Don't 'no-sell' on Inoki

[Liquidrob]

Don't try and one up and rough up Inoki, you will get fucked up

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lXAGZtMxU8&feature=player_embedded"]Great Antonio vs. Antonio Inoki - YouTube[/ame]

[EmpireWF]

Inoki wouldn't dare pull that with Andre.


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lirrd-9T6fM"]Andre The Giant vs Antonio Inoki (1983) - YouTube[/ame]


(it's always fun to go back and watch Andre in Japan to see a completely different worker than the guy who was in WWF....you can say that for practically everyone at that time though)

[Warner2BruceTD]

Legendary match that turns into a shoot.

A lot of people feel bad for Great Antonio, because he was a eccentric guy who would probably be classified as mentally ill in today's world. He was a strongman in his younger days who made a lot of money doing carnivals and theater performances, but died homeless.

To me, Inoki gave the guy plenty of chances. Eventually, it became clear that Great Antonio was not going to sell, and had gone into business for himself. That can be a dangerous situation for a pro wrestler, plus Inoki was the top star of New Japan at the time and had to protect both himself and the business. Great Antonio had done matches before so he knew the deal.

[Liquidrob]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIZgkjGBeYc&feature=player_embedded"]Lyoto Machida and Antonio Inoki, slap of respect? - YouTube[/ame]

[SHOGUN]

That was shades of Shogun vs. Rampage right there.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Machida was supposed to be the next Inoki and lead New Japan into the future, due to his half brazilian/half japanese backround and legit fighting ability. This was when New Japan was still doing some shoots on their shows. But he lacked charisma and his fights were boring, so they dropped the plan. He was supposed to win a bunch of shoots and then become a pro wrestling mega star as Inoki's ultimate pupil.

[Liquidrob]

or maybe he just wanted Inoki money

[EmpireWF]

I laughed when UFC used that clip in one of the countdown specials.

[Kuzzy Powers]

LOL.. wow.. Inoki with the stiff shot to Machida. I duno about slap of respect, Inoki looks pretty pissed.

[Liquidrob]

The Inoki slap is a sign of respect, people just walk up to him to get slapped

[Kuzzy Powers]

What about the punch in the grill?

[Liquidrob]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lw8_AKZW6I"]Antonio Inoki slaps everyone @ Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2000 - YouTube[/ame]

[Liquidrob]

lol @ the women taking the slap

[Liquidrob]

The Japanese are kookie

Frank was telling me a story when a fan came up to him in Japan on the street, he said 'oh mr shamrock, punch me please'

Frank 'uh, I didnt think you want that'

Tiny japanese man 'please mr shamrock, I want to feel your pooooowwwwwerrr'

Frank 'ok', blasts him in the chest and drops him

Tiny Japanese man holding his chest and bowing 'thank you, thank you'

[EmpireWF]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu5Phd9sQ5A"]Antonio Inoki Flies in on a PARACHUTE and cuts a promo @ PRIDE/K1 Dynamite - YouTube[/ame]