Puroresu

Puroresu is a Japanese term used to describe professional wrestling. The word is a loanword created by shortening the Japanese pronunciation of "professional wrestling" into "puro" and "resu." While the sport originated from American professional wrestling, it has evolved into a distinct entity. In Japan, puroresu is often treated as a legitimate combat sport rather than a theatrical performance. It focuses heavily on the "fighting spirit" of the athletes. This concept emphasizes perseverance and the mental strength required to endure physical struggle. Because of this focus, Japanese society views the sport with high respect.

Matches in puroresu follow specific rules and structures to determine a winner. Most matches involve two sides, known as corners, which can consist of individuals or tag teams. A wrestler can win through several different methods. A pinfall occurs when a competitor holds an opponent's shoulders to the mat for a three-count. A submission victory happens when a wrestler taps out or verbally gives up. A knockout occurs if a participant cannot regain composure at the referee's command. A countout happens if a wrestler fails to re-enter the ring within 20 seconds. Finally, a referee stoppage occurs if the official deems a wrestler unfit to continue due to injury or other reasons.

Different organizations have developed unique styles of wrestling over the decades. One major approach is "strong style," which was popularized by Antonio Inoki at New Japan Pro-Wrestling. This style incorporates elements of catch wrestling and various martial arts disciplines. It places a heavy emphasis on submission wrestling and full-contact strikes. Inoki even participated in a famous "different styles fight" against Muhammad Ali in 1976. This single event was watched by an estimated 1.4 billion people worldwide. Many wrestlers in this style come from legitimate martial arts backgrounds.

Another influential approach is known as "King's Road," or ōdō. This style originated within All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) during the 1990s. It is closely associated with wrestlers such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, and Akira Taue. Unlike strong style, ōdō used matches as a form of physical storytelling. However, it often avoided traditional scripted characters or complex storylines. Instead, the narrative was built through the intensity of the competition itself. Wrestlers aimed to "break the limit" they had set in previous matches.

While ōdō provided incredible drama, it also carried significant physical risks. The style often featured dangerous maneuvers that focused on the head and neck. Some wrestlers, including Misawa, frequently performed "psychotic bumps" or high-impact moves. This included back suplexes where the wrestler would land directly on their head. Such intensity led to criticism regarding the necessity of these maneuvers. Following a tragic in-ring accident in 2009 involving Misawa, the industry viewed these high-risk moves as a cautionary tale. Many experts noted that the highest quality matches could be achieved without such extreme danger.

Women's professional wrestling in Japan is known as joshi puroresu. Unlike in the United States, joshi is often managed by specialized female-only promotions. These organizations frequently enter agreements with male promotions to recognize championships and share event cards. All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling was a dominant force from the 1970s through the 1990s. During the 1980s, the tag team known as the Crush Gals achieved unprecedented mainstream success. Their televised matches were among the highest-rated broadcasts in Japanese history. This era proved that female wrestlers could sell out massive arenas and command huge audiences.

The evolution of puroresu has had a profound impact on the world of combat sports. The emphasis on realism and martial arts led directly to the development of shoot wrestling. This movement helped create pioneer mixed martial arts organizations like Shooto and Pancrase. These groups actually predated the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Organizations such as Fighting Network Rings and Pride Fighting Championships also grew from these roots. Consequently, Japan maintains a much closer relationship between professional wrestling and mixed martial arts than any other country.