Big Japan Pro Wrestling
Encyclopedia
Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) is a Japanese professional wrestling
promotion
established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch
style contests.
, during the boom period for Deathmatch wrestling
in Japan. Kendo Nagasaki left in 1999; Shinya Kojika is still president of the company to date.
The promotion followed in the footsteps of organisations such as Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
(FMW) and the International Wrestling Association of Japan
(IWA Japan), who helped popularise a hard-hitting, violent and bloody style of wrestling known as the Deathmatch, or in more recent years, "hardcore" wrestling. These matches are usually weapon filled, using both “conventional” weapons (such as chairs and tables), as well as “extreme” weapons not usually seen in main-stream wrestling, and previously unused in wrestling at all. These weapons include, but are by no means limited to, nails, thumbtacks, fire and fluorescent light tubes. Barbed wire is also often used liberally in these matches, sometimes wrapped around other weapons, laid on the floor surrounding the ring, wrapped around the ring ropes or even replacing the ropes altogether. In it early years, BJW was unable to directly compete with the budgets of its competition. This led to the innovation of a number of unique gimmick matches, many of which helped hide its monetary shortcomings. These include:
Away from the Deathmatches, BJW also has had well-established normal wrestling titles. On February 3, 1998, Yoshihiro Tajiri
won a one night only 8 man tournament in Tokyo to crown BJW’s first World Junior Heavyweight Champion. This match showed a distinct departure from the violent matches BJW is known for. The company also has had a World Heavyweight Championship, a World Women’s Championship, a World Tag Team Championship, and a World 4-Man Tag Team Shuffle Championship. Although the World Tag Team titles and Deathmatch titles are the only ones still active.
(NJPW) and Combat Zone Wrestling
(CZW). These were both kayfabe
feuds that were done in order to generate more income for both companies. During late 1996 and early 1997, Big Japan entered into an agreement with New Japan. Being a relatively new promotion, BJW was in need of mainstream publicity. NJPW agreed to a feud, which would allow Big Japan wrestlers to appear in their company and use New Japan’s popularity to give exposure to their company. In return, Big Japan agreed to lose the feud and the majority of the inter-promotional matches, therefore strengthening the New Japan brand. The situation provided an interesting clash of wrestling styles, as NJPW often favored a strong style of competition. The biggest show featuring both companies occurred at the Tokyo Dome on 4 January 1997.
In the late 1990’s and into the 2000’s, Big Japan competed against Combat Zone Wrestling. CZW was a relatively new American promotion at the time, and also largely focused on an extreme style of wrestling. Wrestlers feuded in both companies having matches in the United States and Japan. During the CZW feud top star Tomoaki Honma
departed the company to become a freelancer. He would later sign with All Japan Pro Wrestling
.
In October 2008 several BJPW wrestlers came to America and faced Chikara in The Global Gauntlet. BJPW did well, winning the best of 5 series on night one, but narrowly lost the Global Gauntlet match on night 2.
Warriors" also appeared in Fire Pro Wrestling Returns
as the Mad Gaijins, excluding Ric Blade
.
Professional wrestling in Japan
Puroresu is the popular term for the predominant style or genre of professional wrestling that has developed in Japan. The term comes from the Japanese pronunciation of "professional wrestling" , which is shortened to puroresu . The term became popular among English-speaking fans due to Hisaharu...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch
Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
style contests.
History
Big Japan Pro Wrestling was founded in March 1995 by former AJPW wrestlers Shinya Kojika and Kendo NagasakiKazuo Sakurada
, better known as Mr. Sakurada and as the Japanese version of , is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. He is best known, under various monikers, for his work in Stampede Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling. Sakurada is also highly regarded by Bret Hart as...
, during the boom period for Deathmatch wrestling
Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
in Japan. Kendo Nagasaki left in 1999; Shinya Kojika is still president of the company to date.
The promotion followed in the footsteps of organisations such as Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989 by Atsushi Onita that specialized in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989...
(FMW) and the International Wrestling Association of Japan
International Wrestling Association of Japan
International Wrestling Association of Japan, more commonly known as IWA Japan, was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion operating from 1994 to 1996....
