Antonio Inoki

Antonio Inoki, a distinguished professional wrestler who took on world boxing champion Muhammad Ali in 1976 and made numerous trips to North Korea as a ...

In 1989, Inoki was elected to Japan's House of Councillors as a member of the now-defunct Sports and Peace Party. Over the years, his domestic popularity grew while a number of his catchy inane sayings became popular across the country. The Yokohama native moved to Brazil when he was in junior high school.

We are sad to report that Antonio Inoki, the founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling and former 12-time world champion, has passed away. He was 79 years old.

During his first term he successfully negotiated the release of Japanese hostages from Saddam Hussein, a feat that was accomplished shortly before the outbreak of the Gulf War. Inoki wrestled his last match in 1998, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010. Inoki’s wrestling career stretches back to the 1960s, where he became one of Japan’s most recognized figures.

Antonio Inoki, a combat sports trailblazer, influential politician and larger-than-life figure in his native Japan, died Friday at the age of 79.

Inoki flew to Iraq in 1996 on a one-man diplomatic mission and negotiated with Saddam Hussein the release of 36 Japanese hostages. Inoki managed and taught Machida early in the MMA great's career, as well. Inoki used his popularity gained from fighting Ali to become the most popular pro wrestler in the history of Japan. "There is one word in Japanese which is called 'guiri.' It means to recognize people who did something at the beginning where [someone] doesn't have opportunities whatsoever and he did that for me. Inoki was at many Pride shows, as part of its introduction ceremony and did a parachuted skydive from an airplane into Tokyo National Stadium in front of more than 90,000 people at Pride Shockwave 2002. Prior to that, Inoki's final official pro-wrestling match came against current UFC Hall of Famer [Don Frye](http://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2354083/don-frye) in 1998 in front of 70,000 at the Tokyo Dome. Inoki was the most important professional wrestler in the history of Japan, selling out countless arenas and stadiums from the 1970s and on. Inoki ended in a draw, but Inoki spent most of the 15-round contest on his back, kicking at Ali's legs and landing those kicks more than 100 times. "Inoki ended up on top and the referee separated it straight away. Brazilian jiu-jitsu pioneer Carlson Gracie once said Inoki was "one of the best fighters" he had seen. Boxing was by far the most popular combat sport at that time, especially in the United States, but Ali vs. Shea Stadium in New York aired the bout on its big screen and drew a crowd of 32,897 with an undercard of pro-wrestling and mixed-rules matches.

It's been reported that Antonio Inoki, former wrestler, promoter, and politician, has passed away at age 79.

Inoki’s influence and his achievements will live on forever in the wrestling world; he’s an inspiration to all of the dreamers. In 1989, Antonio Inoki followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming involved in politics. Later in life, Inoki promoted various MMA events and even created his own professional wrestling/MMA hybrid promotion, Inoki Genome Federation (IGF). However, when Inoki was fired from JWA in 1971, Inoki founded his own promotion the year after; the latter promotion became known as New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Early in his career, Inoki wrestled for multiple organizations, most notably the Japanese Wrestling Association (JWA). However, he made a rare television appearance in May of last year, being featured in the [Collision in Korea](https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2021/05/21/collision-in-korea-dark-side-of-the-ring/) episode of Dark Side of the Ring.

Yahoo Japan is reporting that Antonio Inoki has passed away at 79 years old. Inoki had been battling health issues in recent years. Born Kanji Inoki, he is ...

Inoki entered politics in 1989 and was elected to the Japanese House of Councillors. He is considered one of the biggest names ever in the history of pro wrestling. In 2007, he founded the Inoki Genome Federation.

Antonio Inoki, a combat sports trailblazer, influential politician and larger-than-life figure in his native Japan, died Friday at the age of 79.

Inoki flew to Iraq in 1996 on a one-man diplomatic mission and negotiated with Saddam Hussein the release of 36 Japanese hostages. Inoki managed and taught Machida early in the MMA great's career, as well. Inoki used his popularity gained from fighting Ali to become the most popular pro wrestler in the history of Japan. "There is one word in Japanese which is called 'guiri.' It means to recognize people who did something at the beginning where [someone] doesn't have opportunities whatsoever, and he did that for me. Inoki was at many Pride shows as part of its introduction ceremonies and did a parachuted skydive from an airplane into Tokyo National Stadium in front of more than 90,000 people at Pride Shockwave 2002. Prior to that, Inoki's final official pro wrestling match came against current UFC Hall of Famer [Don Frye](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2354083/don-frye) in 1998 in front of 70,000 at the Tokyo Dome. Inoki ended in a draw, but Inoki spent most of the 15-round contest on his back, kicking at Ali's legs and landing those kicks more than 100 times. Inoki was the most important professional wrestler in the history of Japan, selling out countless arenas and stadiums from the 1970s and on. In addition to the sold-out crowd of more than 14,000 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, it aired on closed-circuit across the world. Shea Stadium in New York aired the bout on its big screen and drew a crowd of 32,897 with an undercard of pro wrestling and mixed-rules matches. The bout was one of the most watched fights of its generation. Antonio Inoki, a combat sports trailblazer, influential politician and larger-than-life figure in his native Japan, died Friday at the age of 79.

The wrestling world lost a legend today. NJPW founder, WWE Hall of Famer, and former member of the Japanese House of Councillors passed away at the age of ...

Inoki’s influence and his achievements will live on forever in the wrestling world; he’s an inspiration to all of the dreamers. Throughout his iconic pro wrestling career, Inoki shared the ring with names like Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and Andre the Giant. The wrestling world lost a legend today.

