Shoot with Mr. Fuji

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 co-managing with Jim Cornette
-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