Masanobu Fuchi

Masanobu Fuchi (渕 正信, Fuchi Masanobu, born January 14, 1954) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently wrestling in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is also a director and the co-head booker. Fuchi holds the record for the longest World Junior Heavyweight Championship reign and has competed exclusively in All Japan Pro Wrestling, until becoming a freelancer in 2009, but officially re-signed with the company in 2013 as a director and wrestler, making him the only man that wrestled for the promotion longer than anyone in the current roster.

Professional wrestling career

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1974–present)

With a background in amateur wrestling, Fuchi debuted as a professional wrestler on August 22, 1974 for AJPW, facing future Death Match innovator Atsushi Onita. For the next couple of years, Fuchi and Onita alternated between teaming and feuding on the opening bouts. In 1979, the two went on an excursion to Memphis, Tennessee to season their careers. Fuchi briefly worked for the NWA's Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling as a jobber who always showed a good account of himself.