is the predominant style of
professional wrestling that has developed in Japan. The term comes from the
Japanese pronunciation of , which is shortened to puroresu. The term became popular among
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ...
-speaking fans due to Hisaharu Tanabe's activities in the online
Usenet
Usenet () is a worldwide distributed discussion system available on computers. It was developed from the general-purpose Unix-to-Unix Copy (UUCP) dial-up network architecture. Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979, and it wa ...
community.
Growing out of origins in the traditional
US style of wrestling, it has become an entity in itself. Japanese pro wrestling is distinct in its
psychology
Psychology is the science, scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immens ...
and presentation of the sport.
It is treated as a legitimate fight, with fewer
theatrics
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actor, actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The p ...
; the
stories
Story or stories may refer to:
Common uses
* Story, a narrative (an account of imaginary or real people and events)
** Short story, a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting
* Story (American English), or storey (Briti ...
told in Japanese matches are about a fighter's spirit and perseverance.
In
strong style, the style most typically associated with puroresu,
full contact martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preser ...
strikes and
shoot
In botany, a plant shoot consists of any plant stem together with its appendages, leaves and lateral buds, flowering stems, and flower buds. The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will develop. In the sp ...
submission holds are implemented.
Overview
Despite some similarities to the popular style of
professional wrestling in the United States, Japanese wrestling is known for many differences from the Western style. ''Puroresu'' is known for its "''fighting spirit''" (, ''tōkon''), and the wrestlers are known for their
full contact strikes. Many Japanese wrestlers have some degree of knowledge in many different
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preser ...
and
wrestling
Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat s ...
styles; because of this, there are usually doctors and trainers at ringside for assisting the wrestlers after a match.
Most matches have clean finishes and many of the promotions do not use any
angles or
gimmicks
A gimmick is a novel device or idea designed primarily to attract attention or increase appeal, often with little intrinsic value. When applied to retail marketing, it is a unique or quirky feature designed to make a product or service "stand out ...
. Japanese wrestling is also known for its relationship with fellow
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incor ...
promotions. Puroresu remains popular, and it draws huge crowds from the major promotions. With this and its relationship with other
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preser ...
disciplines, the audiences and wrestlers treat puroresu as a
combat sport
A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a competitive contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a contestant wins by scoring more points than the opponent, submitting the opponent with a hold, disabling the oppo ...
.
It should be also noted that the term "Puroresu" in Japan refers to all professional wrestling, regardless of country of origin. For example, American promotions
WWE and
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor (ROH) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. The promotion was founded by Rob Feinstein on February 23, 2002, and was operated by Cary Silkin from 2004 until 2011, when the promotion was s ...
are referred to as "Puroresu" in Japan. Japanese wrestling historian Fumi Saito noted: "Puroresu is completely Japanese-English, and in the U.S. the same word is used for both pro and amateur wrestling. It may be easier to understand if you think of wrestling in the U.S. as having the same nuance as '
sumo
is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a '' rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring ('' dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by t ...
' in Japanese. You call both 'wrestling' even if it's competitive or professional wrestling."
Rules
Puroresu has a variety of different rules, which can differ greatly from wrestling in other countries. While there is no governing authority for puroresu, there is a general standard which has developed. Each promotion has its own variation, but all are similar enough to avoid confusion. Any convention described here is simply a standard, and may or may not correspond exactly with any given promotion's codified rules.
General structure
Matches are held between two or more sides ("corners"). Each corner may consist of one wrestler, or a team of two or more. Most team matches are governed by tag team rules (see below).
The match is won by scoring a "fall", which is generally consistent with standard professional wrestling:
* ''
Pinning'' an opponent's shoulders to the mat for the referee's count of three.
* ''
Submission
Deference (also called submission or passivity) is the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one's superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior, out of re ...
'' victory, which sees the wrestler either tap out or verbally submit to their opponent.
* ''Knockout'', the failure to regain composure at the referee's command.