(IWA Japan), who helped popularise a hard-hitting, violent and bloody style of wrestling known as the Deathmatch, or in more recent years, "hardcore" wrestling. These matches are usually weapon filled, using both “conventional” weapons (such as chairs and tables), as well as “extreme” weapons not usually seen in main-stream wrestling, and previously unused in wrestling at all. These weapons include, but are by no means limited to, nails, thumbtacks, fire and fluorescent light tubes. Barbed wire is also often used liberally in these matches, sometimes wrapped around other weapons, laid on the floor surrounding the ring, wrapped around the ring ropes or even replacing the ropes altogether. In it early years, BJW was unable to directly compete with the budgets of its competition. This led to the innovation of a number of unique gimmick matches, many of which helped hide its monetary shortcomings. These include:
- Circus Deathmatch- above the ring is a scaffold and under that scaffold there is a type of circus net made of barbed wire. When a wrestler falls off of the scaffold the barbed wire spider net is there to “catch” the wrestlers. After a wrestler, or a team of wrestlers, have been thrown into the net it is cut down and the match continues to a pin fall.
- Piranha Deathmatch- Barbed wire boards are placed in the corners. In the middle of the ring, there is a tank full of Piranhas. To win you must hold your opponent in the tank for ten seconds.
- Scorpion Deathmatch- This match is similar to the Piranha Deathmatch. However, instead of barbed wire boards, there are two cacti. And instead of Piranhas, there is a tank full of scorpions.
- Crocodile Deathmatch- Two wrestlers compete in a non-specific death match. The loser of the match must then go on to wrestle a crocodile.(This match has only been performed once in a death-match between Shadow WX & Mitsuhiro Matsunaga.)
- Fire Stone Deathmatch- Both the inside and outsides of the ring are lined with electrified space heaters wrapped in barbed wire. The match is won by pin fall.
- Big Japan W*ING Crisis Big Born Deathmatch- Barbed-wire-board, thumbtacks, bed-of-nails, circus-style-scaffold into a barbed-wire-trampoline, tub of scorpions, cactus plants, light bulbs, fire stones, dry Ice, barbed-wire-bat, drills, swords, knives and buzzsaws.
Away from the Deathmatches, BJW also has had well-established normal wrestling titles. On February 3, 1998, Yoshihiro Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
won a one night only 8 man tournament in Tokyo to crown BJW’s first World Junior Heavyweight Champion. This match showed a distinct departure from the violent matches BJW is known for. The company also has had a World Heavyweight Championship, a World Women’s Championship, a World Tag Team Championship, and a World 4-Man Tag Team Shuffle Championship. Although the World Tag Team titles and Deathmatch titles are the only ones still active.
Inter-promotional feuds
Big Japan has feuded with both New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
(NJPW) and Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
(CZW). These were both kayfabe
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
feuds that were done in order to generate more income for both companies. During late 1996 and early 1997, Big Japan entered into an agreement with New Japan. Being a relatively new promotion, BJW was in need of mainstream publicity. NJPW agreed to a feud, which would allow Big Japan wrestlers to appear in their company and use New Japan’s popularity to give exposure to their company. In return, Big Japan agreed to lose the feud and the majority of the inter-promotional matches, therefore strengthening the New Japan brand. The situation provided an interesting clash of wrestling styles, as NJPW often favored a strong style of competition. The biggest show featuring both companies occurred at the Tokyo Dome on 4 January 1997.
In the late 1990’s and into the 2000’s, Big Japan competed against Combat Zone Wrestling. CZW was a relatively new American promotion at the time, and also largely focused on an extreme style of wrestling. Wrestlers feuded in both companies having matches in the United States and Japan. During the CZW feud top star Tomoaki Honma
Tomoaki Honma
Tomoaki Honma is a freelance Japanese professional wrestler, currently touring with New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Career:Honma trained in the Big Japan dojo before debuting for the promotion in May, 1997...
departed the company to become a freelancer. He would later sign with All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
.
In October 2008 several BJPW wrestlers came to America and faced Chikara in The Global Gauntlet. BJPW did well, winning the best of 5 series on night one, but narrowly lost the Global Gauntlet match on night 2.
