Antonio Inoki | |
|---|---|
 Inoki in 2012 | |
| Member of theHouse of Councillors | |
| In office 29 July 2013 – 28 July 2019 | |
| Constituency | National PR |
| In office 23 July 1989 – 22 July 1995 | |
| Constituency | National PR |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至,Inoki Kanji) (1943-02-20)20 February 1943[1] |
| Died | 1 October 2022(2022-10-01) (aged 79)[3] Minato, Tokyo, Japan[3] |
| Political party | DPP (2019) |
| Other political affiliations | Sports and Peace (1989–1995) JRP (2013–2014) PFG (2014–2015) Assembly to Energize Japan (2015–2016) Independents Club (2016–2019) |
| Spouse(s) | Diana Tuck (separated after 1965) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Juichi Sagara (brother)[4] Pablo Inoki (brother)[5] Simon Inoki (son-in-law)[6] Hirota Inoki (grandson)[7] Naoto Inoki (grandson)[7] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Antonio Inoki The Kamikaze Kanji Inoki Kazimoto Killer Inoki Kinji Onoki Little Tokyo Moeru Toukon Tokyo Tom |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2] |
| Billed weight | 224 lb (102 kg)[2] |
| Billed from | Tokyo, Japan |
| Trained by | Rikidōzan Karl Gotch |
| Debut | 30 September 1960[8] |
| Retired | 4 April 1998[2][8] |
Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木,Antonio Inoki) (bornKanji Inoki (Japanese:猪木寛至,Hepburn:Inoki Kanji); 20 February 1943 – 1 October 2022) was a Japaneseprofessional wrestler,professional wrestling trainer,martial artist, politician, andpromoter of professional wrestling andmixed martial arts (MMA). He is best known as the founder and 33-year owner ofNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is considered to be one of the most influential professional wrestlers of all time,[9][10][11] and one of the biggest key influences on MMA in Japan and internationally.[12][11]
After spending his adolescence inBrazil, Inoki began his professional wrestling career in the 1960s for theJapan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) under the tutelage ofRikidōzan. After he changed his in-ring moniker toAntonio Inoki in 1963, ahomage to accomplished Italian wrestlerAntonino Rocca, Inoki became one of the most popular stars inJapanese professional wrestling. He is credited with developingstrong style andshoot style wrestling in the 1970s and 1980s. He parlayed his wrestling career into becoming one of Japan's most recognizable athletes, a reputation bolstered by his1976 fight against world championboxerMuhammad Ali — a fight that served as a predecessor to modern day MMA. In 1995 Inoki headlinedtwo shows withRic Flair inNorth Korea that drew 165,000 and 190,000 spectators, thehighest attendances in professional wrestling history.[13] Inoki wrestled his retirement match on 4 April 1998 againstDon Frye, and was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame in2010.[2] Inoki was a twelve-timeprofessional wrestling world champion, notably being the inauguralIWGP Heavyweight Champion and thefirst AsianWWF Heavyweight Champion, a reign not officially recognized byWWE.
Inoki began his promoting career in 1972, when he founded New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He remained the owner of NJPW until 2005 when he sold his controlling share in the promotion to theYuke's video game company. In 2007, he founded theInoki Genome Federation (IGF). In 2017, Inoki founded ISM and the following year left IGF. He was also a co-creator of thekarate style Kansui-ryū (寛水流,Kansui-ryū) along withMatsubayashi-ryū master Yukio Mizutani.[14]
In 1989, while still an active wrestler, Inoki entered politics as he was elected to the JapaneseHouse of Councillors. During his first term with the House of Councillors, Inoki successfully negotiated withSaddam Hussein for the release of Japanese hostages inIraq before the outbreak of theGulf War. While in Iraq, Inoki converted toShia Islam and was bestowed the Islamic monikerMuhammad Hussain Inoki (Arabic:محمد حسين اينوكي,romanized: Muhamad Husayn Aynwky). His first tenure in the House of Councillors ended in 1995, but he was reelected in 2013. In 2019, Inoki retired from politics.
