In a recent interview with Proresu-TODAY, New Japan Pro Wrestling President Takami Ohbari discussed several topics, including NJPW’s initial plans to have Antonio Inoki attend the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on January 4th, 2023 prior to Inoki passing away earlier this month.

“I thought that if Mr. Inoki was unable to walk, I would ask him to enter the venue on a portable shrine, or something like that. We had been proceeding on the assumption that Mr. Inoki was still here with us, because we were planning to celebrate the 50th Anniversary on January 4, and we knew that he was indispensable to the event.

I would like to show the 50th Anniversary to Mr. Inoki in heaven, and I think the timing is just right for fans from all over the world to come to the event, so I want to make it an event and a card that will attract not only fans from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, but also from all over Japan, and the world, including overseas fans.

I don’t want to say how many people will be here, but I want to be able to say that the company that Mr. Inoki founded is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and we held the culmination of this event at the Dome, and many people from all over the world came to see it.”

The full interview is available in full at this link.