View source for Keiji Muto

{{short description|Japanese professional wrestler (born 1962)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name=Keiji Muto
|image=Keiji Mutoh 2009.jpg
|caption=Muto in 2009
|names=Bach Mutoh<ref name=BachMutoh/><br />The Black Ninja<ref name=OWW/><br />Great Mota<ref name=MotaDebutMatch/><br />'''(The) Great Muta'''<ref name=OWW/><br />'''Keiji Muto'''<ref name=OWW/><br />Kokushi<ref name=OWW/><br />Kokushi-Muso<ref name=OWW/><br />The Space Lone Wolf<ref name=OWW/><br />The Super Black Ninja<ref name=OWW/><br />The Super Ninja<ref name=OWW/><br />[[Takeda Shingen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ddtpro.com/ddtpro/45951/|script-title=ja:Judgement2017～DDT旗揚げ20周年記念大会～|access-date=March 20, 2017|language=ja|title=DDT ProWrestling}}</ref><br />Viet Cong Ming<ref name=OWW/><br />The White Ninja<ref name=OWW/>
|height=1.88 m<!--In Japan they measure in meters so that should be first--><ref name="wwebio">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/the-great-muta|title=The Great Muta|access-date=September 19, 2020|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>
|weight=104.5 kg<!--In Japan they measure in kilos so that should be first--><ref name="wwebio"/>
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1962|12|23}}<ref name=OWW/><ref name=W1/>
|death_date=
|birth_place=[[Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi]], Japan<ref name=W1/>
|death_place=
|resides=
|spouse=Hisae Ashida (m. 1992)
|children=2
|billed=[[Tokyo, Japan]]<br/>[[Japan|The Land of the Rising Sun]] (as the Great Muta)
|trainer=[[Antonio Inoki]]<br />[[Hiro Matsuda]]<br />[[Kotetsu Yamamoto]]
|debut=October 5, 1984<ref name=OWW/><ref name=W1/>
|retired=[[Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last" Love|February 21, 2023]]
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Keiji Muto'''|武藤 敬司|Mutō Keiji|born December 23, 1962}}<ref name=OWW/><ref name=W1>{{cite web|url=http://www.w-1.co.jp/player/mutou.php|script-title=ja:武藤 敬司|access-date=September 10, 2013|work=[[Wrestle-1]]|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101203741/http://www.w-1.co.jp/player/mutou.php|archive-date=November 1, 2014}}</ref> is a Japanese professional wrestling executive, actor and retired [[professional wrestler]]. He is known for his work under his real name and as his [[alter ego]] {{nihongo|'''The Great Muta'''|グレート・ムタ|Gurēto Muta}} in [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW), as well as [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) and during the 1980s and 1990s, and from his runs in other [[Japan]]ese, [[contiguous United States|American]], [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]], and [[Mexico|Mexican]] [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotions]]. He was the [[President (corporate title)|president]] of [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] (AJPW) from 2002 to 2013 and [[Representative director (Japan)|representative director]] of [[Wrestle-1]] (W-1) from 2013 until its closure in 2020.

Considered one of the greatest and most influential wrestlers of all time, Muto is one of the first Japanese wrestlers (''[[puroresu]]ra'') to gain an international fanbase in the 1990s and beyond, thanks in large part to his Great Muta [[Gimmick (professional wrestling)|gimmick]]. The gimmick is one of the most influential in ''[[puroresu]]'', emulated by many wrestlers, and seen as the most prevalent of Muto's alter ego's. Many wrestlers copied or modified some of the moves that he popularized or innovated, such as the ''[[Professional wrestling strikes#Shining wizard|Shining Wizard]]'', ''[[Moonsault]]'' (also known as the ''Rounding Body Press''), ''[[Professional wrestling holds#Muta lock|Muta Lock]]'', and the ''[[Professional wrestling throws#Dragon screw legwhip|Dragon-screw leg-whip]]''. He took part in what was generally considered to be one of the bloodiest professional wrestling matches at the time against [[Hiroshi Hase]], leading to the creation of the "[[Muta scale]]", which rates the bloodiness of matches relative to this one's 1.0 value.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/44204|title=Complete Playbook: The Great Muta Vol. 2 Revenge of Muta Commercial Tape|first=Ryan|last=Mancuso|publisher=411mania|date=September 11, 2006|access-date=October 24, 2007}}</ref>

Muto is one of the five wrestlers to win the three major championships of puroresu (AJPW's [[Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship]], NJPW's [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship]], and [[Pro Wrestling Noah]]'s [[GHC Heavyweight Championship]]) with [[Kensuke Sasaki]], [[Yoshihiro Takayama]], [[Satoshi Kojima]], and [[Yuji Nagata]]. He also held the [[NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship]], making him an overall nine-time [[Professional wrestling world championship|world champion]]. He is also a 13-time [[World tag team championship|world tag team champion]] with five AJPW [[World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)|World Tag Team Championship]]s, six [[IWGP Tag Team Championship]]s, one [[GHC Tag Team Championship]], and one [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]]. In total, he held 32 championships throughout his 38-year career.

In 2013, Muto founded W-1, where he also wrestled semi-regularly. He made special appearances for the American promotion [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA, renamed Impact Wrestling in 2017) from 2014 to 2019, as part of a talent exchange with W-1. In June 2022, Muto announced that he would retire in 2023. His retirement match occurred on February 21, 2023, in the [[Tokyo Dome]] during Noah's [[Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last-Love"]] event against [[Tetsuya Naito]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/keiji-mutos-final-match-set-for-pro-wrestling-noahs-tokyo-dome-return|title=Keiji Muto's final match set for Pro Wrestling NOAH's Tokyo Dome return|newspaper=Won/F4W - Wwe News, Pro Wrestling News, Wwe Results, Aew News, Aew Results |date=September 7, 2022 }}</ref> [[WWE Hall of Fame (2023)|In April 2023]], Muto was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]].{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}

==Professional wrestling career==
===New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1984–1988)===
[[File:Keiji Mutoh, Oliver Humperdink and Kazuo Sakurada 1986.png|thumb|Muto (right) with [[Kazuo Sakurada]] (left) and manager [[Oliver Humperdink]] (center), circa 1986]]Muto was an accomplished [[amateur wrestling|amateur wrestler]] and a [[judo]] black belt with experience in many national competitions prior to being trained by [[Hiro Matsuda]] in the [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] Dojo. He debuted on October 5, 1984, against [[Masahiro Chono]]. In 1985, Muto was sent on his first learning excursion to the United States. Primarily wrestling in [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]] as the "White Ninja", Muto teamed with [[Kazuo Sakurada|Kendo Nagasaki]]. During his first excursion, Muto became a [[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship#Title history|one-time]] [[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship|NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion]]<ref name=Beltz1>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/flhtnwa.html |title=Solie's Title Histories: CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA (NWA) |website=Solie.org |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref> and a [[NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship#Title history|one-time]] [[NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship|NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Champion]].<ref name=Beltz2>{{cite web|url=http://www.keijimutohcentral.com/titlehistory.html |title=Keiji Muto Championship History |website=Keijimutohcentral.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref> Muto returned to New Japan in 1986, where he was nicknamed "Space Lone Wolf", a space-age type character that was briefly revived in 2005 by [[Kazushige Nosawa|NOSAWA Rongai]].

In March 1987, Muto won the [[IWGP Tag Team Championship]] with [[Shiro Koshinaka]], before losing the titles to [[Akira Maeda]] and [[Nobuhiko Takada]] six days later. In the summer of 1987, Muto took part in the NOW vs. NEW feud, in which he aligned himself with [[Antonio Inoki]] and his group, teaming with the likes of Inoki, [[Seiji Sakaguchi]], [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]], and [[Kantaro Hoshino]], and battling the likes of [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], [[Riki Choshu]], Akira Maeda, [[Kengo Kimura]], and [[Super Strong Machine]].

=== Capitol Sports Promotions (1988)===
{{see also|Three Musketeers (professional wrestling)|l1=Three Musketeers}}

In January 1988, Muto went on another excursion, this time in Puerto Rico for [[Capitol Sports Promotions]] under his new ring name, "Super Black Ninja". He feuded with Miguel Perez Jr., with whom he lost a hair vs. hair match to that April. It was in Puerto Rico he formed the [[The Three Musketeers (professional wrestling)|Three Musketeers]] with Masahiro Chono and [[Shinya Hashimoto]]. He wrestled only one match in New Japan during this period on July 29, before returning to Puerto Rico.

===World Class Championship Wrestling (1988–1989)===
In the fall of 1988, Muto moved to the Dallas, Texas-based [[World Class Championship Wrestling]] under the name Super Black Ninja, where he reunited with Kendo Nagasaki and had a [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with [[Kevin Von Erich]] before departing the organization in March 1989. Muto's personality and ring skills shown in his early American matches earned him a high billing within the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA).

===World Championship Wrestling (1989–1990)===
{{see also|J-Tex Corporation}}

Muto first appeared as "Great Mota" in the NWA's [[World Championship Wrestling]] territory on the March 18, 1989, edition of ''[[WCW Saturday Night]]''. His manager [[Gary Hart (wrestler)|Gary Hart]] introduced him as the son of the [[Great Kabuki]], whom Gary Hart also had managed years earlier. He defeated Cougar Jay in his debut match.<ref name=MotaDebutMatch>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6rq_azufF0 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/-6rq_azufF0| archive-date=November 17, 2021 | url-status=live|title=The Great Muta debuts against Cougar Jay: World Championship Wrestling, March 18, 1989 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=April 3, 2013 |website=YouTube |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=July 6, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Muto's name would eventually be changed to "The Great Muta". Muta would feud with stars like [[Lex Luger]], [[Ric Flair]], and [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]], from whom he would capture the [[WCW World Television Championship]] on September 3, 1989. Muto eventually lost the championship to [[Arn Anderson]] on January 2, 1990, which aired on the January 12, 1990, edition of ''[[WCW Power Hour]]'', and some time after the [[Clash of the Champions X]] on February 6, Muto would return to New Japan, going between his real name and his Muta gimmick as he pleased.

===New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1990–2002)===

====Rise to prominence (1990&ndash;1992)====
Muto quickly rose in the ranks upon returning to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in March 1990. He made his in-ring return to NJPW on April 27 by teaming with [[Masahiro Chono]] to defeat [[Shinya Hashimoto]] and [[Masa Saito]] to win the [[IWGP Tag Team Championship]], marking Muto's second reign with the title. He and Chono would hold the titles for over six months, before finally losing them to [[Hiroshi Hase]] and [[Kensuke Sasaki]] on November 1. During this time, Muto also entered the Kyushu Cup tournament on June 12, in which he defeated Chono to advance to the finals of the tournament, where he lost to Hashimoto. On September 7, Muto introduced his Great Muta moniker for the first time in NJPW during a match against Samurai Shiro, which Muto won. Muto would occasionally perform the Muta gimmick for major matches while competing under his real name for regular matches. On September 30, Muta picked up a huge win over [[Ricky Steamboat]].

Muto revived his Great Muta moniker at the WCW and NJPW-jointly promoted [[WCW/New Japan Supershow I|Starrcade in Tokyo Dome]] event on March 21, 1991, where he defeated [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]]. Later that year, Muto and Chono, along with Hashimoto, cemented their status as the next generation of New Japan, surpassing [[Antonio Inoki]], [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], and [[Riki Choshu]], after the finals of the first [[G1 Climax#1991|G1 Climax]] tournament on August 11. He lost to [[Scott Norton]] but defeated Tatsumi Fujinami and [[Big Van Vader]] in his block to advance to the final against Chono, which turned out to be an epic thirty-minute match in which Muto was bested by Chono and, together with Hashimoto, the three celebrated in the ring, then afterwards they were officially labeled "The Three Musketeers" of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In October, Muto paired with Hiroshi Hase to participate in the [[World Tag League (NJPW)#1991|1991 Super Tag League]], where they lost three of their tournament matches and won three, narrowly missing the chance to qualify for the knockout stage. However, shortly after the tournament, the duo found success as they defeated [[Rick Steiner]] and Scott Norton to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship at Budokan Hall on November 5.

