Kanji Inoki
Muhammad Hussain Inoki (Arabic: مُحَمَّد حُسَيْن إينوكي, romanized: Muḥammad Ḥusayn ʻIinuki; born Kanji Inoki (Japanese: 猪木寛至, Hepburn: Inoki Kanji)), was a Japanese retired professional wrestler, martial artist, politician, and promoter of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. He was best known by the ring name Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木, Antonio Inoki), a homage to fellow professional wrestler Antonino Rocca. Inoki is a twelve-time professional wrestling world champion, notably being the first IWGP Heavyweight Champion and the first Asian WWE Champion – a reign not officially recognized by WWE. Inoki began his professional wrestling career in the 1960s for The Japanese Wrestling Association under the tutelage of Rikidōzan. Inoki quickly became one of the most popular stars in the history of Japanese professional wrestling. He parlayed his wrestling career into becoming one of Japan's most recognizable athletes, a reputation bolstered by his 1976 fight against world champion boxer Muhammad Ali – a fight that served as a predecessor to modern day mixed martial arts. In 1995, with Ric Flair, Inoki headlined two shows in North Korea that drew 150,000 and 190,000 spectators, the highest attendances in professional wrestling history. Inoki wrestled his final match on April 4, 1998 against Don Frye and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010. Inoki began his promoting career in 1972, when he founded New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He remained the owner of NJPW until 2005 when he sold his controlling share in the promotion to the Yuke's video game company. In 2007, he founded the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF). In 2017, Inoki founded ISM and the following year left IGF. He is also the co-founder of the karate style Kansui-ryū (寛水流) along with Matsubayashi-ryū master Yukio Mizutani. In 1989, while still an active wrestler, Inoki entered politics as he was elected to the Japanese House of Councillors. During his first term with the House of Councillors, Inoki successfully negotiated with Saddam Hussein for the release of Japanese hostages before the outbreak of the Gulf War. His first tenure in the House of Councillors ended in 1995, but he was reelected in 2013. In 2019, Inoki retired from politics.
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
as SelfA small time promotor/hustler takes the pint-sized baseball team to Japan for a match against...
Movie pageNJPW & WCW Collision In Korea
as Antonio InokiCollision in Korea was the largest professional wrestling pay-per-view event ever that was...
Movie pageVice Versa: Chyna
as SelfThe rise and fall of wrestler Joanie Chyna Laurer, whose life was cut short in 2016. Her...
Movie pageAcacia
as Antonio Inoki"Acacia" revolves around Sekiji Ishida (Antonio Inoki) a former professional wrestler now a...
Movie pageWWE The Brawl to End it All
as Antonio InokiThe Brawl to End It All was a professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling...
Movie pageLife is a Battle
as uncreditedTwo born rivals plot a new start after a string of ups and downs.
Movie pageWWE Hall of Fame 2010
as Antonio InokiSports Entertainment's most legendary superstars including Ted Dibiase, Stu Hart, and more enter...
Movie pageWCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
as Antonio InokiWCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan defends against Ric Flair. "Stunning" Steve Austin...
Movie pageNJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1995
as Antonio InokiThe third Wrestling Dontaku was held on May 3, 1995, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, at the Fukuoka Dome....
Movie pageThe WWF's Most Unusual Matches
as Antonio InokiSome of the most unusual matches in WWF History.
Movie pageNJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1993
as Antonio InokiWrestling Dontaku 1993 was the first Wrestling Dontaku professional wrestling event produced by...
Movie pageWorld Wrestling Peace Festival
as Antonio InokiThe World Wrestling Peace Festival was a professional wrestling supercard event produced by...
Movie pageIn Search of Antonio Inoki
as Self (archive footage)A look into the life and career of the legendary wrestler Antonio Inoki
Movie pageDark Side of the Ring
as SelfFinding truth at the intersection of fantasy and reality in the veiled world of professional...
TV Show pageVice Versa
as SelfIndependent, immersive, and provocative documentary specials giving voice to radical and...
TV Show page