ANTONIO INOKI vs. STRONG KOBAYASHI

Antonio Inoki vs. Strong Kobayashi

NEW JAPAN
Mar 19, 1974 Kuramae Kokugikan (Tokyo)



In those days, Japanese top wrestlers didn't fight with Japanese. For example, Antonio Inoki was a baby face, and he fought against heel foreign wrestlers. That was a very strange but a firm rule in Japan. The last fight of Japanese wrestlers was a famous duel of Rikidozan and Kimura in 1954.

So that when Strong Kobayashi challenged Antonio Inoki, wrestling fans were very surprised and pleased. Mass media named it 'The duel on Ganryu-Jima'. In the 17th century, the greatest sword-master Musashi Miyamoto defeated his rival Kojiro Sasaki on a small island Ganryu-Jima. Many people thought it was like an ancient duel.


Strong Kobayashi had been a body builder, and he belonged to Kokusai (International) Pro-Wrestling. He was a good powerful wrestler, and he fought in Europe and AWA. Kobayashi became an ace of Kokusai, but he quarreled with the managing staff, and at last he withdrew from the company. He challenged Baba and Inoki, and Inoki accepted it. Because Inoki had been saying "I will fight with anyone".

In this match, Kobayashi attacked Inkoki harshly with Backbreaker, but Inoki counterattacked with Reverse Suplex. Iniko used his special move German Suplex Hold, and took a fall from Kobayashi. Some people say this was the best fight of Inoki.


After this match, Strong Kobayashi joined in New Japan and fought as a partner of Sakaguchi. But stars of New Japan were Inoki and Sakaguchi, and Kobayashi was only 'The Third Man'. He retired in 1981 on account of an injury of the waist. You might have been watched his big body, because he turned to a TV personality and appeared in a funny show 'Takeshi Castle'.

LIMITATION OF BLOODY PRO-WRESTLING

The Sheik stabbed Terry's arm with a fork !

I think that Pro-Wrestling in Japan had a basic pattern of a confrontation between good and bad. Japanese wrestlers were always baby face, and they fought against bad foreigners. Heel wrestlers were mainly Americans. They showed very cruel fouls, and Japanese hero, Baba or Inoki or others always defended their titles narrowly. That was a basic story of PURORESU.

The first bad Japanese might have been Umasosuke Ueda. He was a pupil of Rikidozan, in short he had been a friend of Baba and Inoki. But when Ueda took part in NEW JAPAN, he formed a tag team with Tiger Jeet Singh. Ueda and Singh repeated harsh fouls, and they savaged Seiji Sakaguchi and Strong Kobayashi (North American Tag Champion team) every week. It was very shocking scene that Japanese bloodied Japanese !

In ALL JAPAN, the cruelest heel team was Abdullah The Butcher and The Sheik. They often showed hard fights with The Funks, and the bloody match in The Open Tag League in 1977 is regarded as one of the best bouts in the history of Pro-Wrestling of Japan. But at the same time, it was true that these bloody Pro-Wrestling reached a limitation. We wrestling fans were certainly tired of cruel fights.

And it was natural that new stars appeared on the ring of Japan. Stan Hansen learned wrestling from Inoki, and he completed his special move Western Lariat. Bruiser Brody showed good fight with Baba, and we were surprised at his wonderful power. Hansen and Brody were not baby face nor heel. So to say, they were strong guys. I think when they appeared, the history of Pro-Wrestling in Japan changed intensely.

THE STRONGEST TAG TEAM CAME TRUE

Antonio Inoki, Seiji Sakaguchi vs. Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch
NEW JAPAN
Oct. 14 1973 Kuramae Kokugikan (Tokyo)

Antonio Inoki established NEW JAPAN in 1971, but he could not invite famous American wrestlers. Inoki fought against his master Karl Gotch several times, and it was the only big card in the early days of NEW JAPAN. Though his company was facing financial difficulties, wrestling fans supported his hard fights. And Lou Thesz, who was a referee of the master and pupil's match, came back and formed the strongest tag team with Gotch. On one hand, a former judo champion Seiji Sakaguchi joined in Inoki's party. So that the marvelous tag match came true.

The team of 'The Ironman' Thesz and 'God' Gotch was a great wall for the young Japanese team. In the first round, Sakaguchi attacked Thesz with Bear Hag, but Thesz showed beautiful Back Drop and took a fall from Sakaguchi. Afterwards Thesz told that he had been injured on his shoulder and so that he could not use a perfect Back Drop. But I think that was very terrible move, and I can not believe he was 56 years old.

In the second round, Thesz attacked Inoki with Back Drop again. Inoki twisted his body, and Thesz was damaged his back of head. Sakaguchi used his special move Atomic Drop !! And the Japanese team took a fall conversely. May be Inoki wanted to fight against his master Gotch, and Gotch thought same thing. In the last round, they showed hard fight and many wonderful moves. They tried to take a back each other, and when Inoki avoided skillfully, Gotch fell from the ring. As Gotch returned on the mat, Inoki used Drop Kick. Gotch tried German Suplex, but Inoki took this chance, and he defeated his master with Japanese Leg Roll Clutch Hold !!

Now, wrestling fans in Japan regard this match as one episode of a myth. Probably it was the only match that The Ironman and God formed a tag team. I think they didn't like tag match comparatively.

ANTONIO INOKI vs. JOHNNY POWERS

Antonio Inoki vs. Johnny Powers
NEW JAPAN, NWF World Championship Match
Dec. 10 1973 Tokyo Taiikukan (Tokyo)

Antonio Inoki established NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING in 1971. But he could not join hands with NWA, so that he could not invite famous foreign wrestlers. In the early days of NEW JAPAN, the ace of foreign wrestlers was Killer Karl Krupp, and the shortage of talented person was a major concern. Inoki wanted good foreign wrestlers and a champion belt. And he aimed at NWF. I think this fact shows Inoki's genius as a story teller. Though NWF was a local organization, it was recognizing the 'world' champion. Inoki invited Johnny Powers, in short, he got a famous wrestler and the world title match at a time.

Johnny Powers was one of my favorite wrestlers, but he had a bad reputation. Because he was a friend of notorious Pedro Martinez, and he was a miser. At that time NWF was in financial difficulties, and they say Powers sold the champion belt to Inoki. I don't know the truth of the matter, but it was sure that Powers was a good rival of Inoki. Powers was a tall and handsome guy, and his cruel fight-style was very cool. Inoki fought Powers in 1966 for the first time, their friendship (?) began since then. Inoki rather may have hated Powers because Johnny always wished to become a hero.

At the first round, Inoki used Cobra Twist and Powers surrendered. Afterwards Inoki fought many rivals, for example Singh, Hansen, Hogan, Vader, but I think Powers was the best victim of Inoki's Cobra Twist. And in the second round, Powers attacked Inoki's leg persistently. That was his fight-style. Or he had nothing any more. (^^; When Inoki failed Knee Drop from the top of a corner post, Johnny used his special move Powers Lock !! Inoki could not but give up. Though the last round started, Inoki could not move, and Powers attacked Inoki's leg again and again. Inoki avoided it skillfully, and he caught Powers with Octopus Hold !! As a result, Inoki became the 'world' champion at a bound.

After all, Powers sold all titles of NWF to Inoki and NEW JAPAN. NWF World Championship (Inoki), North American Tag (Inoki and Sakaguchi), North American Single (Sakaguchi). Probably NWF nearly failed at that time, but these were very foolish acts. It was natural that Powers had a bad reputation. Johnny fought in Japan until 1980, and his fights in his last days were pitiful. However, at any rate, Powers was the first famous foreign wrestler of NEW JAPAN, and he showed a memorable good fight with Inoki. In this meaning we have to admire him forever.

ANTONIO INOKI vs. HULK HOGAN (2)

Antonio Inoki vs. Hulk Hogan
NEW JAPAN, IWGP Final
Jun. 2 1983 Kuramae Kokugikan (Tokyo)

It was sure that the condition of Antonio Inoki was very bad at that day. His big project IWGP became smaller than the original plan. His pupil Riki Chosyu declared to withdraw from NEW JAPAN. And Inoki continued to fight 28 matches being suffered from sickness and injury. Inoki lacked vividness in this match. He attacked Hogan with several moves, but he could not damaged Hogan effectively. Conversely speaking, Hogan had become a good technician, and now he was a terrible monster having a good power and a good skill.

When Hogan used the first Ax Bomber, Inoki shook his head several times. At that time Inoki was damaged on his head and neck. Inoki tried Airplane Spin recklessly. They dropped from the ring together, and Hogan attacked Inoki's back of the head with Ax Bomber. Inoki knocked his forehead on a iron post cruelly. Hogan was waiting on the ring. He used the third Ax Bomber to Inoki on the apron. Inioki was fainted, and Hogan won the championship of IWGP.

Inoki was carried into a hospital. This affair was reported on the TV news program, and all Japanese people were shocked at that news. Hogan may have been bewildered. Probably there was a scenario that Inoki would win the championship. It seemed that Inoki would escape the last Ax bomber and he would take a fall from Hogan with Reverse Fall or something like it. Even now, the result of this match is a mystery in the history of the wrestling of Japan. Some people say Inoki pretended to be fainted, and he escaped into a hospital from creditors.

I don't understand what the truth was, but it is true that the result of this match was very shocking, and we enjoyed that great entertainment. In this meaning, Inoki showed his genius as a wonderful story teller. And I have to say that Inoki fulfilled his duty with his whole heart. But may be this performance was his limitation. In the next year, Inoki couldn't defeat Hogan, but he wrested the championship from Hogan on a strange decision. And spectators started a riot.

ANTONIO INOKI vs. HULK HOGAN

Antonio Inoki vs. Hulk Hogan
NEW JAPAN, IWGP Final
Jun. 2 1983 Kuramae Kokugikan (Tokyo)

Strange to say, it is true that Antonio Inoki's fanciful actions were moving the wrestling world of Japan. Inoki was banished from JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING in 1971, and he helplessly established NEW JAPAN. But after that JAPAN PRO failed, and NEW JAPAN became one of the major organizations in Japan. Because Inoki couldn't invite famous wrestlers, he called himself the martial arts champion, and he fought against Willem Ruska and Muhammad Ali. It was a base of the martial arts boom in the 90's. And UWF, the popular organization in the 80's was originally a dummy company which was established by Inoki.

Inoki practiced many absurd plans, and the biggest of them was IWGP league series. He declared to decide the real world champion, but of course wrestlers of NWA and AWA disregarded it, and after all it was not different from the annual league series. However, the famous wrestlers of WWF - Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, Adrian Adonis, Dino Bravo, Killer Kahn - participated in this league, and wrestling fans in Japan enjoyed it very much.

And in the closing day of the league, Inoki fought against Hogan at the final match. Everyone believed that Inoki would defeat Hogan and win the championship. Someone says that Sakaguchi, the vice-president of NEW JAPAN had made that scenario. But there were several problems. One, this league series became smaller than the original plan, and Inoki had to hold himself responsible for it. Two, the condition of Inoki was very bad because of many troubles. And three, Hulk Hogan had become the superstar of WWF, and Inoki could not defeat him easily.

I am often surprised to see the fights of Hogan in USA. That's a comic show. But in Japan, he was fighting with Japanese-style wrestling. In short, Hogan learned wrestling from Inoki, and he began to use many moves and holds very skillfully. Surprisingly, at that time Hogan was a wonderful technician who was a match for Inoki !! It was natural that a powerful wrestler who learned many skills became a monstrous strong man. (It might have been only in Japan.)

To be continued.

THE TRAGEDY IN STUTTGART

Antonio Inoki vs. Roland Bock (1978)

As you know (don't you know ?) Japan is the country in the Far East, but wrestling fans of Japan know the name of a city in Germany, Stuttgart. I hear that Stuttgart is a very beautiful city and many Japanese visit there for a sight-seeing. But its name is very hateful for us, because there was a tragedy in 1978. (Of course, it's a joke of wrestling fans. Don't think it serious.)

Antonio Inoki drew with the superstar of the boxing world, Muhammad Ali, and Inoki suddenly became a famous wrestler all over the world in 1977. Roland Bock, a wrestler and a promoter in West Germany, planned a circuit featuring Inoki, and he invited Inoki to Europe in 1978. Though Inoki's schedule was very tight, he showed good fights. But he burned out his energy, and at last he lost to Roland Bock in Stuttgart. When this match was on the air in Japan, we were shocked at Bock's cruel attacks.

To tell the truth, we have hardly seen Bock's fights. But even now, wrestling fans of Japan are thinking that Bock was stronger than Horst Hoffman on account of 'the tragedy in Stuttgart'. They say that Karl Gotch who was called the dangerous man said to Inoki "Don't fight with Bock, he is very dangerous !!" I often watch the video of this match, and I am always surprised at Bock's wonderful body and his terrible Suplex. Inoki was thrown by him many times like a doll. But it was a ten-rounds match and Bock won on a decision. If it had been a Japanese-style match, Inoki would have fought at his own pace perseveringly.

Roland Bock came to Japan in 1981 and 1982, and he defeated young wrestlers easily, but at that time he was already a semi-retired wrestler. It's very regrettable that I could not see a good fight with Inoki again. I heard he retired soon afterward because of a sickness and he went to a jail as a tax dodger.

ANTONIO INOKI'S TACTICS

Antonio Inoki vs. Bill Robinson (1975)

Giant Baba deployed human-wave tactics, in contrast to this, Antonio Inoki had nothing in his hands. Conversely speaking, creative power was the special weapon of Inoki. He needed foreign wrestlers and a champion belt. Both of them came true when he joined hands with a local organization NWF. Inoki wrested (or bought) NWF World Championship from Johnny Powers. But it was miserable that Powers was the only famous wrestler NEW JAPAN could invite in the early days of this party. Inoki created the personality of a madman for Tiger Jeet Singh. When Inoki and his wife (a famous actress) shopping in Tokyo, suddenly Singh attacked them !! And Inoki was scolded by the chief of police. (^^;

Inoki fought against Bill Robinson in December, 1975. That was the first big match of NEW JAPAN, and after that, famous wrestlers began to come up to the ring of NEW JAPAN. Brute Bernard, Hans Schmidt, Hollywood Blonds, Johnny Valentine, Andre The Giant, etc. And then somehow Inoki joined hands with WWF, and he invited Bob Backlund, Pedro Morales, and Stan Hansen. Inoki took the WWF belt from Backlund, and kept it in a short time. On one hand, Inoki started to fight unusual matches as the martial arts champion. He defeated Willem Ruska, the former judo champion, and he drew with Muhammad Ali.

Inoki was fainted by Hogan's Ax Bomber (1983)

Though Inoki had drawn many criticisms, his spirit of a challenger was very unique. He often said "Baba's wrestling is a fake, my fight is the real !!", but in fact, Inoki seemed to have a respect for Baba. Inoki might have been had an inferiority complex, because he was a son of a poor farmer, but Baba had been a pitcher of Tokyo Giants. Inoki got a lot of believers, many superstars appeared in NEW JAPAN like Stan Hansen, Hulk Hogan, and Tiger Mask, and the popularity of NEW JAPAN exceeded ALL JAPAN's in the early 80's.

And Inoki held the big tournament IWGP in 1983, and He fought against Hulk Hogan at the final match. Hogan attacked Inoki harshly, and Inoki was so tired that he could not stand up to the monster's moves. At last Inoki was fainted by the special move of Hogan 'Ax Bomber'. It was a shocking and a very cruel scene, but that was the peak of Inoki's genius of story making. Because of decline of his power, meaningless fights and unclear judgement increased, and finally spectators got anger and started a riot in 1984.

SAKAGUCHI, THE DEAR OLD WRESTLING

Seiji Sakaguchi

I seem to adhere to pro-wrestling of the 70's. There were still legends and gods of a myth. It may be a nostalgia, but since in the 80's, wrestlers emphasized what is called a reality, and wrestling of Japan lost a fantastic pleasure. And I often recollect the fights of Seiji Sakaguchi. He was Inoki's right-hand man and the vice-president of NEW JAPAN, and he was also one of the great wrestlers in the history of wrestling in Japan.

He had won the All Japan Judo Championship in 1965. He always showed a quiet and a steady wrestling as the best partner of Inoki. And always he was attacked harshly by Tiger Jeet Singh or Umanosuke Ueda. I remember his bloody face even now. Sakaguchi's special moves were Reverse Boston Crab, Atomic Drop, Neck Hanging Tree, Bear Hug, and others, in short he was a typical powerful fighter. Now most of wrestlers won't use these classical moves. (^^; And in the 80's, Fujinami became a new star of NEW JAPAN while Sakaguchi's fights gradually faded out from the TV program. That was the end of old and fantastic pro-wrestling.


In 1990, Sakaguchi and Inoki formed a tag team again after a long time, and they fought against young wrestlers. They old veterans were punched and kicked harshly, and their faces were swollen cruelly. At that time the TV announcer said "NEW JAPAN is the only company that young members are praised to give a punch and a kick to the president and the vice-president !!" That was right, and it's very funny.

MEMORIES OF BRUISER BRODY

the team of super monsters

I am tracing the Brody's career in USA, but I am often depressed to meet bad episodes. He seemed to have a complex personality and a severe pride. In Japan, he is regarded as one of the most successful wrestlers. When he came to Japan for the first time in 1979, he showed a hard fight against Giant Baba, and instantly he became the ace of foreign wrestlers of ALL JAPAN. Though his gimmick was 'King Kong', we forgot it at once, and we admired his powerful fight-style and wonderful Drop Kick. A gimmick is meaningless on the ring of Japan.

In the early 80's, as the top wrestler in Japan, Brody contended for International Championship with Dory and Tsuruta. Especially Tsuruta was the biggest rival of Brody. In 1983, Brody was taken the belt by Tsuruta, but I was deeply impressed with Brody's power and stamina. It must not be forgotten that his friend Stan Hansen moved to ALL JAPAN and they formed a tag team. They 'the team of super monsters' created a big boom in Japan.

Brody's last glory (1988)

Brody suddenly moved to NEW JAPAN in 1985, and this affair was reported in the TV news program. We expected him to fight hard against Antonio Inoki, but at that time Inoki was already an old-timer, and Brody was too proud to accept a loss, their fights were not good. Inoki lost to his pupils, Singh, Hansen, Hogan, and Vader, but he could not be defeated by Brody, because Brody was the rival of Baba and Tsuruta. After all, his movement to NEW JAPAN was a failure. After a lot of troubles, he returned to ALL JAPAN in 1987.

The second ALL JAPAN days of Brody was very short, but there was a splendid glory. He fought against his friend Hansen for the first time in a tag match, and that was the memorable scene for wrestling fans. He defeated his rival Tsuruta in March 1988, and he wrested the belt of International Championship after a long time. At the same time as it, he cried with joy, and he hugged the president Lord Blears and spectators in the hall.

POWER OF BACK DROP (2)

Inoki's Back Drop

There is a view that the origin of Back Drop was a judo trick 'Uranage' (throwing backward). If that is true, it is reasonable that Japanese wrestlers are good at this move. To tell in historical, of course the best specialist of Back Drop is Lou Thesz, and in Japan, the first person who come into my mind is Antonio Inoki. Inoki's special moves in his youth had been Cobra Twist, Octopus Hold, and Front Neck Chancery. Since he established NEW JAPAN, he often used Back Drop in big matches as the finishing move. Inoki got back NWF Championship from Singh with this move in 1975. And he defeated Willem Ruska, the former judo champion, by a succession of Back Drop in 1976.

Inoki's Back Drop drew a beautiful bridge, and in the sense of it, Inoki was a successor to Lou Thesz. Tatsumi Fujinami who is a pupil of Inoki used beautiful and speedy Back Drop. They were orthodox specialists, but Riki Chosyu, the rival of Fujinami, used very hard Back Drop which was different from Thesz's. Chosyu added a twist at landing. It may had been suggested by his senior Masa Saito's move. Saito was active in USA for a long time as a free-lancer.

Baba's Back Drop

Surprisingly, Giant Baba also often used Back Drop in the 70's. Because he could not draw a bridge, he took opponent's leg and fell down backward. It was a disaster for an opponent, for Baba was a very tall man. Baba defended the NWA belt from Race with that terrible move.

Naturally, that take-a-leg-style Back Drop was the favorite move of the Funk brothers. Because of it, that was used by many wrestlers of ALL JAPAN, and that became the orthodox style of Back Drop of ALL JAPAN. Especially the wrestlers of what is called the Funk family were showing it. Harley Race, Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase, Dick Slater, Jumbo Tsuruta, to say nothing Dory and Terry. That Funk-style was comparatively easy without making a bridge, but it was not good-looking. In 1983, Baba invited Thesz to Japan, and Thesz taught Tsuruta his classical-style Back Drop.

POWER OF BACK DROP

Inoki defeated Ruska with Back Drop (1976)

I will mention Back Drop, but at the beginning, I don't know whether this name of move is right. I'm sorry, but I can't understand English at all, (^^; and I have to go ahead timidly. At any rate, I want to tell about the special trick of Lou Thesz 'Back Drop', at least we call it in that name in Japan. Someone taught me it is called 'Belly to Back', but I think that means German Suplex Hold. In Japan, Thesz's Back Drop and Karl Gotch's German Suplex are regarded as the two greatest special moves of pro-wrestling.

Because I am too young (in fact I'm not so young), I could not see the best days of Lou Thesz. However, I watched the wonderful veteran Thesz several times. When Antonio Inoki established NEW JAPAN, Thesz visited to Japan and formed a tag team with Gotch. They, what is called the team of gods, fought against Inoki and Sakaguchi in 1973. And as a single player, Thesz fought with Inoki in 1975. At that time Lou Thesz was over 50 years old, probably nearly 60, but these fights were very impressive for me, an elementary school student.

They say Thesz's Back Drop made a beautiful bridge, and I think so, too. And I remember that Thesz often used another Back Drop which was very low and speedy. That speedy Back Drop was not striking comparatively, but I thought it was more powerful, and Thesz may have aimed at knock out with that trick. Every time Thesz used the low and speedy Back Drop, I felt my spine go cold.

THE FASCINATION OF FUJINAMI

Fujinami's Dragon Sleeper Hold

Though I am a crazy fan of ALL JAPAN, it is not fair that I don't mention the wrestlers of NEW JAPAN. Today I introduce Tatsumi Fujinami who was a star wrestler of NEW JAPAN in the 80's. Fujinami was a pupil of Antonio Inoki. He fought with Canek in Mexico many times, and grew up to a unique technician. When he came back to Japan, he developed the new field of the wrestling world in Japan, that was the hard fights of Jr. heavy weight wrestlers.

Fujinami kept WWF International Jr. Championship, and fought with Chavo Guerrero, Dynamite Kid, and other strong enemies. His fight-style was like a 'small Inoki', but moreover, he used unique special tricks and holds. He transported Tope Suisida into Japan for the first time, that was the shocking Dragon Rocket. Because 'Tatsu' in his name means an oriental dragon, his tricks were named Dragon something.

Fujinami took a fall from Inoki with Dragon Suplex Hold

Fujinami's special hold which surprised us extremely was Dragon Suplex Hold. That is a very violent and an acrobatic trick that he throw back an opponent from Full Nelson. Using this special hold, he took a fall from the master Antonio Inoki in 1985. Afterwards Gary Albright often used it as Full Nelson Suplex, and that was very destructive, but I like Fijinami's speedy and elegant Suplex.

Since in the middle of 80's, Fujinami turned to a heavyweight wrestler, and showed good fights with Inoki, Hogan, Vader, and his rival Riki Chosyu. But because his weight was comparatively light, he was injured his waist by attacks of terrible big wrestlers. Though he was active for a long time as a veteran, I thought he lost his vividness of in his youth. It was very impressive that he wrested NWA Championship from Ric Flair, but at that time NWA was nearly ruined, it might be not recorded officially.

THE EARLY DAYS OF NEW JAPAN

Sakaguchi and Inoki, The Golden Tag Team

Because I am a believer of ALL JAPAN, I don't know so much about NEW JAPAN. I was only watching the TV program of NEW JAPAN, 'World Pro-Wrestling' on every Friday in my childhood. In a word, NEW JAPAN was short of wrestlers. The ace and the president of the organization was a star wrestler Antonio Inoki, and Seiji Sakaguchi, a former Judo champion joined in. They formed 'the golden tag team', but there were few foreign wrestlers, because Inoki could not joined hands with NWA.

The biggest match in the early days of NEW JAPAN was the fight between Inoki and Strong Kobayashi who had belonged to KOKUSAI (International) PRO-WRESTLING. Because a serious fight among Japanese had not been done for a long time, spectators got excited very much. In this match Inoki defeated Kobayashi with wonderful German Suplex Hold.

Inoki's German Suplex Hold !!

Except Lou Thesz and Karl Gotch, the special guests, the only famous wrestler was Johnny Powers. And talking about other wrestlers, Tiger Jeet Singh, Inoki's new rival was unknown in USA, and the ace of foreigner may have been Killer Karl Krupp. The McGuire brothers, the team of very fat men also appeared, and they offered us funny topics. In 1975, Brute Bernard and Hans Schmidt, old veterans took part in NEW JAPAN, and then famous wrestlers started to join in. Johnny Valentine, Andre The Giant went up to the ring, too. The end of that year Inoki fought with Bill Robinson. At that time, Inoki's party seemed to appear a clear form.

And then Inoki fought against Willem Ruska, a former Judo champion of Olympic games. Inoki began 'the fights with followers of another schools', and the biggest opponent of that was Muhammad Ali.