Earlier tonight news broke that the legendary Antonio Inoki, the founder of NJPW and former 12-time world champion, had passed away at 79. Now the.

We are saddened to learn of his passing and know his legacy will live forever. [@IMPACTWrestling]would like to extend our condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Antonio Inoki. I had the opportunity to wrestle on several tours for Inoki in NJPW – he truly changed the game. Inoki’s influence and his achievements will live on forever in the wrestling world; he’s an inspiration to all of the dreamers. [October 1, 2022] WWE also acknowledged Inoki’s career on this evening’s edition of SmackDown.

Popular Japanese professional wrestler and lawmaker Antonio Inoki, who faced a world boxing champion Muhammad Ali in a mixed martial arts match in 1976, ...

He also staged a pro-wrestling match in North Korea. Inoki was upbeat and in good spirits, even as he was fighting the disease. He also was the first in his sport to enter politics.

The popular Japanese professional wrestler and lawmaker Antonio Inoki, who faced Muhammad Ali in a mixed martial arts match in 1976, has died aged 79.

Born as Kanji Inoki in 1943 in Yokohama, just outside Tokyo, he moved to Brazil with his family when he was 13 and worked at a coffee plantation. Inoki was upbeat and in good spirits, even as he was fighting the disease. He also staged a pro-wrestling match in North Korea. I express my condolences from the bottom of my heart.” He also was the first in his sport to enter politics. Onita called Inoki “the great father of pro wrestling” and added, “Thank you Inoki-san.

A legend of both pro wrestling and MMA has died at the age of 79 after battling with illnesses that confined him to a wheelchair.

While he only served one term that ended in 1995, he returned in 2013 as a representative of a different small alternative party called the “Japan Restoration Party.” Inoki’s second term involved several struggles due to his interest in fostering a relationship between Japan and North Korea, and he retired in 2019. Internal politics and disputes removed his name from its record books, but did not sully his name enough to prohibit him from an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010. Inoki’s involvement with the pro wrestling world was pivotal into its development internationally, and he wrestled in his own league of NJPW even when other major leagues took note. The fight was ultimately scored a draw, but it served as pivotal moment to introduce the world to the potential of MMA. In 2007, he created the Inoki Genome Federation, having left NJPW to pave his own way. Regardless of their interpretation, the two engaged in a 15-round battle where much of the match was spent with Inoki on the ground, kicking Ali’s legs.

TOKYO (Reuters) -Antonio Inoki, a Japanese professional wrestling star turned politician, widely known for his match with Muhammad Ali and ties to North ...

In the end, the fight was real, but under stipulations that Inoki could kick only while he had one knee on the mat. His fame went global in 1976 when he had a mixed martial arts match with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, billed as "the bout of the century". It was the worst thing I've ever seen." He made headlines the next year going to Iraq during the Gulf War and intervening on behalf of Japanese hostages, who were subsequently released. "New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened at the passing of our founder, Antonio Inoki," the company he started in 1972 posted on Twitter. Tributes to Inoki poured in across social media.

The famed professional wrestler was known for taking on world boxing champion Muhammad Ali in 1976 and making numerous trips to North Korea as a lawmaker.

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CORRECTS TO 1976, NOT 1979 - FILE - Wrestler Antonio Inoki, left, and world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali shake hands after a 15-round boxing- wrestling fight on June 26, 1976, at Tokyo's Budokan hall. A popular Japanese professional ...

He also staged a pro-wrestling match in North Korea. Inoki was upbeat and in good spirits, even as he was fighting the disease. He also was the first in his sport to enter politics.

Flamboyant Japanese professional wrestler turned politician Antonio Inoki died Saturday aged 79, according to a company he founded.

There followed appearances in the WWF, as WWE was then known. Inoki lost his seat in 1995 and retired as a wrestler in 1998, but was re-elected to the upper house in 2013 as a member of a different opposition party. The company said Saturday: "One of the key figures in the history of Japanese wrestling, Antonio Inoki was among the most respected men in sports-entertainment and a bona fide legend in his homeland."

Japanese professional wrestler-turned lawmaker Antonio Inoki has died aged 79, according to a tweet posted on Saturday by his organization.

He organized a wrestling match in Pyongyang in 2014, involving American professional wrestling stars. In Brazil, he met his mentor and pro-wrestling star Rikidozan, who scouted him. The trip came at a time of thawing relations between Japan and North Korea over the issue of abductions of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and ’80s. [said in a statement, ](https://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-hall-of-famer-antonio-inoki-passes-away)“paved the way for the advent of Mixed Martial Arts, which would explode in popularity decades later.” [wrestlers](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/28/sport/navid-afkari-cmd-spt-intl/index.html) - famously faced boxing great [Muhammad Ali](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/25/sport/muhammad-ali-wbc-belt-auction-spt-intl/index.html) in a mixed martial arts match in 1976. Born Kanji Inoki in February 20, 1943, in Yokohama, a city south of Tokyo, he moved to Brazil with his family when he was 13 years old, according to a NJPW statement.

Trailblazing professional wrestler Antonio Inoki, who famously fought Muhammad Ali in a mixed-rules match, reportedly died Saturday at his home in his ...

And, he worked with North Korea to stop the kidnappings of Japanese citizens in Pyongyang during the Cold War. Inoki was a storied politician who successfully negotiated with Saddam Hussein for the release of Japanese hostages before the 1990 Gulf War in Iraq. Inoki also pinned [Ric Flair](https://www.tmz.com/people/ric-flair/) in a 1995 match and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.