[19] Meltzer wrote in 2009 that head drops were "never necessary", as Misawa and his peers in AJPW were already "having the best matches in wrestling" before they incorporated these maneuvers into their style.[16]. This era was also notable for multiple wrestlers returning from retirement such as Chigusa Nagayo, Lioness Asuka, Jaguar Yokota, Devil Masami and Bison Kimura, which increased interest. While there is no governing authority for puroresu, there is a general standard which has developed. [2] It is treated as a legitimate fight, with fewer theatrics; the stories told in Japanese matches are about a fighter's spirit and perseverance. So that's as far back as current Joshi seems to go, but of course we know that there was Japanese Women's Wrestling prior to that.

Born: Dec 16th 1967, From: Tokyo, Japan, Debut: Sept 5th 1986, Retired: May 20th 2997. Wrestling and martial arts icon Antonio Inoki usually organizes wrestling matches and MMA fights on the same card. The "shooter" side went on to form Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW), while the "entertainer" side, led by Jackie Satoand financed by Masatoshi Yamamoto, founded JWP Project, later renamed JWP Joshi Puroresu, which held its first event on April 3, 1992. Puroresu done by female wrestlers is called joshi puroresu (女子プロレス) or joshi puro for short. In 1992, Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling dissolved, splitting into LLPW and JWP. Already the following year, JW… Change ), Top 50 Royal Rumble Entrants Of All Time (10-1), Top 50 Royal Rumble Entrants Of All Time (25-11), Top 50 Royal Rumble Entrants Of All Time (50-26). ), 1 time International Ribbon Champion, 1 time JWP/Daily Sports Tag Team Champion (with Arisa Nakajima as Best Friends), 2 time International Ribbon Champion (with Tsukushi), 1 time WAVE Dual Shock Wave winner, 1 time WAVE Tag Team Champion (with Misaki Ohata as Cross), Trademark maneouvres: Venus Shoot (double springboard enziguri), Tsukadora (wheelbarrow sunset flip powebomb), Born: Dec 16th 1967, From: Tokyo, Japan, Debut: Sept 5th 1986, Retired: May 20th 2997, Career highlights: 4 time LLPW Champion, 5 time LLPW 6-Woman Tag Team Champion, 3 time LLPW Tag Team Champion, 1 time Tokyo Sports Women’s Award winner, Born: May 28th 1969, From: Tokyo, Japan, Debut: Aug 5th 1987, Retired: Nov 1st 2009, Career highlights: 1 time NEO Pacific Women’s Champion, 1 time AWF Women’s Champion, 4 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 1 time AJW Tag Team Champion, 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion, 1 time Twin Star Of ARSION Champion, 2 time UWA World Women’s Tag Team Champion (with Mima Shimoda as Los Cachorras Orientales), 1 time AJW Tag Team Champion (with Toshiyo Yamada as Dream Orca), 2 time NEO Tag Team Champion (with Kyoko Inoue), 1 time Tokyo Sports Women’s Award winner, Trademark manoeuvres: death valley driver, Born: 1951, From: Osaki, Miyagi, Japan, Debut: Mar 1st 1966, Retired: 1978, Career highlights: 5 time WWA World Champion, 7 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Aiko Kyo), 5 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Miyoko Hoshino), 9 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Mariko Akagi), 1 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Junko Sasaki), Born: Jul 7th 1980, From: Fujidera, Osaka, Japan, Debut: Jul 14th 1996, Retired: Jan 7th 2005, Career highlights: 1 time WWWA World Champion, 1 time AJW Japan GP winner, 1 time WWWA All-Pacific Champion, 2 time AJW Champion, 1 time AJW Jr. Champion,  1 time WWWA Super Lightweight Champion, 1 time NWA Pacific Women’s Champion, 1 time NEO Stage tournament winner, 2 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 2 time AJW Tag Team Champion (with Nanae Takahashi as NAKA*MOMO), 1 time Tokyo Sports Women’s Award winner, Born: Aug 17th 1975, From: Seinan, Osaka, Japan, Debut: Dec 4th 1994, Retired: Dec 9th 2012, Career highlights: 1 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time OZ Academy Openweight Champion, 1 time AJW Jr. Champion, 1 time JWP Jr. Champion, 1 time NEO Stage tournament winner, 4 time JWP Tag Team Champion, 1 time JWP Tag League The Best winner, 2 time Daily Sports Tag Team Champion, 2 time AAAW Tag Team Champion, 1 time WAVE Tag Team Champion (with Toshie Uematsu as