Antonio Inoki has passed away at the age of 79.
Yahoo Japan reported the news on September 30.
Inoki’s influence in the wrestling world cannot be overstated. He was a twelve-time world champion; he held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship once and the original IWGP Heavyweight Championship twice. He also won the NJPW IWGP League four times, among many other accolades. Inoki wrestled all over the world, and he was inducted in both the WWE Hall of Fame and the WCW Hall of Fame.
In addition to his remarkable in-ring career, he founded New Japan Pro-Wrestling and was the owner until 2005. He later founded the Inoki Genome Federation. Inoki also trained many noteworthy names, including Masahiro Chono, Rocky Romero, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Keiji Muto.
Additionally, Inoki is known for facing Muhammad Ali in an exhibition match
Outside of wrestling, Inoki also served two terms as a member of the House of Councilors in Japan.
Antonio Inoki has passed away aged 79.
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 1, 2022
AEW president Tony Khan, among many others, commented on the news and called Inoki a pioneer. He stated that Inoki’s achievements will live on forever and called him an inspiration to all of the dreamers.
RIP Antonio Inoki, a pioneer in the pro wrestling industry. Inoki’s influence and his achievements will live on forever in the wrestling world; he’s an inspiration to all of the dreamers. Thank you sir.
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) October 1, 2022
WWE shared the news on the September 30 episode of WWE SmackDown.
WWE remembers Antonio Inoki.
1943-2022 pic.twitter.com/I9JF377dLb— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2022
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque also commented on the news.
One of the most important figures in the history of our business, and a man who embodied the term “fighting spirit.” The legacy of WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki will live on forever.
— Triple H (@TripleH) October 1, 2022
WrestleZone sends its condolences to Inoki’s family.
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