New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Details
Acronym	NJPW
Established	1972
Style	Strong Style
Location	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 federation in Japan and is a member of the National Wrestling Alliance^{[citation needed]}, 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 a working agreements with World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation. Image File history File links New Japan Pro Wrestling logo from Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments http://www. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki[1] (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji), born February 20, 1943) is a Professional Wrestling Promoter and retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... For the NES video game, see Pro Wrestling (video game). ... The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is the largest governing body for a group of independent professional wrestling promotions and sanctions various NWA championships. ... Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki[1] (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji), born February 20, 1943) is a Professional Wrestling Promoter and retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... TV Asahi Corporation ) (TYO: 9409 ), also known as EX and Tele-Asa ), is a television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. ... Pro Wrestling NOAH is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000. ... YUKEs Future Media Creators is game developer company based in Osaka, Japan. ... The Logo of CMLL Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) is a lucha libre promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara and Puebla. ... The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is the largest governing body for a group of independent professional wrestling promotions and sanctions various NWA championships. ... Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett in May 2002. ... For the Australian professional wrestling promotion, see World Championship Wrestling (Australia). ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ...

It has also been named Wrestling Observer Newsletter's "Promotion of the Year" 8 times, more than any other wrestling promotion in the world. David Allen Meltzer (born October 24, 1961) is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), a newsletter for the world of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. ... This is a list of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, current and defunct. ...

Brand Extension

On 31st March, 2006, NJPW announced the creation of two brands who would run shows in addition to New Japan. These would be known as LOCK UP and WRESTLE LAND. Unlike WWE's brand extension, where it is considered a permanent division of the roster with few shows featuring performers from both brands, the two brands in New Japan will only have occasional shows and workers are able to work on both brands. This is done in the hope that strengths that are found in the brands may be implemented in the more regular New Japan shows in order to make for a better product. Wrestle Land has recently been replaced by PREMIUM run by Masahiro Chono on April 15, 2008. March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Masahiro Chōno (蝶野正洋 Chōno Masahiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ...

LOCK UP is booked by Riki Chōshū and the focus is intended to be on pure wrestling. The brand will be similar to Chōshū's Riki Pro, with some of the same talent appearing. Mitsuo Yoshida(吉田光雄), better known by his stage name Riki Choshu(長州力), is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and a booker. ... Fighting World of Japan Pro-Wrestling, frequently shortened to World Japan or WJ, and also known as Riki Pro, is a professional wrestling promotion formed in Japan in 2003. ...

PREMIUM is produced by Masahiro Chono and replacing the long defunct WRESTLE LAND. PREMIUM is now being promoted as a brand of New Japan much in the same way as LOCK UP is and 'WRESTLE LAND was. Masahiro Chono is an influential man in the professional wrestling industry, and his special shows will bring together wrestlers in "premium" pairings that would be hard to set up elsewhere. Masahiro Chōno (蝶野正洋 Chōno Masahiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ...

Former Brands

WRESTLE LAND was presented in the form of sports entertainment similar to that of HUSTLE in Japan and the American WWE. Its ace was to be Hiroshi Tanahashi. (Tiger Mask IV was announced as one, but his position dropped strongly in the second show after his main event match against Tanahashi at the debut show was considered a failure, and he did not appear at the third show.) It used primarily New Japan wrestlers in new gimmicks such as Minoru doubling as "childhood friend Tanaka," Prince Devitt as the second Pegasus Kid, and El Samurai as Edo Samurai, as well as outsiders such as Gran Naniwa and Tsubo Genjin (all three shows had them in the opening match under a 'pinfalls count anywhere' stipulation), Daigoro Kashiwa and Teppei Ishizaka (Kaientai Dojo), Milano Collection AT; the apparent sole heel faction is a revived Makai Club. Sports entertainment is a type of entertainment that takes the form of a sporting event, but with more emphasis on dramatic storylines, humor, spectacle or titillation than on a contest of athletic skills. ... HUSTLE is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion managed by Nobuhiko Takada. ... Hiroshi Tanahashi (born November 13, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. ... Tiger Mask IV Tiger Mask (IV) (タイガーマスク) is a Japanese professional wrestler whose real name is not publicly known, and who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... For a Japanese mathematician , see Minoru Tanaka (mathematician). ... Fergal Devitt (born July 25, 1981) is an Irish professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Prince Devitt. ... Osamu Matsuda is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his stage name El Samurai. ... Kaientai Dojo (or K-DOJO for short) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku. ...

