Japanese wrestling legend Antonio Inoki has changed his name as part of his recent conversion to Islam. Inoki, who became the first Japanese wrestler to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on 27 March 2010, now goes by the name Muhammad Hussain Inoki.
Inoki’s acceptance of the Muslim faith and adoption of the name Muhammad (“one who is worthy of praise”) mirrors the conversion of his most renowned opponent and personal friend, boxing icon Muhammad Ali, who joined Nation of Islam in 1964. In 1976, Inoki and Ali competed in an infamous worked shoot “boxing vs wrestling” fight in Tokyo, which ended in a draw.
Inoki was in Pakistan last Friday for an international wrestling competition.
