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.
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Japan Pro Wrestling | Yokohama, Kanagawa | 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 three brands under the CyberFight umbrella. [1] [4] |
Dragon Gate | Kobe, Hyōgo | 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 three brands under the CyberFight umbrella. [1] [9] [10] |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
World Wonder Ring Stardom | Tokyo | Bushiroad | 2010– | As of July 2024, The company become a Fully-owned subsidiary of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. |
Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | CyberAgent | 2012– | As of July 2020, TJPW is promoted as one of the three brands under the CyberFight umbrella. |
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, Kanagawa | Eiji Tosaka | 1995– | |
Braves | Tokyo | Chojin Yusha G Valion | 2006– | [13] |
Capture International | Tokyo | Koki Kitahara | 1997– | [14] |
Colega Pro Wrestling | Osaka | The Bodyguard | 2021– | [15] |
Come on Wrestling Party | Tokyo | Shinichiro Tominaga | 2012– | Previously named COWPER until 2015. [16] |
Dotonbori Pro Wrestling | Osaka | Dotonbori Entertainment System | 2013– | [17] |
Dove Pro Wrestling | Hiroshima | Gunso | 2005– | |
Dradition | Tokyo | Tatsumi Fujinami | 2008– | |
Ehime Pro-Wrestling | Ehime | Erina Tanaka | 2016– | [18] |
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling Explosion | Greater Tokyo Area | Akihito Ichihara Yukihide Ueno | 1989–2002 2015– | Previously named Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling. [1] [19] [20] |
Ganbare☆Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | Ken Ohka | 2013– | Originally a special event by parent company DDT, GanPro became its own promotion and became part of the CyberFight umbrella in July 2020, along with DDT. In April 2024, the promotion split from CyberFight to become independent. [21] |
Gleat | 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. [22] |
Hitachi Pro Wrestling | Kanto region | 2008– | [23] | |
Hokuto Pro Wrestling | Hokkaido | Crane Nakajo | 2004– | |
Hot Shushu | Saitama | Chiharu | 2023– | Sister promotion of Ice Ribbon. [24] |
Itabashi Pro-Wrestling | Itabashi, Tokyo | Hayate | 2014– | [25] |
Kyushu Pro-Wrestling | Fukuoka | Ryota Chikuzen | 2007– | [26] |
Lion's Gate Project | Tokyo | Bushiroad | 2015– | Developmental branch of New Japan Pro Wrestling. |
Michinoku Pro Wrestling | Morioka, Iwate | Jinsei Shinzaki | 1993– | |
Mobius | Fukuoka | Masao Orihara | 1997– | [27] |
Mutoha Pro-Wrestling | Japan | Hidekazu Yoshino | 2007– | Previously named Mumeijuku until 2016. Also produces events under the BKF and Third Brand brands. [28] |
New Nemuro Pro Wrestling | Nemuro, Hokkaido | Kenji Miyamoto | 2006– | [29] |
Osaka Pro Wrestling | Osaka | Zeus | 1999– | |
Ossan Style Wrestling | Osaka | 2019– | Originally called Osaka Style Wrestling, the promotion restarted as Ossan Style Wrestling in 2020. [30] | |
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– | [31] |
Pro Wrestling Freedoms | Tokyo | Takashi Sasaki | 2009– | [32] |
Pro Wrestling FTO | Ōita | Skull Reaper A-ji | 2004– | [33] |
Pro Wrestling Heat-Up | Kawasaki | Kazuhiro Tamura | 2012– | [34] |
Pro-Wrestling Kageki | Fukuoka | Azteca | 1997– | Stylized as Pro-Wrestling Ka☆geki. [35] |
Pro Wrestling Land's End | Tokyo | Ryoji Sai | 2016– | [36] |
Pro Wrestling Secret Base | Tokyo | Mototsugu Shimizu Jun Ogawauchi | 2009– | Continuation of El Dorado Wrestling. |
Pro-Wrestling Shi-En | Osaka | Eiji Sahara | 2010– | [37] |
Pro-Wrestling Team Dera | Nagoya, Aichi | Kengo Takai | 2008– | Founded in 2008 as Dera Nagoya Pro-Wrestling. Closed and then relaunched as Team Dera in 2009. [38] |
Pro Wrestling Zero1 | Tokyo | First On Stage Inc. | 2001– | [1] [39] [40] |
Professional Wrestling Burst | Kanzaki, Saga | Towa Iwasaki | 2021– | |
Professional Wrestling Just Tap Out | Tokyo | Taka Michinoku | 2019– | |
Professional Wrestling Wallabee | Saitama Prefecture | Keita Yano | 2009– | [41] |
