[10][8] Gotch had significantly influenced the development of modern mixed martial arts (MMA), especially in Japan.

These include Shooto and Pancrase, both of which predate the UFC, along with Fighting Network RINGS, and PRIDE, one of the most popular promotions of all time.

[4] In the United States, Gotch's wrestling style and lack of showmanship held him back, and he did not experience any great popularity at the time.

[4] Gotch held the belt for two years before dropping the title to Lou Thesz, one of the few American wrestlers he respected because of the similarities of their styles (the two also share a German/Hungarian heritage).

[8] He returned to the United States for a stint in the 1970s, with a brief run in the World Wide Wrestling Federation from August 1971 to February 1972.

[4] He wrestled in the main event of the very first show held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) on March 6, 1972, defeating Antonio Inoki.

[8] Janine married Masami "Sammy" Soranaka, a protégé of her father's, pro wrestler and referee.

[8] Gotch also influenced the development of mixed martial arts (MMA) through his students including Antonio Inoki, Satoru Sayama, Minoru Suzuki, Masakatsu Funaki, Akira Maeda, and Nobuhiko Takada.

Inoki wrestled in a series of matches called ishu kakutōgi sen, where he faced martial artists representing different styles and a legitimate fight against Muhammad Ali in 1976.

[30][31][32][33][34] Several other professional wrestlers who had been, at some point, taught by Gotch include El Canek, Riki Choshu,[14] Masanobu Fuchi, Bob Backlund, and brothers Joe and Dean Malenko.

Gotch was friends and training partners with judo exponents Masahiko Kimura and Kiyotaka Otsubo, who also had tenures as professional wrestlers.

[35] Gotch was vocal in his opposition to the growing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, decrying its practitioners as "old whores waiting for a consumer" due to their usage of the guard position.