Folks, we lost a legend.
On February 15, 2025, reports confirmed the passing of Hiroaki “Gran” Hamada, one of the most influential junior heavyweights in wrestling history. He was 74 years old. While no cause of death has been revealed, what is clear is Hamada’s legacy—a career that shaped the very foundation of modern high-flying wrestling.
From NJPW Trainee to Lucha Libre Icon
Hamada was one of the first-ever trainees in the NJPW Dojo back in 1972. And while some saw him as undersized, those who knew better saw something special. Sent on excursion to Mexico’s Universal Wrestling Association in 1975, Hamada didn’t just adapt—he flourished. The Mexican crowd embraced him, giving him the name El Gran Hamada—because “great” wasn’t just a gimmick. It was a fact.
And folks, that’s where history changed.
Hamada mastered Lucha Libre, blending it with Japanese puroresu and laying the groundwork for the junior heavyweight/cruiserweight revolution we know today. If you love high-flying, fast-paced wrestling? Gran Hamada helped build that.
A Career Spanning Generations and Continents
Hamada didn’t just thrive in NJPW and UWA—he was a champion everywhere:
🏆 All Japan Pro Wrestling
🏆 CMLL (formerly EMLL)
🏆 Michinoku Pro
He even had a brief brush with WWE history, becoming one-half of the ONLY WWE Intercontinental Tag Team Champions alongside Perro Aguayo. (Yes, that was a thing.)
While he rarely wrestled in the U.S., he was part of history, appearing at ECW’s first-ever PPV, Barely Legal, in 1997—representing Michinoku Pro in a match that helped showcase junior heavyweight talent to American audiences.
Hamada’s career spanned over four decades, and in 1990, he even founded UWF Japan, further cementing his influence. He wrestled his final matches in Mexico and Japan before retiring in 2018.
A True Innovator
Gran Hamada’s contributions to junior heavyweight wrestling, Lucha Libre, and puroresu are immeasurable. His influence can be seen in everyone from Jushin Thunder Liger to Rey Mysterio to today’s top high-flyers.
The wrestling world has lost a true pioneer—but his impact will live forever.