On January 4, 1992, Muto headlined the [[WCW/New Japan Supershow II|Super Warriors in Tokyo Dome]] event as Great Muta by teaming with [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] for the first time ever to defeat [[The Steiner Brothers]] at the [[Tokyo Dome]]. This was the first [[January 4 Tokyo Dome Show]], which would become the flagship event for NJPW in years to come. At the NJPW 20th Anniversary Show on March 1, Muto and Hase lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship to Big Van Vader and [[Bam Bam Bigelow|Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow]]. Muto continued to rise as a singles competitor, gaining his first title shot at the prestigious [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship]] against Riki Choshu on May 17, which he failed to win. Muto participated in the [[G1 Climax#1992|1992 G1 Climax]] for the vacant [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]], defeating [[Barry Windham]] in the opening round in Shizuoka on August 6 and [[Steve Austin]] in the quarterfinals on August 10, before losing to the eventual winner Masahiro Chono in the semi-finals on August 11.

====IWGP Heavyweight Champion (1992&ndash;1996)====
On August 16, Muto donned his Great Muta persona to beat Japanese legend Riki Choshu to win the [[Greatest 18 Club Championship]] and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship for the first time, thus winning the first [[Professional wrestling championship#World championships|world championship]] of his professional wrestling career. He successfully defended both titles against Shinya Hashimoto on September 23 and then retired the Greatest 18 Club Championship to focus on defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He successfully defended the title against Scott Norton on October 18 and Sting on November 22. On December 14, Muta faced Hiroshi Hase in a winning effort in a famous match where Hase used a [[Foreign object (professional wrestling)|foreign object]] to beat at Muta's forehead, as payback for their previous encounters, including the September 14, 1990, encounter, in which Muta busted Hase open. Muta [[Blading (professional wrestling)|bladed]] and cut very deeply into his forehead. As a result of this, Muta bled profusely for the rest of the match, and to this day he still bears scars from where he sliced.

On January 4, 1993, Muta defeated Masahiro Chono in a title versus title match at [[Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome]] (known in North America as [[WCW/New Japan Supershow#III|WCW/New Japan Supershow III]]) to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, thus becoming the second of the only two men to hold both titles at the same time, the first being [[Tatsumi Fujinami]]. After losing the NWA title in WCW, Muta had a variety of challengers in title matches and exhibitions throughout the year. He lost to [[Hulk Hogan]] at [[Wrestling Dontaku 1993|Wrestling Dontaku]] in May and then successfully defended his IWGP title against [[The Great Kabuki]] on June 15. After holding the title for longer than a year, Muta finally lost the title to Shinya Hashimoto on September 20. Following this title loss and a match with Hogan against the [[Road Warriors|Hell Raisers]] ([[Road Warrior Hawk|Hawk Warrior]] and [[Kensuke Sasaki|Power Warrior]]) on September 23, Muto returned to fighting primarily under his real name, reviving the Muta name for certain matches. On December 10, Muto received a rematch against Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which he failed to win.

Muto resumed teaming with Hiroshi Hase in the fall of 1993 and the duo wrestled the [[Steiner Brothers]] in a losing effort at [[Battlefield (professional wrestling)|Battlefield]] on January 4, 1994. Muto reprised his Great Muta moniker for a dream match against the legendary [[Antonio Inoki]] at May's [[Wrestling Dontaku 1994|Wrestling Dontaku]], which Muta lost. In October, Muto and Hase entered the [[World Tag League (NJPW)#1994|Super Grade Tag League]], where they lost only two matches in the tournament, winning rest of their matches and scored fourteen points, thus advancing to the finals on October 30, where they defeated Masahiro Chono and [[Junji Hirata|Super Strong Machine]] to win the tournament, thus earning an IWGP Tag Team Championship opportunity against Hell Raisers on November 25, which Muto and Hase won, thus marking their second reign as a team and Muto's fourth individual tag title reign. They successfully defended the titles against Steiner Brothers in their first title defense at [[Battle 7]] on January 4, 1995.

On February 3, Muto lost to Scott Norton in a #1 contender's match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. However, Muto received an opportunity for the title against Shinya Hashimoto at [[Wrestling Dontaku 1995|Wrestling Dontaku]] on May 3, where he defeated Hashimoto to capture his second IWGP Heavyweight Championship and subsequently vacated the IWGP Tag Team Championship three days later on May 6 to focus on defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Muto successfully defended the title against [[Hiroyoshi Tenzan]] on June 14 and Hawk Warrior on July 13, before winning the [[G1 Climax#1995|G1 Climax]] in August, beating Hashimoto in the finals to become the first of two men to win the G1 Climax as IWGP Heavyweight Champion as Kensuke Sasaki would achieve this feat in [[G1 Climax#2000|2000]]. Muto held the IWGP title throughout the rest of the year. On September 25, Muto successfully defended the title against Junji Hirata. He would then lead New Japan in the opening battles of the feud with [[Nobuhiko Takada]] and the [[UWF International|UWF-i]] army, defeating Takada in his fourth title defense on October 9. Muto closed the year with his fifth successful title defense against [[Shiro Koshinaka]] on December 11. Muto finally lost the title to Takada at [[Wrestling World 1996|Wrestling World]] on January 4, 1996.

====nWo Japan (1996&ndash;2000)====
{{see also|nWo Japan}}

The latter half of 1996 had Muto pitted against Masahiro Chono's Ookami Gundan, which eventually blossomed into a war with the Chono-led [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|nWo Japan]]. In the process, Muto began teasing at a possible [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turn]] to the side of the nWo, proclaiming himself to be the true successor to Antonio Inoki's legacy, and "accidentally" attacking his own partners in the middle of a match. During this period, Muto underwent a long slump in big matches, losing not only to members of the nWo, but fellow New Japan wrestlers including Power Warrior at [[Wrestling World 1997|Wrestling World]] on January 4, 1997, and Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on June 5. The turn was teased many times. Muto would even wear an nWo shirt only to proclaim days later that he refused to join Chono's army. Muto further raised confusion by playing both sides of the feud; fighting as a member of New Japan under his real name, and as The Great Muta in nWo Japan, before being The Great Muta full-time for several months in 1997. The full turn came in September 1997, when Muto, after teasing a turn on his nWo teammates, double-crossed Kensuke Sasaki and [[Kazuo Yamazaki]], sealing away the Muta name and formally joining nWo Japan as himself. Almost immediately following this, he and Chono dominated the tag team scene in NJPW, defeating Yamazaki and Sasaki for their second IWGP Tag Team Championship reign as a duo on October 19, and spray-painting the plates of the belts black as a show of disrespect for the championship's legacy. They continued their dominance in the tag team division by winning the [[World Tag League (NJPW)#1997|Super Grade Tag League]] by defeating [[Manabu Nakanishi]] and Shinya Hashimoto in the final on December 8.

On January 4, 1998, Muto headlined [[Final Power Hall in Tokyo Dome]] as he unsuccessfully challenged Kensuke Sasaki for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Muto and Chono were forced to vacate the IWGP Tag Team Championship on April 21, when Muto injured his knees, as his years of using the [[Moonsault|moonsault press]] were finally catching up to him. During this time, he took a hiatus from action, returning just before the [[G1 Climax#1998|1998 G1 Climax]], from which he was eliminated by [[Genichiro Tenryu]] in the first round. Despite his return, Muto was plagued by this nagging injury, fighting through his pain throughout the rest of 1998 and all of 1999. Towards the end of 1998, Muto took the leadership of nWo Japan, after Chono suffered a neck injury and was out of action, turning the nWo into a face stable. Muto would then team with teammate [[Satoshi Kojima]] as they won the [[World Tag League (NJPW)#1998|Super Grade Tag League]] by defeating Shinya Hashimoto and Tatsumi Fujinami in the final on December 6.

At [[Wrestling World 1999|Wrestling World]] on January 4, 1999, Muto defeated one of Chono's right-hand men, [[Scott Norton]] to win his third IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The following month, Masahiro Chono returned to NJPW and disagreed with Muto over Muto's philosophy and leadership of the nWo Japan, thus leaving the group and Muto feuded with Chono for the name of the nWo, which evolved into a war between the nWo, led by Muto, [[Hiroyoshi Tenzan]], and [[Satoshi Kojima]] and Chono's new [[Team 2000]] unit, with himself, [[Don Frye]], [[Jeff Farmer (wrestler)|Super J]], and others from the old generation of the nWo. Muto successfully defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kensuke Sasaki at St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Team 2000 member Don Frye at Strong Style Symphony, [[Genichiro Tenryu]] on May 5 and Satoshi Kojima on July 20.

In August, Muto entered the [[G1 Climax#1999|G1 Climax]], where he lost only one match to Tatsumi Fujinami while winning the rest of his matches in the block thus qualifying to the final against Manabu Nakanishi, which he lost, leading to a match between Muto and Nakanishi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Final Dome, where Muto retained. Muto revived Great Muta character at Jingu Climax on August 28 for a [[Hardcore wrestling|No Rope Explosive Barbed Wire Barricade Explosive Land Mine Double Hell Deathmatch]] against [[Atsushi Onita|Great Nita]], which Muta won. The following month, Muto entered the [[World Tag League (NJPW)#1999|Super Grade Tag League]] with stablemate Scott Norton, which they won by defeating Manabu Nakanishi and [[Yuji Nagata]] in the final. On December 10, Muto finally lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Genichiro Tenryu. The war between Chono and Muto was lost by Muto at the [[Wrestling World 2000|2000 Wrestling World]] event as he was defeated by Chono. Muto took an extended hiatus to rehabilitate his damaged knees after that, focusing instead on one last run in America for WCW, thus marking the dissolution of nWo Japan as it merged into Chono's Team 2000.

====Bad Ass Translate Trading (2001&ndash;2002)====
[[File:Keiji Mutoh crop.jpg|thumb|Muto in 2008]]
{{see also|Bad Ass Translate Trading}}

After a planned tag team match with FMW's [[Hayabusa (wrestler)|Hayabusa]] for [[Wrestling World 2001]] was cancelled due to Hayabusa's injury to both his elbows that required reconstructive surgery, it seemed as if Muto reached a confusing crossroads in his career; however, he chose to completely change his image, shaving his head bald (he had a pronounced receding hairline throughout much of 2000), growing out a goatee, and aligning himself with a fellow NJPW wrestler who had gone overseas for an extended period of time, [[Shinjiro Otani]]. The two returned to New Japan on January 4, 2001, at Wrestling World, making short work of [[Manabu Nakanishi]] and [[Jushin Liger]]. Shortly after, Muto also began appearing for [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]], where he debuted at King's Road New Century by defeating [[Taiyō Kea]]. On February 18, Muto debuted his new trademark move, the [[Shining Wizard]], to defeat [[Kazunari Murakami]]. Since its creation, it has become an extremely popular move on both sides of the Pacific, used by Muto's allies, rivals, and fans of his work. Muto would begin appearing in both New Japan and on a part-time basis All Japan, which led to Muto creating a new stable with Don Frye and Shinjiro Otani which later came to be known as [[Bad Ass Translate Trading]] (BATT).<ref name=PWI500-2004/> Added to their ranks were Taiyō Kea of [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] and [[Jinsei Shinzaki]] of [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling]]. Muto defeated AJPW's veteran [[Toshiaki Kawada]] in a dream match at Champion Carnival One Night Special on April 14. At Super Force Group Declaration, Muto defeated Hiroshi Hase, then a member of All Japan, which led to Hase joining BATT as well.

Muto then entered the [[2001 G1 Climax]], where he won all matches in his block, with the exception of a loss to Satoshi Kojima, thus qualifying for the semi-final on August 11, in which he defeated [[Tadao Yasuda]] and then lost to Yuji Nagata in the final a day later. Muto would then defend the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the first time in New Japan against [[Scott Hall]] on September 23, which Muto retained. Muto and Hase would then lose to Yuji Nagata and [[Jun Akiyama]] at Indicate of Next.

Muto captured more gold by winning All Japan's [[World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)|World Tag Team Championship]] alongside stablemate Taiyō Kea by defeating Genichiro Tenryu and [[Yoji Anjo]] on October 22. Muto would then successfully defend the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against Masahiro Chono at an All Japan event on October 27. The following day, at a New Japan event, Muto and Kea defeated [[Osamu Nishimura]] and Tatsumi Fujinami in a title versus title match to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship as well, thus giving Muto a total of six belts at one time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/206605/|script-title=ja:武藤 タイトル挑戦"生涯凍結"|date=November 21, 2013|access-date=November 21, 2013|work=[[Tokyo Sports]]|language=ja|archive-date=November 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123154846/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/206605/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Muto and Kea would win that year's [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2001|Real World Tag League]] by defeating [[Mitsuya Nagai]] and Toshiaki Kawada in the final. Muto closed out the year with a successful title defense of the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against Tatsumi Fujinami at a New Japan event on December 11.

Muto wrestled his last match as a member of the New Japan roster at [[Wrestling World 2002]] on January 4, 2002, where he alongside his teammate Hiroshi Hase defeated Osamu Nishimura and Tatsumi Fujinami. Muto would then defect full-time to All Japan, which led to him and Kea being stripped off the IWGP Tag Team Championship on February 2.

=== World Championship Wrestling (1990–1995, 2000)===

====Sporadic appearances (1990&ndash;1995)====
At [[Clash of the Champions XIII]] in November 1990, it was announced that The Great Muta would be returning to World Championship Wrestling at [[Starrcade '90: Collision Course]] the following month to team with Mr. Saito. At Starrcade, Muto teamed with Saito in the Pat O'Connor Memorial Tag-Team Tournament at Starrcade. The duo defeated [[The New Zealand Militia]] in the quarterfinals, then [[Victor Zangiev]] and Salmon Hasimikov (representing the [[USSR]]) in the semi-finals. Muta and Saito were defeated by then US Tag Team Champions [[The Steiner Brothers]] in the finals.<ref>{{cite web|title=WCW 1990|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm|website=The History of WWE|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref>

Muta continued to make sporadic appearances within WCW during 1991 while wrestling regularly in New Japan. He was shown in attendance at [[WrestleWar 91]], and then defeated old rival Sting at the combined New Japan/WCW Starrcade event on March 21, 1991, in Tokyo, Japan. Muto was entered into a match with United States Heavyweight Champion [[Lex Luger]] to determine the Number One Contender for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. On June 12 at [[Clash of the Champions XV]], Muta was pinned by Luger to earn the right to challenge Ric Flair at [[The Great American Bash '91]]. He went on to wrestle several house shows that month before returning to Japan.<ref>{{cite web|title=WCW 1991|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw91.htm|website=The History of WWE|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref>

In May he returned again to WCW and began appearing on house shows in tag-team matches with [[Nikita Koloff]] against Big Van Vader and Rick Rude.<ref>{{cite web|title=WCW 1992|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw92.htm|website=The History of WWE|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> He returned to television on the May 30 episode of ''[[WCW Saturday Night]]'', defeating [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]] in a best of three contest. On June 7 Muta was pinned by Scott Steiner at a house show at the Omni in Atlanta, GA. He finished out his short run facing [[Larry Zybysko]] on successive house shows, then returned to New Japan. On December 25, he returned to WCW to begin another short stint, losing to Sting in a non-title match in Jacksonville, Florida. He wrestled Sting again on the house show circuit, as well as Steve Austin. On December 28 he made his fourth successive Starrcade appearance, teaming with Barry Windham to defeat [[Brian Pillman]] and [[2 Cold Scorpio]]. Later that night Muta eliminated Windham to win the [[Starrcade '92: Battlebowl – The Lethal Lottery II]] BattleBowl.

On April 17, 1994, Muto returned to WCW to face Stunning Steve Austin at Spring Stampede for the WCW United States Championship. Austin defeated him by disqualification. This would be his last US appearance for nearly a year, and he would not return until February 19, 1995, when he was shown in the crowd at [[SuperBrawl IV]]. He returned to WCW on May 21, 1995, to defeat Paul Orndorff at [[Slamboree '95]].

====Dark Carnival (2000)====
{{see also|Dark Carnival (wrestling)|l1=Dark Carnival}}

After suffering a knee injury in early 2000, Muto took a hiatus from NJPW and returned to WCW in mid-2000 to team with [[Vampiro]]. Due to the bad booking and the decline of WCW in its last years, however, Muto could not recapture the previous popularity he had in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He returned to television on the July 11, 2000, episode of ''[[WCW Thunder|Thunder]]'' and teamed with [[The Jung Dragons]] against [[Three Count]] and [[Tank Abbott]]. A week later he appeared on ''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Nitro]]'', defeating Vampiro in the quarterfinals of the United States Heavyweight Championship tournament. Later that night he was pinned by [[Mike Awesome]] in the semifinals.<ref>{{cite web|title=WCW 2000-01|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw00-01.htm|website=The History of WWE|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> He won the [[WCW World Tag-Team Championship]] with Vampiro at [[New Blood Rising]] against [[KroniK]]. They lost it the next night on ''Nitro'' against the team of [[Rey Mysterio]] and [[Juventud Guerrera]]. His last WCW match came at a house show on September 23, 2000, in Lubbock, TX against Sting.

After leaving WCW, a no-compete clause in his WCW contract prevented him from competing in the [[World Wrestling Federation]].

===All Japan Pro Wrestling (2001–2013) ===

====Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion (2001&ndash;2003)====
[[File:Great Muta.jpg|thumb|Muto as The Great Muta in November 2009]]

Muto, as a member of [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]], made part-time appearances to All Japan in 2001, fighting [[Toshiaki Kawada]] and [["Dr. Death" Steve Williams]] in major singles matches on pay-per-view. 2001 proved to be Muto's year of renewal besides the formation of his BATT unit in New Japan, as he challenged, and defeated Genichiro Tenryu for All Japan's coveted [[Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship]] on June 8.  In Muto's first title defense on July 14, Steve Williams lost to Muto for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in a pay-per-view main event, where it ended in an altercation. After leaving the backstage area Williams would then going on a huge swearing tirade, where he kicked a trash can, was about to cry in tears, and then throwing his arm-pads to the ground while swearing again.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6ybF6v8TJc | title=😂 Funniest Dr. Death Steve Williams promo ever, rare, F-bombs "TV-MA" style (07 14 2001 AJPW PPV) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=June 15, 2021 }}</ref> Such scenes never happened in the traditional All Japan and was characteristic to the "crash TV" style of [[Vince Russo]]'s writing. This would ultimately lead Muto to a grudge feud with Williams into 2002.

On January 11, 2002, following the end of a year-long cross-promotional ''angle'' with [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]], Keiji Muto shocked the Japanese wrestling world by defecting to All-Japan as a full-time competitor, taking [[Satoshi Kojima]] and [[Kendo Kashin]] with him. In his first match as an AJPW contracted wrestler, Muto and Taiyo Kea successfully defended the [[World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)|World Tag Team Championship]] against [[Mike Barton and Jim Steele]] on January 14. Muto would then lose the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to [[Toshiaki Kawada]] on February 24. Returning to his grudge feud with Steve Williams, Muto had a singles match against Williams on pay-per-view, which Williams ultimately won and got his revenge for losing the year prior.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajg6IL98mqo | title=Dr. Death Steve Williams compilation pt. 2 (AJPW All Japan TV 2002) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=May 2, 2020 }}</ref> In April, Muto participated in the [[Champion Carnival#2002|2002 Champion Carnival]], where he lost only two matches in his block while winning the rest of his matches and thus advancing to the knockout stage on April 10, where he defeated [[Satoshi Kojima]] in the semi-final and Mike Barton (Bart Gunn) in the final to win the tournament. Three days later, at Grand Champion Carnival, Muto faced [[Genichiro Tenryu]] in a match for the vacant Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship after Kawada was forced to vacate the title due to injury. Muto lost the match. The following month, on May 12, Muto teamed with [[George Hines]] and [[Kaz Hayashi]] as the trio won the Giant Baba Six-Man Cup tournament. On July 17, Muto and Kea lost the World Tag Team Championship to [[KroniK]].

At the Nippon Budokan on July 20, Muto wrestled as three different characters on the card: "Kokushi Muso", defeating [[Kaz Hayashi]] on the second match, himself in a six-man tag team match in the mid-card, and in the second-to-last match, he defeated Satoshi Kojima, under his "Great Koji" persona, as The Great Muta. On September 30, during an All Japan 30th Anniversary party at the famed Tokyo City Hotel, Mokoto Baba officially announced Muto's appointment as the new president of All Japan, transferring all of the Baba family stock to him.<ref name=PWI500-2004>{{cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling illustrated 500 - 2004 :33 Keiji Muto | work = Pro Wrestling Illustrated | publisher = Sports and Entertainment publications LLC | location = Blue Bell, [[Pennsylvania]], United States | id =  December 2004 | page = 24 | date =  October 2004}}</ref><ref name=AJPWResignationTS/> Despite this position, however, Muto continued to wrestle full-time for the promotion.

At Royal Road 30 Giant Battle In Budokan Final Battle on October 27, Muto under his Great Muta moniker, defeated Genichiro Tenryu to win his second Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. The following month, he lost to [[Bob Sapp]] in a non-title match at Wrestle-1. Muto then entered the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2002|Real World Tag League]] alongside [[Road Warrior Animal|Animal Warrior]] but failed to advance in the tournament. Muta successfully defended the title against [[Mike Awesome|The Gladiator]] in his first title defense on January 13, 2003. On January 19, Muto teamed with [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]] to defeat KroniK in a tag team match, which led to KroniK being injured in the match and being forced to retire. On February 23, Muta lost the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship to [[Shinya Hashimoto]].

====Various feuds and title reigns (2003&ndash;2008)====
Shortly after his title loss, Muto entered the [[Champion Carnival#2003|2003 Champion Carnival]], defeating [[John Tenta]] in the quarter-final but lost to [[Isao Takagi|Arashi]] in the semi-final. On June 8, Muto teamed with Arashi to participate in a tournament for the vacant World Tag Team Championship, which they won by defeating [[Jerry Tuite|Gigantes]] and The Gladiator in the semi-final and [[Jimmy Yang]] and Satoshi Kojima in the final. On July 13, Muto failed to become the #1 contender for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship by losing to Toshiaki Kawada. After successfully defending the tag team titles, Muto and Arashi entered the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2003|Real World Tag League]] but they failed to advance in the tournament. On December 27, Muto made a return to the United States, wrestling for the [[Ring of Honor]] promotion as part of an interpromotional ''All Japan vs. ROH'' card, which hosted a series of cross-promotional "dream" matches. In the main event, Muto reverted to his Great Muta persona and teamed with Arashi to defeat Prophecy members [[Daniel Covell|Christopher Daniels]] and [[Dan Lopez|Dan Maff]]. Muto and Arashi finally lost the tag titles to [[Kaz Hayashi]] and Satoshi Kojima on January 18, 2004.