Fighters
- Abdullah KobayashiAbdullah Kobayashi, is a Japanese professional wrestler best known by his stage name Abdullah Kobayashi after Abdullah the Butcher, who was his trainer. He began his career in 1995 as one of the main wrestlers in Big Japan Pro Wrestling and has wrestled for Big Japan Pro Wrestling throughout most of his career....
- Atsushi Ohashi
- Daikokubo Benkei
- Daisuke SekimotoDaisuke Sekimotois a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Big Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX. He is a former six-time BJW Tag Team Champion, as well as a former NWA United National Heavyweight Champion in ZERO1-MAX...
- Jaki NumazawaJaki Numazawa, is a Japanese professional wrestler best known by his stage name "Kokutenshi" Jaki Numazawa (born June 7, 1977), is a Japanese professional wrestler best known by his stage name "Kokutenshi" Jaki Numazawa (born June 7, 1977), is a Japanese professional wrestler best known by his stage name...
- Kankuro Hoshino
- Kazuki Hashimoto
- MEN's TeiohTakeo Otsuka, also known as Men's Teioh or Terry Boy, is a Japanese professional wrestler who is a longtime mainstay of Big Japan Pro Wrestling as well as a former competitor of Michinoku Pro Wrestling...
- Ryuichi Kawakami
- Ryuji ItoRyuji Itois a Japanese professional wrestler currently competing in Big Japan Pro Wrestling. He is well known for his death match style of wrestling.- Career :...
- Ryuji Yamakawa - Inactive, hasn't appeared in 30 days
- Shadow WXShadow WXShadow WX is a professional wrestler currently competing in Big Japan Pro Wrestling. He debuted in 1995 in IWA Japan and proceeded to move to Big Japan Pro Wrestling and won the BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship 4 times and has been one of the most successful wrestlers in Big Japan Pro...
- Shinya Ishikawa
- Takumi Tsukamoto
- Yoshihito Sasaki
- Yuichi Taniguchi
- Yuji Okabayashi
Alumni
- Abdullah the ButcherAbdullah the ButcherLawrence Robert "Larry" Shreve best known as Abdullah the Butcher, and also at times The Madman from the Sudan, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler known as one of the most brutal or "hardcore" professional wrestlers of all-time...
- Asian Cougar
- BADBOY Hido
- Brahman Kei
- Brahman Shu
- Craig Classic
- Crazy Sheik
- GENTARO
- Hakaru Imai
- Hercules Senga
- Hi-69
- Hiroyuki Kondo
- Homicide
- Hyoma
- ISAMI Kodaka
- James KeenanSterling James KeenanMatt Polinsky is an American professional wrestler known better by his ring name, Sterling James Keenan, the second part of which is taken from Maynard James Keenan of Tool...
- Jason Ray
- Jason The Terrible
- Jun KasaiJun Kasaiis a Japanese professional wrestler, primarily competing for Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Dubbed the Crazy Monkey for his violent and oftentimes self-harmful style of hardcore wrestling, Kasai is considered a breakthrough talent in Japanese wrestling, able to work both hardcore and technical styles...
- Katsumasa Inoue
- Kendo NagasakiKendo NagasakiKendo Nagasaki is a professional wrestling stage name, used as a gimmick of that of a Japanese Samurai warrior with a mysterious past and even supernatural powers of hypnosis...
- Kintaro Kanemura
- Kyoko KimuraKyoko KimuraKyoko Kimura is a Japanese Pro Wrestler currently wrestling for Ibuki. She is an alumnus of Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Most notably, she is known for her Jamaican flag shirt and puffed afro that stand at roughly one foot tall. Among the notable opponents she has wrestled is Shimmer wrestler, MsChif...
- Mad Man Pondo
- Mammoth Sasaki
- MASADAMasada (wrestler)Not to be confused with Kazuhiko Masada, who also wrestles under the ring name MASADA.Brigham Paul Doane , better known by his ring name MASADA, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, NWA Wildside, and his...
- Mike SamplesMike SamplesMike Samples is a former professional Canadian football player who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League for three different teams. He was named CFL All-Star in 1981. In August 1983 he retired as a player and became an assistant coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.-References:...