Uematsu*Ran), 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion, 1 time ICE International Ribbon Champion (with Azumi Hyuga), 2 time OZ Academy Tag Team Champion (with AKINO), 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion (with Misae Genki), Trademark manouevres: blockbuster, brainbuster, Born: Jan 10th 1967, From: Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, Debut: Jul 4th 1985, Career highlights: 3 time WWWA World Champion, 1 time WWWA All Pacific Champion, 1 time REINA World Champion, 2 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Mitsuko Nishikawa), 1 time JWP/Daily Sports Tag Team Champion, 2 time DIANA Tag Team Champion, 1 time REINA Tag Team Champion, former owner/booker of ARSION, founder/former owner of REINA, Trademark manouevres: Pyramid Driver (Michinoku Driver), thunder fire powerbomb, juji gatame (cross armbreaker), Born: Jan 6th 1975, From: Matsudo, Chiba, Japan, Debut: Dec 4th 1994, Retired: Dec 27th 2009, Career highlights: 4 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time WWWA All-Pacific Champion, 1 time JWP Jr. Champion, 1 time NWA Pacific Women’s Champion, 4 time JWP Tag Team Champion, 2 time JWP Koraken Tag Team Champion, 1 time Daily Sports Tag Team Champion, 1 time ICE International Ribbon Champion, Trademark manoeuvres: double-arm backbreaker, Michinoku Driver, rolling German suplexes, Born: Dec 8th 1964, From: Omura, Nagasaki, Japan, Debut: Aug 8th 1980, Semi-retired: Apr 10th 2005, Career highlights: 1 time WWWA World Champion, 2 time WWWA All-Pacific Champion, 1 time AJW Jr. Champion, 1 time AJW Japan GP winner, 2 time AAAW Champion, 2 time IWA World Women’s Champion, 4 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 1 time AAAW Tag Team Champion, 2 time AJW Tag League The Best winner (with Lioness Asuka as Crush Gals), 2 Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 star matches, owner/founder/matriarch of GAEA and MARVELOUS Women’s Pro Wrestling, Trademark manouevres: Running Three (running over the shoulder falling powerbomb), Super Freak (tilt-a-whirl powerbomb), Super Freak II (spinning gutwrench powerbomb), Sasori Gatame (sharpshooter), Born: Dec 7th 1975, From: Kamagaya, Chiba, Japan, Debut: Jan 8th 1995, Career highlights: 2 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time OZ Academy Openweight Champion, 1 time NWA Pacific Women’s Champion, 1 time JWP Jr. Champion, 3 time JWP/Daily Sports Tag Team Champion, 1 time JWP Tag League The Best winner (with Kayoko Haruyama as Harukura), 1 time AJW Tag Team Champion, 1 time OZ Academy Tag Team Champion, 1 time Artist Of STARDOM Champion, Trademark manoeuvres: Luna Wing (reverse senton bomb), Firebird Splash (450 splash), Canadian backbreaker rack, Born: Nov 7th 1969, From: Toride, Ibraka, Japan, Debut: Oct 10th 1988, Career highlights: 3 time WWWA All-Pacific Champion, 1 time IWA World Women’s Champion, 1 time AJW Champion, 4 time WWWA Tag Team Champion,  (with Kyoko Inoue as Double Inoue), 2 time AJW Tag Team Champion (with Mariko Yoshida), 1 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Rizumi Kazama as Black Joker), 1 time AJW Tag Team Champion (with Tomoko Watanabe as Black Joker), 1 time LLPW 6-Woman Tag Team Champion (with Eagle Sawai and Rizumi Kazama as Black Joker), 1 time AJW Tag League The Best winner, 2 Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 star matches, Trademark manoeuvres: Beauty Fist/Takako Night Night (spinning backfist), Destiny Hammer/Takako*Panic (diving high knee), Aurora Special (modified backdrop driver), Born: Dec 4th 1969, From: Kyoto, Japan, Debut: Aug 17th 1986, Career highlights: 2 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time WWWA World Champion, 1 time AAAW Champion, 2 time OZ Academy Openweight Champion, 2 time JWP Tag Team Champion (with Cutie Suzuki), 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion (with Devil Masami), 1 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Mayumi Ozaki), 1 time OZ Academy Tag Team Champion (with Carlos Amano), 2 Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 star matches, Trademark manuevres: Splash Mountain (sitout crucifix powerbomb), Die Hard Kansai (middle or top rope Splash Mountain), iron claw hold, Born: Feb 26th 1981, From: Zushi, Kanagawa, Japan, Debut: Nov 26th 1999, Career highlights: 