By Bill Walkowitz
Former professional wrestler Antonio Inoki (real name Kanji Inoki), who served two terms as a member of the House of Councilors, died at his home on the 1st. he was 79 years old. Inoki, 79, had been battling health problems in recent years and had been confined to a wheelchair.
He entered Japan Pro Wrestling. On September 30, 1960, he made his debut on the same day as the late Giant Baba, who turned from professional baseball to professional wrestling, and since 1962, he has used the ring name "Antonio Inoki". After training in the United States, leaving Japan, returning, and being expelled, he married actress Mitsuko Baisho in 1971 (later divorced).
In 1972, he launched New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and after that he built the heyday of professional wrestling. Boxing in June 1976, a "mixed martial arts match" with Muhammad Ali, the world heavyweight champion, attracted attention and was televised around the world. As a politician, he launched the "Sports and Peace Party" in 1989, and ran for the 15th House of Councilors election in the same year as a proportional representation member under the catchphrases of "fixing swastikas in the Diet" and "striking the consumption tax" and was elected for the first time. . He became the first wrestler-turned-member of parliament in history.
Titles he held include
NWA Big Time Wrestling
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Duke Keomuka[51][52]
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (1 time) – with Seiji Sakaguchi
NWA United National Championship (1 time)
NWA Mid-America
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time) – with Hiro Matsuda
1st and 2nd World Tag League with Kantaro Hoshino and Seiji Sakaguchi
National Wrestling Federation
NWF Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version) (2 times)
NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (1 time) – with Seiji Sakaguchi
NJPW Real World Championship (1 time)
NJPW IWGP League (1984, 1986, 1987, 1988)
NJPW Japan Cup Tag Team League (1986) with Yoshiaki Fujiwara
MSG League (1978–1981)
MSG Tag League (1980) with Bob Backlund
MSG Tag League (1982) with Hulk Hogan
MSG Tag League (1983) with Hulk Hogan
MSG Tag League (1984) with Tatsumi Fujinami
Six Man Tag Team Cup League (1988) with Riki Choshu & Kantaro Hoshino
