Akio Sato (wrestler)

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Akio Sato is a Japanese former professional wrestler born on February 13, 1953, in Teshikaga, Hokkaido. He is best known in the United States for his work in the World Wrestling Federation as Sato, part of the Orient Express with Pat Tanaka and managed by Mr. Fuji.

Sato began wrestling in 1970 with the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance and helped start All Japan Pro Wrestling with Giant Baba in 1972. He spent the mid to late 1970s wresting in the United States, where he and promoter Bob Geigel won the Central States version of the NWA World Tag-Team Titles in 1976. He also found success in the Western States region, teaming with Mr. Pogo and winning the Western States tag-team titles multiple times.

Back in Japan, Sato wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling throughout the 1980s. He and Takashi Ishikawa won the All Asia Tag Team Championship twice, first in 1981 and again in 1985. He also appeared on All Japan’s big Budokan Hall shows, facing top foreign and local talent.

In 1986 Sato returned to the United States, winning the NWA Central States Television title in a 14-man battle royal. He soon moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he teamed with Tarzan Goto to win the CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship five times. He later teamed with Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond in various configurations, including Badd Company. He also spent time in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) as the “Asian Assassin,” challenging for titles and taking part in the promotion’s storylines before joining the WWF.

Sato joined the WWF in early 1990 as the Orient Express, with Pat Tanaka and managed by Mr. Fuji. He helped popularize the Sitout Powerbomb in mainstream wrestling and feuded with The Rockers, as well as being drawn into the Legion of Doom/Demolition storyline through Fuji. The team made a few pay-per-view appearances, including SummerSlam 1990. After the Orient Express period, Sato and Tanaka briefly reformed Badd Company with Paul Diamond as Kato for international markets. He wrestled his last WWF match in July 1991.

He made a brief return to wrestling in 1993 as Yokozuna’s flag bearer at SummerSlam, and in 1994 he returned to the WWF as Shinja, a white-faced manager for Hakushi. His final televised appearance came in July 1995 on Raw after a Bret Hart finishing move.

After leaving the WWF, Sato wrestled in Japan with Wrestle Association R and retired in 1996. Personal life: he married Betty Niccoli in 1976, and the couple has two daughters. He later lived in Kansas City, Missouri.