In which Antonio Inoki slaps everyone at
Inoki Bom Ba Ye on New Year’s Eve 2000 to transfer his fighting
spirit to them. pic.twitter.com/5hHZS9nQYC— David Bixenspan (@davidbix)
October 1, 2022
A legend of both pro wrestling and MMA has died at the age of 79
after battling with illnesses that confined him to a
wheelchair.
Late Friday night, Japanese outlet
Sponichi Annex first reported that Antonio Inoki, born Kanji
Inoki, had died. The report claimed the cause of death was related
to
systemic amyloidosis that led to hypoglycemia, but that
specific ailment could not be confirmed. His passing has since been
multiple sources, including his own pro wrestling promotion of
New
Japan Pro Wrestling, as well as the WWE and
ESPN.
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While a famed pro wrestler, Inoki’s involvement in sports stretched
into mixed martial arts. In 1976, Inoki faced off against boxer
Muhammad Ali in an exhibition match that would serve as a proto-MMA
bout with mixed rules. The rules were rumored to have limited
Inoki’s ability to perform takedowns or throws, as well as limiting
his kicks. According to the referee of the match, Gene LeBell,
those restrictions were exaggerated.
Regardless of their interpretation, the two engaged in a 15-round
battle where much of the match was spent with Inoki on the ground,
kicking Ali’s legs. The fight was ultimately scored a draw, but it
served as pivotal moment to introduce the world to the potential of
MMA.
Inoki’s interest in this type of mixed combat eventually led to his
creation of events that would blur the lines of MMA and pro
wrestling. While he worked with those in charge of Pride Fighting Championships including his
pupil Nobuhiko
Takada, he started a line of events of his own. His NJPW league
facilitated MMA matches, and he also ran an annual series of
year-end fight cards called Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye that brought MMA
fighters and pro wrestlers together. In 2007, he created the Inoki
Genome Federation, having left NJPW to pave his own way. Many
renowned MMA competitors including Mirko
Filipovic, Josh Barnett
and even Brock
Lesnar competed under its banner while it was in operation
until 2018.
WWE remembers Antonio Inoki.
1943-2022 pic.twitter.com/I9JF377dLb— WWE (@WWE)
October 1, 2022
Inoki’s involvement with the pro wrestling world was pivotal into
its development internationally, and he wrestled in his own league
of NJPW even when other major leagues took note. In 1979, the man
known by many names including “The Kamikaze” won the WWF
heavyweight belt. Internal politics and disputes removed his name
from its record books, but did not sully his name enough to
prohibit him from an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in
2010.
In addition to his time on the mat, Inoki ran for public office and
earned a seat on Japan’s House of Councillors as a member of his
own personal party called the “Sports and Peace Party.” While in
office, Inoki famously negotiated personally with Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein in 1990 to release hostages prior to the Persian
Gulf War. While he only served one term that ended in 1995, he
returned in 2013 as a representative of a different small
alternative party called the “Japan Restoration Party.” Inoki’s
second term involved several struggles due to his interest in
fostering a relationship between Japan and North Korea, and he
retired in 2019.