Roster

See: New Japan Pro Wrestling roster // This is a list of professional wrestlers who wrestle at New Japan Pro Wrestling. ...

Workers

Some notable workers 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, Hiroshi Hase, Kensuke Sasaki, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Liger, Original Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask IV, Koji Kanemoto, Shinjiro Otani, Ultimo Dragon, Minoru Tanaka, Satoshi Kojima
• Foreigners: Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, Stan Hansen, Bam Bam Bigalow, Big Van Vader, Rick and Scott Steiner, Road Warriors, Bruiser Brody, Scott Norton, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Sabu, Giant Singh, Giant Silva, Owen Hart, Dean Malenko, Tiger Jeet Singh, Karl Gotch, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, Dynamite Kid, Chris Jericho, Tyson Tomko, Chyna

Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki[1] (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji), born February 20, 1943) is a Professional Wrestling Promoter and retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... Tatsumi Fujinami (Fujinami Tatsumi, 藤波辰巳) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as The Dragon. ... Mitsuo Yoshida(吉田光雄), better known by his stage name Riki Choshu(長州力), is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and a booker. ... Categories: American professional wrestlers | Professional wrestling stubs ... Akira Maeda is a Korean Japanese professional wrestler, also known as Kwik-kik-Lee for his time on the British Wrestling show World of Sport . ... Keiji Mutoh , born December 23, 1962) is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. ... Masahiro Chōno (蝶野正洋 Chōno Masahiro) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... Hiroshi Tanahashi (born November 13, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. ... Shinya Hashimoto (July 3, 1965 - July 11, 2005), was a Japanese professional wrestler. ... Nobuhiko Takada (Japanese:髙田延彦, born April 12, 1962) is a Japanese mixed martial arts fighter and professional wrestler. ... Hiroshi/Hiro Hase was born on May 5, 1961 in Koyabe, Toyama, Japan. ... Kensuke Sasaki ) is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for various promotions through his own agency, Kensuke Office. ... Hiroyoshi Tenzan is an accomplished Japanese Heavyweight wrestler. ... Yuji Nagata Height: 60 (183cm) Weight: 238lbs (108kg) Date of Birth: 4/24/68 Place of Birth: Togane City, Chiba Debut: September 14th, 1992 (vs. ... Keiichi Yamada , born November 30, 1964), better known as Jushin Liger ) and later, Jushin Thunder Liger ) is a Japanese professional wrestler who invented the Shooting Star Press. ... Satoru Sayama (born November 24, 1957) is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. ... Tiger Mask IV Tiger Mask (IV) (タイガーマスク) is a Japanese professional wrestler whose real name is not publicly known, and who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Kōji Kanemoto is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... Shinjiro Ohtani & Koji Kanemoto dropkick each other Shinjirō Ōtani (大谷晋二郎, born 21 July 1972 in Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... Yoshihiro Asai (born December 12, 1966 in Nagoya, Aichi), better known as Último Dragón, is a Japanese professional wrestler. ... For a Japanese mathematician , see Minoru Tanaka (mathematician). ... Satoshi Kojima ) is a Japanese professional wrestler and currently works for All Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Terrence Gene Bollea (born on August 11, 1953) is an American actor and semi-retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan. ... André Roussimoff (May 19, 1946 – January 27, 1993), best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Scott Charles Bigelow (September 1, 1961 – January 19, 2007) was an American professional wrestler, best known by the stage name Bam Bam Bigelow. ... Leon White as Vader. ... Robert Rechsteiner (born March 9, 1961 in Bay City, Michigan) better known by his ring name Rick Steiner, is an American professional wrestler. ... Scott Carl Rechsteiner (born July 29, 1962) better known by his ring name Scott Steiner, is an American professional wrestler. ... This article is about the professional wrestling team, for otheruses see Road warrior The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team famously comprised of Michael Hawk Hegstrand and Joseph Animal Laurinaitis, though other members were added later. ... Frank Goodish (1946-1988) was a professional wrestler better known in the professional wrestling world as Bruiser Brody. ... Scott Michael Norton (born June 15, 1961[1]) is an American professional wrestler who is best known for working for New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling. ... Eduardo Eddie Gory Guerrero Llanes (October 9, 1967 — November 13, 2005) better known as Eddie Guerrero, was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into a legendary Mexican wrestling family. ... Christopher Michael Benoit (IPA: ) (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. ... Terry Michael Brunk (December 12, 1964) better known by his ring name Sabu, is an American professional wrestler. ... Paulo César da Silva (born July 21, 1963 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Giant Silva. ... Owen James Hart (May 7, 1965 – May 23, 1999)[1] was a Canadian professional wrestler who was most known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). ... Dean Simon (born August 4, 1960) is a retired professional wrestler best known by the ring name Dean Malenko. ... Jagjit Singh Hans (wrestled as Tiger Jeet Singh) is a semi-retired professional wrestler. ... Categories: American professional wrestlers | Professional wrestling stubs ... Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American professional wrestler and former Olympic amateur wrestler. ... Brock Edward Lesnar[4] (born July 12, 1977[3]) is an American mixed martial artist, former professional and amateur wrestler. ... Thomas Billington (born December 5, 1958 in Golborne, Lancashire) is a retired English professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation, Stampede Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid- to late-1980s. ... Christopher Keith Irvine (born November 9, 1970), better known by the ring name Chris Jericho, is an American-Canadian actor, radio host, rock musician, and professional wrestler. ... Travis Tomko aka Tyson Tomko is a professional wrestler performing for World Wrestling Entertainment on the RAW brand. ... Chyna[2] (born Joan Marie Laurer on December 27, 1969)[1] is an American actress and retired professional wrestler. ...