Muto would then support AJPW in its feud with [[Roughly Obsess and Destroy]] and spent most part of the fall of 2003 and 2004 by competing in several matches against RO&D members. Muto found success in 2004 by entering that year's [[Champion Carnival#2004|Champion Carnival]], which he won by defeating [[Takao Omori]] in the semi-final and [[Kensuke Sasaki]] in the final on April 20. Muto picked up a major win against Osamu Nishimura at Battle Banquet. In November, Muto teamed with Nishimura to participate in the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2004|2004 Real World Tag League]] but could not advance in their block. In 2005, Muto defeated his pupil [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] of NJPW at Realize. On July 26, Muto received a title shot against Satoshi Kojima for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship but failed to win the title. While continuing to feud with RO&D, Muto and his supporters from the AJPW roster also began feuding with the [[Voodoo Murders]]. In November, Muto teamed with [[Akebono Taro|Akebono]] as they entered the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2005|2005 Real World Tag League]], making it to the final against [[Dudley Boyz|Team 3D]], which they lost.

On March 10, 2006, Muto revived his Great Muta moniker as he unsuccessfully challenged Satoshi Kojima for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. Muto failed in the [[Champion Carnival#2006|2006 Champion Carnival]] and continued his feud with Voodoo Murders throughout the year. At the end of the year, Muto was paired with Toshiaki Kawada in the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2006|2006 Real World Tag League]], where they tied Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan with eight points in the round robin stage, which led to a match between the two teams on December 2 to determine the final round opponents for the top-ranked team in the tournament, [[Rosey (wrestler)|RO'Z]] and [[Kohei Suwama|Suwama]]. Muto and Kawada lost their match. On December 15, Muto teamed with [[Kannazuki (comedian)|Kannazuki]] to defeat Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Akimasa Haraguchi to become the inaugural [[F-1 Tag Team Championship|F-1 Tag Team Champions]].

He made his British debut on January 12, 2007, wrestling for Real Quality Wrestling at the [[York Hall]] in Bethnal Green, [[London]], [[England]], where he defeated RQW Heavyweight Champion [[Martin Stone (wrestler)|Martin Stone]] in a non-title match. On February 17, Muto competed as Great Muta for a special tag team match in which he teamed with [[Yoshihiro Tajiri|Tajiri]] to defeat [[Dustin Rhodes|Goldustin]] and [[Jinsei Shinzaki|Hakushi]]. In March, Muto participated in the [[Champion Carnival#2007|2007 Champion Carnival]], competing in Block A and finishing with 6 points total; Muto defeated [[Toshiaki Kawada]] in the finals on March 30, winning the tournament for a third time. At Pro-Wrestling Love In Yokohama, Muto unsuccessfully challenged [[Minoru Suzuki]] for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.

In the fall of the year, Muto and his partner [[Joe Doering]] participated in the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2007|2007 Real World Tag League]], which they won by defeating Satoshi Kojima and Suwama in the final on December 9. This earned them a title shot for the World Tag Team Championship against Kojima and [[Yoshikazu Taru|TARU]] on January 3, 2008, which Muto and Doering won. In April, Muto entered the [[Champion Carnival#2008|2008 Champion Carnival]], winning only two matches and failing to advance in the round robin stage. Muto and Doering lost the World Tag Team Championship to Minoru Suzuki and Taiyo Kea after a five-month reign on June 28.

====Dual world champion (2008&ndash;2009)====
Muto had won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in NJPW earlier in 2008 and successfully defended the title in All Japan against [[Hirooki Goto]] at Pro-Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 5. On September 29, Muto wrestled as The Great Muta as he defeated [[Kohei Suwama|Suwama]] to capture the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship for the third time, becoming only the second wrestler, after [[Satoshi Kojima]], to hold the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the same time. Muta successfully defended the title against Minoru Suzuki at Pro-Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 6. Muto closed out the year with an unsuccessful stint in the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2008|2008 Real World Tag League]] alongside [[Ryota Hama]].

In 2009, Muto took part in a tournament for the vacant [[All Asia Tag Team Championship]] by teaming with Kaz Hayashi, defeating Ryota Hama and [[Shuji Kondo]] in the quarter-final before losing to Minoru Suzuki and [[Nosawa Rongai]] in the semi-final. On March 14, Muto defended his Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship against [[Yoshihiro Takayama]]. He bloodied him severely, as is his trademark, and even used the ''Shining Wizard'' to his opponent on the barricade. During the course of the match, however, his mask was ripped off, and he was bleeding profusely. Towards the end of the match, Takayama dominated Muta, but Muta reversed a kick into a [[Professional wrestling throws#Dragon screw|Dragon Screw]], and attempted to use the Asian Mist against him, but Takayama blocked it, and performed an Everest Suplex Pin on Muta, and won the match. Muta subsequently walked away in shock of what had happened.

Following the title loss, Muto participated in the [[Champion Carnival#2009|2009 Champion Carnival]], where he won four out of five matches in his block, losing only to Kaz Hayashi. As a result, Muto advanced to the semi-final of the tournament, where he lost to Minoru Suzuki. Muto would spend the entire year representing All Japan in matches against Voodoo Murders, [[Tokyo Gurentai]] and F4. In November, Muto teamed with [[Masakatsu Funaki]] to participate in the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2009|2009 Real World Tag League]]. The duo won the tournament by defeating [[Masayuki Kono]] and Suwama.

====World Tag Team Champion (2010&ndash;2011)====
The 2009 Real World Tag League win earned Muto and Masakatsu Funaki, a title match for the World Tag Team Championship against Minoru Suzuki and Taiyo Kea on January 3, 2010, which Muto and Funaki won. On January 30, Muto, under his Great Muta gimmick, made a special appearance for [[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]] in Los Angeles, California, during the [[WrestleReunion 4]] weekend, teaming up with [[Kai (wrestler)|Kai]] in a match, where they defeated the team of [[Joey Ryan (wrestler)|Joey Ryan]] and [[Scott Lost]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlingguerrilla.com/results/2010/show0109.html|title=Kurt Russellreunion|date=January 30, 2010|access-date=October 11, 2011|work=[[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]]}}</ref> On March 9, Muto and Funaki were forced to vacate the titles due to Muto going through a reconstructive knee surgery that kept him out of the ring for the rest of the year. Muto returned to All Japan as Great Muta at Pro-Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol.10 in August, where he lost to [[Kenzo Suzuki|Kenso]] in a [[Tables, Ladders and Chairs match]]. On September 10, Muto faced his former tag team partner Masakatsu Funaki in a special return match, which ended in a thirty-minute time limit draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1271781859 |title=Update on The Great Muta |date=April 20, 2010 |last=Gerweck |first=Steve |access-date=April 21, 2010 |publisher=WrestleView |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805034331/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1271781859 |archive-date=August 5, 2011 }}</ref> On October 24, Muto unsuccessfully challenged Kaz Hayashi for the [[AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship|World Junior Heavyweight Championship]]. On December 12, Muto and [[Kannazuki (comedian)|Kannazuki]] lost the [[F-1 Tag Team Championship]] to [[Ryota Hama]] and [[Koriki Choshu]] after a four-year reign.

Muto would win the junior heavyweight and heavyweight battle royals at the [[Korakuen Hall]] on January 1 and 3, 2011, respectively. At Pro-Wrestling Love In Ryogoku Vol. 12, Muto and Kenso defeated SMOP ([[Akebono Taro|Akebono]] and [[Ryota Hama]]) to win the World Tag Team Championship, marking Muto's fifth and final reign with the title. At [[All Together (professional wrestling)#Tokyo|All Together]], Muto teamed with [[Kenta Kobashi]] to defeat [[Takashi Iizuka]] and [[Toru Yano]] in a tag team match. On October 23, Muto and Kenso lost the World Tag Team Championship to [[Dark Cuervo]] and [[Dark Ozz]], thus ending Muto's final championship reign in All Japan.

====Final years and departure (2011&ndash;2013)====
On June 7, 2011, Muto announced his resignation as the president of All Japan Pro Wrestling, remaining in the promotion as an active wrestler and a member of the Supervisory Board.<ref name=AJPWResignationTS/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://purolove.com/ |title=All Japan: Keiji Muto tritt als Präsident zurück |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715132444/http://purolove.com/ |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |work=Purolove |url-status=dead }}</ref> Muto's decision stemmed from a real-life incident where [[Yoshikazu Taru]] assaulted [[Nobukazu Hirai]] backstage at an All Japan Pro Wrestling show, which led to Hirai suffering a stroke after competing in a match. Muto took the blame for the incident, which led to All Japan suspending not only Taru, but also [[Kazuhiko Masada]], [[Masayuki Kono]] and [[Minoru Tanaka (wrestler)|Minoru Tanaka]] who were present when the attack took place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/headlines/20110607-00000013-spnavi-fight.html|script-title=ja:武藤敬司が社長を辞任 暴行事件の責任取り＝全日本プロレス|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=June 7, 2011|work=Sports Navi|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610190343/http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/headlines/20110607-00000013-spnavi-fight.html|archive-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref> After being on the midcard and without a big feud for most of 2011, Muto became the main challenger for Noah's [[Jun Akiyama]], who had won the Triple Crown Championship from [[Kohei Suwama|Suwama]]. Muto reunited with Kenta Kobashi at [[All Together (professional wrestling)#Sendai|All Together]] to defeat Akiyama and [[Takao Omori]]. Akiyama challenged Muto to a match for the title that took place on March 20, 2012, which Muto eventually lost.

On June 1, Muto returned to the United States to make an appearance for Pro Wrestling Syndicate (PWS) in [[Rahway, New Jersey]], teaming with Kai to defeat [[Tony Nese|Anthony Nese]] and [[Sami Callihan]] in a tag team match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://battle-news.com/news/2012/06/001250.php|title=ムタとKaiがアメリカPWSの5周年記念大会に参戦！初日のタッグではムタの閃光魔術が炸裂！2日目はKaiがシングルマッチで痛み分け|date=June 5, 2012|access-date=June 6, 2012|work=Battle News|language=ja}}</ref> In November 2012, Muto and his business partners sold all of their All Japan shares to the Speed Partners corporation for [[Japanese yen|¥]]200 million.<ref name=AJPWResignationTS/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/p-bt-tp0-20130226-1090287.html|script-title=ja:全日買収！企業再生会社が新日に宣戦布告|date=February 26, 2013|access-date=June 2, 2013|work=[[Nikkan Sports]]|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyoipo.com/moneystyle/money_news/yucasee_media/index.htm?seqid=864 | script-title=ja:全日本プロレス買収で株式上場話も再燃か？ | date=March 1, 2013 | access-date=July 13, 2013 | work=Tokyo IPO | language=ja | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827145638/http://tokyoipo.com/moneystyle/money_news/yucasee_media/index.htm?seqid=864 | archive-date=August 27, 2013 }}</ref> On June 1, 2013, Speed Partners president Nobuo Shiraishi took over as the new president of All Japan, firing the previous president, Muto's longtime right-hand man Masayuki Uchida, in the process, which led to Muto resigning from the promotion, effective June 30, 2013.<ref name=AJPWResignationTS>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/148970/|script-title=ja:全日新社長に白石氏 武藤は辞職し内田氏は更迭|date=June 2, 2013|access-date=June 2, 2013|work=[[Tokyo Sports]]|language=ja|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328231358/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/148970/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/sports/fight/headlines/article/20130602-00000015-dal|script-title=ja:全日本、白石社長の新体制スタート...離脱濃厚の武藤は新団体設立か|date=June 2, 2013|access-date=June 2, 2013|work=Sports Navi|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729160931/http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/sports/fight/headlines/article/20130602-00000015-dal|archive-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/p-bt-tp0-20130602-1136672.html|script-title=ja:武藤が全日会長辞任 新社長と折り合わず|date=June 2, 2013|access-date=June 2, 2013|work=[[Nikkan Sports]]|language=ja}}</ref>

=== New Japan Pro-Wrestling ===
====2004–2005====
Muto returned to NJPW as a member of the All Japan roster at [[Wrestling World 2004|Wrestling World]] on January 4, 2004, to team with [[Bob Sapp]] to defeat [[Cho-Ten]]. Muto next appeared at Pro-Wrestlers Be Strongest by teaming with [[Osamu Nishimura]] in a loss to [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] and [[Shinsuke Nakamura]]. Muto would wrestle only one match for NJPW in 2005 at Nexess VI, where he defeated Ron Waterman.

