On this date in NJPW history: Antonio Inoki makes his pro wrestling debut
by Jesse Holland on Sep 30, 2011 10:01 AM EDT
in History
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PrintOn September 30, 1960, 17-year-old Kanji "Antonio" Inoki would make his professional wrestling debut against Kintaro Ohki.
The industry would never be the same.
While mainstream audiences would perhaps best remember him for his 1976 debacle against Muhammed Ali, Inoki was famous for incorporating martial arts into his programs and changed the entire landscape of wrestling when he created New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1972.
Aside from winning just about every major title there was to hold, Inoki brought a two-day wrestling event (featuring top stars like Ric Flair) to North Korea that drew a combined 340,000 fans.
If pro wrestling has a Mount Rushmore, his face is guaranteed to be on it.
His WWE Hall of Fame acceptance speech, after the jump.
How about it Cagesiders, one of the greatest ever? Or just overseas?
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The entire history and future...
Of pro wrestling would be radically different if a handful of men had not been around.
Antonio Inoki is one of those men.
by Sergio Hernandez on Sep 30, 2011 1:37 PM EDT reply actions
Not even close.
Inoki’s influence is beyond Japanese pro wrestling. He played a large part in the evolution of MMA. From wrestling versus other arts, shoot fighting, worked shoots, and PRIDE.
by TrailerParkTrash on Sep 30, 2011 9:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
He wished to God every night for that.
Machida heard him out. Even let Inoki bitch slap him.
by TrailerParkTrash on Oct 1, 2011 6:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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