The N.W.F. Era
1973/12/10 - Kuramae Kokugikan - N.W.F. World Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (2-1) Johnny Powers
1. Inokin (20'26" abdominal stretch)
2. Powers (5'49" powers lock)
3. Inoki (5'10" fylfot hold)
Inoki won the belt that soon became his synonym from Powers, known as "Death"
and famous for his figure-8 leglock(powers lock) which is said to give twice
damage as the figure-4 leglock.
1974/03/19 - Kuramae Kokugikan - N.W.F. World Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (29'30" german suplex hold) Strong Kobayashi
As the first match between two Japanese top wrestlers since Rikidozan vs. Masahiko Kimura,
this match caused a big sensation. Many say this was Inoki's best match of all.
The finisher wasn't "beautiful", but Inoki had Kobayashi's weight on his neck as Inoki's both legs were up in the air for a short moment. People still talk about this today
as "the legendary german suplex".
By the way, Inoki and Kobayashi looked alike back then.
1974/04/26 - Hiroshima Prefectural Gym - The 1st World League
Antonio Inoki (30min time limit draw) Seiji Sakaguchi
The match between two New Japan top wrestlers who were known as "Golden Combo" was
something inconsiderable back then. However, the first match between two took place
during the World League round-robin tournament.
It was a super 30 minutes with the collision of the powers.
1974/06/26 - Osaka Prefectural Gym - N.W.F. World Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (2-1) Tiger Jeet Singh
1. (11'25" double COR)
2. Inoki (9'26" referee stop)
Inoki and Singh had a number of great matches, but when it comes to an "impact", no
match is better than this one.
Two didn't settle in a lumberjack match, and they also had a fight in a street of Tokyo.
Then, Singh injured Inoki's eyes with fire just a week before the match. The grudge between
two was at the peak. Using the arm breaker hold and corner post, Inoki finally broke
Singh's right arm. This is, according to Inoki, a "match beyond the line".
1974/10/10 - Kuramae Kokugikan - N.W.F. World Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (13'13" pin) Kintaro Ohki
Ohki was the opponent for Inoki's debut match and a seniority whom Inoki could never defeat before. The time had passed, and Inoki was the champion with Ohki as the challenger.
After taking a series Ohki's famous headbutts, Inoki started bleeding.
Inoki came back with a straigh punch and pinned Ohki with a back suplex.
In this famous match, Inoki showed the "beaty of taking offenses".
1975/06/26 - Kuramae Kokugikan - N.W.F. World Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (2-1) Tiger Jeet Singh
1. Inoki (19'41" rolling clutch hold)
2. Singh (2'47" back breaker)
3. Inoki (4'23" pin)
Singh, who had crazy matches with Inoki until this day, had a fair wrestling match
in the strong style against Inoki. After losing the match, the audience experienced an unbelievable moment with Singh raising Inoki's hand. This match proved Singh as
a technitian.
1975/10/09 - Kuramae Kokugikan - N.W.F. World Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (17'40" blockbuster hold) Lou Thesz
Impressed by Inoki's match against Gotch, Thesz returned to the ring to challenge
Inoki. Thesz showed a good fight which didn't make you think of Thesz's age and long break.
Old fans were also happy with Antonio Rocca assigned as a special referee.
1975/12/11 - Kuramae Kokugikan - N.W.F. World Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (1-1) Billy Robinson
1. Robinson (42'53" backsliding)
2. Inoki (16'19" fylfot hold)
Along with his match against Kobayashi, many people claim this is Inoki's best match.
After a tough exchange of offenses and defenses, Robinson tried to stay away from
Inoki's offenses after winning the first fall.
Inoki continued to chase Robinson and finally caught him with an fylfot hold. However,
the match ended when the time was up. This was a match with a full of thrills.
1977/12/08 - Kuramae Kokugikan
Antonio Inoki (3'08" KO) Great Antonio
Great Antonio, famous for his bus-pulling performance, came to Japan for the first time
in a long time. Inoki showed his famous crazy fight to defeat Great Antonio. This match
is said to be the origin of "Killer Inoki."
1978/02/08 - Nippon Budokan - Nail Death Match
Antonio Inoki (11'02" KO) Umanosuke Ueda
Inoki is also a pioneer of the death matches. It is not unsual today to see the floor around the ring being filled with the nails, but this match was the first.
Ueda was scared of Inoki's armbreaker, escaped outside the ring, and never came back. Neither fell on the nails.
1979/11/30 - Tokushima Prefectural Gym - WWF Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (28'16" pin) Bob Backlund
Inoki had a series of good fights with Backlund for the WWF title, and in this match,
Inoki became the first Japanese to win the title.
1980/09/25 - Hiroshima Prefectural Gym - N.W.F. Heavyweight Title Match
Antonio Inoki (10'49" pin) Stan Hansen
Among many famous fights against Hansen, this one is the most famous with Inoki's
"reversed lariat in 0.x second". As Hansen was trying to give his famous lariat
to Inoki, Inoki jumped onto Hansen with a lariat "0.x second faster" than Hansen did.
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