One of the most famous pro wrestling leagues finds its home in the middle of Japan. The New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion is based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is the main streaming, media and broadcasting company in the whole of Japan and was founded in 1972. Just like the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) company that you might know from the United States, this is the Japanese version.
If you’re from Japan, you will likely know the NJPW like the back of your hand, just as if you’re from the US you know WWE. However, if you’re not from Japan, you may have never heard of this wrestling media company before. Well, if that’s the case, you’re in luck as this article aims to shed light on some interesting facts about NJPW and showcase some of their biggest talents. Without further ado, it’s time to rumble!
A Tale For the Ages
The story of how NJPW came to be is one that is hugely interesting and includes none other than the famous Hulk Hogan – who would have thought? If there is one thing the Japanese are known for, it’s technological advancements and finesse. You don’t just see it in the NJPW, you see it everywhere. Take their iGaming and gambling sites which offer generous casino bonuses for Japanese players, this is a class example of how the Japanese always manage to merge exciting worlds such as gaming and betting. You can even bet on games that are wrestling-themed, which is truly something thrilling. But back to the story of how NJPW came to be.
It all started with a man named Antonio Ioki. He had been part of the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance for some time but felt that there were no boundaries to cross and new showings to offer the public. Therefore, on the 13th of January, 1972, he started the NJPW. Now, the beginnings were relatively small, with their first show bringing in an audience of 5000 people only, however, if you think back to 1972 and with a new company, this actually isn’t that shabby. NJPW did extremely well with Ioki at the helm, signing a deal with TV Asahi the following year. But it was in 1983 when things really got big. They were able to launch their own company, the International Wrestling Grand Prix and invited Hulk Hogan over, who then won the entire title. This launched their company into international waters and allowed them to gain traction globally, as Hulk Hogan was a massive star. And this was NJPW’s start to Japanese wrestling and taking over that scene.
Hogan’s big performance got the attention of other rising stars in wrestling who wanted to show their skills to the Japanese market.
The Biggest Stars in the NJPW
- Will Ospreay: If there was ever a wrestler to be reckoned with, it’s Ospreay. He won the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors tournament without even breaking a sweat. He then also managed to defeat Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in 2019, which was when he truly made his mark with the big boys. Following that success, he beat Shingo Takagi for the IWGP at Sakura Genesis in 2021 and then at the NEVER Openweight Championship, he defeated Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in 2021.
- Kazuchika Okada: Arguably one of the most beloved wrestlers in Japan today is Okada. You might even refer to him as the John Cena of this day. He skillfully defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in 2012 and has astoundingly held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship record five times! No one has ever done that before, putting him in as one of the legends. He also won the G1 Climax tournament twice, in the years 2012 and 2014 and he is currently tied with Hiroshi Tanahashi for the most successful title defenses of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
- Kota Ibushi: He famously won the G1 Climax tournament in 2020 and then he went on to defeat Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in 2021. Just a year or two prior, he also made history when he beat Juice Robinson for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship at Destruction in Kobe in 2019.
- Tetsuya Naito: Although Naito hasn’t been in the ring for a while, he is one of the older wrestlers who really brought a lot of pride to the sport of wrestling through his antics. He won the G1 Climax tournament twice in 2013 and 2017 and then even managed to defeat Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in 2020, which is amazing as he’d been around for a while by then. He was the first pro wrestler to hold the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships simultaneously and has held the IWGP Intercontinental Championship a whopping five times.
Japanese Wrestling For the Win
As you can see from the above, NJPW has come a long way since its humbling beginnings in 1972. As a company, they have managed to make the right moves at every turning, signing with the correct broadcasting companies, getting the right international wrestlers to the stage and then always working with their talent to ensure they have class wrestlers on display. Who knows what amazing things the future holds for NJPW in the next few years?
