Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Tadao Yasuda has sadly died at the age of 62. The Japanese wrestler was found dead in his Tokyo home on, and as of writing, no cause of death has been reported. Yasuda joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1994 after retiring from sumo and captured the IWGP title in 2001 from Yuji Nagata. Additionally, he fought in MMA and held a 2-4 record.
Yasuda acquired the nickname “Debt King” due to his severe gambling addiction and resulting massive debts, which plagued him from his sumo days onward. Reports indicate he borrowed heavily from various unlicensed sources to cover gambling losses and extravagant spending. This led to financial troubles, family estrangement, and personal hardships, including an alleged attempt to end his own life in 2007. The moniker stuck as a wry reference in wrestling circles, highlighting his lifestyle of living on the edge.
