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Showing posts with label Antonio Inoki. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Antonio Inoki. Show all posts

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 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.

December 17, 2012

This Day In Wrestling History


The WWF(E) ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, with a card airing live on the MSG Network in the New York area, but also in Japan, as this card was almost immediately following the Antonio Inoki-Bob Backlund WWF(E) title controversy in Japan, as well as featuring many Japanese stars. This card also featured the Madison Square Garden debut of Hulk Hogan.
December 17, 1979

The 18th, and final, Starrcade event was held in Washington, DC at the MCI Center. Three months later, WCW would be purchased by the WWF(E), and thus ending the eighteen year streak of Starrcade events, going back to the days of Jim Crockett Promotions.
December 17, 2000

October 4, 2012

This Day In Wrestling History


In a battle of two top world title contenders, Joe Stecher defeats Ed Strangler Lewis via decision in a close match.
October 4, 1921

Happy Birthday to Linda McMahon
October 4, 1948

Antonio Inoki defeats Karl Gotch for the New Japan Real World Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. This would be one of two title changes (Gotch wins the belt back later in the month) for the belt, which pretty much existed solely for the purpose of the Gotch-Inoki matches.
October 4, 1972

Ric Flair and others are involved in a serious plane crash. Flair suffers a broken back, doctors tell him he will never wrestle again.
October 4, 1975

The controversial Austin/Pillman gun incident episode of Raw aired.
October 4, 1996

September 30, 2012

This Day In Wrestling History


Two of the most important figures in the history of professional wrestling, Shohei "Giant" Baba (founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling) and Antonio Inoki (founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling), make their pro wrestling debuts at a Japanese Wrestling Association show in Tokyo, Japan. Baba defeats Yonetaro Tanaka in his debut, while Inoki loses his match with Kintaro Oki.
September 30, 1960

Happy Birthday to Chris Von Erich
September 30, 1969

Marie Vagnone & Jane Sherill defeat Jumbo Miyamoto & Maxie Murata for the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Kawasaki, Japan.
September 30, 1971

WWWF(WWE) ran at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York, drawing over 20,000 fans for a show main evented by a battle of the babyfaces, as WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino wrestled to a curfew draw after 75 minutes of wrestling. The two shook hands and embraced before exiting the ring. During the match, George Steele tried to interfere, but was escorted out by security.
September 30, 1972

Ox Baker defeated Captain USA (John Studd) for the NWA American Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
September 30, 1977

Gypsy Joe & Tojo Yamamoto defeat Ken Lucas & Dutch Mantel in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title.
September 30, 1978

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

June 14, 2012

This Day in Wrestling History


John Pesek defeats Wladek Zbyszko and bills himself as World champion.
June 14, 1919

Jim Brunzell & Greg Gagne defeats Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura for the AWA World Tag Team Title in Green Bay, Wisconsin, starting their second run with the gold.
June 14, 1981

Antonio Inoki, having won the second annual IWGP tournament, wrestles and defeats Hulk Hogan (who won the inaugural tournament by beating Inoki) for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan.
June 14, 1984

June 2, 2012

This Day in Wrestling History


Happy Birthday to Lex Luger
June 2, 1958

Hulk Hogan defeats Antonio Inoki to become the first ever IWGP heavyweight champion.
June 2, 1983

The Honky Tonk Man defeated Ricky Steamboat for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
June 2, 1987

Kurt Angle inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK.
June 2, 2001

"Classie" Freddie Blassie died of natural causes at age 85.
June 2, 2003

May 30, 2012

This Day in Wrestling History


Joe Stecher defeats Stanislaus Zbyszko for the World's Heavyweight Wrestling Title in St. Louis, Missouri. It marks Stetcher's third World Title reign, but is not without controversy as Wayne Munn, who Zbyszko had won the title from, was still recognized as World Champion in Illinois and Michigan. Ed "Strangler" Lewis would later beat Stecher and Munn to unify the World Title.
May 30, 1925

Joe Silva defeats Adolfo Bonales to win the Mexico National Lightweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
May 30, 1943

Marshall Estep defeats Ken Fenelon for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Toronto, Iowa.
May 30, 1945

Jake "The Snake" Roberts (birth name Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr.) is born in Gainesville, Texas.
May 30, 1955

Killer Kowalski defeats Yvon Robert in Montreal, Quebec for the Montreal World Heavyweight Title, beginning his seventh reign and ending Yvon Robert's 16th.
May 30, 1956

Antonio Inoki defeats Andre the Giant by countout in Osaka, Japan to win the first-annual New Japan Pro Wrestling MSG League.
May 30, 1978

January 21, 2012

Video: Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki - 1976

December 27, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


Greg Gagne defeats Adrian Adonis in a tournament final to become the first AWA International Television Champion in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the same card, Madusa Miceli defeats Candi Devine to win the AWA World Women's Title, which had been vacant since July 1987 when champion Sherri Martel jumped to the WWF(E).
December 27, 1987

Big Van Vader makes his Japan debut. Vader squashes Antonio Inoki in only 2 minutes in the main event match. The result starts riots in the area.
December 27, 1987

Alex Wright defeated Jean Paul Levesque (Triple H) with a rollup at Starrcade.
December 27, 1994

Starrcade was held in Washington, DC at the MCI Center, and saw the end of Bill Goldberg's huge storyline winning streak of 170+ matches.
December 27, 1998

