Antonio Inoki's Best Matches?

[Nikkolas]

So all I know of Inoki is that he was a huge star in Japan and a lot of people on the net are critical of n his business practices.

I couldn't care less about the second part. I'm just curious to see some of his most famous and intense bouts in the ring.

Any suggestions?

 

[Justinian]

I watched his matchup with Hogan and enjoyed it. The match is kind of slow and was in Japan clearly making Hogan the hated American across from the Japanese hero. I always liked it because Inoki is the Hogan of Japan, seeing them wrestle was actually more abut witnessing history than a good match, but the match is watchable.

 

[CrunKSinatrA]

The match versus the Great Antonio. Where the guy was no selling Inoki's moves, so then Inoki got angry. And you wouldn't like Inoki when he's angry.

He did a quick takedown and legitimately stomped the crap out the Great Antonio's face. The ref had to do a TKO finish to save the Great Antonio from any further injury. It was awesome.

 

[GameOver]

Inoki vs Ali, b4 Hogan b4 Rocky 3 was ever a thought and Hogan had the eye of the tiger there was Inoki vs Ali, Boxer vs Wrestler. The match took place in 1976 and Ali was the reigning WBC/WBA Heavyweight Champion

 

[justtxyank]

Inoki vs Ali? Being listed as a best match? The one where fans IN JAPAN booed and threw things in the ring?

If you can watch it that would probably be fun for the spectacle of it, but it's not going to be a good match.

 

[FlairFan2003]

Well the boxer vs wrestler match with Ali in the 70s was extremely high profile but hardly very good. Its kind of like Hulk Hogan, his biggest match remains WrestleMania 3 vs Andre, Hulkamania at its height, Hogan at his most popular, vs Andre's 23 year undefeated streak fresh off his shocking unforseen heel turn and association with mega heel manager and Hogan nemesis Bobby Heenan. As a match however it wasnt very good, the build, the charisma of the participants and good pacing all made it watchable but Andre's decline as a performer was evident and his mammoth size and lack of mobility combined with Hogan's limited ring skills combined to create a very average match. Hogan's "Best" match, at least among his high profile tilts likely would be WM 5 vs Randy Savage, WM 6 vs Ultimate Warrior (one time Hogan really had to carry a weak opponent in something other than a short formula match), or the Great Am Bash 94 vs Flair. Ali vs Inoki was definately high profile, but it was attrocious to watch.

Im really not familair with much of Inoki's bouts in Japan. His 1995 match vs Ric Flair was excellent, although Inoki is clearly showing some age. Even still he holds his own vs Flair at a time when he was still a very good performer. At least among matches of his that Ive seen (small sample) its the best, and was definately high profile.

 

[VencomHardcore]

Inoki vs Flair for me is without question some of his best work. He had some great matches in Japan with a number of stars but something about Flair gave great chemistry. I did enjoy the match with Hogan.

Hogan in Japan was always SUPERIOR to the WWE Hogan. Check out his match vs Muta , or his match vs Flair. They were technically sound and showed Hogan could actually wrestle.

 

[sunsetflip84]

Inoki's matches with Vader were always fun. Most notably when Vader first came into New Japan, as well as one of his farewell matches in 96' where he took one hell of a release german suplex from vader. My god was that brutal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnnZsR72JHg

Also, check out this match against the original Tiger Mask. One of the best heavyweights going up against the best junior heavyweights of the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZRbP8lKVs0

Other notable feuds: matches against Bruiser Brody, Masa Saito, Tiger Jeet Singh, and Hulk Hogan. Japanese wrestling is just so awesome in the 80's and 90's. Cheers!