![Kanji Inoki](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/gPwa1mRJzXO5YfXeZ9gofufXtY5.jpg)
Kanji Inoki
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 |
---|---|
Most Rating | 2.935 |
Birthday | 1943-02-20 |
Place of Birth | Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan |
Also Known As | Antonio Inoki, |
![The Bad News Bears Go to Japan](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4NNRDDMCZAI4UEgcQPUqRD147cw.jpg)
1978
![The Bad News Bears Go to Japan](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4NNRDDMCZAI4UEgcQPUqRD147cw.jpg)
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
4.865/37
In this third film version of the Bad News Bears series, Tony Curtis plays a small time promotor/hustler who takes the pint-sized baseball team to Jap...
Watch Now
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
![Life is a Battle](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/dBDo2BM4W5a4feT0NiSNEYQVWpL.jpg)
1970
![Life is a Battle](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/dBDo2BM4W5a4feT0NiSNEYQVWpL.jpg)
Life is a Battle
0/0
Two born rivals plot a new start after a string of ups and downs.
Watch Now
Life is a Battle
![WWE The Brawl to End it All](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/qzNm1VibLJIKvPGMUAWpWOiZ75p.jpg)
1984
![WWE The Brawl to End it All](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/qzNm1VibLJIKvPGMUAWpWOiZ75p.jpg)
WWE The Brawl to End it All
10/1
The Brawl to End It All was a professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and broadcast live on MTV. It took place a...
Watch Now
WWE The Brawl to End it All
![WCCW Christmas Star Wars '85](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1985
![WCCW Christmas Star Wars '85](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
WCCW Christmas Star Wars '85
0/0
Witness a brutal battle when The Von Erichs clash with The Freebirds
Watch Now
WCCW Christmas Star Wars '85
![WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1rIPHmoAggWlTVBuAwG0pdVcBUB.jpg)
1994
![WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1rIPHmoAggWlTVBuAwG0pdVcBUB.jpg)
WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
0/0
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan defends against Ric Flair. "Stunning" Steve Austin defends the WCW United States Championship against Ricky...
Watch Now
WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
![NJPW & WCW Collision In Korea](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tMAUDcQOY88NBPZvOWambXxEwMc.jpg)
1995
![NJPW & WCW Collision In Korea](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tMAUDcQOY88NBPZvOWambXxEwMc.jpg)
NJPW & WCW Collision In Korea
0/0
Collision in Korea was the largest professional wrestling pay-per-view event ever that was jointly produced by World Championship Wrestling and New Ja...
Watch Now
NJPW & WCW Collision In Korea
![NJPW IWGP Championship League 1983 - Day 1](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1983
![NJPW IWGP Championship League 1983 - Day 1](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
NJPW IWGP Championship League 1983 - Day 1
0/0
The 1983 International Wrestling Grand Prix ran from May 6 to June 2, 1983. The tournament featured 10 wrestlers from across the globe.
Watch Now
NJPW IWGP Championship League 1983 - Day 1
![NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1993](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/zp4ZFgFAMOpCvDolvs2t511Rks7.jpg)
1993
![NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1993](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/zp4ZFgFAMOpCvDolvs2t511Rks7.jpg)
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1993
0/0
Wrestling Dontaku 1993 was the first Wrestling Dontaku professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The event took place on May 3...
Watch Now
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1993
![NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1995](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/rl5i5xie3pU7FVNVj3WO9FLBv0h.jpg)
1995
![NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1995](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/rl5i5xie3pU7FVNVj3WO9FLBv0h.jpg)
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1995
0/0
The third Wrestling Dontaku was held on May 3, 1995, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, at the Fukuoka Dome. The event featured eleven matches, two of which were co...
Watch Now
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1995
![WWE Hall of Fame 2010](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/aLhnTirBDM9x6MbzLUhZiq2yS64.jpg)
2010
![WWE Hall of Fame 2010](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/aLhnTirBDM9x6MbzLUhZiq2yS64.jpg)
WWE Hall of Fame 2010
10/1
Sports Entertainment's most legendary superstars including Ted Dibiase, Stu Hart, and more enter the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2010!
Watch Now
WWE Hall of Fame 2010
![Acacia](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/nZ3jWOq9DdSnhrnniEcipVDTnVJ.jpg)
2010
![Acacia](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/nZ3jWOq9DdSnhrnniEcipVDTnVJ.jpg)
Acacia
3.9/4
"Acacia" revolves around Sekiji Ishida (Antonio Inoki) a former professional wrestler now a lonely retired man. Sekiji then strikes up a friendship wi...
Watch Now
Acacia
![World Wrestling Peace Festival](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/m5ZfCaxee4G7BturTzJs0Cb0MRL.jpg)
1996
![World Wrestling Peace Festival](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/m5ZfCaxee4G7BturTzJs0Cb0MRL.jpg)
World Wrestling Peace Festival
0/0
The World Wrestling Peace Festival was a professional wrestling supercard event produced by Japanese professional wrestler Antonio Inoki, which took p...
Watch Now
World Wrestling Peace Festival
![WWE Showdown at Shea '80](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1980
![WWE Showdown at Shea '80](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
0/0
WWF stadium show in the summer of 1980 from Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York.
Watch Now
WWE Showdown at Shea '80
![NJPW Ganryujima Island Deathmatch](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1987
![NJPW Ganryujima Island Deathmatch](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
NJPW Ganryujima Island Deathmatch
0/0
Antonio Inoki and Masa Saito fight in an Island Deathmatch, battling across Ganryujima Island.
Watch Now
NJPW Ganryujima Island Deathmatch
![The WWF's Most Unusual Matches](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8PfZucM4qzXkJiCrf1ITrDhKONE.jpg)
1985
![The WWF's Most Unusual Matches](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8PfZucM4qzXkJiCrf1ITrDhKONE.jpg)
The WWF's Most Unusual Matches
0/0
Some of the most unusual matches in WWF History.
Watch Now
The WWF's Most Unusual Matches
![In Search of Antonio Inoki](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4jsTVNbZHs6fg32xdgfYn0IAIt4.jpg)
2023
![In Search of Antonio Inoki](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4jsTVNbZHs6fg32xdgfYn0IAIt4.jpg)
In Search of Antonio Inoki
8.5/1
A look into the life and career of the legendary wrestler Antonio Inoki
Watch Now
In Search of Antonio Inoki
![Vice Versa: Chyna](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/p9PG1kcVyw3GMDmRRzrPXF6SVRE.jpg)
2021
![Vice Versa: Chyna](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/p9PG1kcVyw3GMDmRRzrPXF6SVRE.jpg)
Vice Versa: Chyna
7.8/4
The rise and fall of wrestler Joanie Chyna Laurer, whose life was cut short in 2016. Her contributions to the WWE business and her pioneering work and...
Watch Now