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Whatever
Happened...
Question: Whatever happened to professional wrestler Dean Ho? Gym founder,
wrestler Dean ‘Ho’
Higuchi lives in CanadaAnswer: The former owner of Health Studio of Hawaii is better known locally by his real name, Dean Higuchi.
Higuchi, a Roosevelt High graduate, was one of Hawaii's top bodybuilders in the 1950s. He won the title "Mr. Hawaiian Islands" in 1956 and finished sixth in a field of 37 that year in the "Mr. America" competition in Philadelphia.
Higuchi opened his gym on Kalakaua Avenue near Ena Road in 1957. The gym was a popular training site for professional wrestlers.
While attending Punahou, Don Muraco recalls working out at Higuchi's gym with wrestlers, and it perked his interest in the sport. Muraco went on to become a professional wrestling star.
Higuchi wrestled for promoter Ed Francis in Hawaii before moving to the mainland.
As Dean Ho, he wrestled for major national promotions and had an extended stay in New York with the World Wide Wrestling Federation, the predecessor of what is known today as the WWF.
Ho retired from wrestling about 10 years ago and is living in Canada, says longtime friend William "Buzzy" Hong.
"He's in good health and still has a great sense of humor," Hong said.
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