====2007–2009====
He then appeared at [[Wrestle Kingdom I]] in 2007 where he reunited with former partner and rival [[Masahiro Chono]] to defeat [[Tencozy]] in a "Super Dream Tag match" pitting NJPW and AJPW wrestlers together.

On January 4, 2008, at [[Wrestle Kingdom II in Tokyo Dome]], under the Great Muta persona, he defeated [[Hirooki Goto]]. On April 27, Muto defeated [[Shinsuke Nakamura]] to win his fourth IWGP Heavyweight Championship, this was his second appearance in 2008 for NJPW and he had not held the title for eight years and four months prior to the win. After retaining the title against Manabu Nakanishi and [[Togi Makabe]], Muta defended the title against former champion Shinsuke Nakamura at [[Destruction '08|Destruction]] on October 13 and retained following a [[Frankensteiner]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=88|title=Results New Japan, 10/13/08|date=October 13, 2009|access-date=January 27, 2010|publisher=Strong Style Spirit}}</ref> He would lose the title to his former student Hiroshi Tanahashi at [[Wrestle Kingdom III]] on January 4, 2009, after Tanahashi used his signature [[Frog splash|High Fly Flow]] twice to get the pin.<ref name=KingdomIII>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=302|title=Results New Japan, 1/4/09|date=January 4, 2009|access-date=January 27, 2010|publisher=Strong Style Spirit}}</ref> After the match, Muto said backstage that he had passed Tanahashi his sash after doing his best for over half a year to raise the worth of the title, and suggested that he would withdraw and leave New Japan to move their company forward.<ref name=KingdomIII/> Muto would make his second appearance in NJPW on October 12 to commemorate Masahiro Chono's twenty-fifth year in professional wrestling as Muto teamed with Chono and [[Kenta Kobashi]] to defeat Jun Akiyama, Manabu Nakanishi and Satoshi Kojima in a six-man tag team match.

====2012–2014====
On January 4, 2012, Muto made a return to New Japan at [[Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome]], where he defeated [[Tetsuya Naito]] in a singles match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=470|title=NJPW 40th anniversary Tour. レッスルキングダムVI in 東京ドーム|access-date=January 4, 2012|work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108044116/http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=470|archive-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> A year later at [[Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome]], Muto teamed with Shinjiro Otani, a replacement for an injured [[Daichi Hashimoto]], in a tag team match, where they were defeated by Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=657|title=Wrestle Kingdom 7 ～Evolution～ in 東京ドーム|access-date=January 4, 2013|work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]|language=ja}}</ref> Muto returned to New Japan again a year later at [[Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome]], now working as The Great Muta in a tag team match, where he and [[Toru Yano]] defeated ''[[Suzuki-gun]]'' ([[Minoru Suzuki]] and [[Shelton Benjamin|Shelton X Benjamin]]). As the only face in the match, Muta turned on Yano towards the end of the match, but his green mist accidentally hit Suzuki instead, leading to Yano pinning him for the win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=781|title=バディファイトPresents Wrestle Kingdom 8 in 東京ドーム|access-date=January 4, 2014|work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/otherppvs/article_75461.shtml|title=Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of New Japan's biggest show of the year - four title changes, former WWE/TNA stars featured, more|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=January 4, 2014|access-date=January 4, 2014|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>

====2019–2023====
Muto, in his Great Muta persona, was the last entrant in the [[ROH Honor Rumble|Honor Rumble]] at the [[G1 Supercard]] Show on April 6, 2019. This marked his first appearance for the promotion in 5 years. On February 19, 2020, Muto made an appearance at the [[Tiger Hattori]] Retirement Show, appearing alongside fellow NJPW alumni [[Riki Choshu]], [[The Great Kabuki]], and [[Hiroshi Hase]].

On January 8, 2022, at [[Wrestle Kingdom 16]], Muto teamed with [[Kaito Kiyomiya]] in a losing effort against [[Kazuchika Okada]] and [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] during the event's main event match. On November 20, Muto, in his Great Muta persona, competed in his penultimate NJPW match at the [[Historic X-Over]] event. At the event, Muta teamed with [[Chaos (professional wrestling)|Chaos]] ([[Kazuchika Okada]] and [[Toru Yano]]) to defeat [[United Empire]] ([[Great-O-Khan]], [[Jeff Cobb]], and [[Aaron Henare]]). On January 4, 2023, at [[Wrestle Kingdom 17]] night 1, Muto competed in his final NJPW match, teaming with Hiroshi Tanahashi and [[Shota Umino]] to defeat ''[[Los Ingobernables de Japon]]'' ([[Tetsuya Naito]], [[Sanada (wrestler)|Sanada]] and [[Bushi (wrestler)|Bushi]]). Muto appeared at night 2 of Wrestle Kingdom 17, challenging Naito to a retirement match as part of Noah's [[Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last-Love"]] event.

===Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007, 2009)===
In 2007, while Muto was in [[Orlando, Florida]], in order to establish a working agreement between All Japan and [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA), he made an appearance for the company, under his Great Muta gimmick, at the [[Destination X (2007)|Destination X]] pay-per-view, in a segment with [[Christian Cage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/03/12/3736821.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107135122/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/03/12/3736821.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 7, 2016|title=Samoa Joe denied at Destination X|date=March 12, 2007|last=Sokol|first=Chris|access-date=April 21, 2010|publisher=Slam! Sports}}</ref> In February 2009 Muto was featured in multiple interview segments, taped in Japan, where he spoke of his student [[Akira Raijin]], who had just begun working for TNA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1233911336.php|title=Impact Results - 2/5/09|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=February 6, 2009|publisher=WrestleView|access-date=April 21, 2010}}</ref>

===Wrestle-1 (2013–2020)===
On July 10, 2013, Muto announced the foundation of a promotion named [[Wrestle-1]], bringing over many of the former wrestlers of All Japan Pro-Wrestling that left in June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/sports/fight/headlines/article/20130710-00000001-spnavi |title=武藤敬司が新団体『Wrestle-1』を旗揚げ |date=July 10, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2013 |work=Sports Navi |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822174455/http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/sports/fight/headlines/article/20130710-00000001-spnavi |archive-date=August 22, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20130710-1155147.html | title = 武藤が新団体「Wrestle-1」設立 | date=July 10, 2013 | access-date=July 10, 2013 | work=[[Nikkan Sports]] | language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/161419/ | title=武藤新団体は「Wrestle-1」 | date=July 10, 2013 | access-date=July 10, 2013 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=ja | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061655/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/161419/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> At the promotion's [[Wrestle-1 Hataage Sen|inaugural event]] on September 8, Muto teamed with [[Bob Sapp]] in a main event tag team match, where they defeated [[René Duprée]] and [[Aaron Aguilera|Zodiac]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://live.sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/live/fight/all/2013090801/ |title=武藤新団体「Wrestle-1」旗揚げ戦 |date=September 8, 2013 |access-date=September 8, 2013 |work=Sports Navi |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911075633/http://live.sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/live/fight/all/2013090801 |archive-date=September 11, 2013 }}</ref> During Wrestle-1's secondshow on September 15, Muto made his first Japanese appearance as The Great Muta in two years, when he and [[Yoshihiro Tajiri|Tajiri]] defeated Duprée and Zodiac in a tag team match.<ref name=Wrestle1MutaReturn>{{cite web | url = http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20130915-1189982.html | script-title=ja:ムタワールド全開 体固めで勝利／Ｗ－１ | date=September 15, 2013 | access-date=September 15, 2013 | work=[[Nikkan Sports]] | language=ja}}</ref> On October 18, Muto announced his semi-retirement, saying that in the future he would only work Wrestle-1's larger events.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/196141/ | script-title=ja:武藤が半引退表明でリアル・ムタ状態に | date=October 21, 2013 | access-date=December 1, 2013 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=ja | archive-date=March 28, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328231132/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/196141/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> On March 2, 2014, Muto put his career on the line at [[Kaisen: Outbreak]], Wrestle-1's first event in [[Ryōgoku Kokugikan]]. Muto teamed with [[Rob Terry]] and the debuting Taiyō Kea in a six-man tag team match, where they defeated Masayuki Kono, René Duprée and [[Samoa Joe]], thus saving his career.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/240515/ | script-title=ja:武藤がＷ―１の米国本土上陸を宣言 | date=March 3, 2014 | access-date=March 3, 2014 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=ja | archive-date=October 18, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018040415/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/240515/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Through Wrestle-1's working relationship with TNA, Muto, working under his Great Muta persona, returned to the American promotion on March 9 at [[Lockdown (2014)|Lockdown]], where he, Sanada and Yasu defeated [[Chris Sabin]], [[Christopher Daniels]] and [[Frankie Kazarian|Kazarian]] in a six-man tag team [[Steel Cage match|steel cage match]].<ref name="Meltzer"/> Muta returned to TNA on the July 25, 2014, defeating [[Robert Stone (wrestler)|Robbie E]] at an ''[[TNA Impact!|Impact Wrestling]]'' taping in New York City. After the match, Sanada turned on Muta.<ref name="Lunn"/> This led to a match at Wrestle-1's Shōgeki: Impact event on July 6, where The Great Muta defeated Sanada in a main event singles match.<ref name="Wrestle-1"/><ref name="Caldwell"/> On September 22, Muto suffered his first direct loss since March 2012, when he was submitted by Masayuki Kono in a four-on-three handicap match, where he and the Novus stable ([[Jiro Kuroshio]], Koji Doi and Rionne Fujiwara) faced the Desperado stable (Kono, [[Kazma Sakamoto]] and [[Ryoji Sai]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2014/09/23/0007355358.shtml|script-title=ja:武藤ギブアップ...Ｗ-１旗揚げ後初黒星|date=September 23, 2014|access-date=September 23, 2014|work=Daily Sports Online|language=ja}}</ref> On October 12, Muto, as the Great Muta, worked TNA's [[Bound for Glory (2014)|Bound for Glory]] event in Tokyo, teaming with Tajiri in a tag team main event, where they defeated [[James Storm]] and The Great Sanada.<ref name="McNeish"/> On November 1, during an event celebrating his 30th anniversary in professional wrestling, Muto defeated Masayuki Kono to become the second [[Wrestle-1 Championship|Wrestle-1 Champion]].<ref name=HoldOut>{{cite web | url=http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1499 | title=武藤敬司デビュー30周年記念大会「Hold Out」 | date=November 1, 2014 | access-date=November 1, 2014 | work=[[Wrestle-1]] | language=ja | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102083336/http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1499 | archive-date=November 2, 2014 }}</ref> He made his first successful title defense on December 22 against Seiya Sanada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1529|title=Gaora presents Wrestle-1 Tour 2014 Final|date=December 22, 2014|access-date=December 22, 2014|work=[[Wrestle-1]]|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141222120419/http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1529|archive-date=December 22, 2014}}</ref> His second defense took place on January 30, 2015, when he defeated [[Manabu Soya]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1532|title=Wrestle-1 Sunrise Tour 2015|date=January 30, 2015|access-date=January 30, 2015|work=[[Wrestle-1]]|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202014641/http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1532|archive-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref> On February 16, Muto, as the Great Muta, returned to TNA, defeating [[Ken Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Anderson]] as part of [[TNA One Night Only#Global Impact: USA vs The World|Global Impact: USA vs The World]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/91671/tna-gutcheck-one-night-only-ppv-spoilers.html?p=1|title=TNA Gutcheck One Night Only PPV spoilers|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=February 17, 2015|access-date=February 17, 2015|work=Pro Wrestling Insider}}</ref> On March 8, Muto lost the Wrestle-1 Championship to Kai in his third defense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1538|title=Wrestle-1 Tour 2015 Trans Magic|date=March 8, 2015|access-date=March 8, 2015|work=[[Wrestle-1]]|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309102153/http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1538|archive-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref> On March 27, 2017, Muto announced he was stepping down as the president of Wrestle-1 with Kaz Hayashi taking over the position. Muto remained with the promotion as its representative director. On June 8, 2019, Muto returned to [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|Impact Wrestling]], wrestling as The Great Muta in the main event of their [[Impact Wrestling A Night You Can't Mist|A Night You Can't Mist]] event in a tag team match where he teamed with [[Tommy Dreamer]] to defeat [[Michael Elgin]] and [[John Morrison (wrestler)|Johnny Impact]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=Mike Killam |title=Impact Wrestling: A Night You Can't Mist Results (6/8): Tommy Dreamer & Great Muta vs Johnny Impact & Michael Elgin |url=https://www.prowrestling.com/impact-wrestling-a-night-you-cant-miss-results-6-8-tommy-dreamer-great-muta-vs-johnny-impact-michael-elgin/ |website=Pro Wrestling.com |access-date=January 31, 2020 |date=June 9, 2019 |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131221935/https://www.prowrestling.com/impact-wrestling-a-night-you-cant-miss-results-6-8-tommy-dreamer-great-muta-vs-johnny-impact-michael-elgin/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On April 1, 2020, at Wrestle-1's final event, Muto team with Kaz Hayashi, [[Masayuki Kono]], and [[Shuji Kondo]] unsuccessfully against Kuma Arashi, [[Shotaro Ashino]], [[Daiki Inaba]], and Koji Doi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=259993|title=W-1 WRESTLE-1 Tour 2020 Trans Magic - Tag 2|access-date=April 10, 2020|work=cagematch.net}}</ref>

=== Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2014–2015, 2019) ===
On March 2, 2014, at [[TNA One Night Only (2014)#Global Impact Japan|TNA Global Impact Japan]], Muto, under his Great Muta persona, teamed with [[Rob Terry]] and [[Taiyō Kea]] to defeat [[Masayuki Kono]], [[René Duprée]] and [[Samoa Joe]] in a six-man tag team match. Later in March, through Wrestle-1's working relationship with [[Impact Wrestling|TNA]], Muto, working under his Great Muta persona, returned to America, at [[Lockdown (2014)|Lockdown]], where he, Sanada and Yasu defeated [[Chris Sabin]], [[Christopher Daniels]] and [[Frankie Kazarian|Kazarian]] in a six-man tag team [[Steel Cage match|steel cage match]].<ref name="Meltzer">{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/100-tna/35834-tna-lockdown-live-ppv-coverage-from-miami|title=TNA Lockdown live PPV coverage from Miami|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=March 9, 2014|access-date=March 10, 2014|work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>

Muta returned to TNA on the July 25, 2014, defeating [[Robbie E]] at an ''[[Impact Wrestling (TV series)|Impact Wrestling]]'' taping in New York City. After the match, Sanada turned on Muta.<ref name="Lunn">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_79255.shtml|title=TNA news: Impact spoilers 7/17 & 7/24 - full results from Night 1 in New York City with summer TV developments|last=Lunn|first=Scott|date=May 26, 2014|access-date=May 26, 2014|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> This led to a match at Wrestle-1's Shōgeki: Impact event on July 6, where The Great Muta defeated Sanada in a main event singles match.<ref name="Wrestle-1">{{cite web | url=http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1473 | title=Fighting Entertainment Wrestle-1 「衝撃～Impact～」 | date=July 6, 2014 | access-date=July 6, 2014 | work=[[Wrestle-1]] | language=ja | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702024604/http://www.w-1.co.jp//schedule/tour.php?id=1473 | archive-date=July 2, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Caldwell">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_79435.shtml|title=TNA news: Result from Tag Title match in Japan, plus Muta vs. Sanada, TNA heel duo in tag action|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=July 6, 2014|access-date=July 6, 2014|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>  On October 12, the blow-off of the Muta-Sanada feud occurred at [[Bound for Glory (2014)|Bound for Glory]] in Tokyo, where Muta teamed with Tajiri in a tag team main event to defeat [[James Storm]] and The Great Sanada.<ref name="McNeish">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/tna-bound-for-glory-results/51149-tna-bound-for-glory-ppv-results-10-12-14-from-tokyo-japan|title=TNA Bound for Glory PPV Results - 10/12/14 (From Tokyo, Japan)|last=McNeish|first=Greg|date=October 12, 2014|access-date=October 13, 2014|work=Wrestleview}}</ref> On February 16, 2015, Muto, as the Great Muta, returned to TNA, defeating [[Ken Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Anderson]] as part of [[TNA One Night Only (2015)#Global Impact – USA vs. The World|Global Impact – USA vs. The World]].

On June 8, 2019, Muto returned to TNA, now renamed Impact Wrestling, wrestling as The Great Muta in the main event of their [[Impact Wrestling A Night You Can't Mist|A Night You Can't Mist]] event in a tag team match where he teamed with [[Tommy Dreamer]] to defeat [[Michael Elgin]] and [[John Morrison (wrestler)|Johnny Impact]].

===All Elite Wrestling (2019, 2022)===
On November 9, 2019, Muto made a surprise special appearance at [[All Elite Wrestling]]'s [[Full Gear (2019)|Full Gear]] as one of the judges for the [[AEW World Championship]] match, in the event of a draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/aew-full-gear-results-recap-grades-jon-moxley-kenny-omega-violence-heel-turn-highlight-solid-show/|title=AEW Full Gear results, recap, grades: Jon Moxley-Kenny Omega violence, heel turn highlight solid show|work=[[CBS Sports]]|first1=Brent|last1=Brookhouse|first2=Jack|last2=Crosby|date=November 9, 2019|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref>

On September 23, 2022, he made a surprise appearance at [[AEW Grand Slam (2022)|''AEW Rampage'': Grand Slam]], saving [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] from [[The House of Black (professional wrestling)|The House of Black]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Cain A. |title=It's The Great Muta in AEW! |url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2022/9/23/23369419/aew-rampage-grand-slam-2022-results-sting-darby-house-of-black-the-great-muta-surprise-legend-retire |website=Cageside Seats |access-date=24 September 2022 |language=en |date=23 September 2022}}</ref>

===Pro Wrestling Noah (2020–2023)===
On February 12, 2021, Muto successfully won the [[GHC Heavyweight Championship]] in a match against [[Go Shiozaki]] at [[Pro Wrestling Noah]]'s Destination 2021 event in [[Nippon Budokan]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Barrasso |first1=Justin |title=Edge Grateful for Chance to Main-Event 'WrestleMania' |url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/02/17/wwe-edge-adam-copeland-wrestlemania-opponent-choice |access-date=February 20, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=February 17, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> On March 14, He made his first successful title defense, defeating [[Kaito Kiyomiya]] at the Noah: Great Voyage 2021. He made another successful defense against Masa Kitamiya on April 29 at Noah: The Glory 2021. On June 6, at [[CyberFight Festival 2021|CyberFight Festival]], Muto lost the title to [[Naomichi Marufuji]].

On June 12, 2022, at [[CyberFight Festival 2022]], Muto announced his intention to retire from professional wrestling in 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/japan/keiji-mutoh-announces-retirement-at-cyberfight-festival-2022|title=Keiji Mutoh announces retirement at CyberFight Festival 2022|newspaper=Won/F4W - Wwe News, Pro Wrestling News, Wwe Results, Aew News, Aew Results |date=June 12, 2022 }}</ref> On October 30, it was announced that [[Shinsuke Nakamura]] (while still under a [[WWE]] contract) would be Muto's opponent for the [[Noah The New Year 2023|Noah The New Year]] show on January 1, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Bryan |date=October 30, 2022 |title=WWE's Shinsuke Nakamura to face The Great Muta at NOAH The New Year 2023|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/japan/wwes-shinsuke-nakamura-to-face-the-great-muta-at-noah-the-new-year-2023 |access-date=October 30, 2022 |website=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Datta |first=Soumik |date=October 30, 2022 |title=WWE's Shinsuke Nakamura to face The Great Muta at NOAH The New Year 2023|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/news-shinsuke-nakamura-set-appear-major-promotion-outside-wwe-dream-match|access-date=October 30, 2022 |website=Sportskeeda}}</ref> At the event, Nakamura defeated Muto, who was wrestling under his Great Muta persona.

On January 22, 2023, at [[The Great Muta Final "Bye-Bye"]], Muto wrestled his last match under his Great Muta persona, teaming with [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] and [[Darby Allin]] to defeat [[Jinsei Shinzaki|Hakushi]], [[Akira Nogami|Akira]] and [[Naomichi Marufuji]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sting Set To Participate In The Great Muta Final 'Bye-Bye' {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/sting-set-participate-great-muta-final-bye-bye |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.fightful.com |language=en}}</ref> On February 21, Muto wrestled the final full match of his professional wrestling career, losing to [[Tetsuya Naito]] at the [[Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last-Love"]] event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keiji Muto To Face Tetsuya Naito In His Last Match On 2/21 {{!}} Fightful News |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/keiji-muto-face-tetsuya-naito-his-last-match-221 |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=www.fightful.com |language=en}}</ref> After the match Muto challenged Masahiro Chono, who was on commentary for the match with Naito and hadn't wrestled a match in 9 years, to an impromptu final match, which Chono won by submission, the opposite result from their common debut nearly 39 years before.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=60200 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223022110/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=60200 |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |title=NJPW Toukon Series 1984 – Tag 1 |work=CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database |last=Kreikenbohm |first=Philip |date=October 5, 1984 |access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref>

On March 15, 2023, The Great Muta was announced as the second individual inductee for the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] [[WWE Hall of Fame (2023)|Class of 2023]].<ref name="Muta"/> At the ceremony, Muta was inducted by [[Ric Flair]].<ref name="Muta">{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Gregory|title=The Great Muta announced for WWE Hall of Fame|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-hall-of-fame/article/the-great-muta-announced-for-wwe-hall-of-fame|work=[[WWE]]|date=March 15, 2023|access-date=March 16, 2023}}</ref>

==Professional wrestling style and persona==
Muto frequently wrestled under two ring names: the first as Keiji Muto and the second, The Great Muta. Muto innovated the ''[[Professional wrestling holds#Muta lock|Muta Lock]]'', named after him,<ref name=OWW>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/g/great-muta.html|title=Great Muta profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=August 11, 2009}}</ref> and the ''[[Professional wrestling attacks#Shining wizard|Shining Wizard]]''.<ref name=PWI500-2004/><ref name=W1/> He is also known for using the [[Figure-four leglock]]<ref name=OWW/><ref name=VsDiscoWright>{{cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1998074m.htm |title=WCW Monday Nitro - Monday, 07/20/98 |website=Ddtdigest.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref><ref name=VsJindrakOHaire>{{cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2000074t.htm |title=WCW Thunder - Thursday, July 26, 2000 |website=Ddtdigest.com |date=July 26, 2000 |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref> and the [[Moonsault]]<ref name=OWW/><ref name=W1/><ref name=PWI500-2004/><ref name=VsVampiro>{{cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2000073m.htm |title=WCW Tuesday Nitro, 7/18/2000 |website=Ddtdigest.com |date=July 18, 2000 |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref> as finishing moves as well as the [[Asian mist]].<ref name=OWW/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/19970526.htm |title=This Week In The WCW |website=Ddtdigest.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2000082p.htm |title=WCW New Blood Rising 2000 |website=Ddtdigest.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:20230122muta.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Muto as The Great Muta at [[The Great Muta Final "Bye-Bye"]]]]

'''The Great Muta''' is Muto's best-known [[Gimmick (professional wrestling)|gimmick]], which he has wrestled as often throughout his career, switching back and forth between this alter ego and his real name since March 1989. He was originally billed as the son of Japanese wrestler [[Great Kabuki]] (unrelated in real life), who used a similar gimmick, but the connection is rarely mentioned nowadays. Like his father, Great Muta is a mysterious, manifestly supernatural character who distinguishes himself through his [[macabre]] looks and magical skills. His appearance is highlighted by his lavish, exotical entrance costumes, which are taken off to reveal a horrifically painted face, later replaced by an organic-looking mask after Muto shaved his head. Muta uses Muto's moveset with little variation (his version of the ''Shining Wizard'' is named ''Senkou Youjutsu'' ("Flash Magic") instead),<ref name=W1Muta>{{cite web|url=http://www.w-1.co.jp//player/muta.php|script-title=ja:グレート・ムタ|access-date=September 15, 2013|work=[[Wrestle-1]]|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927214340/http://www.w-1.co.jp//player/muta.php|archive-date=September 27, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Wrestle1MutaReturn/> though Muta tends to be much more aggressive and utilizes more weapons. Muta can also spit [[Asian mist|green or red mist]] and plays mind games to distract his opponents. The Great Muta is the gimmick most fans in the United States know Muto for, as he wrestled as The Great Muta throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s for the [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]], and in his later stints in [[World Championship Wrestling]].

