fbpx
Wikipedia

Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance

December 07, 2023

Not to be confused with Japan Pro-Wrestling (ジャパンプロレス).

The Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (日本プロレス協会, Nihon Puroresu Kyōkai), also known as the Japanese Wrestling Association (JWA), was the first professional wrestling promotion to be based in Japan. It operated from 1953 to 1973.

Nihon Puroresu Kyōkai
Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance
AcronymJWA
FoundedJuly 30, 1953
DefunctApril 14, 1973
StylePuroresu
HeadquartersJapan
Founder(s)Rikidōzan
Owner(s)Rikidōzan
(until 1963)

History edit

JWA under Rikidōzan (1953–1963) edit

Rikidōzan, a former rikishi (sumo wrestling practitioner) who had debuted as a Western-style professional wrestler in 1951, decided in 1953 to establish a territory that would represent the National Wrestling Alliance in Japan.

In those early days, Japanese professional wrestlers came from out of the sumo or judo ranks; former sumotori usually used their shikona (Rikidōzan, Azumafuji, Toyonobori, etc.) while former judokas usually used their real names or modifications of them (Masahiko Kimura, Michiaki Yoshimura, etc.) Rikidōzan pushed himself as the top star of the promotion, first battling other Japanese wrestlers such as Kimura and Toshio Yamaguchi, but found a strong niche in feuds with American wrestlers such as Lou Thesz, The Destroyer and Bobo Brazil. In 1957 he defeated Thesz to win the title that would be the JWA's top title thereafter, the NWA International Heavyweight Championship. As a newly found hero to the war-weary Japanese masses, Rikidōzan expanded into several business ventures. It resulted in his murder at the hands of a gangster in 1963, at the peak of his fame.

JWA after Rikidōzan (1963–1973) edit

After Rikidōzan’s death in 1963, the company continued to operate as the nation’s premier (and only male) wrestling circuit until challenged in the late 1960s by International Wrestling Enterprise, which featured the first major World heavyweight championship based in Japan, the IWA title. The JWA's top stars, Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki left to form their own promotions (All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, respectively) in 1972. With its top drawing cards gone, the JWA was therefore out of business the following year.

Championships edit

Annual tournaments edit

World Big League edit

World Big League (ワールド大リーグ戦, wārudo dai rīgu-sen), later renamed to simply World League (ワールドリーグ戦, wārudo rīgu-sen) was a professional wrestling tournament annually held by Japanese Wrestling Association from 1959 till 1972. The 1973 edition was not held as JWA folded that year.

Wrestlers from all over the world participated in the various editions of the tournament, as it was meant since its beginning to be a world tournament. It had been one of the most important pro-wrestling tournament of its time, because it was one of the very few (and for some years after its creation the only) pro-wrestling tournaments of its time to be considered representative of the entire pro-wrestling world.

In 1970, JWA created a tag team counterpart of the World League, known as World Tag League.

Its prestige led Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba to create in their respective promotions, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling, tournaments which were presented as the direct followers to the JWA World League. Therefore, respectively, the G1 Climax for the NJPW and the Champion Carnival for the AJPW are the indirect descendant of the original World League.

The following is a list of the winners of each edition:[4]

World Tag League edit

NWA Tag League (NWAタッグ・リーグ戦, NWA taggu rīgu-sen), also called World Tag League, was a professional wrestling tournament annually held by Japanese Wrestling Association from 1970 till 1972. The 1973 edition was not held as JWA folded that year. Wrestlers from all over the world participated in the various editions of the tournament, as it was meant to be a world tournament. It was created in 1970 as the tag team counterpart of World Big League.

Its prestige led Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba to create in their respective promotions, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling, tournaments which were presented as the direct followers to the JWA World Tag League. Therefore, respectively, the G1 Tag League for the NJPW and the World's Strongest Tag Determination League for the AJPW are the indirect descendant of the original World Tag League. In fact, in 2012, NJPW renamed the G1 Tag League the World Tag League.[5]

The following is a list of the winners of each edition:[6]

Alumni edit

This is not an exhaustive list, as the JWA was the only Japanese promotion until 1966 and many wrestlers, both Japanese who competed for a brief time and then retired, or foreigners who came for a single tour, were booked.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Japanese Junior Heavyweight Title".
  2. ^ "Japanese Light Heavyweight Title".
  3. ^ "All Japan Tag Team Title (JWA)".
  4. ^ "Japan Pro-Wrestling Association (JWA): Match Results".
  5. ^ "2013年1月4日（金）『レッスルキングダム7 in 東京ドーム』開催!! 今後のシリーズ＆大会名も続々決定!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). February 29, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  6. ^ "Japan Pro-Wrestling Association (JWA): Match Results".

External links edit

  • puroresu.com: JWA
  • JWA Title Histories
  • PuroresuWiki

December 07, 2023
japan, wrestling, alliance, confused, with, japan, wrestling, ジャパンプロレス, 日本プロレス協会, nihon, puroresu, kyōkai, also, known, japanese, wrestling, association, first, professional, wrestling, promotion, based, japan, operated, from, 1953, 1973, nihon, puroresu, kyōk. Not to be confused with Japan Pro Wrestling ジャパンプロレス The Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance 日本プロレス協会 Nihon Puroresu Kyōkai also known as the Japanese Wrestling Association JWA was the first professional wrestling promotion to be based in Japan It operated from 1953 to 1973 Nihon Puroresu KyōkaiJapan Pro Wrestling AllianceAcronymJWAFoundedJuly 30 1953DefunctApril 14 1973StylePuroresuHeadquartersJapanFounder s RikidōzanOwner s Rikidōzan until 1963 Contents 1 History 1 1 JWA under Rikidōzan 1953 1963 1 2 JWA after Rikidōzan 1963 1973 2 Championships 3 Annual tournaments 3 1 World Big League 3 2 World Tag League 4 Alumni 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editJWA under Rikidōzan 1953 1963 edit Rikidōzan a former rikishi sumo wrestling practitioner who had debuted as a Western style professional wrestler in 1951 decided in 1953 to establish a territory that would represent the National Wrestling Alliance in Japan In those early days Japanese professional wrestlers came from out of the sumo or judo ranks former sumotori usually used their shikona Rikidōzan Azumafuji Toyonobori etc while former judokas usually used their real names or modifications of them Masahiko Kimura Michiaki Yoshimura etc Rikidōzan pushed himself as the top star of the promotion first battling other Japanese wrestlers such as Kimura and Toshio Yamaguchi but found a strong niche in feuds with American wrestlers such as Lou Thesz The Destroyer and Bobo Brazil In 1957 he defeated Thesz to win the title that would be the JWA s top title thereafter the NWA International Heavyweight Championship As a newly found hero to the war weary Japanese masses Rikidōzan expanded into several business ventures It resulted in his murder at the hands of a gangster in 1963 at the peak of his fame JWA after Rikidōzan 1963 1973 edit After Rikidōzan s death in 1963 the company continued to operate as the nation s premier and only male wrestling circuit until challenged in the late 1960s by International Wrestling Enterprise which featured the first major World heavyweight championship based in Japan the IWA title The JWA s top stars Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki left to form their own promotions All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling respectively in 1972 With its top drawing cards gone the JWA was therefore out of business the following year Championships editJapanese Heavyweight Championship Japanese Junior Heavyweight Championship 1 Japanese Light Heavyweight Championship 2 All Japan Tag Team Championship 3 All Asia Heavyweight Championship later revived by AJPW and Pro Wrestling Land s End All Asia Tag Team Championship later revived by AJPW NWA International Heavyweight Championship later revived by AJPW NWA International Tag Team Championship later revived by AJPW NWA United National Championship later revived by AJPW Annual tournaments editWorld Big League edit World Big League ワールド大リーグ戦 warudo dai rigu sen later renamed to simply World League ワールドリーグ戦 warudo rigu sen was a professional wrestling tournament annually held by Japanese Wrestling Association from 1959 till 1972 The 1973 edition was not held as JWA folded that year Wrestlers from all over the world participated in the various editions of the tournament as it was meant since its beginning to be a world tournament It had been one of the most important pro wrestling tournament of its time because it was one of the very few and for some years after its creation the only pro wrestling tournaments of its time to be considered representative of the entire pro wrestling world In 1970 JWA created a tag team counterpart of the World League known as World Tag League Its prestige led Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba to create in their respective promotions New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling tournaments which were presented as the direct followers to the JWA World League Therefore respectively the G1 