Biography

Hiroshi Yagi was a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). In 1979, he won the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating Tatsumi Fujinami. He also founded Pioneer Senshi, the first independent wrestling promotion in Japan. He began his career in 1972 and worked for various promotions in Japan, America, and Mexico. He was well known for his time in AWA and his matches throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 2006, he returned to wrestling with DDT Pro Wrestling and continued until 2009. His personal life was troubled, with marital issues leading to a divorce in 2005. In 2003, he was arrested for theft but was released without charges. He passed away on October 18, 2009, from sepsis after a cycling accident.