Stan Hansen

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hansen first came to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in January 1977 through the booking of Vince McMahon Sr. With his reputation as the man who broke Bruno Sammartino's neck, Hansen quickly became a top heel, facing Antonio Inoki and other top New Japan stars like Seiji Sakaguchi and Tatsumi Fujinami. While touring Japan regularly, he faced top American wrestlers including Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Bob Backlund, and Hulk Hogan. Hansen established himself as a dominant force in Japan by competing in New Japan's MSG (Madison Square Garden) tournament between 1978 and 1981. Hansen won the NWF World Title from Antonio Inoki on February 8, 1980, ending Inoki's reign that had lasted from 1973 to 1980. From November 21 to December 13, 1980, Hansen did a tour for NJPW, where he competed in the first MSG Tag League tournament (later renamed the G1 Tag League). He teamed with Hulk Hogan, but they failed to win. He returned that April to wrestle Antonio Inoki in an unsuccessful match. However, he defeated Inoki via countout in a MSG League match on May 20, 1981, after hitting a lariat on Inoki, knocking him off the apron. He returned for several more one-off shows until leaving the promotion in December 1981.

In Their Own Story

Hansen returned at NJPW's Super Fight In Tokyo Dome event in 1990, where he had an infamous inter-promotional match against Vader. The match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship saw Big Van Vader (representing New Japan, while Hansen represented All Japan) get struck in the nose during the entrances by Hansen's Bullrope, breaking it. Both men were known to use a stiff style of wrestling, resulting in a nasty exchange where each man threw legitimate punches, during which Hansen unintentionally poked Vader's left eye with his thumb during their brawl, causing the eye to pop out of its socket. After removing his mask, Vader pushed the eye back into its socket and held it in place with his eyelid. The match ended in a draw. Hansen returned in June for a few more matches, teaming twice with Riki Choshu and once with The Pegasus Kid.

Reader's Guide

Hansen's NJPW career spanned two distinct periods. From 1977 to 1981, he was a regular competitor, winning the NWF World Title from Antonio Inoki on February 8, 1980—one of only two wrestlers to dethrone Inoki during his seven-year reign. He competed in the MSG tournament from 1978 to 1981 and the first MSG Tag League in 1980 with Hulk Hogan. His final regular match before leaving in December 1981 was a countout victory over Inoki on May 20, 1981, after hitting a lariat that knocked Inoki off the apron. His second period was a brief return in 1990 for the Super Fight In Tokyo Dome, where his infamous match with Vader ended in a draw after Vader's eye was popped out. He then had a few more matches in June 1990, teaming twice with Riki Choshu and once with The Pegasus Kid.

Did You Know?

• Hansen won the NWF World Title from Antonio Inoki on February 8, 1980, ending Inoki's reign that had lasted from 1973 to 1980.
• During the 1990 Super Fight In Tokyo Dome match, Hansen unintentionally poked Vader's left eye with his thumb, causing the eye to pop out of its socket—Vader pushed it back in and held it with his eyelid.
• Hansen defeated Antonio Inoki via countout in a MSG League match on May 20, 1981, after hitting a lariat that knocked Inoki off the apron.
• Hansen first came to NJPW in January 1977 through the booking of Vince McMahon Sr.