(NOAH) "Follow Me You Bastards!" Kenoh's column

11th October 2022

Weekly Pro

Q: Antonio Inoki passed away on October 1st

KENOH: He was a great pro wrestler. Chono (Masahiro) said he was a "God", but I wonder if I have that kind of image too. It's sad that the Japanese professional wrestling world is dead

Q: How about as a pro wrestler? 

KENOH: Recently, when I had an interview with Maeda (Akira) on the Kenoh Channel, Inoki was hit by Hogan's Axe Bomber and collapsed with his tongue sticking out, but it was Maeda who went to the hospital instead. That's why I thought he was an amazing professional wrestler who could do things like that.

Q: Maeda's recollection has changed...

KENOH: Rude bastard. I believe in Maeda. Well, an ordinary pro wrestler will definitely think and act, so I guess that's why it left such an impression on everyone. However, even things like "Anton Heissel*" and other big failures are considered legendary, so he's amazing.

Q: He transcended the pro wrestling world. 

KENOH: There it is. For Inoki there were always conflicts such as "Boxing is covered by major newspapers, but pro wrestling is never covered", and so he competed against the world carrying pro wrestling with him. It was the same with mixed martial arts battles. Willem Ruska, second division gold medalist in Judo at the Munich Olympic, Mohammed Ali, the World Heavyweight boxing champion, the unknown powerhouse of martial arts, The Monster Man, boasted unparalleled strength in Kyokushin Karate, The "Bear Slayer" Willie Williams...he pulled out the top fighters of various genres and established matches despite various problems with rules. That is why it hit a big box office, and it was broadcast nationwide on TV, attracting an unbelievable number of viewers. Not only was he a fighter, but he was also someone who had considerable skills as a businessman. 

Q: It was a time when Mixed Martial Arts did not exist

KENOH: He was definitely an MMA pioneer. In terms of competing with the public, it's the same with advancing to the National Diet. I think it's thanks to Inoki that the genre of professional wrestling has gained so much social recognition in Japan. Everyone got courage and energy from watching Inoki's wrestling and his words and deeds. In Iraq, he wrestled and released hostages, and in North Korea he wrestled and built friendships. World class soccer and baseball, Sumo wrestling, the national sport, but it was pro wrestling. From places like this the power of pro wrestling, the power of Antonio Inoki is immense. I admire him as he did things that everyone thought was impossible. Shouldn't he be given a National Honor Award? Okay, do I also aim to be a member of the Diet!?

Q: Whoa! As expected, you graduated from Meiji University's faculty of Political Science and Economics! By all means.

KENOH: Like Inoki, I want to use the power of professional wrestling to bring peace to the world. Yes that's it, I'll become a member of Parliament!

Q: Okay, Kenoh...

KENOH: But that's what Inoki did and that's what he accomplished. With Inoki's fighting soul written as "fighting spirit", he confronted difficult problems and things that no one had tried to do, and solved powerful issues with the strength of professional wrestling.

Q: His achievements were truly amazing. What was your impression of his matches? 

KENOH: The Great Muta match in 1994, I don't know much about the 1998 retirement. More than any other match, Inoki's match was a bloody fight that made sure that professional wrestling would never be underestimated. His pupils, Keiji Mutoh and Kazuyuki Fujita, have inherited that skill from him and he is truly a fighting spirit, the King of Sports. Even today's professional wrestlers have to follow suit. It has nothing to do with Mixed Martial Arts or the current trend of the times. We, pro wrestlers, have to do pro wrestling that is worthy of Inoki at all times. I have said this time and time again, pro wrestling isn't a show for school or the playground. A pro wrestler who makes fun of pro wrestling is absolutely unforgiveable.

Q: Of course

KENOH: Inoki was able to compete with anyone in pro-wrestling. Maeda also used to say, "Inoki and Fujinami (Tatsumi) are good wrestlers. Choshu (Riki) isn't very good, but since he was fighting Inoki and Fujinami, he looked good".

Q: Is that so?

KENOH: That's just Maeda's opinion. Quotes he left behind are "It's 1,2,3!" and "How are you?"

Q: He was a famous copywriter. Kenoh, you yourself often use the phrase, "Fucking bastards, follow me"

KENOH: Well, that's a phrase only used in pro wrestling. I have to come up with new words that will be accepted more and more by the world too, and I need to be more aware of it.

Q: I am looking forward to it. Lastly, please say something at the end. 

KENOH: I would like to express my deepest condolences on the passing of Antonio Inoki.

Translated from Weekly Pro

Picture credit: Weekly Pro

NOTES

Anton Heissel: A biotechnology business venture that Inoki founded in 1980. In conjunction with the Brazillian government, to use alcohol refined from sugar cane instead of oil for energy and to use the squeezed residue by combining it with enzymatic bacteria to give to livestock and then using that manure as fertilizer which would them improve agricultural production and increase livestock production. However, the process went wrong due to differences in climate between Japan and Brazil, as Inoki had hoped to import it. The money came out of New Japan which almost collapsed, and 20 billion yen vanished.