Tokyo Pro Wrestling was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion which operated from 1966 to 1967.

History

In mid-1966, Japan Wrestling Association president Michiharu Toyonobori resigned his position and left the promotion, taking along with him some talent, including Katsuhisa Shibata (father of current All Elite Wrestling star Katsuyori Shibata) and the future Rusher Kimura (Masao Kimura). Antonio Inoki, who was coming back from a long excursion to the United States, chose to join him and create a new venture, Tokyo Pro Wrestling. Despite the name, the promotion toured all over Japan during its existence.

Tokyo Pro's biggest rising star was Inoki, who feuded with Johnny Valentine over the "United States" heavyweight title (as Valentine had held in California, Michigan and Ontario, he was "recognized" as champion by Tokyo Pro so as to lose the belt to Inoki). Inoki's feud with Valentine cemented him not only as a rising star, but also as a tough wrestler who could take on anyone, any style, anywhere.

Nevertheless, problems between Toyonobori and his business backers led him and Isao Yoshiwara to dissolve the promotion in 1967 . Most of the roster joined International Wrestling Enterprise, which would promote on a larger scale in Japan and eventually become the third most important men's promotion, after New Japan and All Japan, which would appear in 1972.

Tokyo Pro-Wrestling is also the place where Haruka Eigen, who was still active into his 60s wrestling for Pro Wrestling Noah, debuted. He joined Inoki and Shibata in going back to JWA.

Alumni

Natives

  • Toyonobori - joined IWE
  • Antonio Inoki - joined JWA
  • Masanori Saito - returned to the United States
  • Masao Kimura - joined IWE
  • Masaru Eigen - joined JWA
  • Katsuhisa Shibata - joined JWA
  • Sankichi Takasakiyama (Shoji Kai) - joined JWA
  • Tsuyoshi Sendai (Tokyo Joe/Joe Daigo) - joined IWE
  • Takeshi Oiso - joined IWE
  • Tadaharu Tanaka - joined IWE
  • Isamu Teranishi - joined IWE
  • Iwao Takeshita - joined IWE
  • Mammoth Suzuki - joined IWE
  • Mr. Suzuki/Matty Suzuki - joined IWE
  • Teruo Kaneda - joined IWE
  • Hiroshi Nakagawa - retired

Foreigners

  • Johnny Valentine
  • Johnny Powers
  • Sonny Myers
  • Dean Higuchi
  • Stan Stasiak
  • Steve Stanlee
  • Eddie Graham
  • Kentuckians (Luke Brown and Grizzly Smith)
  • Danny Hodge
  • Lucky Simunovich
  • Mysterious Medico (Lou Newman)

Championships

United States Heavyweight Championship

NWA World Tag Team Championship

See also

  • Professional wrestling in Japan

References

  • Original Tokyo Pro Wrestling statistics (1966)
  • IWE Pioneer series (January 1967 shared cards)