Climax for the NJPW and the Champion Carnival for the AJPW are the indirect descendant of the original World League The following is a list of the winners of each edition 4 1st World Big League 1959 Rikidozan by defeating Jess Ortega 2nd World Big League 1960 Rikidozan 2 by defeating Leo Nomellini 3rd World Big League 1961 Rikidozan 3 by defeating Mr X 4th World Big League 1962 Rikidozan 4 by defeating Lou Thesz 5th World Big League 1963 Rikidozan 5 by defeating Killer Kowalski 6th World League 1964 Toyonobori by defeating Gene Kiniski 7th World League 1965 Toyonobori 2 by defeating Fred Blassie 8th World League 1966 Giant Baba by defeating Wilbur Snyder 9th World League 1967 Giant Baba 2 by defeating The Destroyer 10th World League 1968 Giant Baba 3 by defeating Killer Kowalski 11th World League 1969 Antonio Inoki by defeating Chris Markoff 12th World League 1970 Giant Baba 4 by defeating Don Leo Jonathan 13th World League 1971 Giant Baba 5 by defeating Abdullah the Butcher 14th World League 1972 Giant Baba 6 by defeating Gorilla Monsoon World Tag League edit NWA Tag League NWAタッグ リーグ戦 NWA taggu rigu sen also called World Tag League was a professional wrestling tournament annually held by Japanese Wrestling Association from 1970 till 1972 The 1973 edition was not held as JWA folded that year Wrestlers from all over the world participated in the various editions of the tournament as it was meant to be a world tournament It was created in 1970 as the tag team counterpart of World Big League Its prestige led Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba to create in their respective promotions New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling tournaments which were presented as the direct followers to the JWA World Tag League Therefore respectively the G1 Tag League for the NJPW and the World s Strongest Tag Determination League for the AJPW are the indirect descendant of the original World Tag League In fact in 2012 NJPW renamed the G1 Tag League the World Tag League 5 The following is a list of the winners of each edition 6 1st NWA Tag League 1970 Antonio Inoki and Kantaro Hoshino by defeating Nick Bockwinkel and John Quinn 2nd NWA Tag League 1971 Antonio Inoki 2 and Seiji Sakaguchi by defeating Killer Kowalski and Buddy Austin 3rd NWA Tag League 1972 Seiji Sakaguchi 2 and Akihisa Takachiho by defeating Larry Hamilton and Joe Hamilton Alumni editThis is not an exhaustive list as the JWA was the only Japanese promotion until 1966 and many wrestlers both Japanese who competed for a brief time and then retired or foreigners who came for a single tour were booked JapaneseRikidōzan Masahiko Kimura Azumafuji Surugaumi Toshio Yamaguchi Toyonobori Michiaki Yoshimura Joe Higuchi Yoshinosato Kokichi Endo Isao Yoshiwara Yasuhiro Kojima Kintarō Ōki Shohei Giant Baba Kanji Antonio Inoki Umanosuke Ueda Atsuhide Kakutaro Masio Koma Katsuhisa Shibata Mitsu Hirai Kantaro Hoshino Kotetsu Yamamoto Motoshi Ohkuma Raizō Kojika Masao Kimura Haruka Eigen Seiji Sakaguchi Masanori Saito Katsuji Adachi Akihisa Takachiho Kazuo Sakurada Masanori Toguchi Masashi Ozawa Osamu Kido Tatsumi Fujinami Akio Sato Kengo Kimura Mitsuo Hata Mitsuo Momota Masao Itoh ForeignersLou Thesz first NWA World Heavyweight Champion to defend the title in Japan King Kong Czaya Tiger Joginder Singh Dara Singh Freddie Blassie Yusuf Turk Yusuf Omar The Destroyer Bobo Brazil The Sheik Bill Dromo Fritz Von Erich Gene Kiniski Bruno Sammartino Dory Funk Jr Terry Funk Abdullah the Butcher Mil Mascaras Crusher Lisowski Dick the Bruiser Wilbur Snyder Danny Hodge Karl Gotch Johnny Valentine Harley Race Fritz von Goering Mike Sharpe Sr Ben Sharpe Bobby Bruns Harold SakataSee also edit nbsp Japan portalProfessional wrestling in Japan List of professional wrestling promotions in JapanReferences edit Japanese Junior Heavyweight Title Japanese Light Heavyweight Title All Japan Tag Team Title JWA Japan Pro Wrestling Association JWA Match Results 2013年1月4日 金 レッスルキングダム7 in 東京ドーム 開催 今後のシリーズ 大会名も続々決定 New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese February 29 2012 Retrieved October 2 2013 Japan Pro Wrestling Association JWA Match Results External links editpuroresu com JWA JWA Title Histories PuroresuWiki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance amp oldid 1171992749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.