Another titan of the wrestling industry has taken to social media to pay tribute to Antonio Inoki.
New Japan Pro Wrestling founder, Antonio Inoki sadly passed away at the age of 79 on Friday, September 30, 2022. Now, Hulk Hogan, his former adversary and partner in NJPW during the early-mid 1980s has reacted to the news with a post on his Facebook page.
"It seems like I spent half my wrestling career working with New Japan,after many years I became accepted and traveled on the Japanese bus,worked out,lived,and sometimes fought the Americans,Inoki was truly ICHIBAN,rip my brother,love you Ax Bomba," Hogan wrote.
Hogan was the first man to hold the original IWGP Heavyweight Championship, defeating Inoki for the title in 1983. Inoki would win the belt the following year and would be the only other person to hold it before it was deactivated in 1987. Hogan and Inoki also worked as partners in Japan, winning the Madison Square Garden Tag League Tournament in both 1982 and 1983.
You can view more reactions to Inoki's passing from around the wrestling world by clicking here.
Fightful sends its condolences to Antonio's family, friends, and fans.