New Japan Pro Wrestling
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New Japan Pro Wrestling (新日本プロレス, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it is the largest promotion in Japan and one of the largest in the world.
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Titles
New Japan has its own governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP). IWGP titles, in order of founding, are:
- Heavyweight (1983)
- Tag Team (1985)
- Junior Heavyweight (weight limit is 100 kg = 220 lb) (1986)
- Junior [Heavyweight] Tag Team (1998)
- U-30 (for wrestlers under 30 years of age) (2003)
Annual Tournaments
These are annual tournaments New Japan holds to determine No. 1 contenders in a division, similar to the World Wrestling Entertainment's King of the Ring tournament. The major difference is that the reigning IWGP champions are allowed to participate (if they win, the runner(s)-up usually become the No. 1 contender(s)), and their format is usually round-robin rather than elimination, although elimination formats are used periodically.
- G-1 Climax (heavyweight singles)
- G-1 Climax Tag League (tag teams, generally restricted to heavyweight teams)
- Best of the Super Junior (junior heavyweight singles)
- Periodically, but infrequently, a junior heavyweight tag team tournament may also be held.
Major wrestlers
Aside from Inoki, several wrestlers, Japanese and foreign, have left huge legacies in New Japan:
- Natives: Tatsumi Fujinami, Riki Choshu, Akira Maeda, Keiji Mutoh, Masa Chono, Shinya Hashimoto, Nobuhiko Takada, Kensuke Sasaki, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask (I & IV versions), Koji Kanemoto, Ultimo Dragon, Minoru Tanaka
- Foreigners: Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, Stan Hansen, Big Van Vader, Rick and Scott Steiner, Scott Norton, Tony Halme, Chris Benoit, Sabu, Owen Hart