Inoki, who left for the U.S. in 1964, first arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii. In his first U.S. match, he challenged Prince Iaukea for Hawaiian Heavyweight Title. This was his first title challenge.

After that, Inoki toured Texas, Oregon, and Tennessee. There is no official record of his title challenges; however, Inoki reportedly challenged Danny Hodge in Oklahoma for NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title, Pepper Martin for in Oregon Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, and Tennessee (or Southern?) Tag Team Title, teaming with Hiro Matsuda.

Inoki remembers that his first title win was "AWA World Tag Team Title," but according to the record, he had won NWA Texas Title before that. He defeated Joe Blanchard in Houston, Texas on 06/24/64 under a name of "Tokyo Tom." See the detailed history of the title, courtesy of The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo.

What Inoki referred to as "AWA World Tag Team Title" is in fact a world tag team title which was recognized by World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas. Since World Class was an NWA member, this title may have been the Texas version of the "NWA World Tag Team Title." Inoki teamed with Duke Keomuka to defeat Fritz Von Erich & Killer Karl Kox in October,1965 at the Dallas Sportatorium and lost it to The Destroyer & Golden Terror. See the detailed history of the title, courtesy of The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo.

Inoki & Hiro Matsuda had a controversial win over The Mysterious Medics for Southern Tag Team Title in December, 1965 in Memphis, Tennessee; however, a tournament was ordered by NWA to determine a new champion team. Inoki & Matsuda lost the tournament on 01/11/66 in Nashville and were not recognized as the official champions after all.

In the same month, Inoki & Matsuda won the Tennessee/Alabama version of the NWA World Tag Team Title, defeating Eddie Graham & Sam Steamboat on 01/24/66 in Memphis, Tennessee. Title was vacated when Inoki left Tennessee for Japan in April (in Tennessee, it was announced that Inoki broke his leg). This title was later won by Motoshi Okuma & Shin'ya Kojika (Great Kojika) in 1967. See the detailed history of the title, courtesy of The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo.

After returning to Japan and founding Tokyo Pro-Wrestling, Inoki & Matsuda were billed as "NWA World Tag Team Champions" and defended the title four times.