December 17, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


The WWF(E) ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, with a card airing live on the MSG Network in the New York area, but also in Japan, as this card was almost immediately following the Antonio Inoki-Bob Backlund WWF(E) title controversy in Japan, as well as featuring many Japanese stars. This card also featured the Madison Square Garden debut of Hulk Hogan.
December 17, 1979

The 18th, and final, Starrcade event was held in Washington, DC at the MCI Center. Three months later, WCW would be purchased by the WWF(E), and thus ending the eighteen year streak of Starrcade events, going back to the days of Jim Crockett Promotions.
December 17, 2000

October 4, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


In a battle of two top world title contenders, Joe Stecher defeats Ed Strangler Lewis via decision in a close match.
October 4, 1921

Happy Birthday to Linda McMahon
October 4, 1948

Antonio Inoki defeats Karl Gotch for the New Japan Real World Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. This would be one of two title changes (Gotch wins the belt back later in the month) for the belt, which pretty much existed solely for the purpose of the Gotch-Inoki matches.
October 4, 1972

Ric Flair and others are involved in a serious plane crash. Flair suffers a broken back, doctors tell him he will never wrestle again.
October 4, 1975

The controversial Austin/Pillman gun incident episode of Raw aired.
October 4, 1996

October 2, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


Antonio Inoki & Seji Sakaguchi defeat Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts for the NWF North American Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan, starting their second reign as champions.
October 2, 1975

Jerry & Ted Oates defeat The Great Kojika & Motoshi Okuma for the All Japan All Asian Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
October 2, 1976

Ryuma Go defeats Tatsumi Fujinami in Osaka, Japan for the WWF World Junior Heavyweight Title.
October 2, 1979

Booker T defeats Jeff Jarrett for the vacant WCW World Title.
October 2, 2000

September 30, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


Two of the most important figures in the history of professional wrestling, Shohei "Giant" Baba (founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling) and Antonio Inoki (founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling), make their pro wrestling debuts at a Japanese Wrestling Association show in Tokyo, Japan. Baba defeats Yonetaro Tanaka in his debut, while Inoki loses his match with Kintaro Oki.
September 30, 1960

Happy Birthday to Chris Von Erich
September 30, 1969

Marie Vagnone & Jane Sherill defeat Jumbo Miyamoto & Maxie Murata for the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Kawasaki, Japan.
September 30, 1971

WWWF(WWE) ran at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York, drawing over 20,000 fans for a show main evented by a battle of the babyfaces, as WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino wrestled to a curfew draw after 75 minutes of wrestling. The two shook hands and embraced before exiting the ring. During the match, George Steele tried to interfere, but was escorted out by security.
September 30, 1972

Ox Baker defeated Captain USA (John Studd) for the NWA American Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
September 30, 1977

Gypsy Joe & Tojo Yamamoto defeat Ken Lucas & Dutch Mantel in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title.
September 30, 1978

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

June 14, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


John Pesek defeats Wladek Zbyszko and bills himself as World champion.
June 14, 1919

Jim Brunzell & Greg Gagne defeats Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura for the AWA World Tag Team Title in Green Bay, Wisconsin, starting their second run with the gold.
June 14, 1981

Antonio Inoki, having won the second annual IWGP tournament, wrestles and defeats Hulk Hogan (who won the inaugural tournament by beating Inoki) for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan.
June 14, 1984

June 2, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


Happy Birthday to Lex Luger
June 2, 1958

Hulk Hogan defeats Antonio Inoki to become the first ever IWGP heavyweight champion.
June 2, 1983

The Honky Tonk Man defeated Ricky Steamboat for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
June 2, 1987

Kurt Angle inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK.
June 2, 2001

"Classie" Freddie Blassie died of natural causes at age 85.
June 2, 2003

May 30, 2011

This Day in Wrestling History


Joe Stecher defeats Stanislaus Zbyszko for the World's Heavyweight Wrestling Title in St. Louis, Missouri. It marks Stetcher's third World Title reign, but is not without controversy as Wayne Munn, who Zbyszko had won the title from, was still recognized as World Champion in Illinois and Michigan. Ed "Strangler" Lewis would later beat Stecher and Munn to unify the World Title.
May 30, 1925

Joe Silva defeats Adolfo Bonales to win the Mexico National Lightweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
May 30, 1943

Marshall Estep defeats Ken Fenelon for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Toronto, Iowa.
May 30, 1945

Jake "The Snake" Roberts (birth name Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr.) is born in Gainesville, Texas. 
May 30, 1955

Killer Kowalski defeats Yvon Robert in Montreal, Quebec for the Montreal World Heavyweight Title, beginning his seventh reign and ending Yvon Robert's 16th.
May 30, 1956

Antonio Inoki defeats Andre the Giant by countout in Osaka, Japan to win the first-annual New Japan Pro Wrestling MSG League.
May 30, 1978

December 27, 2010

This Day in Wrestling History


Greg Gagne defeats Adrian Adonis in a tournament final to become the first AWA International Television Champion in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the same card, Madusa Miceli defeats Candi Devine to win the AWA World Women's Title, which had been vacant since July 1987 when champion Sherri Martel jumped to the WWF(E).
December 27, 1987

Big Van Vader makes his Japan debut. Vader squashes Antonio Inoki in only 2 minutes in the main event match. The result starts riots in the area.
December 27, 1987

Alex Wright defeated Jean Paul Levesque (Triple H) with a rollup at Starrcade.
December 27, 1994

Starrcade was held in Washington, DC at the MCI Center, and saw the end of Bill Goldberg's huge storyline winning streak of 170+ matches.
December 27, 1998

 photo i_zps0ebed5ab.jpg
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear