Inoki v. Baba

[Sir Hugo Drax]

I was just wondering which ne of these amazing athletes was/is the most popular. I know that Inoki has gotten more main-streem press because of his matches with Ali and other mixed-martiel artists, but according to Butch Miller, of Bushwachers fame, he said Baba's popularity rivals Michael Jordan's.
So who is the man in this forums opinion???

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

It's very hard to compare the popularity of the two. Unless you are too young to know Baba, who passed away three years ago, you would usually know him if you know who Inoki is. Both of them are very well-known by non-wrestling fans.

As a wrestler, many would probably say Inoki was much better than Baba. As a promoter, it depends on whom you ask. Baba usually made "right choices" for the fans with smooth booking ideas while Inoki likes taking risks by surprising and/or fooling the fans.

[Sir Hugo Drax]

Thank you very much for your reply, it cleared some things up. I have also heard that during Inoki's younger days, when he was competing agenst boxers and mixed martiel artists, he often was looked down upon by other wrerstlers, including Andre The Giant. This is said to have led to there shoot fight. I dont know how much of that story is truth and wresting legend but i thaught id throw that out there.

thanks

[Yoshimitsu]

People call Inoki the most popular wrestler of all time. He has parts of sport shops simply dedicated to him in Japan.