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Showing posts with label Muhammad Ali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muhammad Ali. Show all posts

March 11, 2024

Muhammad Ali to Be Inducted Into WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024




Muhammad Ali will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Variety has learned exclusively.

Ali will be inducted during the Hall of Fame ceremony taking place on April 5 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He will be inducted by his widow, Lonnie Ali. The ceremony will be livestreamed on Peacock beginning at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT.

Ali dabbled in professional wrestling at different times in his career. He famously fought an exhibition match against Japanese pro wrestling legend Antonio Inoki in Tokyo in 1976. In the leadup to that matchup, he appeared at a WWWF (now WWE) show, where he entered the ring and challenged Gorilla Monsoon. Ali would go on to appear as a special guest referee for the main event of WrestleMania I in 1985, which saw Hulk Hogan and Mr. T face off against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. Ali also appeared as the guest of honor at the infamous “Collision in Korea” pay-per-view event held in North Korea in 1995.

Widely considered to be one of the best, if not the best, boxers of all time, Ali won an Olympic gold medal for the United States in boxing in 1960 and went on to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds notable wins over opponents such as Sonny Liston, Ken Norton, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman among many others. His final professional boxing match came in 1981. He finished his career with 56 wins, 5 losses, with 37 knockouts.

He was also noted for his social activism, including refusing to be drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. His refusal led to him being stripped of his heavyweight championships and being largely forced out of boxing for years.

He passed away in 2016 at the age of 74.

source:  varity.com

October 1, 2022

Anonio Inoki Passes Away, Age 79

Yahoo! Japan has broke the news that wrestling legend Antonio Inoki has passed away.

A translated version of the article can be read below.

Former professional wrestler Antonio Inoki (real name Kanji Inoki), who served two terms as a member of the House of Councilors, died at his home on the 1st. he was 79 years old. Born in Yokohama City. Born in 1943 (Showa 18). He lost his father at the age of five, and at the age of thirteen he and his family moved to Brazil to work on coffee farms. When he won the shot put at a local track and field competition, he was scouted by the late Rikidoyama, who was on an expedition to Brazil, and began professional wrestling. He entered Japan Pro Wrestling.

On September 30, 1960, he made his debut on the same day as the late Giant Baba, who turned from professional baseball to professional wrestling, and since 1962, he has used the ring name "Antonio Inoki". After training in the United States, leaving Japan, returning, and being expelled, he married actress Mitsuko Baisho in 1971 (later divorced).

In 1972, he launched New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and after that he built the heyday of professional wrestling. Boxing in June 1976, a "mixed martial arts match" with Muhammad Ali, the world heavyweight champion, attracted attention and was televised around the world.

As a politician, he launched the "Sports and Peace Party" in 1989, and ran for the 15th House of Councilors election in the same year as a proportional representation member with the catchphrases "Fix the swastika in the Diet" and "Slash the consumption tax" and was elected for the first time. He became the first wrestler-turned-member of parliament in history.

June 5, 2016

How Muhammad Ali influenced professional wrestling, MMA


With the passing of Muhammad Ali, much of the talk about his legacy surrounds his contributions inside the squared circle. But Ali’s legacy extends beyond the boundaries of the sweet science as his influence bled into the worlds of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.

The man known as the “Louisville Lip” is often credited for his influence on the world of professional wrestling and the wrestler’s ability to “cut a promo” in order to sell their upcoming match.

However, Ali has publicly credited professional wrestling for shaping and molding his ability to promote a boxing match like no other. It was in 1961 when Ali met pro wrestling superstar Gorgeous George that the future boxing champion realized the significance of selling a fight. In the autobiography “Muhammad Ali: His Life And Times,” Thomas Houser documents how the flamboyant and charismatic professional wrestler affected Ali.

“[George] started shouting: ‘If this bum beats me I’ll crawl across the ring and cut off my hair, but it’s not gonna happen because I’m the greatest fighter in the world,' " Ali told Houser of when he met Gorgeous George. “And all the time, I was saying to myself: ‘Man. I want to see this fight’ And the whole place was sold out when Gorgeous George wrestled … including me … and that’s when I decided if I talked more, there was no telling how much people would pay to see me.”

