Antonio Inoki

Japanese professional wrestler, businessman, and politician (1943-2022)

Muhammad Hussain Inoki[3] (born Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至, Inoki Kanji) on February 20, 1943 – October 1, 2022) was a Japanese professional wrestling and mixed martial arts promoter, politician, and retired professional wrestler and martial artist, best known by his ring name Antonio Inoki. Inoki's ring name was a tribute to fellow professional wrestler Antonino Rocca.

Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki in December 2012
Birth nameKanji Inoki
猪木寛至
Born(1943-02-20)February 20, 1943[1]
Yokohama, Japan[2]
DiedOctober 1, 2022(2022-10-01) (aged 79)
Tokyo, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Antonio Inoki
Moeru Toukon
Tokyo Tom
Little Tokyo
The Kamikaze
Kazimoto
Killer Inoki
Billed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Billed weight224 lb (102 kg)[2]
Billed fromTokyo, Japan
Trained byRikidōzan
Karl Gotch
DebutSeptember 30, 1960
RetiredApril 4, 1998[2]

Inoki began his professional wrestling career in the Japanese Wrestling Association (JWA) under the tutelage of Rikidōzan. Inoki quickly became one of the most popular stars in the history of Japanese professional wrestling.

In 1989, Inoki entered Japanese politics as he was elected to the Japanese House of Councillors and as part of his first term with the House of Councillors successfully negotiated with Saddam Hussein for the release of Japanese hostages. He retired from politics in 1995, but was re-elected in 2013. On October 1, 2022, at age 79, Inoki died from systemic transthyretin amyloidosis.[4][5][6]

References

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  1. "Power Slam". This Month in History: February. SW Publishing. January 1999. p. 28. 55.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Antonio Inoki's WWE Hall of Fame profile". WWE. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  3. Abbas, Mohsin (26 November 2012). "Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki to return to Pakistan". DAWN.COM.
  4. アントニオ猪木さん死去 プロレス界の巨星堕つ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  5. アントニオ猪木さん 自宅で死去 79歳 燃える闘魂 プロレス黄金期けん引. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). 2022-10-01. Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  6. Rose, Bryan (October 1, 2022). "Antonio Inoki passes away at 79 years old". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved October 1, 2022.