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Antonio Inoki

[Antonio Inoki GALLERY]

[Japanese Wrestlers GALLERY]

Check out Antonio Inoki’s WWE Alumni profile here!

Title History

  •  NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating Joe Blanchard (June 24, 1964);
  • NWA (Mid America) World Tag Team titles w/ Hiro Matsuda defeating Sam Steamboat and Eddie Graham (January 24, 1966);
  • All Asia Tag Team titles w/ Michiaki Yoshimura defeating Waldo Von Erich and Ike Eakins for vacant titles (May 26, 1967);
  • NWA (JWA) International Tag Team titles w/ Giant Baba defeating Tarzan Tyler and Bill Watts (October 31, 1967);
  • NWA (JWA) International Tag Team titles w/ Giant Baba defeating Bill Miller and Crusher for vacant titles (February 3, 1968);
  • JWA All Asia Tag Team titles w/ Kintaro Ohki defeating Tom Jones and Buster Royd for vacant titles (February 3, 1969);
  • NWA (JWA) International Tag Team titles w/ Giant Baba defeating Danny Hodge and Wilbur Snyder (February 4, 1969);
  • JWA All Asia Tag Team titles w/ Michiaki Yoshimura defeating Al Mahilik and Crusher for vacant titles (August 9, 1969);
  • NWA (JWA) International Tag Team titles w/ Giant Baba defeating Dick the Bruiser and Crusher (August 13, 1969);
  • JWA All Asia Tag Team titles w/ Michiaki Yoshimura defeating Mr. Atomic and Buddy Austin for vacant titles (October 30, 1969);
  • NWA (Los Angeles) United National Heavyweight title defeating John Tolos (March 26, 1971);
  • NWF (National Wrestling Federation) World Heavyweight title defeating Johnny Powers (December 10, 1973);
  • NWA (Los Angeles/Japan) World Tag Team titles w/ Seiji Sakaguchi defeating Karl Von Schotz and Kurt Von Hess (August 16, 1974);
  • NWF (National Wrestling Federation) Heavyweight title defeating Tiger Jeet Singh (June 26, 1975);
  • NWA (Los Angeles/Japan) World Tag Team titles w/ Seiji Sakaguchi defeating Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown (October 2, 1975);
  • WWF Martial Arts Heavyweight title Awarded (December 18, 1978);
  • NWF (National Wrestling Federation) Heavyweight title defeating Stan Hanson (April 3, 1980);
  • UWA (Mexico) World Heavyweight title defeating Tiger Jeet Singh (April 13, 1980);
  • NWF (National Wrestling Federation) Heavyweight title defeating Stan Hanson for vacant title (April 23, 1981);
  • IWGP Heavyweight title defeating Masa Saito [Tournament] (June 12, 1987);
  • WWF Martial Arts Heavyweight title defeating Shota Chochoshivila (May 25, 1989);

Tournaments Won:

  • JWA 11th Annual League;
  • NWA 1st Tag League w/ Kantaro Hoshino;
  • NWA 2nd Tag League w/ Seiji Sakaguchi;
  • NJPW 1st Annual World League;
  • NJPW 2nd Annual World League;
  • NJPW 1st Annual MSG League;
  • NJPW 2nd Annual MSG League;
  • NJPW 3rd Annual MSG League;
  • NJPW 4th Annual MSG League;
  • NJPW IWGP League 1984;
  • NJPW IWGP League 1986;
  • NJPW Pre-Japanese Championship;
  • NJPW 1st Annual MSG Tag League w/ Bob Backlund;
  • NJPW 3rd Annual MSG Tag League w/ Hulk Hogan;
  • NJPW 4th Annual MSG Tag League w/ Hulk Hogan;
  • NJPW 5th Annual MSG Tag League w/ Tatsumi Fujinami;
  • NJPW Japan Cup Tag Team League 1986 w/ Yoshiaki Fujiwara;
  • NJPW Japan Cup Six Man Elimination Tag League 1988 w/ Riki Choshu and Kantaro Hoshino;

Career Highlights

Antonio Inoki:

  • Kanji Inoki, a japanese emigrant to Brazil, was scouted by Rikidozan in 1960, and brought to Japan to join the JWA.
  • Kanji Inoki changed his name to “Antonio” Inoki.
  • 1966: Antonio Inoki made his first attempt at breaking away from the JWA and forming his own group, Tokyo Pro-Wrestling.
  • 1967: Antonio Inoki suddenly rejoined the JWA and Tokyo Pro folded.
  • 1971: Antonio Inoki was expelled from the JWA when it as discovered that he was planning to take over the promotion.
  • Antonio Inoki subsequently formed his second group, New Japan Pro Wrestling.