1 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time JWP Jr. Champion, 1 time BJW Women’s Champion, 1 time AJW Champion, 2 time NEO/STARDOM High Speed Champion, 1 time UPW Fly To Everywhere Champion, 1 time IWA Triple Crown Champion, 1 time JWP/Daily Sports Tag Team Champion (with Hailey Hatred as Queens Revolution), 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion, 2 time Daily Sports Tag Team Champion, 1 time ICE International Ribbon Champion (with Emi Sakura as Hearts Kei Move Reform), 1 time AJW Tag Team Champion, 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion (with Kayoko Haruyama), 2 time Artist Of STARDOM Champion, 1 time OZ Academy Tag Team Champion, Trademark manouevres: Shiranui, rolling bridging Germa Suplex, Yone-Zou (sunset flip powerbomb), Born: Jul 28th 1963, From: Hasuda, Saitama, Japan, Debut: May 10th 1980, Retired: Apr 3rd 2005, Career highlights: 2 time WWWA World Champion, 1 time WWWA All-Pacific Champin, 2 time AJW Champion, 1 time AJW Jr. Champion, 1 time AJW Japan GP winner, 1 time Queen Of ARSION Champion, 1 time NWA Pacific Women’s Champion, 4 time TWF Women’s Champion, 4 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 2 time AJW Tag League The Best winner, 1 time AAAW Tag Team Champion (with Chigusa Nagayo as Crush Gals), 2 time LLPW 6-Woman Tag Team Champion, 3 time Twin Star Of ARSION Champion, 2 time Tokyo Sports Women’s Award winner, 4 Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 star matches, Trademark manouevres: Towerhacker Bomb (Argentine backbreaker rack powerbomb), LSD (fisherman’s buster), LSD II (leg hook falcon arrow), LSD III (cutthroat leg hook falcon arrow), K Driller (belly to belly seated piledriver), Asian Mist, Born: Feb 5th 1979, From: Fukuoka, Japan, Debut: Jan 23rd 1998, Retired: Dec 27th 2015, 5’3”, 152lbs (early career)/170lbs (late career), Career highlights: 3 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time JWP Jr. Champion, 1 time AJW Champion, 3 time JWP/Daily Sports Tag Team Champion, 1 time JWP Tag League The Best winner (with Kayoko Haruyama as Harukura), 1 time ICE International Tag Ribbon Champion, 1 time JWP Tag League The Best winner (with Aoi Kizuki as Orange Happy), 1 time AJW Tag Team Champion, 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion (with Kaori Yoneyama), Trademark manouevres: Orange Blossom (straightjacket German suplex), Keene Hammer (Emerald Flowsion), Orange*Tomahawk (middle rope leg drop bulldog), Born: Feb 14th 1981, From: Mexico City, Mexico, Debut: Aug 9th 1998, Career highlights: 3 time WWWA World Champion, 1 time Queen Of ARSION Champion, 1 time Sky High Of ARSION Champion, 1 time AAAW Champion, 1 time Regina di WAVE Champion, 1 time WWA Women’s World Champion, 1 time UWA Women’s World Champion, 1 time IWRG Intrcontinental Women’s Champion, 1 time ARSION Sky High tournament winner, 1 time ARSION ZION tournament winner, 3 time WAVE Tag Team Champion, 2 time Catch The WAVE winner (with Yuu Yamagata as Las Adventureras), 2 time Twin Star Of ARSION Champion, 1 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 1 time AAAW Tag Team Champion, 2 time TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion, 1 time SHIMMER Tag Team Champion, 1 time Tokyo Sports Women’s Award winner, Trademark manouevres: AP Cross (fisherman driver), AP Cross Diamond (Samoan driver), Hama-Chan Cutter (elevated cutter), Born: Oct 28th 1968, From: Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan, Debut: Aug 17th 1986, Career highlights: 1 time AAAW Champion, 1 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time GAEA GAORA TV Cup winner, 2 time JWP Tag Team Champion (with Cutie Suzuki), 1 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Dynamite Kansai as OZ Academy), 3 time AAAW Tag Team Champion, 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion, 5 time OZ Academy Tag Team Champion, 4 Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 star matches, owner/founder/matriarch of OZ Academy, Trademark manouevres: Tequila Sunrise (bridging half-nelson suplex), Uraken (spinning backfist), Born: Dec 23rd 1978, From: Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan, Debut: Jul 14th 1996, Career highlights: 2 time WWWA World Champion, 1 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time World Of