#OnThisDay Fifty-Two Years Ago: NJPW Opening Series - Day 1 1972 – The First Ever New Japan Pro Wrestling Event! The card saw notable NJPW homegrowns that would become stars in the promotion like Tatsumi Fujinami in the opening match, and Osamu Kido, Kotetsu Yamamoto, and Katsuhisa Shibata (father of Katsuyori Shibata) in other matchups. It also featured wrestlers from across the nations like USA's Ivan Kameroff, Brooklyn Kid and Jim Durango, Argentina's El Furioso, and Peru's Inca Peruano. In the main event, Karl Gotch took on Antonio Inoki in an exhibition. A historical battle taking into account how much Gotch influenced Japan's wrestling style and trained hundreds of Japanese talent, including Inoki. Moreover the transcend of Inoki and how he wanted to carry his promotion forward – no better way than to get a respectful tap from his mentor after the match! It all began with this matchup and this event, NJPW's first show in history! Watch Gotch vs. Inoki full match *available here* @WrestleIndiaFamily