New Japan Pro Wrestling:

  • 1972-89: Antonio Inoki was president of New Japan Pro Wrestling between 1972-89.
  • June 25, 1976: Antonio Inoki drew with Mohammad Ali (15 Rounds) in a “wrestler vs boxer” match.
  • ~~~Inoki spend the majority of the time on his back, using the strategy of “He can’t knock me down if I’m not up”.
  • ~~~The bout ended in a draw, 3-3. Ali’s legs took a beating from Inoki’s kicks (shown on Closed Circuit).
  • November 30, 1979: Antonio Inoki defeated Bob Backlund to win the WWWF Heavyweight title, a reign not recognised by the WWF.
  • December 1, 1979: Bob Backlund defeated Antonio Inoki to recapture the title, but not without controversy.
  • ~~~WWF Japan President Hisashi Shinma declared the match a “no-contest” because of interference from Tiger Jeet Singh.
  • ~~~Hisashi Shinma awarded the title back to Antonio Inoki, who refused to accept the championship.
  • Antonio Inoki had many mixed matches with athletes from other sports.
  • ~~~1975: Willem Ruska (judo gold medalist in the Olympic games in Munich);
  • ~~~Muhammed Ali(world boxing champion);
  • ~~~Chuck Wepner (boxer);
  • ~~~Willie Williams (world karate champion);
  • March 7, 1981: Antonio Inoki and Riki Choshu defeated Hulk Hogan and Perro Aguayo in Kisarazu, Japan.
  • June 2, 1983: Hulk Hogan defeated Antonio Inoki in a tournament final for the IWGP Heavyweight title.
  • ~~~Antonio Inoki was booked to win the match, but accidentally knocked himself out, and Hogan covered up.
  • ~~~Years later, a former New Japan referee revealed that the entire incident was staged to help stir up publicity for a rematch.
  • June 14, 1984: Antonio Inoki defeated Hulk Hogan for the IWGP Heavyweight title.
  • October 4, 1987: Antonio Inoki defeated Masa Saito (by TKO) in an “Island Death Match” [Click Here For Details].
  • ~~~Inoki and Saito were dropped on Ganryujima Island and brawled all over the island without any audience for two hours.

Retirement:

  • Antonio Inoki faced Don Frye in the final match of his professional wrestling career.
  • Antonio Inoki’s retirement from professional wrestling matches came with the staging of the “Final Countdown” series between 1994 and 1998. This was a special series in which Inoki re-lived some of his mixed martial arts matches under professional wrestling rules, as well as rematches of some of his most well known wrestling matches.
  • May 21 1995: Antonio Inoki was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame.
  • May 1996: Antonio Inoki was inducted into the Puroresu Hall of Fame.
  • April 4, 1998: Antonio Inoki’s retirement show at the Tokyo dome had the record breaking attendance of 70,000.Antonio Inoki started the Universal Fighting-arts Organization to keep the tradition of fighting-arts.
  • Antonio Inoki was the first pro-wrestler in the world to be elected as congressman of a country.
  • Antonio Inoki was the first government official from western/democratic nations to have a political meeting with Fidel Castro of Cuba.
  • Antonio Inoki met with Saddam Hussein for the release of prisoners from Iraq before the Gulf War.
  • ~~~As is the traditional gift for a visiting head-of-state, Saddam gave Inoki a pair of golden swords.
  • Culminating in 2006, Antonio Inoki’s influence within New Japan declined. An example of this has been the purchase of his image by Yuke’s, who in 2005 purchased his controlling 51.5% stock in New Japan. As a result New Japan is now able to control Inoki’s appearances and the use of his image.
  • Antonio Inoki began a new promotion in 2007 called Inoki Genome Federation that competes with New Japan.
  • February 1, 2010: World Wrestling Entertainment announced on its Japanese website that Antonio Inoki would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2010.
  • February 9, 2010: WWE held a press conference in Tokyo, Japan to officially announce the induction, making Antonio Inoki the first ever Japanese person to receive the induction.  He was presented with a Hall of Fame certificate by WWE’s Ed Wells and stated that he would be attending the WrestleMania XXVI weekend festivities, which saw him officially inducted by Stan Hansen.
  • October 1, 2022: Antonio Inoki passed away at the age of 79.
Updated: October 4, 2022 @ 2:37 pm

Social Media

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Trained By

Karl Gotch,
Toyonobori
& Rikidozan

Debut

September 30, 1960

Birthday

February 20, 1943

Hometown

Yokohama, Japan

Gender

Male

Height

6' 2"

Weight

225 lbs

Finishing Move(s)

Octopus Stretch

Favorite Move(s)

Enzuigiri,
Indian Deathlock,
Choke Sleeper Hold

Notable Feuds

Bob Backlund,
Masa Saito,
Tatsumi Fujinami,
Ric Flair

Status

Deceased