ECW Region, San Jose Subregion, First Round: (7) Antonio Inoki vs. (26) Magnum TA

[klunderbunker]

This is a first round match in the ECW Region, San Jose Subregion. It is a standard one on one match held under ECW Rules, meaning anything goes. It will be held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

#7. Antonio Inoki

Vs.

#26. Magnum T.A.

​

Polls will be open for three days following a one day period for discussion. Voting will be based on who you feel is the greater of the two competitors. Post your reasons for why your pick should win below. Remember that this is non-spam and the most votes in the poll win. Any ties will be broken by the amount of posts of support for each candidate, with one vote per poster.

Also remember that this is a non-spam forum. If you post a response without giving a reason for your selection, it will be penalized for spam and deleted.

 

[Tastycles]

Magnum TA is almost as much of an IWC what-if fetish as Muhammed Hassan, but the fact remains that although it wasn't his fault, he never made it to the very top before his career was taken from him. Inoki did, and is someone that pretty much everyone into wrestling has heard of, a feat matched by 1 or two other Japanese wrestlers at best. Inoki is a bigger star that achieved more and he has to take my vote.

 

[AhSpicyDrop]

Magnum was a big and powerful athlete with all the upside in the world, but everyone knows of his accident. He barely scratched the surface of his potential according to many legends who were around him, but that doesn't change the fact that he never achieved anything past main eventing here and there.

On the other hand you have Antonio Inoki who is arguably the biggest name in Japanese wrestling. He's one of the most respected wrestlers of all time, and he's beaten some of the best. Even if Magnum had went on and at least won a world title or two, he would likely still find himself in trouble against Inoki.

Inoki bitch slaps Magnum around, and lands his version of the enzuguri for the win.

 

[Brewski]

Magnum TA had the potential to be one of the greatest ever. Too bad potential only goes so far...

Inoki in my book really is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Not to mention he was thug as fuck! Look at the picture above where he was supposed to be in a legit wrestling vs. boxing match against Ali? Inoki wasn't allowed to actually wrestle him so instead of looking like a bitch he got on his back and kicked the shit out of him. He was a serious martial artist and for the time he wrestled he was amazing to watch.

Inoki wins.

 

[deem]

I had fun trying to work out if Inoki is the strongest puroresu star in Japan's history within the realms of this tournament. Decided only Jumbo Tsurata would get close and surely Inoki would be the one.

So anyway. Magnum achieved a LOT in his short time in the industry. His feud with Blanchard was great, he had a title shot against Flair, his work with the Koloff's was really, really great. I like Magnum a bunch and yeah I think it's fair to assume he would of had a great career. Such a quick push for someone so young at a time like that, retiring at 27 and already cemented as one of the better NWA midcarders ever.

But this is Inoki, and there is just no way Magnum goes through. Maybe he suits the ECW environment a little better? Inoki is a monster and would absolutely be booked to advance here. Magnum's just a what-if with a few very solid matches you can watch of his. Inoki is one of the tournament favourites.

 

[The Brain]

If Magnum never crashed his porsche into that telephone this vote could go differently. In fact he probably wouldn't be facing Inoki because he'd have a much higher seed. That's just speculation though. While not likely he could have just fizzled and not made the tournament at all. I have to go with Inoki's decades of real dominance instead of the hypothetical hall of fame career that Magnum could have had.

 

[Big Papa Santo]

Magnum TA could of been something, but Antonio Inoki was something. Inoki is one of the most celebrated international pro wrestling stars in history, right up there with people like Big Daddy and El Santo, so this is a very easy win for him against somebody that never got to see their full potential.