by Josh Gross
chokes, 28, 32, 246, 248, 254
Inoki’s use of, 124, 197
joint locks, 56, 73, 248, 259, 262
judo and Japanese martial arts, 49
Kimura double wristlock (downward arm crank), 56, 73, 259, 262
The Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture, 20
mixed martial arts, 234, 259, 262, 263
Pancrase, 264. See also Pancrase
pro wrestling, 19, 20, 40, 93–94, 124, 259, 263, 264
rules for Ali vs. Inoki, 197
Sullivan, John L., 19, 31
Sumo wrestling
Grand Sumo Tournament, 53
Japan Sumo Association, 48
Kuramae Kokugikan, 57
match fixing (yaocho), 4
Rikidōzan, 48, 50, 53
Ryōgoku Kokugikan, 51, 54
and Takeshita, Isamu, 48, 49, 53
Tuli, Teila, 248, 249
during World War II and occupied Japan, 50, 51, 53, 54
Super Fighters League (SFL), 254
Superbowl of Wrestling, 163
Superstars (television show), 272
Suzuki, Kenzo, 169
Suzuki, Minoru, 263, 264
Svinth, Joseph, 49
Swerves (pranks and cons), 152, 169
T
Taekwondo
Jhoon Rhee Taekwondo School, 225, 241
promotion of by Rhee, 13, 225, 241, 242, 253. See also Rhee, Jhoon
Tajima, Ken, 127
Takada, Nobuhiko, 257, 266, 267
Takeshita, Isamu, 48, 49, 53
Television
boxing broadcasts, 65
impact of on pro wrestling, 56–58, 65, 67, 164–166, 170, 171
pay-per-view, 160, 170, 249, 255
Terrell, Ernie, 190
Thai boxing, 257, 266
Thesz, Lou, 25, 58, 59, 65, 92, 93, 165
“Thrilla in Manila” (October 1, 1975), 2, 99–103, 216, 225. See also Frazier, Joe
Tokai TV, 266, 267
Tokyo Underworld (Whiting), 53
Tolos, John, 133
Toms, John, 217
Toney, James, 27
The Tonight Show (television show), 4–7, 273
Top Rank, Inc., 4, 15, 113, 159, 182, 229
Toyama, Kou, 13, 218
Trump, Donald, 243
Tuli, Teila, 248, 249, 262
Tyson, Mike, 266
U
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), 27, 160, 213, 232–234, 239, 241, 243, 245–251, 255–257, 262, 264, 267
Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), 257, 263, 265–266
UWF-International, 263
V
Vale Tudo, 253, 264, 265
Valentine, Johnny, 151, 152
Video Techniques, 159–161
Viola, William, Sr., 33, 200, 252–255
W
Wagenheim, Jeff, 10, 162, 176, 187, 219, 220
Wagner, “Gorgeous” George (the Human Orchid), 40–47, 56, 59, 60, 78
Walcott, Jersey Joe, 65
Warner, Don, 64
Washington Touchdown Sports Club awards, 241, 242
Weidman, Chris, 239
Wepner, Chuck (the “Bayonne Bleeder”), 9, 14, 126, 159, 160, 172–178, 180, 243, 259–261
When Taekwondo Strikes (movie), 242
White, Dana, 251
Whiting, Robert, 53, 54
Williams, Lonnie, 277
Williams, Willie, 261, 262
Wolff, Buddy, 115
Works (fights with predetermined outcome), 3, 4, 36, 37, 39, 56, 94, 95, 97, 123, 152–154, 220, 258, 260, 262–264
World Martial Arts Championship, 9
World Martial Arts Fighting Association, 253
World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), 8, 10, 159, 162–164, 167, 168, 171
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE), 36, 154, 168–170, 172, 263
World Wrestling Federation (WWF), 163, 165, 168, 170, 171, 261
Worldwide Wrestling Associates, 164
Wrestlemania, 8, 162, 171, 175, 177, 178
Wrestlers vs. boxers. See Boxers vs. wrestlers
Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 166
Wright, Bearcat, 149, 150
Y
Yakuza, 47, 53, 58, 267, 268
Yamamoto, Hideki, 12, 224, 256, 266–268
Yamamoto, Kotetsu, 182
Yaochō, 4
York, Jay (“The Alaskan”), 151, 152
Yoshiaki, Yamashita, 48
Young, Jimmy, 105, 108
Z
Zaharias, George, 71
Zbyszko, Stanislaus, 38
Zuffa, 251, 256, 269
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josh Gross is considered a pioneer of mixed martial arts journalism. Beginning in April 2000, his career spans MMA’s evolution from an underground, counterculture free-for-all into a mainstream multibillion-dollar industry. While MMA earned a reputation as one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, Gross covered action in and out of the cage for Sports Illustrated and ESPN. He is co-owner of Side Control Media, a fight world–focused production company. For more information on the author, please follow him on twitter, @yay_yee.