Batista Wrestling in Japan

Antonio Inoki announced that a former WWE star and World Champion will be working the IGF's December 3rd show in Japan. As noted weeks ago, Inoki's company has been in serious talks with Batista. It's being reported in Japan that Inoki's mystery former WWE guy is Batista.

source: impactwrestling.com

Antonio Inoki: Wrestling North Korea to Diplomacy?

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

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

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

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

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

2010 WWE Hall of Fame Recap

Another Name Revealed for 2010 WWE HOF

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that the WWE has invited Antonio Inoki into the Hall of Fame, and that former AWA champion Stan Hansen will be inducting him. This announcement was made in Japan.

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

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum 2009 Induction Class

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame based out of Amsterdam, New York announced their inductees for the Class of 2009 today after tallying the results of invited voters last week. They released the following statement on their website:

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to announce the names of the 2009 Induction Class. Inductees include: Evan "Strangler" Lewis, Wladek Zbyszko, Billy Graham, Jay Strongbow, Randy Savage, Paul Orndorff, Antonio Inoki, the tag team of Mark Lewin & Don Curtis, Lou Albano, and Donna Christantello. The Senator Hugh Farley Award will be given to Hank Garrett.

www.pwhf.org

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