Dude, is that a match? No, it's a showcase out of his moveset, which isn't that impressive to begin with and proves my point exactly, because it shows how Inoki couldn't WORK a submission, but instead actually HURT his opponent, which is not supposed to be apart of professional wrestling.
You know as well as anyone that wrestling's different in Japan. They have levels of danger on their moves. So the wrestlers are aware of what they're getting into. Inoki was a great wrestler and a great entertainment property. And yes, even a great businessman. And just because someone's using a submission on someone that's not a work doesn't make them a bad wrestler. I'm sure Inoki would work a move if the wrestler would sell it good enough.
Also, what fucking move in there isn't used today in the states? WWE does not equal "the states," Lariat. Lol.
It's in the USA, so it actually does. Point is, Inoki has a wide array of moves that he originated and that few use today. That was my point in posting the top 10 moves. It's a showcase of how versatile he was in the ring. Sure he booked himself, but so did Flair, Rhodes, Race, Blanchard, HHH, and others. And we don't dispute their wrestling acumen do we?
But, anyway, I'll play along and post CM Punk's top 10 moves, even if you completely missed my point earlier:
[YOUTUBE]6tCXSZ9suZE[/YOUTUBE]
LOL
Thank you for giving me an excuse to post that Lariat, to further prove my point that in the ring, there's simply no comparison between these two. Punk is better. And anyone who says that Inoki's little moveset you posted competes with that shit above is out of their mind.
Not really. They're different, but I'd take a TRAINED martial artist who revolutionized MMA in the world over Punk any day of the week. And since we're talking about who's the superior wrestler, that's a huge factor. Because when push comes to shove, Punk couldn't hang with Inoki.
Typical responses from someone who can't prove a point.
I proved my point quite well.
Yeah, since most likely he'd be booking the match. Dude, I'm not arguing that Punk would beat Inoki in a kayfabe match, he wouldn't. I'm just arguing he's the better wrestler and deserves to go over a business man.
Sure Punk deserves to go over a businessman. But Inoki was more than that and you know it. He DID wrestle before he started promoting wrestling.
Lol... the one match you post, is against Hulk Hogan, someone whom many people consider the greatest ever.
I know. Exciting match, too. The heat alone before the bell rings makes that an epic battle. And they didn't even lock up yet. Haven't seen Punk create that kind of atmosphere against ANYONE.
Besides, that match was decent at best, not a classic, and it surely doesn't compete with Punk's greatest matches.
OK... so Punk vs Joe or Punk vs. McGuinnes is better than Inoki vs. Hogan or Inoki vs. Hansen? You have to be kidding.
Also, how many times do I have to say this... Inoki was over because he pushed himself. That's it. At the point in time when NJPW was created, any decent wrestler could have promoted himself and defeated everybody and they would have been beloved and over. Anyone with a brain would realize this fact.
What does this have to do with his wrestling skill? Even if he wasn't booked to be the king, he would have still been one of the elite wrestlers in Japan because he knew how to work a crowd and is a skilled wrestler.
No, one video was a move list that was countered and defeated, while the other was a decent match against one of the greatest American wrestlers of all time. It shows how limited you are when it comes to finding good Inoki matches. You can't find them, because he mostly squashed people.
He also wrestled back in the late 60's and 70's. That's where some of his greater matches took place. And he squashed people that were inferior in skill to him. Inoki put people that deserved to be put over. Hansen, Brody, Funk and Hogan were to name a few. Just because he squashes someone doesn't mean he's selfish. It means he's just a better wrestler and no one would believe he'd win. Think about it. Any wrestling fan with reasonable knowledge of Japanese and American wrestling would laugh at the thought of CM Punk beating Inoki. Period.
Lol... how am I being taken to the woodshed with this argument? You didn't prove shit in that other post, you just said things. And this post, I give you credit for at least trying this time, but you just dug a deeper hole for yourself because I have a counter for whatever filth you come up with.
You're only case for Punk winning is that you believe he's a better wrestler and Inoki was a better businessman than wrestler, which makes him inferior to Punk. That's asinine. Michael Jordan's a terrific businessman, made lots of money. But we all know he was a better basketball player than corporate owner. Same goes for Inoki. The fans and purists know that Inoki is a legend and should go over someone who's known for his wonderful promos and a stiff finisher that could break someone's nose or jaw. And you talk about Inoki being stiff.
Not so much
2. Tdigs actually agrees with me that Inoki shouldn't be considered one of the greatest in Puro history. He's just not a big fan of CM Punk (there aren't many American wrestlers he's a fan of though).
He also has lots of knowledge of Puro and even if Inoki's not the greatest Puro wrestler ever, it doesn't mean he's inferior to CM Punk. It just means there were wrestlers in Japan that were better than him.
3. I only flamed you for talking down on me first, when an argument I made as for why Punk should win, you countered it by saying you'll never take anything I say seriously again. That deserved a retaliation. Don't cry about it.
