List of professional wrestling promotions in Japan

Last updated

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.

Contents

Major promotions

Puroresu

NameLocationOwner(s)Years activeNotes
All Japan Pro Wrestling Yokohama, Kanagawa Tsuyoki Fukuda1972–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]
Dragongate Kobe, Hyōgo Gaora2004–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]

Joshi

NameLocationOwner(s)Years activeNotes
World Wonder Ring Stardom Tokyo Bushiroad 2010–Since June 2024, the company is 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.

Independent promotions

Puroresu

NameLocationOwner(s)Years activeNotes
Active Advance Pro Wrestling Chiba Taka Michinoku 2002Known as Kaientai Dojo and K-Dojo until 2019
Asuka Pro Wrestling Tokyo Akira Shinose2014Previously named Asuka Project until 2019. [11]
Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling  [ ja ] Tokyo Tomokazu Taniguchi2018 [12]
Big Japan Pro Wrestling Yokohama, Kanagawa Eiji Tosaka1995
Braves Tokyo Hyper Brave G Valion2006 [13]
Capture International Tokyo Koki Kitahara 1997 [14]
Colega Pro Wrestling Osaka The Bodyguard 2021 [15]
Come on Wrestling Party Tokyo Shinichiro Tominaga  [ ja ]2012Previously named COWPER until 2015. [16]
Dotonbori Pro Wrestling  [ ja ] Osaka Dotonbori Entertainment System2013 [17]
Dove Pro Wrestling  [ ja ] Hiroshima Gunso  [ ja ]2005
Dradition Tokyo Tatsumi Fujinami 2008
Ehime Pro-Wrestling  [ ja ] Ehime Erina Tanaka2016 [18]
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling Explosion Greater Tokyo Area Akihito Ichihara
Yukihide Ueno
19892002
2015
Previously named Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling. [1] [19] [20]
Gamshara Pro-Wrestling  [ ja ] Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Smith2003 [21]
Ganbare☆Pro-Wrestling Tokyo Ken Ohka 2013Originally 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. [22]
Gleat Tokyo LIDET Entertainment2020Founded 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  [ ja ] Tokyo Hikaru Sato 2015Originally a series of events under DDT Pro-Wrestling, Hard Hit established itself as an independent promotion in 2015. [23]
Hitachi Pro Wrestling Kanto region 2008 [24]
Hokuto Pro Wrestling Hokkaido Crane Nakajo2004
Hot Shushu  [ ja ] Saitama Chiharu  [ ja ]2023Sister promotion of Ice Ribbon. [25]
Itabashi Pro-Wrestling  [ ja ] Itabashi, Tokyo Hayate  [ ja ]2014 [26]
Kyushu Pro-Wrestling Fukuoka Ryota Chikuzen  [ ja ]2007 [27]
Land's End Pro-Wrestling Tokyo Ryoji Sai 2016 [28]
Lion's Gate Project Tokyo Bushiroad 2015Developmental branch of New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Michinoku Pro Wrestling Morioka, Iwate Jinsei Shinzaki 1993
Mobius Fukuoka Masao Orihara 1997 [29]
Mutoha Pro-WrestlingJapanHidekazu Yoshino2007Previously named Mumeijuku until 2016. Also produces events under the BKF and Third Brand brands. [30]
New Nemuro Pro Wrestling Nemuro, Hokkaido Kenji Miyamoto2006 [31]
Osaka Pro Wrestling Osaka Zeus 1999
Ossan Style Wrestling Osaka 2019Originally called Osaka Style Wrestling, the promotion restarted as Ossan Style Wrestling in 2020. [32]
P.P.P. Tokyo Tokyo Masayuki Mitomi2019
Pro-Wrestling Basara Shinjuku, Tokyo Isami Kodaka 2015Continuation of Union Pro Wrestling. Pro Wrestling Basara spun off from DDT Pro-Wrestling on January 1, 2020.
Pro Wrestling Dewa Tohoku region Lock Suzuki2004 [33]
Pro Wrestling Freedoms Tokyo Takashi Sasaki 2009 [34]
Pro Wrestling FTO  [ ja ] Ōita Skull Reaper A-ji 2004 [35]
Pro Wrestling Heat-Up  [ ja ] Kawasaki Kazuhiro Tamura 2012 [36]
Pro-Wrestling Kageki  [ ja ] Fukuoka Azteca  [ ja ]1997Stylized as Pro-Wrestling Ka☆geki. [37]
Pro Wrestling Secret Base  [ ja ] Tokyo Mototsugu Shimizu
Jun Ogawauchi
2009Continuation of El Dorado Wrestling.
Pro-Wrestling Shi-En Osaka Eiji Sahara2010 [38]
Pro-Wrestling Team Dera  [ ja ] Nagoya, Aichi Kengo Takai  [ ja ]2008Founded in 2008 as Dera Nagoya Pro-Wrestling. Closed and then relaunched as Team Dera in 2009. [39]
Pro Wrestling Zero1 Tokyo First On Stage Inc.2001 [1] [40] [41]
Professional Wrestling Burst Kanzaki, Saga Towa Iwasaki 2021
Professional Wrestling Just Tap Out Tokyo Taka Michinoku 2019
Professional Wrestling Wallabee  [ ja ] Saitama Prefecture Keita Yano 2009 [42]
Ryukyu Dragon Pro-Wrestling  [ ja ] Okinawa Gurukun Mask  [ ja ]2013
SGP  [ ja ] Nagoya Ultraman Robin  [ ja ]1994Known as Theater Pro-Wrestling SGP Nagoya Kachofugetsu between 2014 and 2018.
Strong Style Pro-Wrestling Tokyo Satoru Sayama 2005Known as Real Japan Pro-Wrestling until 2019.
Tenryu Project Tokyo Genichiro Tenryu 20102015
2020
Closed in 2015 after promoters retirement, re-established in 2020.
Tochigi Pro-Wrestling  [ ja ] Utsunomiya, Tochigi Kamiu Trust Holdings, Inc.2021Antenna of Zero1 in the Tochigi Prefecture. [43]
Tokyo Gurentai Tokyo Nosawa Rongai
Mazada
2010
TTT Pro-Wrestling Tokyo Guts Ishijima 2020Also known as Total Triumph Team, Indie Unified TTT Pro-Wrestling and Triple T. [44]
Underground Wrestling Exit Tokyo Fugofugo Yumeji2008Associated with World Underground Wrestling in Austria. [45]
Wrestling of Darkness 666 Tokyo Onryo 2003Also known as Triple Six.

Joshi

NameLocationOwner(s)Years activeNotes
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]

Defunct promotions

Puroresu

NameLocationOwner(s)Years activeNotes
Apache Pro-Wrestling Army Tokyo Kintaro Kanemura 2004–2016
Battlarts Koshigaya Yuki Ishikawa 1996–2011
Big Mouth Loud  [ ja ] Tokyo Fumihiko Uwai2005–2006
Diamond Ring Yoshikawa Kensuke Sasaki
Akira Hokuto
2003–2013Previously named Kensuke Office.
Dragondoor Project  [ ja ] Tokyo Noriaki Kawabata2005–2006
Fighting Network Rings Tokyo Akira Maeda 1991–2002Continuation of Newborn UWF.
Revived as a pure mixed martial arts promotion (The Outsider series) in 2008.
Fu-Ten Promotion  [ ja ] 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 Asano1994–2014Continuation 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 Yoshiwara1966–1981Associated 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 1953–1973Affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance. Membership was transferred to AJPW. [1] [56] [57]
Kingdom Tokyo Ken Suzuki1997–1998Continuation of UWF International.
New Tokyo Pro Wrestling Tokyo Takashi Ishikawa 1994–1996
Onita Pro Tokyo Atsushi Onita 1999–2012Also known as Onita FMW in 2002.
Pioneer Senshi  [ ja ] Tokyo Ryuma Go
Apollo Sugawara  [ ja ]
Masahiko Takasugi  [ ja ]
1988–1990
Pro Wrestling Crusaders  [ ja ] Tokyo Shunji Takano
George Takano
1993–1997Branched out of Super World of Sports.
Pro Wrestling El Dorado  [ ja ] Tokyo Noriaki Kawabata
Koji Fujinaga
2006–2008Continuation of Dragondoor Project.
Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi Tokyo Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Masakatsu Funaki
Minoru Suzuki
1991–1995
PWC Promotion  [ ja ] Tokyo Toshiyuki Moriya2003–2005Continuation of Pro Wrestling Crusaders.
Riki Pro Tokyo Riki Choshu
Katsuji Nagashima
2004–2010Also known as World Japan Pro Wrestling or Fighting of World Japan. [1] [58] [59]
Smash Tokyo Yoshihiro Tajiri
Akira Shoji
2010–2012Continuation of Hustle. [60]
Super World of Sports Tokyo Hachiro Tanaka1990–1992Associated 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 1984–1986Revived 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  [ ja ] Tokyo Fumihiko Uwai2006–2007Continuation of Big Mouth Loud.
UWF International Tokyo Nobuhiko Takada 1991–1996Continuation of Universal Wrestling Federation.
Wrestle-1 Tokyo Keiji Mutoh 2013–2020 [62]
Wrestle Association "R" Tokyo Genichiro Tenryu
Masatomo Takei
1992–2006Branched out of Super World of Sports. [63] [64]
Wrestling International New Generations Tokyo Kiyoshi Ibaragi
Víctor Quiñones
1991–1994Associated with the World Wrestling Council. [65] [66]
Wrestling Marvelous Future Tokyo Hayabusa 2002–2008 [67]
Wrestling New Classic Tokyo Yoshihiro Tajiri 2012–2014Continuation of Smash. Sister promotion of Reina Joshi Puroresu.

Joshi

NameLocationOwner(s)Years activeNotes
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling Tokyo Kunimatsu Matsunaga
Takashi Matsunaga
1972–2005 [1] [68] [69]
Arsion Tokyo Rossy Ogawa1997–2003 [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

See also

References

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