Ali would go on to establish a legacy of pre-fight theatrics that would hold just as much significance outside of the ring as the action inside of it...More?

June 4, 2016

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali dies at 74


Muhammad Ali, widely hailed as the greatest heavyweight boxer in the sport’s history, died late Friday night after being hospitalized in Arizona a day earlier with a respiratory issue.

Ali, 74, had suffered from Parkinson’s disease since the 1980s.

“After a 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening,” family spokesperson Bob Gunnell said in a statement.
story from Tourism Australia and Virgin Australia

Ali died at Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, where the scene outside was quiet. Law enforcement sealed off entrances and news media was station across the street. Earlier Friday family members arrived at the hospital.

"I don't get it yet. I don't think it's hit me yet," Khalilah Camacho-Ali, one of Ali's ex-wives, told USA TODAY Sports.

Camacho-Ali had four children with Ali, with whom she was married for 10 years. "The only thing I'm worried about right now is my children. I wish I was there with them (in Scottsdale) to support them because I know they're taking this very hard."

Ali's prowess in the ring and his personality and social activism make him one of the most recognizable sports figures of the last century.

He secured an Olympic gold medal in the 1960 Summer Games and became one of the youngest heavyweight champions of all time, stunning the boxing world with a knockout of Sonny Liston to claim the title in 1964 at 22.

It marked the first of three times Ali would win the heavyweight title.

By the end of Muhammad Ali's legendary boxing career, he had become the first three-time heavyweight champion. See his most iconic moments from inside the ring.

Shortly after the native of Louisville defeated Liston, Ali became a cog in both the civil rights and anti-war movement. Ali changed his name from Cassius Clay after he joined the Nation of Islam, and he was convicted of draft evasion in 1967 after he refused to fight in the Vietnam War because of religious beliefs.

His opposition to the Vietnam War cost him the belt and led to a three-year ban from boxing. His conviction for dodging the Vietnam War draft was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971.

Ali's death is “sad, and yet, here was a person who probably did more to transform what people thought about race and religion and about peace, both in the United States and the world," Bob Arum, who promoted Ali in the 1960s and 1970s, told USA TODAY Sports. "I really believe that he even had more of an impact, because he had been this great boxer, and because he had made this tremendous sacrifice, giving up his career for what he believed in for 3½ years, that he had more of an impact than even Martin Luther King. I really believe that.”

Ali returned to the ring in 1970 and suffered his first pro loss a year later in a title bout against Joe Frazier, who won via unanimous decision.

It was the first of three memorable fights against Frazier — with Ali winning the last two.

Ali reclaimed the heavyweight belt against George Foreman in one of the most storied events in sports history, "The Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974. Ali employed the "rope-a-dope," in which he allowed Foreman to tire himself out as Ali absorbed punch after punch, before he claimed the bout in Zaire — now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo — with a knockout.

In 1978, a clearly overweight Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks but won it back in a rematch six months later, making him the first fighter to win the heavyweight title three times.

Ali retired from boxing in 1981 with a 56-5 record, three of the losses coming in his final four fights. He had 37 knockouts.

Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease three years after his retirement. Family members believed his years of boxing contributed to the disease.

After his retirement, he concentrated on philanthropy and social activism.

He was admitted for medical treatment several times in recent years, including to treat pneumonia in December 2014.

WWE also issued a statement which says in part:

Ali also made history for his historic boxer vs. wrestler match against WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki in Tokyo on June 26, 1976. The fight is regarded as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts.

In 1985, Ali made his mark in WWE history when he was one of the special guest referees for the main event of the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden. The bout featured WWE Champion Hulk Hogan and pop culture icon Mr. T against “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. During the contest, Ali climbed up onto the ring apron and took a swing at Piper.

February 12, 2016

Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon And Roddy Piper Talk WWE WrestleMania I For MSG Network


The MSG Network will air a special on WWE's WrestleMania I tonight at 10:30pm, as detailed below. The special is narrated by actor Ben Stiller and will feature the late Roddy Piper, Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, Mean Gene Okerlund, Cyndi Lauper and others. The following was issued:

"THE GARDEN'S DEFINING MOMENTS" SERIES CONTINUES WITH "WRESTLEMANIA I" PREMIERING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 AT 10:30PM

New York, NY (February 11, 2016) – MSG Networks (NYSE: MSGN) continues the special 20-part television event "The Garden's Defining Moments" presented by SAP with - "WrestleMania I." The event that launched the WWF (now WWE) into the stratosphere and married sports and entertainment for the first time, set a then record for pay-per-view buys in the United States.