Ryukyu Dragon Pro-Wrestling | Okinawa | Gurukun Mask | 2013– | [42] |
Strong Style Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | Satoru Sayama | 2005– | Known as Real Japan Pro-Wrestling until 2019. |
Tenryu Project | Tokyo | Genichiro Tenryu | 2010–2015 2020– | Closed in 2015 after promoters retirement, re-established in 2020. |
Tochigi Pro-Wrestling | Utsunomiya, Tochigi | Kamiu Trust Holdings, Inc. | 2021– | Antenna of Zero1 in the Tochigi Prefecture. [43] |
Tokyo Gurentai | Tokyo | Nosawa Rongai Mazada | 2010– | |
TTT Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | Guts Ishijima | 2020– | Also known as Total Triumph Team, Indie Unified TTT Pro-Wrestling and Triple T. [44] |
Underground Wrestling Exit | Tokyo | Fugofugo Yumeji | 2008– | Associated with World Underground Wrestling in Austria. [45] |
Wrestling of Darkness 666 | Tokyo | Onryo | 2003– | Also known as Triple Six. |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Actwres girl'Z | Tokyo | Super Project Co. Ltd. | 2015– | |
Dream Star Fighting Marigold | Tokyo | Rossy Ogawa | 2024– | |
Gatoh Move | Tokyo [46] [47] | Emi Sakura | 2012– | Formerly based in Thailand. |
Girl's Prowrestling Unit Color's | Tokyo | Saki | 2022– | |
Ice Ribbon | Warabi | Rebellions Co. Ltd. | 2006– | |
Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling-X | Toshima | Rumi Kazama Shinobu Kandori | 1992– | |
Marvelous That's Women Pro Wrestling | Funabashi | Marvelcompany, Inc. | 2014– | |
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– | [48] [49] |
Seadlinnng | Kawasaki | Nanae Takahashi | 2015– | |
Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling | Sendai | Meiko Satomura | 2005– | |
World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana | Kawasaki, Kanagawa | Kyoko Inoue | 2011- | [50] |
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. |
Fu-Ten Promotion | Fukuoka | Daisuke Ikeda | 2005–2015 | [51] |
Global Professional Wrestling Alliance | Tokyo | Yoshiyuki Nakamura | 2006–2009 | |
Hustle | Greater Tokyo Area | Nobuhiko Takada | 2004–2011 | [52] |
Inoki Genome Federation | Tokyo | Simon Inoki | 2007–2019 | |
International Wrestling Association of Japan | Tokyo | Tatsukuni Asano | 1994–2014 | Continuation of W*ING. [1] [53] [54] In the 2000s evolved into a King's Road style promotion featuring sports-entertainment elements. Known to consistently feature AJPW talents and 1980s era WWE Hall of Famers on TV, where they wrestled on a regular basis. |
International Wrestling Enterprise | Tokyo | Isao Yoshiwara | 1966–1981 | Associated with the American Wrestling Association from 1970, and the Japan Pro-Wrestling Commission with New Japan Pro Wrestling until 1981. [55] |
Japan Pro Wrestling | Tokyo | Riki Choshu | 1984–1987 | |
Japan Wrestling Association | Tokyo | Rikidōzan | 1953–1973 | Affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance. Membership was transferred to AJPW. [1] [56] [57] |
Kingdom | Tokyo | Ken Suzuki | 1997–1998 | Continuation of UWF International. |
New Tokyo Pro Wrestling | Tokyo | Takashi Ishikawa | 1994–1996 | |
Onita Pro | Tokyo | Atsushi Onita | 1999–2012 | Also known as Onita FMW in 2002. |
Pioneer Senshi | Tokyo | Ryuma Go Apollo Sugawara Masahiko Takasugi | 1988–1990 | |
Pro Wrestling Crusaders | Tokyo | Shunji Takano George Takano | 1993–1997 | Branched out of Super World of Sports. |
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 | |
PWC Promotion | Tokyo | Toshiyuki Moriya | 2003–2005 | Continuation of Pro Wrestling Crusaders. |
Riki Pro | Tokyo | Riki Choshu Katsuji Nagashima | 2004–2010 | Also known as World Japan Pro Wrestling or Fighting of World Japan. [1] [58] [59] |
Smash | Tokyo | Yoshihiro Tajiri Akira Shoji | 2010–2012 | Continuation of Hustle. [60] |
Super World of Sports | Tokyo | Hachiro Tanaka | 1990–1992 | Associated with the World Wrestling Federation. [61] |
Tokyo Pro Wrestling | Tokyo | Toyonobori | 1966–1967 | |
Union Pro Wrestling | Shinjuku, Tokyo | Naomi Susan DDT Pro-Wrestling | 1993–1995 2004–2015 | |
