NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING
AN INTRODUCTION
W
ith NXT starting to gain
truth, the option of watching Japanese
major traction with
pro wrestling or ‘puroresu’ has always
a wider spectrum of
been available, somewhere deep in the
wrestling fans and Ring
recesses of Youtube, though gaining
of Honor reportedly
the context behind matches and those
jostling for TNA Impact’s old TV deal,
wrestling in the matches has traditionally
it is clear that we are now seeing
required a bit more commitment.
something of a shift in the landscape of
Trawling through forums, desperately
professional wrestling. WWE no longer
searching for acceptable English dubbed
seems like the untouchable behemoth
commentary (if you simply cannot get
they have been for the past dozen or so
past the language barrier) and waiting
years and whilst the big E don’t look like
for decent quality uploads of hotly
they’re going anywhere soon, many new
anticipated shows. Puroresu is indeed
options are sprouting up for those who
a difficult hobby to follow. However, it is
are frustrated with WWE’s current main
a rich and rewarding side of wrestling
product.
and once you’ve taken the red pill of Japanese pro wrestling it is difficult to
It was only a matter of time, then,
go back to the Matrix of North American
that those sick of WWE’s stubborn
pro wrestling.
booking, or really anyone just looking for something new, would cast their
New Japan Pro Wrestling is the top dog
eyes to distant shores and far off lands.
of Japanese promotions, and by its
Promotions and genres of wrestling
sheer hold over Japan, the #2 promotion
that once seemed confined to the
worldwide. Founded by WWE Hall of
realms of tape trading and mustered
Famer and legitimate hardman Antonio
up US appearances are permeating to
Inoki in 1972 NJPW has been called,
western audiences like never before. In
somewhat erroneously, the ‘WWE of
08 STEELCHAIR APRIL 2O15
Japan’. To me, this is an insult. NJPW revels in wrestling being a sport - not sports entertainment, nor a ‘adult male oriented action soap opera’ both marketing waffle coined by WWE in attempt to avoid calling their product ‘wrestling’ at all costs. And entry into NJPW has never been easier. On January 4th, in association with Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling promotion, NJPW presented their biggest show of the year