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Kanji Inoki was born into anaffluent family inYokohama on 20 February 1943. Of the 11 siblings (seven boys and four girls), he was second-youngest and the sixth son. Their father Sajiro Inoki was a businessman and politician who died when Kanji was five years old.
Inoki was taughtkarate by an older brother while in 6th grade. By the time he was in 7th grade at Terao Junior High School, he was 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall. He joined thebasketball team but switched totrack and field as ashot putter. He eventually won the championship at the Yokohama Junior High School track and field competition.
The family suffered financial difficulties in the post-World War II years. At age 14, Inoki emigrated toBrazil with his grandfather, mother, and brothers. His grandfather died during the journey to Brazil. Inoki won regional championships in Brazil in shot put,discus, andjavelin and won the All Brazilian championships in shot put and discus.[15]
Inoki's brotherJuichi Sagara[4] was a karate master and is credited as one of the people responsible for bringingShotokan toBrazil.[16][17] Inoki's brotherPablo Inoki, atenor andpolitical activist, once led the Inoki-foundedSports and Peace Party.[5]
Inoki metRikidōzan at the age of 17 in Brazil and went back to Japan for theJapan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) as hisdisciple. He trained in the JWAdojo under the renownedKarl Gotch, complementing further his training underamateur wrestler Isao Yoshiwara andkosen judoka Kiyotaka Otsubo.[18] One of his dojo classmates wasGiant Baba. After Rikidozan'smurder, Inoki worked in Baba's shadow until he left for an excursion to theUnited States in 1964.
After a long excursion of wrestling in the United States, Inoki found a new home inTokyo Pro Wrestling in 1966. While there, Inoki became their biggest star. His first major feud in Japan was againstJohnny Valentine,NWA United States Champion inToronto. Inoki defeated Valentine on 19 December 1966 in Osaka to claim a version of the title. The company folded in January 1967, due to turmoil behind the scenes, and Inoki abandoned the title.
Returning to JWA in late 1967, Inoki was made Baba's partner and the two dominated the tag team ranks as the "B-I Cannon", winning theNWA International Tag Team Championship belts four times.
On 16 May 1969, during the 11thWorld Big League, Inoki stopped Giant Baba's fourth consecutive victory and won his first tournament.
In July 1969, when NET (currentlyTV Asahi) started broadcasting Japanese professional wrestling, Inoki was theace of NET's wrestling broadcasts, as Baba's matches were monopolized byNippon TV under the agreement between the JWA and Nippon TV. On 2 December 1969, he challengedDory Funk Jr. for theNWA World Heavyweight Championship, and on 26 March 1971, won theNWA United National Championship fromJohn Tolos, establishing the title in Japan.
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Fired from JWA in late 1971 for planning atakeover of the promotion, Inoki foundedNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in 1972. His first match as a New Japan wrestler was againstKarl Gotch. In 1975 he facedLou Thesz, with Inoki taking a vicious Greco-Roman backdrop within the first seconds of the match.
In 1976, Inoki fought withPakistaniAkram Pahalwan in a special rules match. The match apparently turned into ashoot, with an uncooperative Akrambiting Inoki in the arm and Inoki retaliating with aneye poke. At the end, Inoki won the bout with adouble wrist lock, injuring Pahalwan's arm after the latter refused to submit. According to refereeMr. Takahashi, this finish was not scripted and was fought for real after the match's original flow became undone.[19]
On 8 December 1977, Inoki was involved in a match against formerstrongman turned professional wrestler Antonio Barichievich better known asThe Great Antonio. Barichievich inexplicably began no-selling Inoki's attacks and then stiffing Inoki; Inoki responded by shooting on Barichievich, retaliating with a seriespalm strikes, grounding him with asingle leg takedown and following with up repeatedkicks, and then stomping his head repeatedly as he lay on the mat before the match was stopped.[20]
In June 1979, Inoki wrestled Akram's countrymanZubair Jhara Pahalwan, this time in a regular match, and lost the fight in the fifth round.[21] In 2014, 22 years after Zubair Jhara's death, he announced he would take Jhara's nephew Haroon Abid under his guardianship.[22]
On 30 November 1979, Inoki defeatedWWF Heavyweight ChampionBob Backlund inTokushima, Japan, to win the championship.[23] Backlund then won a rematch on 6 December. However, WWF presidentHisashi Shinma declared the re-match a no contest due to interference fromTiger Jeet Singh, and Inoki remained champion. Inoki refused the title on the same day, and it was declared vacant. Backlund later defeatedBobby Duncum in aTexas Death match to regain the title on 12 December. Inoki's reign is not recognized by WWE in its WWF/WWE title history and Backlund's first reign is viewed as uninterrupted from 1978 to 1983.