The gimmick was deeply expanded during the 2000s in the promotion [[Hustle (professional wrestling)|Hustle]], where he appeared in a storyline in which he gained a son in the form of The Great Bono (played by Muta's wrestling trainee [[Akebono Tarō|Akebono]]), forming a tag team reminiscence of Muta's team with his own father Great Kabuki. Some of those elements were later used in [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] as well. In November 2023, [[Pro Wrestling Noah]] introduced Muta's storyline daughter, Great Sakuya.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/noahglobal/status/1729089822638371216|title=🚨 BREAKING NEWS from the demon world again! 🚨 Great Muta poisoned a girl but gave her one of his entrance masks! The re-appearance of Muta's alleged daughter! Great Sakuya is born!!! #noah_ghc #MONDAYMAGIC|work=[[Pro Wrestling Noah]] on [[Twitter|X]]|date=November 27, 2023|accessdate=November 28, 2023}}</ref>

Other portrayers of the Great Muta character were:
*Troy Endres (2002–2003): Endres, a professional wrestler and [[mixed martial artist]], briefly used the Great Muta gimmick in New Japan Pro-Wrestling from 2002 to 2003. Endres died on August 3, 2014, at age 46.<ref name=ProFightDB>{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/troy-endres-11161.html|title=Troy Endres: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)|accessdate=October 30, 2022}}</ref>
*[[Johnny Stamboli]] (2004–2005): After being released by [[WWE]], Stamboli worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling as the Great Muta from 2004 to 2005, where he feuded with Muto. In his penultimate match under the gimmick on December 5, 2004, Stamboli, as the Great Muta, lost a match to Muto's version of the character.<ref name=CagematchGM>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=552&page=4&search=Great+Muta|title=Matches fought by Great Muta - Cagematch|accessdate=October 30, 2022}}</ref> In 2007, Stamboli began portraying a new character "Rellik" ("killer" spelled backwards) in TNA, which was based on the Great Muta gimmick.<ref name="Kelley">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=21415|author=Kelley, P.|title=Johnny "Rellik" Stamboli interview talks about his TNA character, WCW & WWE days and more|publisher=[[Dave Meltzer|WrestlingObserver.com]]|access-date=2008-04-01|date=2007-11-25}}</ref>

'''Kokushi-Muso''', a gimmick used on special occasions, is a play-off of [[Jinsei Shinzaki]]'s mystic character Hakushi. Muto debuted it in Michinoku Pro Wrestling in 2001, but it later migrated with him to All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he used it when teaming with Shinzaki. ''Kokushi'' means "Black Master" in the same line ''Hakushi'' means "White Master", while ''Muso'' means "Unparalleled"; together, they are a pun with the ''kokushi musou'' [[Japanese Mahjong yaku]]. Like Hakushi, Kokushi is characterized for sporting Buddhist [[shakyo]] painted all over his body, though interspersed with English phrases like Muto's motto "Puroresu Love", and wearing black garments instead of white. Similarly, he uses wrestling moves associated with Hakushi while at the same time retaining mannerisms and moves used by The Great Muta. He finally completes it with Buddhist monk paraphernalia like carrying an [[Buddhist prayer beads#Japanese Beads|ojuzu]] and meditating in the ring.

'''White Ninja''', a Japanese ninja gimmick, was used in [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]] between November 1985 and October 1986.

'''Super Black Ninja''', a gimmick similar to that of the White Ninja, was used in [[World Class Championship Wrestling]] in [[Texas]] and also was used in the [[World Wrestling Council]] in [[Puerto Rico]], between January 1988 and March 1989. This was Muto's first gimmick to sport face paint.

'''Space Lone Wolf''', a space-age type character, was used in New Japan between October 1986 and December 1987. Space Lone Wolf's entrance attire would feature the numbers "610" which means "Muto" in Japanese numerics. Muto had also stated that NJPW founder Antonio Inoki insisted on wearing a helmet to the ring in order to attract sponsorship from a Japanese motorcycle helmet manufacturer.

==Other media==
[[File:BRgNEPPCMAACfcw.jpg|thumb|upright|A billboard of Muto as Bahamutō in 2013, ran as an advertising campaign for [[Shingeki no Bahamut]]]]

Muto has appeared in a vast number of media appearances in Japan, including many commercials and films. Muto was interviewed for wrestling documentary ''[[Bloodstained Memoirs]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/sexandviolencemovie |title=MySpace.com - Bloodstained Memoirs - Wrestling Film - 22 - Male - www.myspace.com/sexandviolencemovie |access-date=October 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227221049/http://www.myspace.com/sexandviolencemovie |archive-date=December 27, 2008 }}</ref>

In 1991, he made his video game debut in New Japan Pro-Wrestling: The Three Musketeers for the Game Boy handheld system in Japan.

In 1995, Muto starred in the Japanese thriller ''Yajuu Densetsu: Dragon Blue'', as Ryusaki, a suave detective who joins forces with a beautiful young spiritualist named Mazuki (played by Hiroko Tanaka) to solve a bizarre case of killings from a mystical sea creature.

In 2000, he appeared in the video game [[Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: Ōdō Keishō|Virtual Pro Wrestling 2.]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andy |title=Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 {{!}} WWE Games & Wrestling Games Database |url=https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/games/virtual-pro-wrestling-2 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=The SmackDown Hotel |language=en-gb}}</ref>

In 2004, he played the role of [[Harold Sakata]] in the movie ''[[Rikidozan (film)|Rikidōzan]]'', a film based on the real-life story of a wrestler who would eventually be known as the "Father of [[Puroresu]]"; Harold Sakata took Rikidozan under his wing and introduced him into the world of professional wrestling.

In 2006, he appeared as a guest star in the Japanese historical [[drama]] series ''[[Saiyūki (TV series)|Saiyūki]]'', playing a village headman who is helped by [[Sun Wukong|Son Gokū]] (played by [[Shingo Katori]]).

Muto has worked extensively with Japanese clothing company [[A Bathing Ape]], helping them to produce a number of t-shirts featuring his likeness and the [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] logo. Muto was also responsible for organizing ''Bapesta Pro Wrestling'', a previously annual wrestling event sponsored and promoted by Bape.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.destructoid.com/the-notoriety-of-keiji-mutoh-118914.phtml|title=The notoriety of Keiji Muto|work=destructoid|access-date=May 30, 2018|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730143636/https://www.destructoid.com/the-notoriety-of-keiji-mutoh-118914.phtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Muto appears as a [[gang]] member in the 2017 video game ''[[Yakuza Kiwami 2]]'', alongside [[Genichiro Tenryu]], [[Masahiro Chono]], [[Riki Choshu]] and [[Tatsumi Fujinami]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201709/21142264.html|title=『龍が如く 極2』武藤敬司・蝶野正洋・長州力・天龍源一郎・藤波辰爾 VS 桐生一馬・真島吾朗が実現!?【TGS2017】|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2017|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|language=ja}}</ref>

In 2024 Muto was added to ''[[WWE 2K24]]'' as part of the [[WCW]] pack [[Downloadable content|DLC]].
<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/news/wwe2k24/wwe-2k24-dlc-list-all-characters-packs-and-release-dates|title=WWE 2K24 DLC List: All Characters Packs and Release Dates|work=The SmackDown Hotel|access-date= April 1, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1992, Muto married his wife, Hisae Ashida. Together they have two children.

Outside of professional wrestling, Muto also owns a yakiniku restaurant, opened in 2015, called "Yakiniku Dining 610" (焼肉Dining 610) which was inspired by Muto's early "Space Lone Wolf" gimmick. In Japanese, the numbers 610 (which were featured on Lone Wolf's entrance attire) can be read as "Muto", lit. translated as "Six-Ten".

