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Pro Wrestling Stories
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New Japan

Some wrestling championship belts died a painful death! Itโ€™s time to acknowledge at least a few that deserved a kinder fate.

10 Wrestling Championship Belts That Aren’t Recognized

by Aarij Arifeen  Dec 2, 2024

Some forgotten wrestling championships died a painful death! Itโ€™s time to acknowledge at least a few that deserved a kinder fate.

Today in Pro Wrestling History (September 30): Two Japanese Legends make their debut

by Pro Wrestling Stories  Sep 30, 2024

On September 30, 1960, two future legends of Japanese professional wrestling, Shohei “Giant” Baba and Antonio Inoki, made their debuts.

Andre the Giant and Akira Maeda face off in Japan in May 1986 โ€“ A match that started normally but quickly went off the rails.

Andre the Giant vs. Akira Maeda: The Real Fight That Shook Japan

by Jim Phillips  Sep 13, 2024

Andre the Giant vs. Akira Maeda: A match that went off-script and turned into a real fight in 1986 Japan. Learn the story behind the…

Today In Pro Wrestling History June 2

Today in Pro Wrestling History: (June 1): The World Wrestling Peace Festival

by Pro Wrestling Stories  Jun 1, 2024

On June 1st, 1996, wrestlers from NJPW, WCW, AAA, and more united for the historic World Wrestling Peace Festival.

Today In Pro Wrestling History April 18

Today in Pro Wrestling History: (April 18) – Brody Arrives in New Japan

by Pro Wrestling Stories  Apr 18, 2024

Today in Pro Wrestling History: Bruiser Brody arrived in NJPW on this day, launching a legendary feud with Antonio Inoki. Discover their wild rivalry.

Today In Pro Wrestling History March 6

Today In Pro Wrestling History (March 6): The Sun Rises for New Japan

by Pro Wrestling Stories  Mar 6, 2024

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) debuted on March 6th, 1972. Discover the history of this iconic promotion.

From Mongolia to the mainland, Killer Khan tore a swathe through every territory he went to, even once leaving Andre the Giant lying crippled in his wake!

Killer Khan: Secret Story of the Scourge From Mongolia

by Jim Phillips  Dec 30, 2023

On December 29, 2023, WWE legend Killer Khan died following a tragic incident at his restaurant. Discover his hidden life outside the ring.

When a worked wrestling match turns into a shoot (or real fight), anything can happen and usually does. We look back to 1977 when Antonio Inoki retired The Great Antonio from wrestling.

The Great Antonio and Antonio Inoki Match that Ended in Disaster

by Javier Ojst  May 3, 2023

When Antonio Inoki retired The Great Antonio from wrestling on December 9th, 1977, it almost cost the famed eccentric strongman his life.

Marvel's WCW: World Championship Wrestling fizzled out after only 12 issues. We dig into the untold tale behind why the WCW comic failed.

WCW Comic Disaster: How It All Went Wrong!

by Javier Ojst  Apr 30, 2023

Marvel’s WCW: World Championship Wrestling fizzled out after only 12 issues. We dig into the untold tale behind why the WCW comic failed.

Fumi Saito alongside Bruiser Brody and Jimmy Snuka.

Fumi Saito: Japanโ€™s Leading Wrestling Historian and Journalist

by Javier Ojst  Nov 8, 2022

It isn’t easy to overstate how entrenched Fumi Saito has been in the professional wrestling industry for the past four decades.

The G1 Climax is a professional wrestling tournament held yearly by the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. From Hulk Hogan, Rick Rude (with Madusa, AKA Alundra Blayze), Keiji Mutoh (AKA The Great Muta), Ric Flair, Masahiro Chono, Antonio Inoki, and more, the tournament has attracted the very best wrestlers from around the world since 1974.

G1 Climax: Wrestling Elevated to Art

by Aarij Arifeen  Mar 3, 2023

NJPW’s G1 Climax is wrestling elevated to Art. Learn the rich history of the biggest tournament in wrestling today!

Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon had a well-known lack of interest in working with other major promotions. However, the forbidden door between the WWE and NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling) has opened intermittently over the past fifty years. And each time that door opened, something uncommon occurred, moments WWE refuse to acknowledge.

WWE and NJPW: Their On-Again, Off-Again Relationship

by Aarij Arifeen  Mar 9, 2023

WWE and NJPW have had on-and-off partnerships over the years. Each time the forbidden door opens between the two, something uncommon occurs!

Global Force Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett in 2014 that became defunct after only four years.

Global Force Wrestling: Its Brief History and Why It Broke Down

by Aarij Arifeen  Aug 25, 2022

Jeff Jarrett has had shares of triumphs, failures, and controversies in wrestling. Global Force Wrestling is part of his complicated history.

