Antonio Inoki | |
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Antonio Inoki in December 2012 | |
Birth name | Kanji Inoki 猪木寛至 |
Born | [1] Yokohama, Japan[2] | February 20, 1943
Died | October 1, 2022 Tokyo, Japan | (aged 79)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Antonio Inoki Moeru Toukon Tokyo Tom Little Tokyo The Kamikaze Kazimoto Killer Inoki |
Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2] |
Billed weight | 224 lb (102 kg)[2] |
Billed from | Tokyo, Japan |
Trained by | Rikidōzan Karl Gotch |
Debut | September 30, 1960 |
Retired | April 4, 1998[2] |
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.
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]