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[All Japan Pro Wrestling]]'''
**[[F-1 Tag Team Championship]] ([[F-1 Tag Team Championship#Reigns|1 time]]) – with [[Kannazuki (comedian)|Kannazuki]]<sup>1</sup><ref name=Love10/>
**[[Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship#Reigns|3 times]])<ref name=W1/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/tc-h.html |title=Unified Triple Crown Heavyweight Title (Japan) |website=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)|World Tag Team Championship]] ([[World Tag Team Championship (AJPW)#Title history|5 times]]) &ndash; with [[Taiyō Kea]] (1), [[Isao Takagi|Arashi]] (1), [[Joe Doering]] (1), [[Masakatsu Funaki]] (1) and [[Kenzo Suzuki|Kenso]] (1)<ref name=W1/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/aj-t.html |title=World Tag Team Title (AJPW) |website=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[Akiho Yoshizawa]] Cup (2010) – with [[Masakatsu Funaki]] and [[Ryota Hama|S1 Mask]]<ref name=Love10>{{cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/results/results10.php |title=All Japan Pro-Wrestling Results: 2010 |publisher=Purolove.Com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[Champion Carnival]] ([[Champion Carnival#2002|2002]], [[Champion Carnival#2004|2004]], [[Champion Carnival#2007|2007]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pre.all-japan.co.jp/history/datail.php?id%3D6 |title=全日本プロレス オフィシャルサイト - 公式ホームページ |access-date=December 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115123/http://pre.all-japan.co.jp/history/datail.php?id=6 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 }}</ref>
**[[Giant Baba Memorial Six Man Tag Team Tournament|Giant Baba Six Man Cup]] (2002) – with [[Jackie Fulton|George Hines]] and [[Kaz Hayashi]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/profiles/keijimuto.php |title=Untitled Document |access-date=May 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306204819/http://www.purolove.com/ajpw/profiles/keijimuto.php |archive-date=March 6, 2012 }}</ref>
**January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (2011)
**January 3 Korakuen Hall Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal (2011)
**[[World's Strongest Tag Determination League]] ([[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2001|2001]]) &ndash; with Taiyō Kea<ref name=AJPWtourney>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/ajindex.html |title=All Japan Pro Wrestling |website=Prowrestlinghistory.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**World's Strongest Tag Determination League ([[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2007|2007]]) &ndash; with Joe Doering<ref name=AJPWtourney/>
**World's Strongest Tag Determination League ([[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#2009|2009]]) &ndash; with Masakatsu Funaki<ref name=AJPWtourney/>
*'''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
**[[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name=Beltz1/>
*'''[[Continental Wrestling Federation]]'''
**[[NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<sup>2</sup><ref name=Beltz2/><ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
* '''[[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** [[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame#Members|Class of 2023]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2023/03/16/ipwhf-class-of-2023-both-great-and-gorgeous/|title=IPWHF Class of 2023 both 'Great' and 'Gorgeous'|work=Slam Wrestling|first=Greg|last=Oliver|date=March 16, 2023|accessdate=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507112606/https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2023/03/16/ipwhf-class-of-2023-both-great-and-gorgeous/|archive-date=May 7, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'''
**[[IWGP Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of IWGP Heavyweight Champions|4 times]])<ref name=PWI500-2004/><ref name=W1/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp-h.html |title=IWGP Heavyweight Title (Japan) |website=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[IWGP Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of IWGP Tag Team Champions|6 times]]) &ndash; with [[Shiro Koshinaka]] (1), [[Masahiro Chono]] (2), [[Hiroshi Hase]] (2) and Taiyō Kea (1)<ref name=W1/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttiwgp.html |title=Solie's Title Histories: I.W.P.G |website=Solie.org |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/whtnwa.html |title=Solie's Title Histories: NWA - NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE |website=Solie.org |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[Greatest 18 Club Championship|Greatest 18 Championship]] ([[Greatest 18 Club Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/18club.html|title=Greatest 18 Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-Titles|access-date=January 1, 2010}}</ref>
**[[G1 Climax]] ([[G1 Climax#1995|1995]])<ref name=G1Climax>{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications |chapter = Japan: New Japan G-1 (Grade-1) Climax Tournament Champions| page = [https://archive.org/details/wrestling-title-histories-4th/page/374 375] |year= 2000 |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
**[[G1 Tag League|Super Grade Tag League/G1 Tag League]] ([[G1 Tag League#1993|1993]], [[G1 Tag League#1994|1994]]) &ndash; with Hiroshi Hase<ref name=G1TagClimax/>
**G1 Tag League ([[G1 Tag League#1997|1997]]) &ndash; with Masahiro Chono<ref name=G1TagClimax/>
**G1 Tag League ([[G1 Tag League#1998|1998]]) &ndash; with [[Satoshi Kojima]]<ref name=G1TagClimax/>
**G1 Tag League ([[G1 Tag League#1999|1999]]) &ndash; with [[Scott Norton]]<ref name=G1TagClimax>{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications |chapter = Japan: New Japan G-1 (Grade-1) Climax Tag Tournament Champions| page = [https://archive.org/details/wrestling-title-histories-4th/page/374 374] |year= 2000 |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
**MVP Award (2001)<ref name=NJPWAwards2001>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/2001-awards.html|title=2001 New Japan Awards|access-date=April 28, 2011|work=Strong Style Spirit}}</ref>
**Singles Best Bout (2001) <small>vs. [[Yuji Nagata]] on August 12</small><ref name=NJPWAwards2001/>
**Tag Team Best Bout (2001) <small>with Hiroshi Hase vs. [[Jun Akiyama]] and Yuji Nagata on October 8</small><ref name=NJPWAwards2001/>
*'''''[[Nikkan Sports]]'''''
**Match of the Year (1999)<small> vs. Genichiro Tenryu on May 3</small><ref name="purolove.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.purolove.com/awards.php|website=PUROLOVE.com|title=Puroresu Awards|access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**Match of the Year (2001)<small> with Hiroshi Hase vs. Yuji Nagata & Jun Akiyama on October 8</small><ref name="purolove.com"/>
**Outstanding Performance Award (1998)<ref name="purolove.com"/>
**Tag Team of the Year (2009)<small> with Masakatsu Funaki</small><ref name="purolove.com"/>
**Technique Award (1997)<ref name="purolove.com"/>
**Wrestler of the Year (1999, 2001, 2008)<ref name="purolove.com"/>
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
**''PWI'' ranked him No. 3 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the ''[[PWI 500]]'' in 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=97&nr=82#2002|title=PWI 500|access-date=February 7, 2010|publisher=Cagematch}}</ref>
**''PWI'' ranked him No. 25 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the ''[[PWI Years]]'' in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years |access-date=September 10, 2010 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707054220/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref>
* '''[[Pro Wrestling Noah]]'''
** [[GHC Heavyweight Championship]] ([[GHC Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=140|title=GHC Heavyweight Championship History}}</ref>
** [[GHC Tag Team Championship]] ([[GHC Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Naomichi Marufuji]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=144|title=GHC Tag Team Championship History}}</ref>
*'''''[[Tokyo Sports]]'''''
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Best Bout Award|Best Bout Award]] (2021) {{small|vs. [[Go Shiozaki]] (February 12 at Destination 2021: Back to Budokan)}}<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/3859826/ | script-title = ja:【プロレス大賞】ベストバウトは２月の武藤敬司 VS 潮崎豪「プロレスは体力や若さだけじゃない…アートなんだ」 | date = December 14, 2021 | access-date=December 14, 2021 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=ja}}</ref>
**Best Bout Award (2023) {{small|vs. [[Shinsuke Nakamura]] at [[Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last" Love]]}}<ref name="TSAwards2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/tetsuya-naito-wins-tokyo-sports-mvp-award-for-2023|title=Tetsuya Naito wins 2023 Tokyo Sports MVP Award|work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|first=Joseph|last=Currier|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212221628/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/tetsuya-naito-wins-tokyo-sports-mvp-award-for-2023|archive-date=December 12, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/125876-njpw-tetsuya-naito-tokyo-sports-awards-2023|title=Tokyo Sports premia a Tetsuya Naito como el mejor luchador del 2023|work=Solowrestling|first=Nicolas|last=Lafferriere|language=Spanish|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212220921/https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/125876-njpw-tetsuya-naito-tokyo-sports-awards-2023|archive-date=December 12, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Best Bout Award|Match of the Year]] (1999) <small>with Genichiro Tenryu on May 3, 1999</small><ref name="puroresu.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresu.com/awards/1990s.html |title=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo: Puroresu Awards: 1990s |website=Puroresu.com |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**Match of the Year (2011) <small>with [[Kenta Kobashi]] vs. [[Takayuki Iizuka|Takashi Iizuka]] and [[Toru Yano]] (August 27 at [[All Together (professional wrestling)|All Together]])</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=3318|title=(Results) New Japan, 12/14/11|date=December 14, 2011|access-date=December 15, 2011|work=Strong Style Spirit}}</ref>
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Outstanding Performance Award|Outstanding Performance Award]] (1998)<ref name="puroresu.com"/>
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Newcomer Award|Rookie of the Year]] (1986)<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresu.com/awards/1980s.html|title=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo: Puroresu Awards: 1980s|work=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Special Award|Special Award]] (1989)<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Best Tag Team Award|Tag Team of the Year]] (1990) <small>with Masahiro Chono</small><ref name="puroresu.com"/>
**Tag Team of the Year (2005) <small>with Akebono</small><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresu.com/awards/2000s.html|title=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo : Puroresu Awards: 2000s|work=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#MVP Award|Wrestler of the Year]] (1995, 1999, 2001, 2008)<ref name="puroresu.com"/><ref name="ReferenceB"/>
*'''[[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]'''
**[[TNA One Night Only#Global Impact: USA vs The World|Global Impact Tournament (2015)]] – with Team International {{small|([[Angelina Love]], [[Bram (wrestler)|Bram]], [[Drew Galloway]], [[Seiya Sanada|The Great Sanada]], [[Mahabali Shera|Khoya]], [[Magnus (wrestler)|Magnus]], [[Rockstar Spud]], [[Sonjay Dutt]] and [[Tigre Uno]])}}
*'''[[World Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[WCW World Television Championship|NWA World Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/tvwcw.html |title=Solie's Title Histories:WCW |website=Solie.org |date=February 16, 2000 |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[Vampiro]]<ref name=W1/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttwcw.html |title=Solie's Title Histories: WCW |website=Solie.org |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[Starrcade (1992)|BattleBowl (1992)]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/bbwcw.html |title=Solie's Title Histories: WCW |website=Solie.org |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
*'''[[World Wrestling Council]]'''
**[[WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/phtwwcp.html |title=Solie's Title Histories: WWC |website=Solie.org |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
**[[WWC World Television Championship]] ([[WWC World Television Championship#Title History|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/tvwwcp.html |title=Solie's Title Histories: WWC |website=Solie.org |access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>
*'''[[Wrestle-1]]'''
**[[Wrestle-1 Championship]] ([[List of Wrestle-1 Champions|1 time]])<ref name=HoldOut/>
**[[F-1 Tag Team Championship]] (1 time) – with [[Kannazuki (comedian)|Kannazuki]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1567|title=「Wrestle-1 Tour 2015 ファン感謝デー」|access-date=October 9, 2015|work=[[Wrestle-1]]|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009101121/http://www.w-1.co.jp/schedule/tour.php?id=1567|archive-date=October 9, 2015}}</ref>
*'''''[[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Wrestling Maneuver|Best Wrestling Maneuver]] (2001) <small>[[Professional wrestling attacks#Shining Wizard|Shining Wizard]]</small>
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Match of the Year|Match of the Year]] (2001) <small>vs. [[Genichiro Tenryu]] on June 8, [[Tokyo]], Japan</small>
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Improved Wrestler|Most Improved Wrestler]] (2001)
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year)|Wrestler of the Year]] (2001)
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Readers' Favorite Wrestler|Readers' Favorite Wrestler]] (2001)
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] ([[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame#Inductees|Class of 1999]])
*'''[[WWE]]'''
**[[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[WWE Hall of Fame (2023)|Class of 2023]])<ref name="Muta"/>
*'''Other achievements'''
**Bahamut Championship (1 time) – with Sugi-chan<ref name=BachMutoh>{{cite web|url=http://battle-news.com/news/2013/09/001951.php|title=「バッハ＋武藤＝バハムート」でお馴染みのバッハ武藤が、スギちゃんとのタッグで初代バハムート級王者に！W-1で防衛戦も!?|date=September 10, 2013|access-date=September 10, 2013|work=Battle News|language=ja}}</ref>

<sup>1</sup><small> Championship not officially recognized by [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]].</small>
<br /><sup>2</sup><small> Championship reign not officially recognized due to outside interference.</small>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141101203741/http://www.w-1.co.jp/player/mutou.php Keiji Muto's Wrestle-1 profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130927214340/http://www.w-1.co.jp//player/muta.php The Great Muta's Wrestle-1 profile]
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}

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{{G1 Climax}}
{{G1 Tag League}}
{{GHC Heavyweight Championship}}
{{GHC Tag Team Championship}}
{{IWGP Heavyweight Championship}}
{{IWGP Tag Team Championship}}
{{NWA World Heavyweight Championship}}
{{All Japan Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship}}
{{WCW World Tag Team Championship}}
{{WCW World Television Championship}}
{{World's Strongest Tag Determination League}}
{{Wrestle-1}}
{{Wrestle-1 Championship}}
{{WWC Puerto Rico Championship}}
{{New World Order}}
{{WWE Hall of Fame}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muto, Keiji}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:All Japan Pro Wrestling]]
[[Category:IWGP Heavyweight champions]]
[[Category:Japanese male judoka]]
[[Category:Japanese male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Masked wrestlers]]
[[Category:New World Order (professional wrestling) members]]
[[Category:NWA/WCW World Television Champions]]
[[Category:NWA World Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:Entertainers from Yamanashi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Japanese professional wrestling executives]]
[[Category:IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:GHC Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:GHC Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:World Tag Team Champions (AJPW)]]
[[Category:Triple Crown Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:WWC Puerto Rico Champions]]
[[Category:Wrestle-1 Champions]]
[[Category:F-1 Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:NWA Florida Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:WCW World Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:World Tag League (NJPW) winners]]
[[Category:G1 Climax winners]]
[[Category:Champion Carnival winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen]]
[[Category:World's Strongest Tag Determination League winners]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Yamanashi Prefecture]]