Gran Hamada Passes Away at Age 74

Japanese wrestling legend Gran Hamada, real name Hiroaki Hamada, passed away this past Friday at the age of 74.

Hamada’s passing was first announced by Mexican news outlet Realidad San Luis who reported that he had passed away at his home in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The cause of death for Hamada is currently not known.

Following his passing, New Japan Pro Wrestling released an official statement reflecting on the life and wrestling legacy of Hamada.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hiroaki Hamada, better known to wrestling fans as Gran Hamada, on February 15, 2025. He was 74.

Considered among the first generation of Young Lions in NJPW, he debuted on March 16 of 1972 during New Japan’s opening series opposite Tatsumi Fujinami. His relatively diminutive stature would earn him the nickname Little Hamada that he competed under until a transformative excursion to Mexico in 1975.

Rounding out the remainder of the decade in Mexico, where would be joined by future original Tiger Mask Satoru Sayama, Hamada’s athleticism and charisma saw him beloved by crowds, and the ‘Little’ becoming ‘Gran’. Hamada would become a seminal figure in blending Mexican lucha libre with the NJPW Strong Style, and would further ‘lucharesu’ back home. After a brief retirement in the mid 1980s, Hamada would be part of the first Universal Pro-Wrestling card in March 1990. Universal’s pioneering junior heavyweight centric style would be carried into the Great Sasuke led Michinoku Pro.

August 14, 1994, during the G1 Climax, Hamada would make his return to NJPW with a win over Jyushin Thunder Liger, and Hamada would continue to make sporadic appearances in NJPW rings through the 1990s, being part of three Best of the Super Jr. tournaments in 1995, 1999 and 2000.

“Little giant” Hamada’s dynamic and innovative style made him one of the most influential junior heavyweight stars in history. The thoughts and deepest sympathies of all at New Japan Pro-Wrestling go to Hamada’s family, friends and fans. 

Hamada’s professional wrestling career spanned from 1972 to 2018 and worked for several notable promotions including New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Universal Lucha Libre, Universal Wrestling Association, Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (current CMLL), and WWF.

Hamada was known for being one of the first trainees in NJPW’s dojo system and made his official debut for the promotion during its inagural year in 1972. Hamada was also most known for working under the ring name of “Gran Hamada” which he received during his excursion to Mexico from fans and promoters in the country.

Hamada’s notable career achievements and accolades includes him being a one-time Big Japan Heavyweight Champion, one-time NWA World Middleweight Champion, one-time UWF Super Middleweight Champion, one-time UWA/UWF Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, five-time UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Champion, and one-time WWF Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, and winner of the AJPW International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team League in 1984 and the NJPW One Night Eight Man Tag Team Tournament in 1994.