Looking Back On The WCW / NJPW Event In North Korea: 25 Years Later

The Actual Event

The event is actually the most attended pro wrestling event in history. The attendance was said to be between 160,000 - 190,000 on both days. Believe it or not this is more than any Wrestlemania ever. Despite the numbers the crowd was eerily silent. Apparently, this was because they were actually forced to attend. Many were said to be stunned by the glitz and glamour of the sport with many expecting something closer to amateur wrestling.

The 150,000 plus "fans" were almost silent throughout but this all changed come the main event. Antonio Inoki was a prodigy of the late Rikidōzan who was actually born in Korea and is hailed as a hero in North Korea. Throughout the match fans cheered on Inoki and booed the evil American Flair. Eventually, Inoki would win the match and be the hero for all North Koreans packed inside the arena.