Memories of Ric Flair -Memories of working in Toronto -Memories of your series with Angelo Mosca -memories of Roy Shire -Memories of your series with Patterson in california -How did you wind up back in the WWWF -How were things different -Did Vince Jr have more power at this time -Memories of Lou Albano -How did you wind up paired with Masa Saito -Compare Saito and tanaka as workers and partners -Do you remember Lou Albano getting fired often -Memories of your series with Garea and Martel -Memories of your series with the Strongbows -Did you ever sense the pressure getting to Backlund -What do you think happened with Snuka and the girl that was found dead at the hotel -Memories of Jesse Ventura -Memories of Tony Atlas -How did the locker room react to Snuka jumping off of the top of the cage on Backlund -Memories of teaming with Kim Duk -It seemed that when Vince Jr took over he started to use you as more of a high level enhancement wrestler, thoughts? -Thoughts when Hogan came in -Whos idea was it to move you as a manager -Memories of your match with George Steele against Mean Gene and Hogan -Memories of working with Muraco -Memories of TNT and Fuji Vice -How did you get along with Vince Jr -Thoughts on Dynamite Kid -Memories of working with ricky steamboat -Memories of the Junkyard Dog -Memories of your tuxedo matches with Hillbilly Jim -Were you surprised at the success of the first Mania -Why were you and Muraco left off of Mania 1 -Thoughts on the rivalry between Hogan and Piper -Did success go to Vince Jrs head -Memories of working Barry Windham on some house shows in 85 -What did you think of all the new stuff like cartoons and the singing and all -How did life change for you when you were now featured on television all over the country and much more recognized than previous -How did all of the managers get along? any competition -Memories of the Wrestlemania 3 experience -Memories of Demolition/Powers Of Pain series -Why was Kendo Nagasaki basically in and out of the WWF -Memories of Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond -early memories of Shawn Michaels -Was it ironic that at Wrestlemania you were managing against Tenryu after 10 or so years -Memories of John Nord -What do you remember about the ring boy scandal -What was it like when Ric Flair came in, did you think the NWA was done -Memories of Yokozona -What do you credit your lengthy run in the WWF too? -What do you remember about Vince’s steroid trial -Memories of managing Yoko vs. Lex Luger -What was it that finally ended your tenure in the WWF -You made a special appearance at WM12, was that just a one time deal -Did the younger guys respect your tenure during your latter years -When did you first start to rib the guys -Talk about some of your ribs -Do you regret any -Was there a limiit to what you would do -Were you ever ribbed -Did any of your ribs ever cause permanent injury or damage -Did you ever get into a fight over it -What was the drug and groupie scene like in the 70s and then the 80s with the success of the WWF -What do you miss most -Who were your favorite opponents, least -Fav promoter to work for, least -Who was the most creative booker you ever worked for -Happiest time, least happy -How is your health -What do you think about the lack of kayfabe today -Good road stories -Did you ever refuse to do a job -How hard was it to adjust to life after wrestling -Do you still watch it and if so, thoughts -Would you like to be inducted into the WWE hall of fame