"The Garden's Defining Moments: WrestleMania I," narrated by Ben Stiller, premieres Friday, February 12 at 10:30 pm on MSG Network, following MSG's telecast of the Rangers \ Kings game. Interview subjects include Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, the late Roddy Piper, Cyndi Lauper, Mean Gene Okerlund and more.

June 5, 2013

Mike Tyson: Chael 'hands down' better trash talker than Ali, Vince McMahon could beat up Dana White


In case you've been wondering what Mike Tyson thinks about the burning issues of the day, UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani caught up with him and got him to go on the record. Here's how MMA Mania summed it up:

What we know from Tyson's appearance is that WWE CEO Vince McMahon can beat up UFC President Dana White (settling this debate), Evander Holyfield's ear would have tasted a lot better with hot sauce on it, and UFC Light Heavyweight Chael Sonnen is a better trash talker than legendary pugilist Muhammed Ali.

Wait, what?

"Chael Sonnen," insisted "Iron" Mike. "Chael talks too much. I think Chael believes what he says. Chael hands down."

While I'm enjoying Iron Mike's middle-aged re-creation as a lovable old uncle for the UFC, anyone who really thinks Chael Sonnen even compares to Muhammad Ali as a personality or talker obviously is lying or never actually paid attention to Muhammad Ali back in the day.

Still Mike may be onto something regarding Vince McMahon vs. Dana White.


December 26, 2012

This Day In Wreslting History - Gorgeous George Passes Away


"Gorgeous George" Wagner died of a heart attack at 48
March 24, 1915 - December 26, 1963

Muhammad Ali acknowledged that his own approach to flamboyant self-promotion was influenced by George. A 19-year old Ali met a 46-year old George at a Las Vegas radio station. During George's radio interview, the wrestler's promo caught the attention of the future heavyweight champion. If George lost to Classy Freddie Blassie, George exclaimed, "I'll crawl across the ring and cut my hair off! But that's not gonna happen because I'm the greatest wrestler in the world!" Ali recalled, "I saw 15,000 people comin' to see this man get beat. And his talking did it. I said, 'This is a gooood idea!'" In the locker room afterwards, the seasoned wrestler gave the future legend some invaluable advice: "A lot of people will pay to see someone shut your mouth. So keep on bragging, keep on sassing and always be outrageous." - wikipedia.org


Gorgeous George vs Larry Moquin

June 25, 2012

This Day in Wrestling History


Antonio Inoki and Mohammad Ali fought to a 15 round draw.
June 25, 1976

WWE inducts legends Fabulous Moolah, Pedro Morales, Ivan Putski, Antonino Rocca, The Grand Wizard, George Steele and Ernie Ladd into the WWE Hall of Fame.
June 25, 1995

The Rock defeated Triple H by pinning Vince McMahon in a 6-man match for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title.
June 25, 2000

Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and son are found dead in their home in Atlanta. The tragedy was later determined to be a double-murder/suicide after WWE ran a two-hour tribute show to Benoit. Vince McMahon would later apologize the following night on ECW.
June 25, 2007

March 31, 2012

This Day in Wrestling History - WrestleMania I


WrestleMania 1 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event features Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeating Paul Orndorff and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Muhammad Ali acted as special guest referee. The attendance for the event was 19,121 fans. The event was viewed by over one million fans through closed-circuit television, making it the largest showing of an event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time. The event was the start of the Rock 'n' Wrestling gimmick, which brought together professional wrestling and the music industry, and matches aired on MTV during the build up to the event.
March 31, 1985

January 21, 2012

Video: Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki - 1976

June 25, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


Antonio Inoki and Mohammad Ali fought to a 15 round draw.
June 25, 1976

WWE inducts legends Fabulous Moolah, Pedro Morales, Ivan Putski, Antonino Rocca, The Grand Wizard, George Steele and Ernie Ladd into the WWE Hall of Fame.
June 25, 1995

