WRESTLER PROFILES

[Antonio Inoki Gallery] http://www.inokiism.com/	Wrestler: Antonio Inoki Real Name: Kanji Inoki Birthday: February 20, 1943 Hometown: Yokohama, Japan Marital Status: Height & Weight: 6' 2" - 225 lbs Trained by: Debut: September 30, 1960 Finishing Move: Octopus Stretch Favorite Moves: Enzuigiri Indian Deathlock Choke Sleeper Hold Notable Feuds: Antonio Inoki Bob Backlund Masa Saito Tatsumi Fujinami Ric Flair
NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating Joe Blanchard (June 24, 1964); NWA (Mid America) World Tag Team titles w/Hiro Matsuda defeating Sam Steamboat & Eddie Graham (January 24, 1966); All Asia Tag Team titles w/Michiaki Yoshimura defeating Waldo Von Erich & Ike Eakins for vacant titles (May 26, 1967); NWA (JWA) International Tag Team titles w/Giant Baba defeating Tarzan Tyler & Bill Watts (October 31, 1967); NWA (JWA) International Tag Team titles w/Giant Baba defeating Bill Miller & Crusher for vacant titles (February 3, 1968); JWA All Asia Tag Team titles w/Kintaro Ohki defeating Tom Jones & Buster Royd for vacant titles (February 3, 1969); NWA (JWA) International Tag Team titles w/Giant Baba defeating Danny Hodge & Wilbur Snyder (February 4, 1969); JWA All Asia Tag Team titles w/Michiaki Yoshimura defeating Al Mahilik & Crusher for vacant titles (August 9, 1969); NWA (JWA) International Tag Team titles w/Giant Baba defeating Dick the Bruiser & Crusher (August 13, 1969); JWA All Asia Tag Team titles w/Michiaki Yoshimura defeating Mr. Atomic & 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 & 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 & 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 & Kantaro Hoshino;
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 & Riki Choshu defeated Hulk Hogan & 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 & Saito were dropped on Ganryujima Island and brawled all over the island without any audience for two hours.. 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.. Retirement 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 goverment official from western/democractic 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..