* ''Countout'', the failure of a party to return to the ring at the referee's command, which is determined by a count of twenty (some federations use ten, but in Japanese wrestling they use twenty).
* ''Disqualification'', the act of one wrestler breaking the rules.
* Referee Stoppage, when an official deems a participant unfit to continue wrestling (either pre-planned or due to legitimate injury)
Additional rules govern how the outcome of the match is to take place. One such example would be the Japanese
Universal Wrestling Federation, as it does not allow pinfall victories in favor of submissions and knockouts; this is seen as an early influence of
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incor ...
, as some wrestlers broke away from traditional wrestling endings to matches in favor of
legitimate outcomes. Another example is that most promotions disallow punches, so many wrestlers utilize open handed strikes and stiff forearms; this rule was also applied in the early stages of
Pancrase.
Styles
''Strong style''
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. Founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, the promotion was sold to Yuke's, who later sold it to Bushiroad in 2012. TV Asahi and Amuse, Inc. own minority sha ...
, headed by
Antonio Inoki
Muhammad Hussain Inoki (born ; February 20, 1943 – October 1, 2022) was a Japanese professional wrestler, martial artist, politician, and promoter of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. He was best known by the ring name , a homage ...
, used Inoki's "strong style" approach of wrestling as a combat sport, influenced strongly by the styles of
catch wrestlers Lou Thesz and
Karl Gotch. Wrestlers incorporated kicks and strikes from
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preser ...
disciplines, and a strong emphasis was placed on
submission wrestling
Submission wrestling, also known as Submission grappling, Submission fighting a form of competition and a general term for martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission through the ...
. Many of New Japan's wrestlers, including top stars such as
Shinya Hashimoto
was a Japanese professional wrestler, promoter and actor. Along with Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh, Hashimoto was dubbed one of the "Three Musketeers" that began competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in the mid-1980s and dominated the pr ...
,
Riki Choshu
, better known by his ring name , is a Japanese retired professional wrestler who is best known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as both a wrestler and a booker. He is considered one of Japan’s most influential wrestle ...
,
Minoru Suzuki,
Shinsuke Nakamura
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand.
Nakamura is known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, with his fir ...
and
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler and professional wrestling executive currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah), where he is a former GHC Heavyweight Champion. He is best known for his work as in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and N ...
, came from a legitimate martial arts background.
''Ōdō'' ("King's Road")
''Ōdō'' ("King's Road"; also translated as "Royal Road") is a style which originated in
All Japan Pro Wrestling
(AJPW/AJP) or simply All Japan is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established on October 21, 1972 when Giant Baba split away from the Japanese Wrestling Association and created his own promotion. Many wrestlers had left with Baba ...
, and is most closely associated with the Four Pillars (四天王, ''Shitennō''), the informal nomenclature for 1990s AJPW wrestlers
Toshiaki Kawada,
Kenta Kobashi
is a Japanese former professional wrestler. He started his career in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in 1988, where he became one of the promotion's top stars, holding the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship three times, and winning the Cham ...
,
Mitsuharu Misawa, and
Akira Taue
is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is also a former All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had fourteen 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
...
.
However, matches involving these four have been also referred to in Japan as ''Shitennō puroresu'' ().
As opposed to ''strong style's'' European
catch wrestling
Catch wrestling (originally catch-as-catch-can) is a classical hybrid grappling style and combat sport. It was developed by J. G. Chambers in Britain . It was popularised by wrestlers of travelling funfairs who developed their own submission ...
influences, ''ōdō'' opted for a more "narrative" style,
derived from the American model of professional wrestling as physical storytelling.
However, ''ōdō'' distinguished itself from American professional wrestling by largely eschewing many of its storytelling devices.
Angles and
gimmicks
A gimmick is a novel device or idea designed primarily to attract attention or increase appeal, often with little intrinsic value. When applied to retail marketing, it is a unique or quirky feature designed to make a product or service "stand out ...
were virtually non-existent, as all the storytelling in ''ōdō'' occurred through the matches themselves.
