David Harding
Kaine Jacobs
Cain LynchJapanese Wrestling Legend Geesink Dies At Age 76
August 27th 2010 22:55
Anton Geesink, olympic gold medalist in Judo and early All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) star, passed away today in the Netherlands at age 76.
Giant Baba signed Geesink during the initial stages of his All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, which would go on to wild succes later down the road. As a legitimate olympic gold medalist, Geesink drew large television audiences when his matches would air for the All Japan shows.
Geesink was trained by the legendary Funk brothers, Terry and Dory Jr., and would often team in mega-main events along with Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta and/or The Destroyer, taking on the likes of Bruno Sammartino, "Classie" Freddie Blassie, Killer Kowalski, Gene Kiniski and The Funk Brothers. Basically working alongside the biggest stars in Japan in matches against the biggest stars in the U.S. at the time.
WrestlingAsylum.com passes on our condolences to the family, and friends of Anton Geesink. A tribute to the passing of him and more shall be posted on WrestlingAsylum.com in the coming days.
You can send your own tributes of any wrestler that has passed away to WrestlingAsylum.com at davidbharding@aussiemail.com. au
Giant Baba signed Geesink during the initial stages of his All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, which would go on to wild succes later down the road. As a legitimate olympic gold medalist, Geesink drew large television audiences when his matches would air for the All Japan shows.
Geesink was trained by the legendary Funk brothers, Terry and Dory Jr., and would often team in mega-main events along with Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta and/or The Destroyer, taking on the likes of Bruno Sammartino, "Classie" Freddie Blassie, Killer Kowalski, Gene Kiniski and The Funk Brothers. Basically working alongside the biggest stars in Japan in matches against the biggest stars in the U.S. at the time.
WrestlingAsylum.com passes on our condolences to the family, and friends of Anton Geesink. A tribute to the passing of him and more shall be posted on WrestlingAsylum.com in the coming days.
You can send your own tributes of any wrestler that has passed away to WrestlingAsylum.com at davidbharding@aussiemail.com. au
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