List of professional wrestling promotions in Japan
Appearance
This is a list of professional wrestling promotions in Japan which includes both national and independent puroresu and joshi companies from the post-World War II period up to the present day.
Major promotions
Puroresu
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Japan Pro Wrestling | Yokohama | Tsuyoki Fukuda | 1972– | Affiliated with National Wrestling Alliance until 1990.[1][2][3] |
DDT Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | CyberAgent | 1997– | As of July 2020, DDT is promoted as one of the four brands under the CyberFight umbrella.[1][4] |
Dragon Gate | Kobe | Gaora | 2004– | Known as Toryumon Japan from 1997 to 2004.[1][5] |
New Japan Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | Bushiroad | 1972– | [1][6][7] |
Pro Wrestling Noah | Tokyo | CyberAgent[8] | 2000– | As of July 2020, NOAH is promoted as one of the four brands under the CyberFight umbrella.[1][9][10] |
Joshi
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
World Wonder Ring Stardom | Tokyo | Bushiroad | 2010– | |
Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | CyberAgent | 2012– | As of July 2020, TJPW is promoted as one of the four brands under the CyberFight umbrella. |
Independent promotions
Puroresu
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Active Advance Pro Wrestling | Chiba | Taka Michinoku | 2002– | Known as Kaientai Dojo and K-Dojo until 2019 |
Asuka Pro Wrestling | Tokyo | Akira Shinose | 2014– | Previously named Asuka Project until 2019.[11] |
Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | Tomokazu Taniguchi | 2018– | [12] |
Big Japan Pro Wrestling | Yokohama | Eiji Tosaka | 1995– | |
Colega Pro Wrestling | Osaka | The Bodyguard | 2021– | [13] |
Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW | Greater Tokyo Area | Akihito Ichihara Yukihide Ueno |
1989–2002 2015– |
Previously named Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling.[1][14][15] |
Dotonbori Pro Wrestling | Osaka | Dotonbori Entertainment System | 2013– | [16] |
Dove Pro Wrestling | Hiroshima | Gunso | 2005– | |
Dradition | Tokyo | Tatsumi Fujinami | 2008– | |
Ganbare☆Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | CyberAgent | 2013– | Originally a special event by parent company DDT, GanPro has since become its promotion and as of July 2020, it is promoted as one of the four brands under the CyberFight umbrella, along with DDT.[17] |
Gleat | Yūrakuchō, Tokyo | LIDET Entertainment | 2020– | Founded by the former parent company of Pro Wrestling Noah, the promotion styles itself as something of a spiritual successor of the UWF and UWFi. |
Hard Hit | Tokyo | Hikaru Sato | 2015– | Originally a series of events under DDT Pro-Wrestling, Hard Hit established itself as an independent promotion in 2015.[18] |
Hitachi Pro Wrestling | Kanto region | 2008– | [19] | |
Hokuto Pro Wrestling | Hokkaido | Crane Nakajo | 2004– | |
Lion's Gate Project | Tokyo | Bushiroad | 2015– | Developmental branch of New Japan Pro Wrestling. |
Michinoku Pro Wrestling | Morioka | Jinsei Shinzaki | 1993– | |
New Nemuro Pro Wrestling | 2006– | [20] | ||
Osaka Pro Wrestling | Osaka | Super Delfin Yuji Sakagami |
1998– | |
Ossan Style Wrestling | Osaka | 2019– | Originally called Osaka Style Wrestling, the promotion restarted as Ossan Style Wrestling in 2020.[21] | |
P.P.P. Tokyo | Tokyo | Masayuki Mitomi | 2019– | |
Pro-Wrestling Basara | Shinjuku, Tokyo | Isami Kodaka | 2015– | Continuation of Union Pro Wrestling. Pro Wrestling Basara spun off from DDT Pro-Wrestling on January 1, 2020. |
Pro Wrestling Dewa | Tohoku region | Lock Suzuki | 2004– | [22] |
Pro Wrestling Freedoms | Tokyo | Takashi Sasaki | 2009– | [23] |
Pro Wrestling Heat-Up | Kawasaki | Kazuhiro Tamura | 2012– | [24] |
Pro Wrestling Secret Base | Tokyo | Mototsugu Shimizu Jun Ogawauchi |
2009– | Continuation of El Dorado Wrestling. |
Pro-Wrestling Shi-En | Osaka | Eiji Sahara | 2010– | [25] |
Pro Wrestling Zero1 | Tokyo | First On Stage Inc. | 2001– | [1][26][27] |
Professional Wrestling Just Tap Out | Tokyo | Taka Michinoku | 2019– | |
Real Japan Pro Wrestling | Tokyo | Satoru Sayama | 2005– | |
Tenryu Project | Tokyo | Genichiro Tenryu | 2010–2015 2020– |
Closed in 2015 after promoters retirement, re-established in 2020 |
Tokyo Gurentai | Tokyo | Nosawa Rongai Mazada |
2010– | |
Wrestling of Darkness 666 | Tokyo | Onryo | 2003– | Also known as Triple Six |
Joshi
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Actwres girl'Z | Tokyo | Super Project Co. Ltd. | 2015– | |
Gatoh Move | Tokyo[28][29] | Emi Sakura | 2012– | Formerly based in Thailand. |
Girl's Prowrestling Unit Color's | Tokyo | Saki | 2022– | |
Ice Ribbon | Warabi | Neoplus | 2006– | |
Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling-X | Toshima | Rumi Kazama Shinobu Kandori |
1992– | |
Marvelous That's Women Pro Wrestling | Funabashi | Marvelcompany, Inc. | 2006– | |
Oz Academy | Tokyo | Mayumi Ozaki | 1998– | |
Pro Wrestling Wave | Tokyo | Zabun Co, Ltd. | 2007– | Sister promotion of Osaka Joshi Pro-Wrestling. |
Pure-J | Adachi, Tokyo | Command Bolshoi | 2017– | [30][31] |
Seadlinnng | Kawasaki | Nanae Takahashi | 2015– | |
Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling | Sendai | Meiko Satomura | 2005– | |
World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana | Kawasaki, Kanagawa | Kyoko Inoue | 2011- | [32] |
Defunct promotions
Puroresu
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apache Pro-Wrestling Army | Tokyo | Kintaro Kanemura | 2004–2016 | |
Battlarts | Koshigaya | Yuki Ishikawa | 1996–2011 | |
Big Mouth Loud | Tokyo | Fumihiko Uwai | 2005–2006 | |
Diamond Ring | Yoshikawa | Kensuke Sasaki Akira Hokuto |
2003–2013 | Previously named Kensuke Office. |
Dragondoor Project | Tokyo | Noriaki Kawabata | 2005–2006 | |
Fighting Network Rings | Tokyo | Akira Maeda | 1991–2002 | Continuation of Newborn UWF. Revived as a pure mixed martial arts promotion (The Outsider series) in 2008. |
Global Professional Wrestling Alliance | Tokyo | Yoshiyuki Nakamura | 2006–2009 | |
Hustle | Greater Tokyo Area | Nobuhiko Takada | 2004–2011 | [33] |
Inoki Genome Federation | Tokyo | Simon Inoki | 2007–2019 | |
International Wrestling Association of Japan | Tokyo | Tatsukuni Asano | 1994–2014 | Continuation of W*ING.[1][34][35] |
International Wrestling Enterprise | Tokyo | Isao Yoshiwara | 1967–1981 | Associated with the American Wrestling Association from 1970, and the Japan Pro-Wrestling Commission with New Japan Pro Wrestling until 1981.[36] |
Japan Wrestling Association | Tokyo | Rikidōzan | 1953–1973 | Affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance. Membership was transferred to AJPW.[1][37][38] |
Kingdom | Tokyo | Ken Suzuki | 1997–1998 | Continuation of UWF International. |
Onita Pro | Tokyo | Atsushi Onita | 1999–2012 | Also known as Onita FMW in 2002. |
Pro Wrestling El Dorado | Tokyo | Noriaki Kawabata Koji Fujinaga |
2006–2008 | Continuation of Dragondoor Project. |
Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi | Tokyo | Yoshiaki Fujiwara Masakatsu Funaki Minoru Suzuki |
1991–1995 | |
Riki Pro | Tokyo | Riki Choshu Katsuji Nagashima |
2004–2010 | Also known as World Japan Pro Wrestling or Fighting of World Japan.[1][39][40] |
Smash | Tokyo | Yoshihiro Tajiri Akira Shoji |
2010–2012 | Continuation of Hustle.[41] |
Super World of Sports | Tokyo | Hachiro Tanaka | 1990–1992 | Associated with the World Wrestling Federation.[42] |
Tokyo Pro Wrestling | Tokyo | Takashi Ishikawa | 1994–1996 | |
Universal Wrestling Federation | Matsumoto | Hisashi Shinma | 1984–1986 | Revived as the Newborn UWF in 1988 and again in 1991 as Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWF International or UWFi). |
Uwai Station Freestyle Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | Fumihiko Uwai | 2006–2007 | Continuation of Big Mouth Loud. |
UWF International | Tokyo | Nobuhiko Takada | 1991–1996 | Continuation of Universal Wrestling Federation. |
Union Pro Wrestling | Shinjuku, Tokyo | Naomi Susan DDT Pro-Wrestling |
1993–1995 2004–2015 |
|
Wrestle-1 | Tokyo | Keiji Mutoh | 2013–2020 | [43] |
Wrestle Association "R" | Tokyo | Gen'ichiro Tenryu Masatomo Takei |
1992–2006 | [44][45] |
Wrestling International New Generations | Tokyo | Kiyoshi Ibaragi Victor Quiñonez |
1991–1994 | Associated with the World Wrestling Council.[46][47] |
Wrestling Marvelous Future | Tokyo | Hayabusa | 2002-2008 | [48] |
Wrestling New Classic | Tokyo | Yoshihiro Tajiri | 2012–2014 | Continuation of Smash. Sister promotion of Reina Joshi Puroresu. |
Joshi
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | Kunimatsu Matsunaga Takashi Matsunaga |
1972–2005 | [1][49][50] | |
Arsion | Tokyo | Rossy Ogawa | 1997–2003 | [51][52] | |
Gaea Japan | Tokyo | Yuka Sugiyama Chigusa Nagayo |
1995–2005 | [1][53][54] | |
Ibuki | Tokyo | 2005-2010 | [55] | ||
JDStar | Tokyo | Yoshimoto Kogyo Company J Office Group |
1995–2007 | [56] | |
JWP Joshi Puroresu | Tokyo | Kiyoshi Shinozaki Masatoshi Yamamoto |
1992–2017 | [57][58] | |
NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling | Yokohama | Kyoko Inoue | 1997–2010 |
See also
- List of professional wrestling attendance records in Japan
- List of professional wrestling promotions
- List of women's wrestling promotions
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Japanese Promotions". Promotions. OnlineWorldofWrestling.com. 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "All Japan Pro-Wrestling". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "AJPW – All Japan Pro-Wrestling". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|authors=
