Antonio Inoki, Pro Wrestling Legend and MMA Promoter, Dies at 79

In which Antonio Inoki slaps everyone at Inoki Bom Ba Ye on New Year's Eve 2000 to transfer his fighting spirit to them. pic.twitter.com/5hHZS9nQYC

— David Bixenspan (@davidbix) October 1, 2022

A legend of both pro wrestling and MMA has died at the age of 79 after battling with illnesses that confined him to a wheelchair.

Late Friday night, Japanese outlet Sponichi Annex first reported that Antonio Inoki, born Kanji Inoki, had died. The report claimed the cause of death was related to systemic amyloidosis that led to hypoglycemia, but that specific ailment could not be confirmed. His passing has since been multiple sources, including his own pro wrestling promotion of New Japan Pro Wrestling, as well as the WWE and ESPN.


While a famed pro wrestler, Inoki’s involvement in sports stretched into mixed martial arts. In 1976, Inoki faced off against boxer Muhammad Ali in an exhibition match that would serve as a proto-MMA bout with mixed rules. The rules were rumored to have limited Inoki’s ability to perform takedowns or throws, as well as limiting his kicks. According to the referee of the match, Gene LeBell, those restrictions were exaggerated. Regardless of their interpretation, the two engaged in a 15-round battle where much of the match was spent with Inoki on the ground, kicking Ali’s legs. The fight was ultimately scored a draw, but it served as pivotal moment to introduce the world to the potential of MMA.

Inoki’s interest in this type of mixed combat eventually led to his creation of events that would blur the lines of MMA and pro wrestling. While he worked with those in charge of Pride Fighting Championships including his pupil Nobuhiko Takada, he started a line of events of his own. His NJPW league facilitated MMA matches, and he also ran an annual series of year-end fight cards called Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye that brought MMA fighters and pro wrestlers together. In 2007, he created the Inoki Genome Federation, having left NJPW to pave his own way. Many renowned MMA competitors including Mirko Filipovic, Josh Barnett and even Brock Lesnar competed under its banner while it was in operation until 2018.

WWE remembers Antonio Inoki.
1943-2022 pic.twitter.com/I9JF377dLb

— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2022

Inoki’s involvement with the pro wrestling world was pivotal into its development internationally, and he wrestled in his own league of NJPW even when other major leagues took note. In 1979, the man known by many names including “The Kamikaze” won the WWF heavyweight belt. Internal politics and disputes removed his name from its record books, but did not sully his name enough to prohibit him from an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.

In addition to his time on the mat, Inoki ran for public office and earned a seat on Japan’s House of Councillors as a member of his own personal party called the “Sports and Peace Party.” While in office, Inoki famously negotiated personally with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 1990 to release hostages prior to the Persian Gulf War. While he only served one term that ended in 1995, he returned in 2013 as a representative of a different small alternative party called the “Japan Restoration Party.” Inoki’s second term involved several struggles due to his interest in fostering a relationship between Japan and North Korea, and he retired in 2019.