Antonio Inoki
Real name: Antonio Inoki
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 224 lbs.
Date of birth: February 20, 1943
Date of death: October 1, 2022
From: Tokyo, Japan
Pro debut: September 30, 1960
Trained by: Rikidozan & Karl Gotch
Finishing move: Bridging fallaway slam
Biography
– In the late 1960’s, Inoki and The Giant Baba captured four NWA International Tag Team Championships.
– On October 7, 1976 in Tokyo, Japan, Inoki beat Andre The Giant via TKO.
– On November 30, 1979, Inoki defeated then WWF Champion Bob Backlund in Tokushima, Japan.
– Inoki became the UWA World Heavyweight Champion on April 13, 1980 in Mexico City.
– In 1982, Inoki and Hulk Hogan won the NJPW MSG Tag League.
– Inoki defeated boxer Leon Spinks via pinfall in Tokyo on October 9, 1986 in Tokyo, Japan.
– On June 12, 1987 in Tokyo, Japan, Inoki defeated Masa Saito in a tournament final to become the first IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
– Inoki was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1995.
– In 2004, the Cauliflower Alley Club awarded Inoki the Lou Thesz Award.
– Inoki was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009.
– In 2010, Inoki was inducted into the WWE hall of fame.
– Inoki was voted into the GERWECK.NET Hall of Fame on March 13, 2022.