New Japan Pro-Wrestling

People in Japan love wrestling.

A man named Antonio Inoki started this group. It began in 1972. It is the biggest wrestling group in Japan.

They have a huge show every year. It is held in a big place called the Tokyo Dome. They even show fights in other lands. Some shows have many people watching. It is a very big and famous sport.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling, or NJPW, is a big wrestling group.

Antonio Inoki started it in 1972. It is the largest wrestling group in Japan. They show matches on TV Asahi.

Every year, they hold a huge event. It is called Wrestle Kingdom. This show happens in the Tokyo Dome. It has been a tradition since 1992. Some of their shows are very big. In 1995, they held a show in North Korea. About 355,000 people came to see it. That is a huge crowd!

NJPW works with many groups around the world. They have worked with groups in the USA. They even have a training school in New Zealand. They also have a place to teach in Los Angeles. A company called Bushiroad owns most of NJPW now. They also make a card game about the wrestlers. This helps fans enjoy the sport in new ways. The group keeps growing and traveling to many lands.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling, often called NJPW, is a famous wrestling group.

It is the largest and longest-running group in Japan. People love it for its exciting matches and big stars. The group is based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently owned mostly by a company called Bushiroad. TV Asahi also owns a small part of it. Naoki Sugabayashi has been the Chairman since 2013. Hiroshi Tanahashi became the president in late 2023. NJPW is very important to wrestling fans around the world.

Watching NJPW involves many different kinds of action. Most shows feature professional wrestling matches. Sometimes, the group also shows mixed martial arts fights. These are fights where different styles of combat meet. To help new stars grow, they created a series called NEVER. This series focuses on younger talent and new wrestlers. They even have a project called Lion's Gate. This project lets new wrestlers try out for a spot. It is a way to find the next big stars.

The story of NJPW began many years ago. Antonio Inoki founded the group on January 13, 1972. He started it after leaving a different wrestling group. The very first event was called the Opening Series. It took place on March 6, 1972. About 5,000 people watched that first show in Tokyo. In 1983, Hulk Hogan became the first IWGP Heavyweight Champion. He won the title by defeating the founder, Inoki. This was a very big moment in their history.

NJPW has many impressive records and big numbers. Their biggest event is called Wrestle Kingdom. It happens every year at the Tokyo Dome. This tradition has continued since 1992. In 1995, they held a huge event in North Korea. It was held at the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium. A record 355,000 people attended those matches. In 2012, Bushiroad bought the company for 500 million yen. This was about 6.5 million dollars at that time. These numbers show how huge the group has become.

Today, NJPW is connected to many places and things. They have worked with groups like WWE and AEW in America. They even have a training school called a dojo in New Zealand. There is also a training center in Los Angeles. Fans can watch matches on the NJPW World streaming site. Bushiroad even made a card game called King of Pro Wrestling. This lets fans play with the stars they love. NJPW keeps growing and reaching new fans everywhere.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling, commonly known as NJPW, is a major professional wrestling promotion.

It is the largest and longest-running wrestling organization in Japan. Based in Nakano, Tokyo, the company provides professional wrestling matches for fans. It also occasionally showcases mixed martial arts (MMA) fights during live events. NJPW is currently owned mostly by the card-game company Bushiroad. TV Asahi and Amuse Inc. hold minority shares in the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi has served as Chairman since September 2013. Hiroshi Tanahashi took over as president in December 2023.

The promotion operates through several distinct match styles and developmental programs. Most events feature professional wrestling, often referred to as puroresu. In the early 2000s, the company experimented with shoot wrestling. This style integrated elements of MMA to create a more realistic sporting feel. To support new talent, NJPW launched the NEVER series in August 2010. This series highlights up-and-coming wrestlers and allows outsiders to participate. They also created the Lion's Gate Project. This project allows rookies and outsiders to compete in trial matches to earn permanent spots.

NJPW uses various championship titles to organize its competitions. The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) is a governing body established by the company. The IWGP Heavyweight Championship is a major title, though its current version was established in 1987. In 2011, the company introduced the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. To support the NEVER series, they created the NEVER Openweight Championship in 2012. They also introduced the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship in 2015. More recently, the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship was created to help with global expansion.

The history of NJPW began with its founder, Antonio Inoki.

Inoki founded the promotion on January 13, 1972. This happened after he left the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance. The first NJPW event was called the Opening Series. It took place on March 6, 1972, at the Ota Ward Gymnasium. Approximately 5,000 people attended this inaugural show. In 1983, Hulk Hogan became the first IWGP Heavyweight Champion by defeating Inoki. Inoki served as president until 1989, when Seiji Sakaguchi succeeded him.

NJPW has reached massive scales in terms of attendance and finance. Their premier annual event is the Tokyo Dome Show, known as Wrestle Kingdom. This event has been held every year since 1992. In 1995, NJPW and WCW held a two-day event in Pyongyang, North Korea. This event took place at the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium. It holds the record for the most attended wrestling event ever. A total of 355,000 people attended the matches over two days. In 2012, Bushiroad purchased the company for ¥500 million, which was about $6.5 million.

Global expansion has been a major part of the company's modern era. NJPW has formed partnerships with many international organizations. These include WWE, AEW, and Ring of Honor (ROH). They have also worked with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) at various times. In 2014, NJPW and ROH held supershows in Toronto and New York City. The company also expanded its reach through digital technology. They launched NJPW World, a worldwide streaming site for their events. This allows fans outside of Japan to watch matches live.

The company continues to connect wrestling with other industries and regions. Bushiroad used NJPW's popularity to create a trading card game called King of Pro Wrestling. NJPW also established physical locations abroad to train new stars. They opened the NJPW LA Dojo in Los Angeles in March 2018. They also partnered with the Fale Dojo in New Zealand to scout talent from Oceania. In 2017, they signed a deal with Discovery Communications. This brought NJPW programming to 70 million homes in India via DSport. These efforts help maintain NJPW's status as a global leader in professional wrestling.