Blading was also banned outright. Because Baba disliked submissions,
they were also eschewed for decisive pinfalls. In 2011, Japanese wrestling magazine ''G Spirits'' cited Misawa's July 29, 1993
Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship
The is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the Japanese All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion.
History
The championship was established after the unification of its then-flagship title the PWF World Heavyweight Championsh ...
title defense against Kawada as the first match in the ''Shitennō'' style, and the 1993
World's Strongest Tag Determination League
__NOTOC__
The , more commonly known in the West as the Real World Tag League, is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by All Japan Pro Wrestling since 1977, usually, run on the first weeks of December. The first tournament was actually ...
final, in which Misawa and Kobashi wrestled
Kawada and Taue, was referred to as the "completed form" of the style by ''Tokyo Sports'' in 2014. According to Kawada, ''ōdō'' matches, which placed a heavy emphasis on ''fighting spirit'', were about "breaking the limit you set in the last".
AJPW referee
Kyohei Wada
is a Japanese professional wrestling senior referee best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). He is the longest-tenured member of the All Japan Pro Wrestling roster, having worked for the company from 1972 to the present day. T ...
, who recounted that Baba told his talent "whatever you want to do, do it, and whatever you can show the people, show it", would later compare his job officiating these matches to "conducting a symphony".
However, this escalation eventually manifested through the use of dangerous maneuvers that focused on the head and neck,
particularly during the finishing stretches of ''ōdō'' matches. The physical consequences of this style, or at least its use of head drops, has often been cited as the underlying reason for Misawa's death after an in-ring accident in 2009.
Professional wrestling journalist and historian
Dave Meltzer
David Allen Meltzer (born October 24, 1959) is an American journalist who reports on professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Since 1983, he has been the publisher and editor of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON''). He has als ...
noted after his death that Misawa "regularly took psychotic bumps", including back suplexes where he would land on his head.
AJPW would steer away from ''ōdō'' after Misawa led a
mass exodus
Human migration is the movement of people from one place to another with intentions of settling, permanently or temporarily, at a new location (geographic region). The movement often occurs over long distances and from one country to another (e ...
to form
Pro Wrestling Noah
(stylised as Pro Wrestling NOAH) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) ace Mitsuharu Misawa after he had led a mass exodus in which 24 of AJPW's 26 contracted wrestlers left th ...
, particularly when Motoko Baba sold her stock to Keiji Mutoh, but Noah would continue to practice ''ōdō'' in its booking. This element of ''ōdō'' has been criticized for its negative influence on professional wrestling,
and 1990s All Japan been cited as a cautionary tale in response to legitimately dangerous maneuvers.
Meltzer wrote in 2009 that head drops were "never necessary", as Misawa and his peers in AJPW were already "having the best matches in wrestling" before they incorporated these maneuvers into their style.
Other styles
Throughout the 1990s, three individual styles—
shoot style,
lucha libre
Lucha libre (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term used in Latin America for professional wrestling. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has developed into a unique form ...
, and
hardcore—were the main divisions of
independent promotions, but as a result of interpromoting, it is not unusual to see all three styles on the same card.
Joshi puroresu
Puroresu done by female wrestlers is called or ''joshi puro'' for short.
Women's professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a dramatic enactment of wrestling as a spectator sport. As is the norm for this sport, women's professional wrestling is organized by wrestling federations called promotions. Some promotions are exclusively for wome ...
in Japan is usually handled by promotions that specialize in ''joshi puroresu'', rather than divisions of otherwise male-dominated promotions as is the case in the United States (a major exception was
FMW, a men's promotion which had a small women's division, but even then depended on talent from women's federations to provide competition). However, ''joshi puroresu'' promotions usually have agreements with male puroresu promotions such that they recognize each other's titles as legitimate, and may share
cards.