Show me where I cussed at you? See... even if I was appalled at your case for Punk winning and said I would not take you seriously, I didn't tell you to shut the fuck up or call you an idiot or accuse you of talking out of your ass. I just merely pointed out that you have viewpoints that do not agree with mine and your case made my mind boggle. Because it was ridiculous, IMO.
INOKI... BOOMBA YAY!
Lol... and if I did, you would post stats and videos to prove that those people were great. However, you can't do that with Inoki, since no evidence exist for you to do so.
Not his fault he had most of his matches in Japan and we're not able to see all of them.
Fans loved him because he beat everybody, not because of his talent.
Takes talent to sell beatings and to work a solid match, which is what the Japanese people appreciated. They aren't sold on promos or slight of hand. They like pure wrestling and someone who was good at it. Inoki was good at it.
As I said earlier... typical responses from someone who can't prove a point.
My point is that Inoki is better than Punk. And the voting proves that. Think about it. Punk is a primarily WWE wrestler and a smark fave across this board, yet Inoki still beats him in the votes. Interesting. Because me, tdigle, and X can only vote once.
And yet, you cannot prove that statement by showing matches that comes anywhere near close to being as good as CM Punk's matches against Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson, Austin Aries, Jeff Hardy, Raven, Chris Hero, Homicide, etc. Hell, Punk has had matches against John fucking Morrison that are better than anything Inoki has done in the ring, lol.
Well this is at a stand still. You have Danielson, I'll give you Ric Flair. Fat Joe? Stan Hansen. Austin Aries? Misawa. Jeff Hardy? LOL. And... well you get the point. Inoki had classics against far better wrestlers and was a far superior athlete and wrestler to Punk.
What the fuck does this have to do with anything?
Don't care to look back at what was talked about.
Exactly, it's not a fair argument, because I can find actual video evidence and show matches and clips that shows Punk's talents in the ring and on the microphone. You cannot do the same for Inoki, admit it.
So mic work's a factor in this? I didn't think you could win matches with being good on the mic. In that case, Kennedy/Anderson would be a 10 time World Champion by now. And the Pope would be a HOF'er. But alas, it's a wrestling tourney and in that kind of tournament, Inoki's better than Punk.
Nope he's not.
So? Punk was able to entertain the indy fanbase for over 5 years, people who take the business very seriously themselves. And since 2006 he has entertained MILLIONS all over the World with his work in WWE because of his ability in the ring and on the microphone.
Inoki built his empire in AJPW by being a damn good wrestler and making himself believable as a man who can't be beaten. He did that by actually BEATING his opponents. What happens if Punk gets the heat turned up on him and his put in a legit submission? It's Inoki's moveset and it's not his fault he's a shoot fighter for the most part.
Lol... Ali got offered a shit load of money to have a fixed match with Inoki, and he accepted. You really think Ali knew who Inoki was before then? I don't think so, man, so GTFO with that bullshit.
What does it matter? Ali didn't just do that stuff all the time. It's not like he always fought shoot fights with anyone. And sure it was rigged, but guess what? Still was as entertaining as you can get and shows the clout and the aura of Inoki as a wrestler AND a businessman.
Like I said... Inoki was a great business man and wrestler, but that's it.
Fixed.
Never implied that at all. And Ali turned down MANY exhibition fights near the same amount of money that Inoki offered. See in Japan, you know that Puro is considered a 'sport' in Japan. Boxing is a sport in America. The box office would sky rocket when these two fought. So no, Ali didn't beg to go over there. He accepted the offer and it paid dividends for them both in Japan and the United States.
With your thought process man, Bam Bam Bigelow should be considered one of the greatest ever because Lawrence Taylor "wanted" to have a match with him at Wrestlemaina.
So Lawrence Taylor just got compared to Muhammad Ali.
And Bam Bam Bigelow to Inoki.
Actually, you're putting words in my mouth, because I never said "big" matches. That would be ******ed.
Pretty sure you did, but I'm not in the mood to go back and find it. The proof's in the score here. It's as if you're a cocky point guard who just made a layup and was fouled, then start swaggering all around the court. I'm the dude on the other team giving you respect, but also pointing at the scoreboard showing you that you're still trailing.
But, yes... ultimately, those other statements are completely true. Inoki's squash matches cannot compete with the matches Punk has put on this decade. No way. And you can't prove otherwise.
[YOUTUBE]E1R3eS6taYc[/YOUTUBE]
This is back in 1970. A match with Dory Funk, Jr.. who was NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion during this time and at his peak. This match lasted over an hour. And was a definite classic. And there are plenty more out there.
Sorry Lariat, but if anyone is reading this objectively, they will see how full of shit you are in this one, and will do the right thing and vote the superior WRESTLER, not the superior business man.
Well... some may think I am, but more people think I'm absolutely right.
ANTONIOOOOOOOOOOOO INOOOOOOOOOOKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!
