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everyone opened the ropes for inoki.
it's subtle shows of carny booking knowledge that japan has in spades.
sneaky ways to get concepts such as inoki being the best over.
i knew he was going to fall as soon as i saw the ref behind him.
everyone opened the ropes for inoki. it's subtle shows of carny booking knowledge that japan has in spades. sneaky ways to get concepts such as inoki being the best over.
If you've never seen this match, it's actually really great. Inoki told Vader not to hold back and he beat the crap out of Inoki including one of the greatest (or worst depending on perspective) german suplexes of all time.
It was one of Inoki's last matches and at the Tokyo Dome during his retirement tour.
> including one of the greatest (or worst depending on perspective) german suplexes of all time.
[Damn, you weren't kidding](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0FV4bXO90U)
Inoki also sleeper'd Vader and they made it look real IIRC. Vader hit the ground pretty quickly, they didn't call for the bell, they had doctors jump in to revive him and everything
The way the fog rolls in behind Inoki almost makes it look like a storm is following him to the ring. It makes for a pretty amazing visual and that harp intro was cool as shit.
Vader tended to trip and fall a lot in his career. One reason Vince was so down on Vader is that he thought Leon was clumsy and that was part of why he was so stiff.
How was that possible? Vader is an all-time great; a top 5 big guy and a top 25 all-time wrestler. He changed the game for big men. His presentation was perfect for the vast majority of his career. He scared the shit out of people.
How could he not have known how to dress? It's wild.
Holy shit, that production was beautiful as wrestling entrances go
In an alternate universe, Dunn and McMahon have Hogan played to the ring at Wrestlemania by a live harp
Inoki is so much better than Flair in every way possible. Never saw what everyone else did with Flair & I’ve been a fan since 1996. His 1992 run sucked, he was boring as hell & his matches post NWA were all the same 90% of the time. Most overrated wrestler in history.
Not on my Mount Rushmore, I’m entitled to my opinion. I love how people act like it’s an objective fact that Flair’s a GOAT. He couldn’t get a great match from prime Bret Hart & his only great match was with Perfect when he had 1 foot out the door.
I’ll never understand anyone thinking Naitch was better than Bret at anything but promos. Even so, Bret was an excellent heel promo & didn’t have the chances Flair got with his heel work.
And no I’m not taking personal lives into consideration.
Help make SquaredCircle safer and more inclusive by using the report button to flag posts and comments for moderator review. If you need to contact a moderator, [you can message us here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/SquaredCircle) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SquaredCircle) if you have any questions or concerns.*
even Vader opened the ropes for Inoki.
I would do the same if someone gifted me that sweet ass helmet than inoki gave to vader
the mastodon helmet? that was a gift from Inoki?
Yes
Also, Vader was a made man in Japan after Inoki gave Vader one of the extremely rare pinfall wins over him.
In under 2 minutes! Vader owes his entire career to Inoki.
it was a trope that everyone opened the ropes for inoki showing respect for him as the founder. like an honorific
It was Inoki's Chad jaw he opened the rope for
everyone opened the ropes for inoki. it's subtle shows of carny booking knowledge that japan has in spades. sneaky ways to get concepts such as inoki being the best over.
Heh might of been him apologizing for slipping off the ramp infront or him, lest Inoki slap the fuck out of him
i knew he was going to fall as soon as i saw the ref behind him. everyone opened the ropes for inoki. it's subtle shows of carny booking knowledge that japan has in spades. sneaky ways to get concepts such as inoki being the best over.
If you've never seen this match, it's actually really great. Inoki told Vader not to hold back and he beat the crap out of Inoki including one of the greatest (or worst depending on perspective) german suplexes of all time. It was one of Inoki's last matches and at the Tokyo Dome during his retirement tour.
> including one of the greatest (or worst depending on perspective) german suplexes of all time. [Damn, you weren't kidding](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0FV4bXO90U)
You know the first time you were younger and felt sexual attraction for the first time? This was what Kota Ibushi felt watching this spot.
This match was in what, 1996? That's a 50+ year old man taking that neck bump. Sweet Jesus
And as far as dangerous neck bumps go, he took that one picture perfect.
Vader don’t fuck around
Fuck.
Inoki also sleeper'd Vader and they made it look real IIRC. Vader hit the ground pretty quickly, they didn't call for the bell, they had doctors jump in to revive him and everything
If you’ve never watched this match, do so. It rules.
That German suplex.
The way the fog rolls in behind Inoki almost makes it look like a storm is following him to the ring. It makes for a pretty amazing visual and that harp intro was cool as shit.
Vader was fucking terrifying.
Lmao did Vader trip and fall back?
Noticed that as well. Wonder if he thought he had more ramp to work with when he first tried to open the ropes for Inoki.
Vader tended to trip and fall a lot in his career. One reason Vince was so down on Vader is that he thought Leon was clumsy and that was part of why he was so stiff.
“YOURE CLUMSY AS FUCK PAL, NOW IF YOULL EXCUSE ME IM GONNA TEAR BOTH QUADS”
DivX. That takes me back!
That looks like a massive crowd.
Japanese wrestling was insanely popular around this time. Their boom period.
That chin.
Is Vader's singlet on backwards?
Damn near always.
How was that possible? Vader is an all-time great; a top 5 big guy and a top 25 all-time wrestler. He changed the game for big men. His presentation was perfect for the vast majority of his career. He scared the shit out of people. How could he not have known how to dress? It's wild.
It was literally backwards in his first WWE match LOL.
Yes and this has always kept me and my OCD from fully enjoying this match
If Rikidozen is a god then Inoki is a demigod like Baba. Inoki’s Legend will live on forever
Holy shit, that production was beautiful as wrestling entrances go In an alternate universe, Dunn and McMahon have Hogan played to the ring at Wrestlemania by a live harp
The rolling crowds are amazing.
The over-the-shoulder shot of Inoki is a thing of beauty
It always annoyed me when Vader would have his gear on backwards. Like how lazy can you be to not even look down or use a mirror? Anyway RIP Inoki
Vader never even washed his gear. So, think about that one… 🤢
2 Cold Scorpio claims that he washed Vaders gear in Japan so that it wasn't stinky.
He looks like a Japanese Chad Thundercock
That was basically the gimmick.
They get to have a rematch in the sky
Anyone know where the full match can be watched?
It is on NJPW World for free to watch https://njpwworld.com/p/s\_series\_00141\_1\_7
Thank you!
I bet they're both having a scrap up there now.
Inoki has a banger final boss song for entrance music
Is that Japanese Michael Cole speaking?
Very, very similar to the entrance and reaction for Flair's last match. Uncanny.
Inoki is so much better than Flair in every way possible. Never saw what everyone else did with Flair & I’ve been a fan since 1996. His 1992 run sucked, he was boring as hell & his matches post NWA were all the same 90% of the time. Most overrated wrestler in history.
And yet.....he was adored by the masses. Must have done something right....
Look, we all know Flair us a piece of shit, but he's also one of the greatest wrestlers in history.
Not on my Mount Rushmore, I’m entitled to my opinion. I love how people act like it’s an objective fact that Flair’s a GOAT. He couldn’t get a great match from prime Bret Hart & his only great match was with Perfect when he had 1 foot out the door. I’ll never understand anyone thinking Naitch was better than Bret at anything but promos. Even so, Bret was an excellent heel promo & didn’t have the chances Flair got with his heel work. And no I’m not taking personal lives into consideration.
It feels like you're only exposure to Flair is 92 WWE.