The Rock defeated Triple H by pinning Vince McMahon in a 6-man match for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title.
June 25, 2000

Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and son are found dead in their home in Atlanta. The tragedy was later determined to be a double-murder/suicide after WWE ran a two-hour tribute show to Benoit. Vince McMahon would later apologize the following night on ECW.
June 25, 2007

March 31, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History - The First WrestleMania


WrestleMania 1 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event features Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeating Paul Orndorff and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Muhammad Ali acted as the special guest referee.
March 31, 1985

June 25, 2010

This Day in Wrestling History

Antonio Inoki and Mohammad Ali fought to a 15 round draw.
June 25, 1976

WWE inducts legends Fabulous Moolah, Pedro Morales, Ivan Putski, Antonino Rocca, The Grand Wizard, George Steele and Ernie Ladd into the WWE Hall of Fame.
June 25, 1995

The Rock defeated Triple H by pinning Vince McMahon in a 6-man match for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title.
June 25, 2000

Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and son are found dead in their home in Atlanta. The tragedy was later determined to be a double-murder/suicide after WWE ran a two-hour tribute show to Benoit. Vince McMahon would later apologize the following night on ECW.
June 25, 2007

March 31, 2010

This Day in Wrestling History - The First WrestleMania

WrestleMania 1 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event features Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeating Paul Orndorff and Rowdy Roddy Piper. Muhammad Ali acted as the special guest referee.
March 31, 1985

March 15, 2010

Gorgeous George Enters Hall of Fame

WWE announced that Gorgeous George, the man often credited with creating American pop culture and who set the standard for future WWE Superstars and influenced such greats as Muhammad Ali, James Brown and Bob Dylan, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 27, 2010. His 96 year-old former wife, Betty Wagner will accept the honor on his behalf. The Hall of Fame ceremony will be broadcast that night on USA Network at 11 PM ET from the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona.

"Gorgeous George's was a pop-culture innovator who took risks pushing the social envelope and did things that no other performer had ever dared to do," said CEO and Chairman Vince McMahon. "He was a cultural tour-de-force who set the standard that many in the world of sports and entertainment still emulate today."

The significance of Gorgeous George's legacy led WWE Studios to option the rights to his story for a major motion picture slated to begin production in 1Q 2011.

Muhammad Ali, whose notorious boastful and arrogant style derived from George, stated, "I made up my mind after meeting Gorgeous George to make people angry at me...I saw 15,000 people comin' to see this man get beat. And his talking did it. I said this is a good idea."...More?

February 12, 2010

Muhammad Ali Comes to Life Through His Foes' Eyes

February 17, 2009

Ali, Dylan, James Brown Inspired by Wrestling’s ‘Human Orchid’

Muhammad Ali borrowed his boasting. James Brown copied his wardrobe. Bob Dylan called him a “mighty spirit.”

“Gorgeous George certainly didn’t invent the pervasive culture of narcissism that followed him, but he may well have been a catalyst, a powerful accelerant,” John Capouya writes in his spirited new biography, “Gorgeous George: The Outrageous Bad-Boy Wrestler Who Created American Pop Culture.”...More?

source: bloomberg.com

December 29, 2008

Long Before The UFC, the WWE Started MMA

Way before there was Dana White and the UFC, there was Vince McMahon and the World Martial Arts. In 1978 Vince awarded Antonio Inoki with the first WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship.

Wrestling started with legit test-of-strength matchups between strong men in carnivals. Over time it grew into an effort to entertain the gathering fans.

But through all the planned outcomes, many of the wrestlers were trained in the art of hooking, the skill of really being able to hurt your opponent. This skill would be utilized by a young promoter, Vince McMahon.

Vince was always looking for ways to shake up the business or present fans with something new. So he decided to start up MMA. He looked to his superstar Antonio Inoki to help him in his journey.

It started in 1976, when Vince was so confident in Inoki’s MMA skills that he booked him in a match with the most talented boxer ever, Muhammad Ali...More?

source: bleacherreport.com

June 25, 2008

This Day in Wrestling History

Antonio Inoki and Mohammad Ali fought to a 15 round draw
June 25, 1976

The Rock defeated Triple H by pinning Vince McMahon in a 6-man match for the WWF Heavyweight title
June 25, 2000

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