LogFAQs > #941598258

37. Antonio Inoki
Score: 49
# of Lists: 3

(Guest writeup: Jakyl25)
One of Rikidozans two heirs along with Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki founded the most popular Japanese promotion in history: Inoki Genome Federation.

Just kidding. Of course he is the founder and first major star of New Japan Pro Wrestling, which for four of its five decades in existence has been an industry leader in talent, booking, and pure in-ring excitement. Lets not talk about the 2000s.

Inoki is the biggest star in the history of the company, and has secured a spot in history no matter how misguided his later ideas became.

(Steiner note)
I feel like we would be remiss in not mentioning the Ali-Inoki fight - the first mixed martial arts fight, as it were. While Inoki is forever linked to the the history of Pro Wrestling in Japan, you can point to Inoki-Ali as the birth of MMA in Japan as well.

https://youtu.be/EL9v0vE8DqY; Antonio Inoki vs. Great Antonio, December 8 1977

36. Kenny Omega
Score: 56
# of Lists: 5

(Guest writeup: NBIceman)

Omega doesn't get enough credit sometimes, which probably seems like an odd thing to say when talking about a guy who, for the last five years, has been considered by the majority of hardcore fans to be at least one of the five best wrestlers in the world. His work in the New Japan heavyweight division has become the stuff of legend, with his series of matches against Kazuchika Okada probably doing more to boost the popularity of Japanese wrestling in the West than anything else in history and his barrier-breaking as a gaijin likely starting ripples that we've only begun to see the effects of, and now as one of the key players in the first legitimate alternative the US has seen in a long while he seems poised to remain in the spotlight for years to come.

But Kenny's been really good for a really long time. You can see the early prototypes of the Best Bout Machine in his indie work around the turn of the decade in places like ROH and PWG (there's some real hidden gems in there) where the exaggerated animesque persona that would become such a staple of his career was already on display, but he really came into his own when he went to Japan. Solid work in the junior divisions of NJPW and AJPW was of course part of that, but his enduring legacy came in DDT, where he won the top title, drew a damn good bit of money, and formed a bond with Kota Ibushi that still makes its way into matches and storylines all these years later.

He may not be everyone's cup of tea, but all things considered, his detractors make up a vocal minority. He's praised far more often than he's derided, and he deserves every bit of that. Few wrestlers put the amount of thought into their work that Kenny does, and it shows. His proficiency at weaving stories into his matches, creating compelling character arcs, and playing any role he's given to perfection makes for an exceedingly rare set of talents. He might get a little too ambitious for his own good sometimes, but that's a quality shared by many people who are geniuses of their fields. He's been part of some of the absolute best matches wrestling has ever seen and become a top star (and drawing star) in multiple companies. A guy like that should always be in the conversation for the greatest of all time.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6lgxtj; Kenny Omega vs Kazuchika Okada June 9 2018

35. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Score: 57
# of Lists: 5

(Guest writeup: scarletspeed7)

In an era of cartoon giants and bombastic promos, Jake Roberts would put on quiet clinics of true psychology, barely whispering his brilliant turns of perspective with cold smiles and dead eyes. In fact, Roberts is the most nuanced storyteller behind a mic of any wrestler in the WWF of the Hogan Era.

Roberts also invented and popularized the DDT as well, and such a commonplace move was, in his time, a devastating - and over - technique. It's rare to see a character who isn't the top babyface getting chants for their finisher, but Jake could turn massive arenas into his personal chorus. From the moment he would hit the ring, heel or face, fans wanted to see that DDT. In fact, it's been said multiple times that Vince wouldn't put Jake against Hogan in a main event feud because his finisher was too over. It would likely diminish the fans' desire to see Hogan win.

Despite never winning a major title in his entire career, Jake was a consummate storyteller, and that's why he deserves a place on this list of greats.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x57rf68; Jake Roberts / Eddy Guerrero / Love Machine vs. Blue Panther / Konnan / Perro Aguayo, November 12 1993

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Maniac64