Universal Lucha Libre | Tokyo | Hisashi Shinma | 1990–1995 1998 | |
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. |
Wrestle-1 | Tokyo | Keiji Mutoh | 2013–2020 | [62] |
Wrestle Association "R" | Tokyo | Genichiro Tenryu Masatomo Takei | 1992–2006 | Branched out of Super World of Sports. [63] [64] |
Wrestling International New Generations | Tokyo | Kiyoshi Ibaragi Víctor Quiñones | 1991–1994 | Associated with the World Wrestling Council. [65] [66] |
Wrestling Marvelous Future | Tokyo | Hayabusa | 2002–2008 | [67] |
Wrestling New Classic | Tokyo | Yoshihiro Tajiri | 2012–2014 | Continuation of Smash. Sister promotion of Reina Joshi Puroresu. |
Name | Location | Owner(s) | Years active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo | Kunimatsu Matsunaga Takashi Matsunaga | 1972–2005 | [1] [68] [69] |
Arsion | Tokyo | Rossy Ogawa | 1997–2003 | [70] [71] |
Gaea Japan | Tokyo | Yuka Sugiyama Chigusa Nagayo | 1995–2005 | [1] [72] [73] |
Ibuki | Tokyo | 2005-2010 | [74] | |
JDStar | Tokyo | Yoshimoto Kogyo Company J Office Group | 1995–2007 | [75] |
JWP Joshi Puroresu | Tokyo | Kiyoshi Shinozaki Masatoshi Yamamoto | 1992–2017 | [76] [77] |
NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling | Yokohama | Kyoko Inoue | 1997–2010 |
Pedro Aguayo Damián better known as "(El) Perro Aguayo" and El Can de Nochistlan was a Mexican wrestler through the 1970s to the 1990s.
Steven Stewart, known by his ring name Bart Sawyer, was an American professional wrestler, color commentator, and occasional actor. He was best known for his time in Championship Wrestling USA and the United States Wrestling Association during the 1990s. In his career, Sawyer also wrestled for Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling, House of Pain Wrestling Federation, Memphis Wrestling, NWA Georgia, NWA Main Event, NWA Worldwide, World Xtreme Wrestling and W*ING. Additionally, he competed as a preliminary wrestler in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation.
Anthony "Tony" Salantri is a former American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names Tony Santarelli or Tony Stradlin, who competed in North American promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance, as well as New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Zero1, Deep South Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. One half of the tag team High Impact with Mike Taylor, he and Taylor were the first DSW Tag Team Champions.
Pro Wrestling America is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the 1980s and early 1990s. Founded and promoted by retired wrestler Eddie Sharkey, a longtime veteran of the American Wrestling Association and owner of the Pro Wrestling America Training Center, Pro Wrestling America featured many established wrestlers while in between the then "Big Three" as well as providing many lightheavyweight and cruiserweight wrestlers with their first national exposure, most notably, Sabu, Jerry Lynn and The Lightning Kid.
Professional wrestling in Japan has existed for several decades. The first Japanese person to involve themselves in catch wrestling was former sumo wrestler Sorakichi Matsuda. There were subsequent attempts before and after World War II to popularize the sport in Japan, but these generally failed until the advent of its first big star, Rikidōzan, in 1951, who became known as the "father" of the sport. Rikidōzan brought the sport to tremendous popularity with his Japanese Wrestling Association (JWA) until his murder in 1963. Following his death, professional wrestling thrived, creating a variety of personalities, promotions and styles. It has also created a mass of other cultural icons in Japan including: Antonio Inoki, Giant Baba, Jyushin "Thunder" Liger, Tiger Mask, Keiji Mutoh/The Great Muta, Mitsuharu Misawa, and Kenta Kobashi among others. Throughout the years, several promotions have opened and closed, but a few have persisted to remain the most popular and thriving companies: New Japan Pro-Wrestling is currently considered by many as the top promotion.
