New Japan Pro-Wrestling
| New Japan Pro-Wrestling logo | |
| Acronym | NJPW |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1972 |
| Style | Strong Style |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Founder(s) | Antonio Inoki |
| Owner(s) | Yuke's |
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (新日本プロレス, Shin Nihon Puroresu) is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan , founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it is the largest wrestling promotion in Japan and one of the largest in the world. Although attendance has declined in recent years, it still recorded a yearly attendance of approximately 50,000 fans higher than their closest rival Pro Wrestling Noah in 2005 according to Weekly Fight. In October 2005, 51.5% of NJPW was sold to YUKE's Future Media Creators, an Osaka based company that markets home videos and video games. NJPW has working agreements with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, National Wrestling Alliance and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. It previously had working agreements with World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation.
It has also been named Wrestling Observer Newsletter's "Promotion of the Year" 9 times, more than any other wrestling promotion in the world.
Roster
See: New Japan Pro Wrestling roster
Wrestlers
Some notable wrestlers that work or have worked for New Japan:
- Natives: Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami, Riki Chōshū, Masa Saito, Akira Maeda, Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinya Hashimoto, Nobuhiko Takada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Hiroshi Hase, Kensuke Sasaki, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Liger, Original Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask IV, Koji Kanemoto, Shinjiro Otani, Último Dragón, Minoru Tanaka, Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shiro Koshinaka, Manabu Nakanishi, Gedo, Jado, Wataru Inoue, Osamu Nishimura, Giant Ochiai
- Foreigners: Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, Stan Hansen, Bam Bam Bigelow, Big Van Vader, Rick and Scott Steiner, Road Warriors, Bruiser Brody, Scott Norton, Ric Flair, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Lyoto Machida, Sabu, Giant Singh, Giant Silva, Owen Hart, Dean Malenko, Tiger Jeet Singh, Karl Gotch, Rey Bucanero, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, Dynamite Kid, Chris Jericho, Tyson Tomko, Chyna, Low Ki, Jimmy Rave, Giant Bernard, Rick Fuller
Titles promoted
New Japan has its own governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP). IWGP titles, in order of founding, and current champions are:
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| IWGP Heavyweight Champion | Hiroshi Tanahashi | June 20 2009 |
| IWGP Tag Team Champions | Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) | January 4 2009 |
| IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion | Tiger Mask IV | January 4 2009 |
| IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions | Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi) | July 5 2009 |
NJPW also holds several annual tournaments throughout the year, to determine the #1 contender or contenders to a particular title, and in general the top wrestler or team in the promotion.
| Tournament | Latest winner(s) | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| G1 Climax | Hirooki Goto | August 17 2008 |
| New Japan Cup | Hirooki Goto | March 22 2009 |
| G1 Climax Tag League | Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima | November 5 2008 |
| Best of the Super Juniors | Koji Kanemoto | June 14 2009 |
| Young Lion Cup | Hirooki Goto | 2005 |
Before the IWGP's founding, New Japan promoted the following titles:
- NWF Heavyweight Championship
- NWA North American Tag Team Championship
- WWF International Tag Team Championship
- WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship
- NWF North American Heavyweight Championship
- WWF North American Heavyweight Championship
- NJPW All Asia Heavyweight Championship
- NJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
Abandoned: