photo/Emanuel Melo 

A legendary Japanese pro wrestler. A founder of a wrestling school. A "lucha libre" wrestling-style innovator.

A former WWE and WCW wrestler, he held multiple championships in Mexico (8), Japan (16) and North America (4).  He popularized the Asai Moonsault, a springboard-floor-moonsault outside the ring, and the somersault-three-quarter-facelock-reverse Asai DDT. His last name translates into the last student of "'The Dragon' Bruce Lee."  

Yoshihiro Asai, better known to wrestling fans as the Ultimo Dragon, made a rare appearance at an independent, Canadian pro wrestling show: Mississauga's own January 13th UWA Hardcore Wrestling Federation at St. John's Hall.

585 people packed the hall to witness this once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a legendary wrestler in the ring against the UWA Hardcore Wrestling Canadian champion, M-Dogg 20.
When Ultimo Dragon was asked about being in Canada, he gave a thumbs-up sign, smiled, and said "That's OK." Fans bought various replica masks, and other paraphernalia, which he gladly signed.

The show started off with UWA founder Joe. E. Slick welcoming fans with a big announcement from one of the Live Audio Wrestling (LAW) hosts, Jason Agnew. Agnew announced the start of UWA Hardcore wrestling 10 p.m. EST on BITE TV.

Agnew also noted later on that "it's great for them (UWA) to bring up top-notch talent like Ultimo up here in Canada."  

The final match was what the fans waited for: Ultimo Dragon versus M-Dogg 20.  Ultimo was welcomed to huge chants and streamers by the fans. Despite his age and a bit of ring rust, Ultimo put on the best show he could, using various submissions and reversals to keep M-Dogg 20 at bay. M-Dogg got in his own offence, including the move of the night when he knocked Ultimo to the outside and flipped after him with a sling-shot-cross-body Sasuke special. Ultimo dodged the 450-degree splash and nailed his Asai DDT for the win.

Afterwards, the owners of UWA came out and thanked him. "You're an inspiration to all light heavyweight wrestlers," Osiris mentioned emotionally.  He thanked the fans despite his limited English, and promised to come back with his students and fellow wrestlers from Japan, whom he'd love to wrestle with in Canada - with our own UWA Hardcore Wrestling federation.