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling was the dominant ''joshi'' organization from the 1970s to the 1990s. AJW's first major star was Mach Fumiake in 1974, followed in 1975 by
Jackie Sato and Maki Ueda, known as the "Beauty Pair". The early 1980s saw the fame of
Jaguar Yokota and
Devil Masami, major stars of the second wave of excellent workers who took the place of the glamour-based "Beauty Pair" generation. That decade would later see the rise of
Chigusa Nagayo
is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for her mainstream popularity in the 1980s as a member of the tag team ''Crush Gals'' with long-time partner Lioness Asuka. She was the founder of the GAEA Women's Professional Wrestling organization ...
and
Lioness Asuka, known as the "Crush Gals", who as a tag team achieved a level of unprecedented mainstream success in Japan, unheard of by any female wrestler in the history of professional wrestling all over the world. Their long running feud with
Dump Matsumoto and her "Gokuaku Domei" ("Atrocious Alliance") stable would become extremely popular in Japan during the 1980s, with their televised matches resulting in some of the highest rated broadcasts in Japanese television as well as the promotion regularly selling out arenas.
In 1985, Japan's second women's wrestling promotion formed in
Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling; (In Japanese: ジャパン女子プロレス, also known as Original JWP) was a ''joshi puroresu'' (women's professional wrestling) promotion established in 1988. The first event took place on August 17, 1986.
Histor ...
. The promotion ran their first show on August 17, 1986. It featured
Jackie Sato who returned from retirement and future stars such as
Shinobu Kandori,
Mayumi Ozaki,
Cutie Suzuki and
Dynamite Kansai
is a retired Japanese female professional wrestler, better known by the ring name .
Career
Chieko Suzuki was born on December 4, 1969, and was raised in Kyoto, Japan. In 1986 she auditioned for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), but wa ...
, who would go on to be top stars in
LLPW and
JWP.
In 1992,
Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling; (In Japanese: ジャパン女子プロレス, also known as Original JWP) was a ''joshi puroresu'' (women's professional wrestling) promotion established in 1988. The first event took place on August 17, 1986.
Histor ...
dissolved, splitting into
LLPW and
JWP.
These promotions worked together with
FMW and
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling to create a critically acclaimed era with several classic matches authorized by the
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
wrestling publication ''
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') is a newsletter that covers professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Founded in print in 1982 by Dave Meltzer, the ''Wrestling Observer'' website merged with Bryan Alvarez's ''Figure Four W ...
'' featuring wrestlers such as
Manami Toyota,
Aja Kong,
Kyoko Inoue,
Bull Nakano,
Mayumi Ozaki,
Megumi Kudo,
Dynamite Kansai
is a retired Japanese female professional wrestler, better known by the ring name .
Career
Chieko Suzuki was born on December 4, 1969, and was raised in Kyoto, Japan. In 1986 she auditioned for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), but wa ...
amongsts others. This era was also notable for multiple wrestlers returning from retirement such as
Chigusa Nagayo
is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for her mainstream popularity in the 1980s as a member of the tag team ''Crush Gals'' with long-time partner Lioness Asuka. She was the founder of the GAEA Women's Professional Wrestling organization ...
,
Lioness Asuka,
Jaguar Yokota,
Devil Masami and
Bison Kimura
Bison are large bovines in the genus ''Bison'' (Greek: "wild ox" (bison)) within the tribe Bovini. Two extant and numerous extinct species are recognised.
Of the two surviving species, the American bison, ''B. bison'', found only in North A ...
, which increased interest.
In 2022,
New Japan Pro Wrestling followed FMW's example by inaugurating their own
IWGP Women's Championship
The is a women's professional wrestling world championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion. The title is to be exclusively won and defended on shows promoted by NJPW, not only in Japan but worldwide, with talent from NJPW's sister ...
.
See also
*
Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts.
The usage ...
*
Mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incor ...
*
Global Professional Wrestling Alliance
*
List of professional wrestling promotions in Japan
Notes
References
External links
Puroresu.comPuroresuCentral.comMarcus' PuroPuroLove.com(in German)
BAHU's FMW WorldMonthly Puroresu
{{Professional wrestling in Japan
Professional wrestling genres