Brendan Higgins, best known by his ring name Knuckles Nelson is a retired American professional wrestler, promoter and trainer who wrestled throughout the North American independent circuit during the 1990s and 2000s. He competed in several regional promotions such as the Century Wrestling Alliance, the National Wrestling Alliance and the United States Wrestling Association. He also briefly appeared in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as well as touring Japan as Super Destroyer between 1997 and 1999.
Rocky Iaukea is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Prince Iaukea, who competed in the Pacific Northwest and Southeastern United States with the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1980s, and in Japan during the early 1990s. From 1987 to 1990, he wrestled as Abbuda Dein in Pacific Northwest Wrestling winning the NWA Pacific Northwest Television Championship twice and the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship three times with Mike Miller and The Grappler. A second-generation wrestler, he is the son of Curtis Iaukea and a cousin of Maunakea Mossman.
NWA Shockwave was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded by Billy Firehawk in Staten Island, New York in 2001, and later relocated to Wayne, New Jersey. It was the earliest promotion to bring in major stars to Central New Jersey, many being seen in live events for the first time, and attracted a loyal following for its traditional "family friendly" style of wrestling. It was the single major promotion of this type to run New Jersey, other rival promotions favoring hardcore-style wrestling, and was at one time considered the top promotion in the region along with Jersey All Pro Wrestling.
The NWA Shockwave Internet Championship was a professional wrestling Internet/television championship in NWA Shockwave (NWA-SW) and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). It was the original title of the CyberSpace Wrestling Federation promotion and was later recognized by the NWA as a regional title. It was introduced as the CSWF Internet Championship on October 19, 2002. It was established as an NWA heavyweight championship in 2005 following the promotion's admission into the NWA. The promotion became NWA: Cyberspace, and later NWA Shockwave, with the title remaining active until the promotion's close in 2007.
The NWA Shockwave Women's Championship was a women's professional wrestling championship in NWA Shockwave (NWA-SW) and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). It was the original title of the CyberSpace Wrestling Federation promotion and was later recognized by the NWA as a regional title. It was introduced as the CSWF Women's Championship on January 25, 2003. It was established as an NWA women's championship in 2005 following the promotion's admission into the NWA. The promotion became NWA: Cyberspace, and later NWA Shockwave, with the title remaining active until its retirement in 2006.
The CWF Mid-Atlantic Television Championship was a professional wrestling main championship in Carolina Wrestling Federation Mid-Atlantic. It was the original cruiserweight title of the Carolina Wrestling Federation promotion, later used in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance (2001–2004) and AWA Superstars (2005–2007) as a regional title, officially representing the Mid-Atlantic United States, while it was a member of the respective governing bodies. It remained active until November 2003 when the CWF reclassified the title as a television championship.
The Renegade Warriors, also known as the Youngblood Brothers, were a professional wrestling tag team composed of brothers Mark and Chris Youngblood. They performed under the name "The Renegade Warriors" in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), and the World Wrestling Council (WWC) and the name "Tribal Nation" in the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF). They are the sons of Ricky Romero and the brothers of Jay Youngblood.
Pro Wrestling eXpress is a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in North Versailles, Pennsylvania in 1994 by Jim Miller and Sean "Shocker" Evans. It is the longest-running promotion in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. PWX was the main rival of Steel City Wrestling during the 1990s and was an affiliate of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 to 2012. PWX held a prominent role in the organization during this period. It was part in the annual NWA Anniversary Shows from 1998 to 2000 and brought national and world NWA champions to audiences in the East Coast of the United States. The promotion also collaborated with non-NWA members on the local independent circuit holding several interpromotional shows with Chris Lash's Allied Powers Wrestling Federation and participated in Deaf Wrestlefest (2010).
1936 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
The MAC World / International Heavyweight Championship was a Canadian professional wrestling championship created and sanctioned by the Montreal Athletic Commission (MAC). While the Commission sanctioned the title, it did not promote the events in which the Championship was defended. From 1935 until 1938, the American Wrestling Association (AWA) controlled the Championship. The AWA World Heavyweight Championship was recognized by the MAC as the world championship until February 1938 when Yvon Robert was stripped of the title after refusing to wrestle Lou Thesz. A separate world title was created specifically for Quebec and, after the Commission granted promoter Eddie Quinn control of the championship, was used as the main singles title for Canadian Athletic Promotions from 1939 to 1963 and finally by the International Wrestling Association / All-Star Wrestling from 1964 until the mid-1970s. In 1975 the championship was abandoned and replaced by the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship.