The Foundations: Rikidōzan
The history of puroresu is completely linked to one man: Rikidōzan. Born in Korea and a former sumo wrestler, Rikidōzan made his pro-wrestling debut during the Torii Oasis Shriner's Club tour in 1951. Rikidōzan is credited with essentially creating modern Japanese wrestling and is considered the "Father of Puroresu."
Rikidōzan left Japan after the Torii Oasis Shriner's Club tour, but he later returned and established the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) in 1953, which represented the NWA in Japan, and was the first pro-wrestling promotion to be based in Japan. The JWA dominated the scene for nearly two decades, drawing massive television ratings and becoming a shared cultural experience. For example, in 1963, the JWA (then known as the Japan Wrestling Association at that point) broadcast featuring a match between Rikidōzan and NWA star The Destroyer gained approximately 70 million TV viewers, one of the highest viewerships in Japanese history.
By 1972, the landscape of the Japanese wrestling scene was changing, and the JWA was not experiencing the same level of success that it once had. Without a TV deal, the company went defunct in 1973. However, the Japanese wrestling scene is always healthy- whenever major promotions close down, new promotions emerge soon after to replace them. NJPW and AJPW were created in 1972, and both companies were ready to define a new era, establishing a major philosophical divide in puroresu.
The Two Philosophies
NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling) was founded by Antonio Inoki, who was previously a JWA star, and NJPW embraced the concept of strong style, which emphasizes intensity. It's a physically demanding style, identified by stiff strikes and a focus on submissions. Matches often have a very serious feel, with wrestlers showcasing their toughness and resilience. The emphasis is on the struggle, the fight, and the demonstration of technical skills. Victory is earned through spirit, determination, and the ability to withstand punishment.
In 1976, Antonio Inoki and boxer Muhammad Ali competed in an exhibition MMA bout that is still talked about to this day. This competition boosted NJPW's image and inspired Japan-based MMA companies Shooto in the 1980s, PANCRASE in 1993, and the Pride Fighting Championships in 1997. Beyond Antonio Inoki, NJPW became the home of legends like Vader, Keiji Muto, Kensuke Sasaki, Shinya Hashimoto, Masahiro Chono, and Tatsumi Fujinami.
AJPW (All Japan Pro Wrestling) was founded by Giant Baba, another former JWA star, who took AJPW down a different path. His style was King's Road, which emphasized aggressive action. Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa, and Toshiaki Kawada were key members of the AJPW roster in the 1990s, which was one of the company's peak eras. In addition, after wrestling for NJPW in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Vader became an AJPW main eventer in the late 1990s, adapting his powerhouse style to AJPW's style.
The Modern Era: Competition, Change, and Global Reach
The new millennium brought significant changes, which included new competition, new styles, and new ways of international exposure.
The creation of NOAH: In 2000, Mitsuharu Misawa left AJPW, taking many other members of the roster with him to form Pro Wrestling NOAH. A major force on the Japanese wrestling scene, NOAH's style is very similar to King's Road, but showcases many other styles as well. It can be seen internationally via video streaming service WRESTLE UNIVERSE's global platform.
AJPW's Rebuilding Phase: Under the leadership of different presidents, including Keiji Muto, Jun Akiyama, and Tsuyoki Fukuda, AJPW has worked to establish stars like Kento Miyahara, Suwama, and Yuma Aoyagi, building on its legacy. The company has maintained a consistent and highly-regarded in-ring product, and they have also recently seen an increase in quality and popularity. To reach fans globally, AJPW launched its own streaming service, AJPW TV.
NJPW's Growth: After Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated his former mentor Keiji Muto at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom III in 2009 for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Tanahashi became the Ace of the company, the wrestler around whom NJPW was built. Tanahashi was the face of the company, a representation of its commitment to high-quality professional wrestling, as he was involved in rebuilding NJPW's popularity, leading it through a period of growth and establishing it as one of the top wrestling companies in the world. In the early 2010s, Kazuchika Okada became widely recognized as one of the best professional wrestlers in the industry, adding to NJPW's popularity. By 2014, Bullet Club had a high standing in the pro-wrestling industry as a brand, their influence helping the company gain more popularity not only in Japan, but outside of Japan as well- fans were ordering NJPW iPPVs to see the best known Bullet Club members, which then led to them being exposed to the Bullet Club members who they were not familiar with, along with the other members of the NJPW roster. In addition, the G1 Climax tournament and the Wrestle Kingdom show at the Tokyo Dome have reached a new level of international recognition, available for viewing via their NJPW World streaming service.
Joshi Puroresu: This term refers to Japanese women's professional wrestling, which has its own distinct history and culture. It is not a single style, but an umbrella term that includes various approaches, from the MMA-influenced style of Stardom to Dream Star Fighting Marigold's mix of established stars and newcomers, all making a notable impact on the Japanese wrestling scene and watched on streaming services like Stardom World and WRESTLE UNIVERSE, which can be accessed around the world.
Hardcore: Pioneered by FMW (today known as FMW-E) and BJW, this style -best known as "deathmatch" in Japan- has an emphasis on weapons, blood, and a willingness to push the boundaries of physical and mental endurance. Multiple FMW DVDs have been produced in the United States, and BJW has exported BJW DVDs overseas directly to its customers.
Lucha Libre-Influenced Puroresu: A style with an emphasis on high-flying maneuvers (modified within the foundation of puroresu), combined with the puroresu style of psychology, is displayed from the opening bell to the end of the match. Michinoku Pro is an example of a Japanese wrestling company that has embraced the lucha libre atmosphere.
Comedy: In a pro-wrestling scene that predominantly features serious and hard-hitting matches in one form or another, unique promotions that focus on comedy also exist. One example is Gokigen Pro Wrestling. Founded by Kaori Yoneyama, who has had a very successful wrestling career, holding championships including the AJW Championship, the PURE-J Openweight Championship, the JWP Openweight Championship, the High Speed Championship, the Triangle Ribbon Championship, and the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship. Yoneyama presents a pro-wrestling product that uniquely blends comedy and action. When there is comedy in a Gokigen Pro Wrestling match, it adds to the action of the match instead of replacing it.
There are also promotions in Japan that feature the fast-paced, exciting, and unpredictable style you think of when you hear the words "Japanese wrestling", and combine it with a distinctive blend of wrestling styles, combining the traditional Japanese styles with the American wrestling style, and adding comedy wrestling when there is a place for it. An example of this is Yanagase Pro Wrestling, which can be seen on Twitcast, a livestreaming service that has over 33 million registered users worldwide.
In the 1990s, the only time puroresu action was seen in the US was via NJPW's partnerships with WCW in the 1990s, during which NJPW talents such as Jushin Thunder Liger and Ultimo Dragon appeared on WCW shows, and when Michinoku Pro was introduced to new audiences during that same decade by Kaientai Deluxe making appearances in ECW and WWE. Today, stars like Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Asuka present the puroresu style in the US on a regular basis, blurring the lines between Japanese and Western wrestling and introducing a new generation of global fans to the intensity and artistry of Japanese wrestling.
The history of puroresu is one of resilience, intense athleticism, and a deep dedication to the martial arts code of respect, honor, self-control, humility, and perseverance. It continues to evolve, but its foundation remains rooted in the spirit of the fight established by Rikidōzan, a tribute to the legacy of puroresu.
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