In 1995, Inoki and the North Korean government came together to hold atwo-day wrestling festival for peace inPyongyang, North Korea. The event drew 165,000 and 190,000 fans respectively toRungnado May Day Stadium. The main event saw the only match between Inoki andRic Flair, with Inoki coming out on top.[13] Days before this event, Inoki and the Korean press went to the grave and birthplace of Rikidōzan and paid tribute to him.
Inoki's retirement from professional wrestling matches came with the staging of the "Final Countdown" series between 1994 and 1998. This was a special series in which Inoki re-lived some of his martial arts matches under traditional professional wrestling rules, as well as rematches of some of his most well known wrestling matches. As part of the Final Countdown tour, Inoki made a rareWorld Championship Wrestling appearance; defeating WCW World Television ChampionSteven Regal in a non-title match atClash of the Champions XXVIII. On 4 April 1998, Inoki defeatedDon Frye in the final official match of his professional wrestling career.[24] After his retirement in 1998, Inoki founded a new wrestling promotion, the Universal Fighting-Arts Organization (UFO).
Inoki would later participate in four exhibition matches after his retirement. On 11 March 2000, at a Rikidōzan memorial event, Inoki was defeated by Japanese actor and singerHideaki Takizawa; later that year during a New Year's Eve event, he wrestled Brazilian mixed martial artistRenzo Gracie to a time limit draw. On 31 December 2001, he teamed withThe Great Sasuke to defeatGiant Silva and Red & White Mask;[25] two years later, on 31 December 2003, Inoki wrestled the final match of his career, facingTatsumi Fujinami as part of Fujinami's retirement ceremony.[26]
In 2005,Yuke's, a Japanese video company, purchased Inoki's controlling 51.5% stock in New Japan.[27][28]
In 2007, Inoki founded a new promotion calledInoki Genome Federation (IGF).[citation needed]
On 1 February 2010,World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced on its Japanese website that Inoki would be inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame. Inoki was presented with a Hall of Fame certificate by WWE's Ed Wells.[citation needed]
In 2017, Inoki created a new company, ISM. ISM held its first event on 24 June of that year. On 23 March 2018, Inoki left IGF.[citation needed]
In October 2019, Inoki appeared at aPro Wrestling Zero1 event at theYasukuni Shrine, which is controversial forits relation to World War II.[29]
In August 2022, Inoki established the Inoki Genki Factory to serve as his official management company.[30] It was later reported that the Inoki Genki Factory was looking into the idea of hosting professional wrestling and mixed martial arts events.[30]
Following in his father's footsteps, Inoki entered politics in 1989, when he was elected into theHouse of Councillors as a representative of his ownSports and Peace Party in the1989 Japanese House of Councillors election. Inoki's win secured him among the highest offices ever won by aprofessional wrestling personality in politics. The Sports and Peace Party later formed a parliamentary alliance with theDemocratic Socialist Party.[31] On 14 October 1989, Inoki was stabbed during a political event inAizuwakamatsu,Fukushima Prefecture.[31] EmulatingMuhammad Ali, Inoki traveled toIraq in 1990 in "an unofficial one-man diplomatic mission" to negotiate withSaddam Hussein for the release of Japanese hostages before the outbreak of theGulf War.[32] He personally organizeda wrestling event in Iraq to entice Saddam to free the 41 captive Japanese nationals, this ultimately proved to be a success with 36 Japanese nationals freed.[33] Inoki subsequently retained his seat in the1992 Japanese House of Councillors election. He failed to win re-election in the1995 Japanese House of Councillors election following a number of scandals reported in 1994, and left politics for the next eighteen years.[34]
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On 5 June 2013, Inoki announced that he would again run for a House of Councillors seat in theNational Diet under theJapan Restoration Party ticket.[34][35] Inoki won the election to return to Japan's Upper House as an MP.[36][37][38]
In November 2013, he was suspended from the Diet for 30 days because of an unauthorized trip to North Korea.[39] He had visited on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the armistice in theKorean War, and had met with senior North Korean figureKim Yong-nam during his visit.[40] This was Inoki's 27th visit to North Korea; he explained that theNorth Korean abductions of Japanese citizens had caused the Japanese government to "close the door" on diplomacy with the North, but that the issue would not be resolved without ongoing communication, and that he saw his relationship with North Korean-bornRikidōzan as a crucial link to the people of the North.[41]
He was reportedly considering running forgovernor of Tokyo in 2014 following another visit to North Korea.[42]
Inoki joined the splinter of the Japan Restoration Party,Party for Future Generations, in 2014. In January 2015, he helped to establish a new party named theAssembly to Energize Japan, which he left in 2016, to sit in theIndependents Club.
In September 2017, Inoki re-established his position that Japan should make more of an effort to have co-operative dialogue with North Korea, in the wake of North Korea launchingballistic missiles overHokkaido. This was succeeded by another of Inoki's controversial trips to the nation.[43]
In June 2019, Inoki announced his retirement from politics.[44]
On 23 June 1989, Inoki founded theSports and Peace Party, his own political party.[45][31] Inoki served as the party'sleader until the1998 House of Councillors election when he was succeeded by Iichi Nishime. In 2002, Inoki was appointed aGoodwill Ambassador ofPalau;[46] Inoki would again be appointed a Japanese Goodwill Ambassador to Palau in 2013.[47][48]
From August 2014 until December 2014, Inoki served as the director of the National Sports Bureau of theParty for Future Generations and as a chairperson of the Policy Research Committee of the House of Councillors.[31] On 1 March 2015, Inoki was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the2016 Summer Olympics by theNational Olympic Committee of Cambodia.[31] From 2015 until 2016, Inoki served as the supreme advisor of theAssembly to Energize Japan, a political party he co-founded withKota Matsuda.
Inoki was amongst the group of professional wrestlers who were tutored in the art ofhooking and shooting by the professional wrestlerKarl Gotch. This method of wrestling taught to Inoki by Gotch borrowed heavily from professional wrestling's originalcatch wrestling roots, and is one of the most important influences of modernshoot wrestling. Inoki named his method of fighting "strong style" and it is sometimes referred to as "Inokiism".
Inoki faced many opponents from all dominant disciplines of combat from various parts of the world, such asboxers,judoka,karateka,kung fu practitioners,sumo wrestlers, and fellow professional wrestlers. These bouts included a match with then-prominent karate competitor Everett Eddy.[49] Eddy had previously competed in a mixed skills bout against boxer Horst Geisler and lost by knockout.[50] The bout with Eddy ended with the karateka knocked out by a professional wrestlingpowerbomb followed by aHulk Hogan-esqueleg drop. Another such match pitted Inoki against 6'7" Kyokushin karate stylistWillie Williams, who had allegedly fought a bear for a 1976 Japanese film titledThe Strongest Karate 2.[51] This bout ended when a doctor stopped the fight after both competitors repeatedly fell out of the ring.[52] Although many of the matches were predetermined and scripted, they are seen as a precursor to modernmixed martial arts (MMA). When asked about Inoki's fighting skills, business colleagueCarlson Gracie stated Inoki was "one of the best fighters he'd seen."[53]
His most famous bout was against heavyweight boxing championMuhammad Ali on26 June 1976, in Tokyo.[54] Inoki initially promised Ali a predetermined match to get him to fight in Japan, but when the deal materialized, Ali's camp feared that Inoki would turn the fight into ashoot, which many believe was Inoki's intention. Ali visited a professional wrestling match involving Inoki and witnessed Inoki'sgrappling ability. The rules of the match were announced several months in advance. Two days before the match, however, several new rules were added which severely limited the moves that each man could perform. One rule change, specifying that Inoki could only throw a kick if one of his knees was on the ground, had a major effect on the outcome of the fight.[54] Ali landed a total of six punches to Inoki, and Inoki kept to his back in a defensive position for almost the entire duration of the match of 15 rounds, hitting Ali with a low kick repeatedly.[55] The bout ended in a draw, 3–3. Ali left without a press conference and suffered damage to his legs as a result of Inoki's repeated kicks.[56]
Following his retirement from professional wrestling, Inoki promoted a number of MMA events such as UFO Legend,NJPW Ultimate Crush (which showcased pro wrestling matches and MMA matches on the same card), and the annual Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye shows which took place on New Year's Eve in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. Some of the major attractions of these events involved the best of NJPW against world-renowned fighters in legitimate MMA matches. Inoki faced mixed martial artistRenzo Gracie in an exhibition match at the 2000 Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye.
On 28 August 2002, Inoki participated in theShockwave event co-promoted byK-1 and thePride Fighting Championships; with a reported attendance of 91,107, Shockwave remains thehighest attended live event in MMA's history.[57] The event's opening ceremony saw Inoki dropping into theNational Stadium by parachute and then being joined byHélio Gracie.[58] After being dubbed the "founding fathers of MMA", the two lit a ceremonialOlympic Torch together.[58]
FutureUFC Light Heavyweight ChampionLyoto Machida began his career in MMA under the management of Inoki. Machida was described by Inoki as a symbolic "successor" figure for himself, asNaoya Ogawa andKazuyuki Fujita had been in the past.[59] In 2003, Inoki co-founded the Brazilian MMA promotionJungle Fight withWallid Ismail.[60] Inoki was also the ambassador for theInternational Fight League's Tokyo entry before that promotion's demise. Additionally, Inoki'sInoki Genome Federation promoted both professional wrestling matches and mixed martial arts fights.
Inoki married American woman Diana (also known as Linda) Tuck in 1965.[61] The couple had a daughter, but Inoki and Tuck separated after two years.[61] Inoki's daughter died at age 8.[62]
Inoki was married to actressMitsuko Baisho from 1971 to 1987, and together they had a daughter, Hiroko.[63] Inoki married for a third time in 1989,[61] with his third wife giving birth to Inoki's first son.[61] The couple divorced in 2012.[61] Inoki's son attendedColumbia University inNew York City.[64] In 2014, Inoki took Haroon Abid, nephew of his Pakistani rivalZubair Jhara Pahalwan, under his guardianship.[22][65] Inoki's fourth[66] wife, Tazuko Tada, died on 27 August 2019.[67]
Inoki has two grandsons, Hirota and Naoto Inoki. Hirota was a swimmer forSanta Monica College,[68] having previously set school records in swimming atEl Segundo High School.[69] In June 2023, Hirota was appointed to the board of directors of the Inoki Genki Factory.[70] In January 2024, it was reported that Naoto was training in professional wrestling underKatsuyori Shibata,[71] having previously trained under the staff of the L.A. Inoki Dojo.[72] Naoto additionally trains inmixed martial arts (MMA) atBlack House MMA.[73] On 20 July 2024, Naoto made his professional wrestling debut, defeating Casanova at a Backyard Squabbles event.[74]
Inoki had areal-lifefriendship turned rivalry with former tag team partnerShohei "Giant" Baba, with Inoki vowing to never enter one of Baba'sAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)rings.[75] In one of his last major public appearances prior to his death, Inoki appeared at an AJPW-promoted memorial show for Baba in February 2019; Inoki paid his respects to his former friend from ringside, unwilling to break his personal vow to never step inside an AJPW ring.[75]
Inoki converted toShia Islam in 1990 during a pilgrimage toKarbala, the Shiite holy city inIraq. He had traveled to Iraq to negotiate the release of several Japanese hostages.[76] While in Iraq, Inoki undertook the Islamic monikerMuhammad Hussain Inoki (Arabic:محمد حسين اينوكي,romanized: Muhamad Husayn Aynwky), later reportedly describing himself as both a Muslim convert and aBuddhist.[77][78][79] In 2014, Inoki said he was "usually a Buddhist".[32]
Inoki operated a wrestling-themed restaurant inShinjuku,Tokyo, named Antonio's Inoki Sakaba Shinjuku.[80] Inoki is the namesake of two islands, the Inoki Friendship Island inCuba and the Inoki Island inPalau.[81][48] In 2021, it was reported that spinal issues had confined Inoki to a wheelchair.
On 1 October 2022 (30 September inEastern Time), at age 79, Inoki died fromsystemic transthyretin amyloidosis.[3][82][83] Inoki was given aBuddhist funeral,[84][85] and bestowed the Buddhistposthumous nameTōgakuin Kikon Kandō Koji (闘覚院機魂寛道居士).[86]
Americanprofessional wrestling promotionWWE paid tribute to Inoki on the 30 September episode ofSmackDown.[87] On 1 October, atRoyal Quest II inLondon, England,New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) held aten-bell salute for Inoki.[88] Numerous other Japanese promotions would additionally hold ten-bell salutes for Inoki in the weeks and months following his death.NPB teamYokohama DeNA BayStars would play Inoki's theme song, "Inoki Bombaye" (itself a remix of "Ali Bombaye (Zaire Chant) I" fromMuhammad Ali's1977 biographical film), at their games as a tribute to Inoki following his death.[89][90]
On 4 October, NJPW announced that they had made Inoki the promotion's Honorary Chairman for Life prior to his passing.[91] On 10 October, during Declaration of Power, the first NJPW event held in Japan since Inoki's death, the promotion held a second ten-bell salute for Inoki.[92]
On 28 December, Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye x Ganryujima, amemorial show honoring Inoki, was organized by the Inoki Genki Factory in collaboration with Samurai Warriors Ganryujima and NJPW.[93] Three days later, on 31 December,mixed martial arts promotionRizin held theirRizin 40 event as a memorial for Inoki.[94] On 4 January 2023, NJPW held theirWrestle Kingdom 17 event in tribute to Inoki.[95] On 9 June, NJPW,All Japan Pro Wrestling, andPro Wrestling Noah heldAll Together: Again to celebrate Inoki's legacy.[96]
On 16 January 2023, Inoki was posthumously awarded theOrder of the Rising Sun by theGovernment of Japan.[97] On that same day, it was announced that Inoki had been awarded theJunior Fourth Rank in Japan'sikai court ranks system.[97] On 9 June, theJapan Anniversary Association declared 1 October to be Antonio Inoki Fighting Spirit Day.[98] On 9 September, a statue of Inoki was unveiled atSōji-ji, a largeZen temple inYokohama.[99]
America'sAll Elite Wrestling heldan event on 1 October 2023, the one-year anniversary of Inoki's death, titled WrestleDream that was organized in honor of Inoki.[100]WrestleDream has since been established as an annual event held by AEW in tribute to Inoki.[101]
On 14 December 2024, theAntonio Inoki Memorial Show was organized inShanghai, China by NJPW and variousAsia-Pacific Federation of Wrestling promotions.[102]
Two of Inoki's former students, Durango Kid and Laberinto, currently run alucha libre promotion that bears his name, Inoki Sports Management.[103] The two also serve as the head trainers of awrestling school named the L.A. Inoki Dojo.[103]
A character based on Inoki called "Kanji Igari" appears in the Japanesemanga seriesBaki the Grappler byKeisuke Itagaki.[104]
Inoki appears in themanga and anime seriesTiger Mask, in a secondary role: he is the only one who was able to win overNaoto "Tiger Mask" Date, with the two subsequently becoming best friends.
