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Kanji Inoki

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
22

Gender
Male

Birthday
February 20, 1943 (83 years old)

Place of Birth
Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Kanji Inoki

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

2023In Search of Antonio Inokias Self (archive footage)
2021Vice Versa: Chynaas Self
2020Vice Versaas Self
2019Dark Side of the Ringas Self
2010Acaciaas Antonio Inoki
2010WWE Hall of Fame 2010as Antonio Inoki
1996World Wrestling Peace Festivalas Antonio Inoki
1995NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1995as Antonio Inoki
1995NJPW & WCW Collision In Koreaas Antonio Inoki
1994WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIIIas Antonio Inoki
1993NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1993as Antonio Inoki
1988Clash of the Championsas Antonio Inoki
1987NJPW Ganryujima Island Deathmatchas Antonio Inoki
1985WCCW Christmas Star Wars '85as Antonio Inoki
1985Most Unusual Matchesas Antonio Inoki
1984WWE The Brawl to End it Allas Antonio Inoki
1980WWE Showdown at Shea '80as Antonio Inoki
1978Kings of the Square Ringas
1978The Bad News Bears Go to Japanas Self
1973WWE Old Schoolas Antonio Inoki
1972New Japan Pro Wrestlingas Antonio Inoki
1970Life is a Battleas

Production

2001INOKI BOM-BA-YE 2001...Executive Producer
1995NJPW & WCW Collision In Korea...Director
1993WCW/New Japan Supershow III...Director
1992WCW/New Japan Supershow II...Director
1991WCW/New Japan Supershow: Rumble in The Rising Sun...Director
1972NJPW...Creator
1972New Japan Pro Wrestling...Creator