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:

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. The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) World Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Keiji Mutoh , born December 23, 1962) is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. ... is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... The IWGP World Tag Team Championship is the main heavyweight tag team title in New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... The IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) Junior Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in New Japan Pro Wrestlings Junior Heavyweight division. ... Tiger Mask IV Tiger Mask (IV) (タイガーマスク) is a Japanese professional wrestler whose real name is not publicly known, and who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship was created in 1998 as an incentive to the junior heavyweight division. ... Keiichi Yamada , born November 30, 1964), better known as Jushin Liger ) and later, Jushin Thunder Liger ) is a Japanese professional wrestler who invented the Shooting Star Press. ... Akira Nogami is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor who has wrestled for the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. ... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

Before the IWGP's founding, New Japan promoted the following titles: Promo for G1 2005 The G1 (Grade One) Climax professional wrestling tournament is a weeklong event held each August by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. ... Hiroshi Tanahashi (born November 13, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. ... is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Promo for New Japan Cup 2005 The New Japan Cup is a tournament held during April by New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Hiroshi Tanahashi (born November 13, 1976) is a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... The G1 Climax Tag League is a professional wrestling round-robin tag team tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling as a spin-off of the popular singles tournament, the G1 Climax. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Travis David Tomko (born March 23, 1976), is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Tomko, where he is one half of the TNA World Tag Team Champions, and New Japan Pro Wrestling under his full name, where he was one half... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... The Best of the Super Juniors (also known as Best of the Super Jr. ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

• 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: // The NWF Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship used as part of the National Wrestling Federation and later New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... // Information The title histories presented here show all five versions of the NWA North American Tag-Team Championship. ... The WWE or WWF International Tag Team Championship Title Belts were a short lived title in the wwe. ... The WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship is a former championship recognized by the World (Wide) Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro Wrestling for wrestlers of smaller size. ... The NWF North American Heavyweight Championship was a secondary singles title in the American professional wrestling promotion, the National Wrestling Federation. ... The WWF North American Heavyweight Championship was a short-lived title in the World Wrestling Federation from 1979 until 1981. ...

• Greatest 18 Championship
• J-Crown

The WWF New Japan Martial Arts Championship was a professional wrestling championship contested in the World Wrestling Federation and in New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... The J-Crown Championship (or J-Crown) was the unification of eight mens non-heavyweight championships. ...

Annual Shows

These are annual events New Japan holds similar to the World Wrestling Entertainment's WrestleMania or SummerSlam shows. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Official WrestleMania logo WrestleMania is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment since 1985. ... Official SummerSlam logo as of 2007 SummerSlam is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event held in August by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). ...

• January 4 Dome Show

The January 4th Tokyo Dome Show, held by New Japan Pro Wrestling, has become an annual event kicking off the new year since 1992. ...

External links

• NJPW official site
• NJPW English-language site
• Website of the film 'Catch - the hold not taken', featuring NJPW, Tatsumi Fujinami and Antonio Inoki
• New Japan Pro-Wrestling Title Histories
• Strong Style Spirit, English language support site
• Puroresu.com summary

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