Great Antonio vs. Antonio Inoki Goes WrongAntonio Inoki and his newly formed promotion, New Japan Pro Wrestling, lacked a crucial television deal and sought to make a significant impact swiftly.
On 1972, he faced Gotch in front of 10,000 with special guest referee Lou Thesz. The match took place at a sold-out Kuramae Sumo Hall and was set to determine the "real" heavyweight champion.
Importing foreign talent to bolster ticket sales and generate revenue has proven to be a successful strategy repeatedly employed in Japanese promotions over the years.
In 1973, Antonio Inoki began an embittered feud with Tiger Jeet Singh. It started when Inoki and his wife were shopping in Tokyo, and Singh slapped Inoki’s wife in the face.
However, later that year, headlines were made when Inoki legitimately pummeled The Great Antonio, almost proving deadly for the famed eccentric strongman.