STARDOM Champion, 1 time AJW Champion, 1 time Jd’ Queen Of The Ring champion, 1 time ICE Triangle Ribbon champion, 3 time AWA World Women’s Champion, 1 time AJW Japan GP winner, 1 time NEO Japan Cup winner, 1 time STARDOM 5* GP winner, 2 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 2 time AJW Tag Team Champion (with Momoe Nakanishi as TANA*MOMO), 1 time Goddesses Of STARDOM Champion, 1 time Goddesses Of STARDOM Tag League winner (with Kairi Hojo as Seven Sea Miles), 1 time Goddesses Of STARDOM Champion (with Miho Wakizawa as Kiss n Sekei), 3 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 3 time ICE International Ribbon Champion, 1 time Tokyo Sports Women’s Award winner, Trademark manouevres: Nana*Racka (falcon arrow), Nana*Rack II (muscle buster), Nanalock (dragon sleeper), Born: Apr 4th 1969, From: Nanyo, Yamagata, Japan, Debut: Jul 4th 1985, Career highlights: 3 time WWWA World Champion, 2 WWWA All-Pacific Champion, 2 time IWA World Women’s Champion, 1 time AJW Champion, 1 time AJW Japan GP winner, 3 time NWA Women’s Pacific Champion, 2 time TWF World Women’s Champion, 2 time DIANA World Women’s Champion, 1 time NEO Stage tournamnet winner, 4 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Takako Inoue as Double Inoue), 1 time NEO Tag Team Champion, 1 time NEO Midsummer Tag League winner (with Hiroyo Matsumoto), 3 time AJW Tag League The Best winner, 2 time DIANA Tag Team Champion, 1 time Tokyo Sports Women’s Award winner, 8 Wrestling Observer Magazine 5 star matches, owner/founder/matriarch of DIANA, Trademark manouevres: Victoria Driver (Burning Hammer), Niagara Driver (one shoulder sitout powerbomb), lariat, Born: Sept 25th 1970, From: Tokyo, Japan, Debut: Sept 17th 1986, Career highlights: 2 time WWWA World Champion, 1 time WWWA All-Pacific Champion, 1 time AJW Champion, 3 time AAAW Champion, 1 time Queen Of ARSION Champion, 3 time OZ Academy Openweight Champion, 2 time AJW Japan GP winner, 2 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Bison Kimura as Jungle Jack), 1 time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Grizzly Iwamoto as Jungle Jack), 1 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 1 time AAAW Tag Team Champion, 1 time LLPW Tag Team Champion (with Amazing Kong as Double Kong), 1 time AJW Tag League The Best winner, 4 time OZ Academy Tag Team Champion, 1 JWP Tag Team Champion, 1 Twin Star Of ARSION Champion, 3 Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 star matches, one of only two women in history to headline the Tokyo Dome (along with Akira Hokuto), Trademark manouevres: Uraken (spinning backfist), brainbuster, northern lights suplex, Born: Mar 2nd 1971, From: Masuda, Shimane, Japan, Debut: Aug 5th 1987, Career highlights: 4 time WWWA World Champion, 2 time WWWA All-Pacific Champion, 1 time AJW Champion, 1 time IWA World Women’s Champion, 4 time AJW Japan GP winner, 1 time JWP Openweight Champion, 1 time AAAW Champion, 1 time OZ Academy Openweight Champion, 2 time WWWA Tag Team Champion, 1 time UWA World Women’s Tag Team Champion (with Toshiyo Yamada as 1987 Team Gold Combo), 1 time WWWA World Tag Team Champion (with Mima Shimoda as Tokyo Sweethearts), 2 time OZ Academy Tag Team Champion, 1 time AAAW Tag Team Champion (with Carlos Amano), 1 time JWP Tag Team Champion (with Kaoru Ito), 5 time AJW Tag League The Best winner, 8 Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 star matches, 2 time Wrestling Observer Newsletter Match Of The Year winner, first and only woman to win the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, voted Greatest Female Wrestler Of All Time by a Wrestling Observer readers poll in 2009, Trademark manouevres: Japanese Ocean Bomb (straight jacket alley-oop powerbomb), Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex (bridging electric chair suplex), Japanese Ocean Queen Bee Bomb (cutthroat scoop brainbuster), Japanese Ocean Suplex (bridging double hammerlock suplex), Victory Star Drop (top rope body scissors backflip suplex).

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. The term comes from the Japanese pronunciation of "professional wrestling" (プロフェッショナル・レスリング), which is shortened to puroresu. Wrestlers incorporated kicks and strikes from martial arts disciplines, and a strong emphasis was placed on submission wrestling.