The Four Pillars of Heaven of All Japan Pro Wrestling: Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, Toshiaki Kawada, and Akira Taue.

Four Pillars of Heaven of All Japan – Magic at the Budokan

by Archie Pain  May 5, 2022

On June 9th, 1995, The Four Pillars of Heaven of All Japan Pro Wrestling came together and made something truly magical.

From seeing The Undertaker outside of WWE and beyond, here are five times "The Forbidden Door" was opened in wrestling!

5 Times The Forbidden Door Opened in Wrestling

by Will Gray  Feb 15, 2023

From seeing The Undertaker outside of WWE and beyond, here are five times “The Forbidden Door” was opened in wrestling!

4 Rebels Who Revolutionized Professional Wrestling

4 Rebels Who Revolutionized Professional Wrestling

by Theo Tonฤ‡a  Aug 9, 2021

These 4 wrestlers helped professional wrestling transition from a more plodding mat style to the more fast-paced style of today.

In 1994, amidst scandals alleging embezzlement and the Yakuza, Antonio Inoki looked to salvage his reputation and spot in politics. He saw an opportunity where most saw an isolationist, authoritarian dictatorship: North Korea. Boasting a crowd of over 360,000 fans across two days, Collision in Korea was the most prominent international event since the Korean War, and Inoki, Muhammed Ali, and Ric Flair would soon become unlikely ambassadors in a bizarre political game.

Collision In Korea – Wrestling’s Bizarre Political Game in a Land of War

by Javier Ojst  Jan 10, 2023

In front of 360k fans, Antonio Inoki, Muhammed Ali, and Ric Flair became ambassadors in a bizarre political game: Collision in Korea.

Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, and Shinsuke Nakamura are amongst those who have had the rare distinction of holding more than one world heavyweight championship at the same time.

15 Times Wrestlers Held Multiple World Championships at Once

by Griffin Kaye  Jun 21, 2023

On occasion, a wrestler will hold more than one world title at the same time. Here are 15 times this rare distinction has been achieved.

Not all was smooth sailing for Vader as he transitioned from Japan into the American style of wrestling in 1992, and opponents were legitimately getting injured. Here's how Harley Race and Sting were brought in to help mentor (and tame) the monster!

How Harley Race and Sting Tamed Monster Vader in WCW

by Javier Ojst  Jan 25, 2023

What happens when you have a 6’5″, 450lbs monster heel that is too rough in the ring? You enlist the help of Sting and Harley…

Mitsuharu Misawa.

Mitsuharu Misawa – A Wrestling Legend Taken Too Soon

by Javier Ojst  Feb 24, 2023

Mitsuharu Misawa was only 46-years-old when he died in the ring doing what he loved. And on that evening, we lost one of wrestling’s finest.

The Japanese fans in attendance were not reserved on this night. In his NJPW debut, Big Van Vader ended the win streak of Antonio Inoki in the most horrible way fans ever could have imagined. It led to a riot in sold-out Sumo Hall and NJPW being banned from the venue. Here is how it all went down, flaming seat cushion frisbees and all!

Big Van Vader and Antonio Inoki Incite a Riot in Sumo Hall

by Javier Ojst  Mar 10, 2023

On December 27th, 1987, Big Van Vader and Antonio Inoki incited a riot in Sumo Hall. Here’s how (flaming seat cushions and all)!

Wrestling’s Global Village: From Korea to the UK and Everywhere Between

by Evan Ginzburg  Nov 7, 2019

The wrestling world and the world itself is ‘one big town’ and global village. That was never clearer to me than last week.

Bullet Club - Origin of One of Wrestling's Most Iconic Stables

Bullet Club: Surprising Tale Behind Stable’s Creation

by Rob Ireland  Jan 7, 2023

Four foreign dojo boys came together to create The Bullet Club in a company that generally didn’t provide many opportunities for foreigners.

AJ Styles debuts at 2016's WWE Royal Rumble.

AJ Styles and His Unlikely Journey to WWE

by James Klonowski  Sep 6, 2021

The story behind his unlikely journey to WWE, who convinced Vince to sign him, and who AJ Styles’ theme music was originally intended for.

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      • Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure Policies
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  • Dark Tales
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    • HOMAGE.com – Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! (Use code “PWS” for a nice surprise)
    • PWSTees.com – Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee!
  • Meet The Team
  • More
    • Women Wrestling Pioneers
    • Shoot Fights
    • Lists
    • In Memoriam
    • Podcasts
      • Pro Wrestling Stories Presents (2015)
      • The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19)
      • The Pro Wrestling Stories Podcast (2020)
    • Pro Wrestling Documentaries, Books, and Movie Reviews
    • Today in History
    • Huge Crowd Reactions
    • Ask PWS