United Japan Pro-wrestling (Japanese: 日本プロレスリング連盟, Hepburn: Nihon Puroresuringu Renmei, UJPW), also stylised as United Japan Pro-Wrestling,[1] is an association of several professional wrestling promotions in Japan, acting as an industry group in order to facilitate the sharing of resources and practices as well as strengthen connections to other sectors.
日本プロレスリング連盟 | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | UJPW |
|---|---|
| Formation | December 15, 2023 |
| Type | Voluntary |
| Legal status | Association |
| Purpose | Supervision of domestic wrestling organizations |
| Headquarters | New Japan Pro-Wrestling headquarters Sumitomo Nakanosakaue Bldg 1-38-1 Chuo, Nakano, Tokyo, Japan |
Secretary General | Naoki Sugabayashi |
Founding chairman | Seiji Sakaguchi |
History
editBackground
editOn April 15, 2020, due to the self-imposed restrictions of events in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Takaaki Kidani (owner of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Stardom through his company Bushiroad) led a delegation of representatives from seven promotions[a] to send a formal request for compensation for business suspension to then House of Representatives member Hiroshi Hase (an NJPW alumnus himself), the Japan Sports Agency, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.[2][3] This led to the formation of the Cross-party Pro-Wrestling and Martial Arts Promotion Parliamentary Group[b] in the House of Representatives on November 19.[4]
Founding
editPrompted by Hase's call to establish a unified commission of wrestling promotions and recognizing the necessity for collaboration between the government, local authorities, and the wrestling industry, an organization was formed by nine promotions owned by six companies. The United Japan Pro-Wrestling (UJPW) group was announced to be established on December 15, 2023. On May 6, 2024, a launching event is scheduled to be held at the Nippon Budokan.[5] The inaugural chairman is Seiji Sakaguchi, a former wrestler, president and current advisor of NJPW, and the secretary-general is Naoki Sugabayashi, the current chairman of NJPW.[6] While maintaining healthy competition among the industry, the organization aims to provide a space for exchanging opinions and information regarding common issues within the professional wrestling industry. By doing so, it intends to ensure the industry's image enhancement, foster sustainable development, and address shared challenges. UJPW also plans to welcome additional member promotions in the future.[7] The inaugural UJPW event, the 2024 All Together, was held on May 6, 2024.
On July 17, 2024, UJPW held a general meeting in Tokyo, where World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana and Kyushu Pro-Wrestling were admitted into the association. Also at the meeting, Sanshiro Takagi was declared the UJPW spokesman and Ryota Chikuzen, Ryo Saito, and Naoki Sugabayashi were declared the association's trustees.
Members
edit| Promotion | Parent company |
|---|---|
| All Japan Pro Wrestling | All Japan Pro-Wrestling Co., Ltd. |
| Big Japan Pro Wrestling | Yotsuba Industries Co., Ltd. |
| DDT Pro-Wrestling | CyberFight Co., Ltd. |
| Dragongate | Gaora Inc. |
| Ganbare☆Pro-Wrestling | GanPro Entertainment Co., Ltd. |
| Kyushu Pro-Wrestling | N/A |
| New Japan Pro-Wrestling | Bushiroad Inc. |
| Pro Wrestling Noah | CyberFight Co., Ltd. |
| Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling | CyberFight Co., Ltd. |
| World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana | World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Co., Ltd. |
| World Wonder Ring Stardom | Bushiroad Inc. |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Takaaki Kidani, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (represented by Hiroshi Tanahashi and Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi), All Japan Pro Wrestling (represented by Suwama and Representative Director Tsuyoki Fukuda), Pro Wrestling Noah (represented by Executive Vice-President Naomichi Marufuji and Head of Public Relations Masashi Ishiguro), DDT Pro-Wrestling (represented by Harashima and Operating Executive Akira Takahashi), World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (represented by Kyoko Inoue and General Manager Taishi Fuwa), World Wonder Ring Stardom (represented by Mayu Iwatani and Bushiroad Representative Director Katsuhiko Harada), and Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (represented by Yuka Sakazaki and Representative Tetsuya Kouda)
- ^ Japanese: 超党派 格闘技(プロレス・総合格闘技等)振興議員連盟, Hepburn: Chōtōha Kakutōgi (Puroresu Sōgōkakutōgi-tō) Shinkō Giinrenmei
References
edit- ^ "NJPW to join United Japan Pro-Wrestling industry group". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ "NJPW part of united pro-wrestling front in govt. talks on COVID-19". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. April 15, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Weekly Pro-Wrestling No. 2026". Weekly Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese) (2026). Baseball Magazine Sha: 22–24. May 6, 2020.
- ^ 11/19 会長は馳氏、野田元総理らが役員 プロレス・格闘技支援へ「超党派 格闘技(プロレス・総合格闘技等)振興議員連盟」設立 [11/19 Chairman Hase, former Prime Minister Noda, and other executives establish "Cross-party Pro-Wrestling and Martial Arts Promotion Parliamentary Group" to support professional wrestling and martial arts]. Professional Wrestling Martial Arts DX (in Japanese). November 19, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ 新日、全日、ノアら９団体が「日本プロレスリング連盟」設立 来年５月には設立記念興行も [Nine organizations, including NJPW, AJPW, and Noah, establish "United Japan Pro-wrestling"; launching event to be held next May]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ 主要プロレス９団体が「日本プロレスリング連盟」設立へ…来年５・６に日本武道館で設立記念興行開催 [Nine major pro-wrestling organizations to establish "United Japan Pro-wrestling"...to hold a commemorative event at Nippon Budokan on May 6 next year]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ 新日本が事務局となり9つの団体が所属する『日本プロレスリング連盟』が設立！ ["United Japan Pro-wrestling" is established with New Japan as the secretariat and nine promotions as members!]. battle-news.com (in Japanese). December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.