Under the names "Kanta Inokuma" and "Armand Inokuma", Inoki appears in the mangaRasputin the Patriot byTakashi Nagasaki andJunji Itō, a manga heavily based on the bookTrap of the State written by ex-diplomat and political writer Masaru Satō. This manga reveals Inoki's experience when he visited Russia to meet with vice president of the Soviet UnionGennady Yanayev in May 1991, three months before theSoviet coup attempt. According to the manga, Inoki correctly predicted that Yanayev would be the one to lead the coup d'état attempt in August.
Inoki appeared in the filmThe Bad News Bears Go to Japan as himself. Asubplot in his scenes involved Inoki seeking a rematch with Ali.Gene LeBell, who also appears in these scenes as a manager of Inoki's scheduled opponent, Mean Bones Beaudine, was the referee of Inoki's match with Ali. Inoki's appearance in the film culminates with a match against the main character, Marvin Lazar (played byTony Curtis), when Beaudine suddenly becomes unavailable to participate. Professional wrestlerHéctor Guerrero served as Curtis's stunt double for the wrestling portions of this scene.
Inoki had the starring role in the filmAcacia directed byJinsei Tsuji.[105]
InOh!Great's mangaAir Gear, Inoki is regularly referred to by the author, and by the manga's characters as an influence on their fighting style. The manga also makes several references to Inoki's large chin.
Inoki made an appearance as the guest in2005Doraemon episode "The Pitch-Black Pop Stars", where he wrestled Gian after he splashed ink on his face.
Inoki is the inspiration for the wrestling legend Iron Kiba, from the mangaKoukou Tekkenden Tough.
Several episodes of the Japanese comedy showDowntown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!, most notably 2007's "Do Not Laugh at the Hospital" and 2009's "Do Not Laugh as a Hotel Man", have included parodies of Inoki. In the former, three "patients" are presented as being Inoki, with each imitating Inoki's in-ring persona; while in the latter, the guest known only as "Shin Onii" was asked to imitate Inoki as if he were a hotelbellhop.
In May 2021, Inoki appeared on theVice on TV seriesDark Side of the Ring in an episode covering the 1995Collision in Korea event.[106]
In 2023, Inoki was the subject of adocumentary film,Looking for Antonio Inoki.[107]
| 1 fight | 0 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draw | 0-0-1 |  Muhammad Ali | PTS | 15 | 25 June 1976 |  Nippon Budokan,Tokyo, Japan | Under specialboxing-wrestling rules. |
| Award or decoration | Country | Date | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Order of the Southern Cross |  Brazil | 20 December 1974 | [134] |
 | Order of Friendship |  North Korea | 15 September 2010 | [31][135][136] |
 | Friendship Medal |  Cuba | 20 November 2012 | [137] |
 | Order of the Rising Sun |  Japan | 16 January 2023 | [97] |
| N/A | Junior Fourth Rank | Japan | 16 January 2023 | [97] |
私はこれまで27回も訪朝して、北朝鮮国民の暮らしぶりを見てきましたから、あの国のありのままの姿を知っています。ところが日本政府は、拉致問題が明らかになって以降、完全にドアを閉ざし、日朝関係は膠着状態に陥ってしまった。誰かがメッセージを送り続けなければ、拉致問題も解決しません。[I have visited North Korea 27 times and seen how the North Korean people live, so I know what the country is really like. However, since the abduction issue came to light, the Japanese government has completely closed its door, and Japan-North Korea relations have reached a stalemate. Unless someone continues to send a message, the abduction issue will not be resolved.]
Wallid Ismail, co-promoter of the Jungle Fight in conjunction with main promoter Antonio Inoki, has just released the list of fighters for Jungle Fight 4, Road to Las Vegas.
Josh Barnett initially made his wrestling debut in 2003 with New Japan Pro Wrestling after rigorous training under the guidance of Antonio Inoki.
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