Top 5 WWE Teams Managed by Mr. Fuji

The WWE Universe received some heartbreaking news this weekend, as WWE Hall of Famer Mr. Fuji passed away at the age of 82. Throughout his career, Fuji has been known for being one of the most menacing and dangerous managers that ever accompanied an individual or team, and his trademark of throwing salt to the face of an adversary was a pivotal move in many matches.

While Fuji is known for having a stable in the WWE, and being instrumental in the success and popularity for many singles competitors, his alliance with tag teams have contributed to a number of career highlights.

Here are the top five WWE tag teams managed by Mr. Fuji.

5- Moondogs

The Moondogs were a very bizarre tag team who made their presence felt in the WWE during the early and mid-1980s, feuding with a number of teams including WWE Hall of Famers the Wild Samoans. Known for their cut-off jeans and carrying large dog bones, the Moondogs acquired the services of Mr. Fuji in 1985.

While short-lived, Fuji aligning with the team did create a significant amount of resurgence for the former WWE Tag Team Champions and made them one of the top heel teams of the WWE at the time.

4- Orient Express

In 1990, Mr. Fuji introduced the Orient Express as his premier tag team to manage after splitting up with the Powers of Pain. Consisting of Pat Tanaka and Akio Sato, the team was under the tutelage for nearly a year under Fuji and was known for a lengthy feud with The Rockers, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty.

While Paul Diamond later joined his former tag team partner Tanaka, the team never achieved superstardom to the length of becoming tag champions for the company. However, their feuds with The Rockers and the Legion of Doom certainly made the Orient Express a team to recognize, especially with the mentorship of Fuji.

3- Yokozuna & Owen Hart

Yokozuna may be considered the greatest acquisition of Mr. Fuji’s WWE career, as he managed him to a dominant WWE Championship reign, and memorable feuds with Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, and Bret “The Hitman” Hart. These career accolades led Yokozuna to a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Towards the later part of his career, Yokozuna experienced tag team success, as he joined Owen Hart to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania XI in 1995. While a tag team is typically not known for having two managers accompany them to the ring, it worked for the makeshift team of Yokozuna and Owen Hart, as they carried the titles for nearly six months.

2- Powers of Pain

On the rare list of “double turns” in pro wrestling history, Mr. Fuji will always be a part of that list following a match between Demolition and the Powers of Pain in 1988. At the Survivor Series pay per view, Fuji turned his back on his former tag team to align with Powers of Pain, Warlord, and Barbarian.

The two were the survivors of their respective match, and Fuji saw the opportunity to offer his services for the popular tag team. Under Fuji, Powers of Pain became the top heels of the tag team division, feuding against the likes of The Rockers and The Bushwhackers.

While the alliance only lasted about a year and a half, The Powers of Pain is still recognized as one of the most memorable heel tag teams of the early 1990s.

1- Demolition

The tag team of Ax and Smash, better known as Demolition, were already establishing themselves as one of the most dominating and feared tag teams in the company. However, it was not until their contracts got “sold” to Mr. Fuji from Johnny V did the duo truly achieve tag team success.

At WrestleMania IV, Demolition was able to use Fuji’s cane to assist them in defeating Strike Force to become the WWE Tag Team Champions. They would keep these titles for an astounding 478 days. Fuji was also instrumental in Demolition becoming the top babyface tag team during their tenure as well, turning on them to join the Powers of Pain. The dynamic of Demolition would certainly not be the same without the dastardly tactics of Mr. Fuji outside the ring.