ignored (help) - ^ "Dramatic Dream Team". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "Toryumon / Dragon Gate". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "New Japan Pro-Wrestling". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "New Japan". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "CyberAgent Purchases Pro Wrestling NOAH". Fightful.com. 2020.
- ^ "Pro-Wrestling NOAH". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "PWN – Pro Wrestling NOAH". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. 2007. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "Asuka Project official site".
- ^ "BBW official site".
- ^ "Home - トップページ". Colega pro wrestling-コレガプロレスリング- (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Frontier Martial-arts Wrestling". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "FMW – Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "道頓堀プロレス オフィシャルWEBサイト". www.doutonbori-pro.com. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Ganbare Pro-Wrestling official site".
- ^ "ハードヒット オフィシャルサイト". ハードヒット オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Hitachi Pro Wrestling official site".
- ^ "N2W official site".
- ^ "Ossan Style Wrestling official site".
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Dewa main site".
- ^ FREEDOMS公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ プロレスリングHEAT-UPオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ "Shi-En official site".
- ^ "Pro-Wrestling ZERO-ONE". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "Zero One-MAX (formerly NWA – Zero One)". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. 2006. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "A Brief History of: Gatoh Move". ProWrestlingPost.com. 2020.
- ^ "Gatoh Move Official YouTube Channel". YouTube.
- ^ JWPから「Pure-J」へ 8・11後楽園大会で旗揚げ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 28, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
- ^ 女子プロレス「JWP」、新団体名「Pure-J」を発表. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. March 28, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
- ^ Diana (2020-10-05). "ワールド女子プロレス・ディアナ公式サイト" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Hustle". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "International Wrestling Association Japan". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "IWA – International Wrestling Association (Japan)". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|authors=
ignored (help) - ^ "International Wrestling Enterprise". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "Japan Pro Wrestling Association". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ Duncan, Royal and Gary Will; Brian Westcott (2004). "JWA – Japan Wrestling Association". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "Fighting of World-Japan / Riki Pro". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ Westcott, Brian (2004). "WJPW – World Japan Pro Wrestling". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ Byers, Ryan (2010-04-27). "Into the Indies 04.27.10: HUSTLE Gets SMASHed". 411Mania. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
- ^ "Super World Sports". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "Wrestle-1 official Twitter". 2020.
- ^ "Wrestle Association "R"". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ Westcott, Brian (2004). "WAR – Wrestle and Romance". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "Wrestling International New Generations". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "W*ING (Wrestling International New Generations)". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ www.puroresuya.com http://www.puroresuya.com/wmf.html. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ "All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ Duncan, Royal and Gary Will; Brian Westcott (2004). "AJWPW – All Japan Womens' Pro-Wrestling". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ Samuel Eanes; Earl Oliver; Hisaharu Tanabe; Brian Westcott (2004). "AtoZ/ARSION". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "ARSION". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "GAEA Japan". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ Samuel Eanes, Brian Westcott & Hisaharu Tanabe (2004). "GAEA Japan". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "Official Site".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Jd'". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "JWP Project". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ^ "JWPP – Japanese Women Pro-Wrestling Project". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help)