- Mister PogoTetsuo SekigawaTetsuo Sekigawa is a Japanese professional wrestler who is very well known for his hardcore matches, competing in his most popular gimmick, Mr. Pogo.-Early years :...
- Mitsuhiro Matsunaga
- MIYAWAKI
- Necro ButcherNecro ButcherDylan Keith Summers is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Necro Butcher. Throughout the years he has worked for various promotions, including Beyond Wrestling, Firestormpro, Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Big Japan Pro Wrestling,...
- Onryo
- Saburo Inematsu
- Shinobu
- Shoji Nakamaki
- Takahiro Morishima
- Takashi Sasaki
- Tarzan GotoTarzan Goto, better known by his ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler who has wrestled on the independent circuit most of his career. He is best known for his exploding steel cage matches againest Atsushi Onita and Pat Tanaka in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling ....
- Tetsuhiro Kuroda
- The W*inger
- Tomoaki HonmaTomoaki HonmaTomoaki Honma is a freelance Japanese professional wrestler, currently touring with New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Career:Honma trained in the Big Japan dojo before debuting for the promotion in May, 1997...
- Tsutomu Oosugi
- Yoshihiro TajiriYoshihiro Tajiri, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
- Yuko Miyamoto
- Yusaku Obata
"CZW Warriors" (2000 - 2002)
The stable "CZWCombat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
Warriors" also appeared in Fire Pro Wrestling Returns
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns is a professional wrestling video game that was released in 2005 in Japan, and was released on November 13, 2007 in North America and February 8, 2008 in Italy. The game is part of the Fire Pro Wrestling series.As the title suggests, the game marks Spike's return to 2D...
as the Mad Gaijins, excluding Ric Blade
Ric Blade
Ric Blade is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in Combat Zone Wrestling, where he was a one time Junior Heavyweight Champion and a one time World Tag Team Champion with Nick Mondo. Blade has wrestled in such companies such as Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling, Big Japan...
.
- John ZandigJohn ZandigJohn Corson was an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name, John Zandig. He is the founder and former owner of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling .-Biography:...
- Johnny KashmereJohnny KashmereJohnny Kashmere is an American professional wrestler, best known as one half of The Backseat Boyz, along with the late Trent Acid...
- Justice PainJustice PainChristopher Wilson is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Justice Pain. Pain is best known for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged...
- Nate HatredNate HatredNate Hatred is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his current tenure in the Philadelphia-based hardcore wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling where he is a member of the H8 Club...
- Nick BerkNick BerkNicholas K. "Nick" Berk , also known by his ring name Nicky Benz, is an American independent professional wrestler, best known for his work in Combat Zone Wrestling, where he is a former CZW World Heavyweight and Iron Man Champion....
- Nick GageNick GageNicholas W. "Nick" Wilson is a hardcore professional wrestler best known from Combat Zone Wrestling. Along with being the first-ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion, he has wrestled at nearly every CZW show and has competed in more CZW matches than anyone...
- Ric BladeRic BladeRic Blade is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in Combat Zone Wrestling, where he was a one time Junior Heavyweight Champion and a one time World Tag Team Champion with Nick Mondo. Blade has wrestled in such companies such as Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling, Big Japan...
- RuckusClaude MarrowClaude Marrow is an American independent professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ruckus. Marrow current performs in Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Chikara and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
- Trent AcidTrent AcidMichael Verdi was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Trent Acid. Verdi had worked as a tag team wrestler for most of his career, primarily as part of The Backseat Boyz with Johnny Kashmere, in several independent promotions in America, including Combat Zone Wrestling,...
- Van Hammer
- WifebeaterMatt PrinceMatt Prince, better known as ring name Wifebeater, is a former Marine and a semi-retired professional wrestler best known for his tenure in Combat Zone Wrestling from 1999 to 2004...
Current
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship The BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship is the top title contested for in the Japanese promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling. As its name suggests, it is exclusively defended in deathmatches. It was first created in 1998 when The Great Pogo defeated Mitsuhiro Matsunaga in a tournament final... |
Ryuji Ito Ryuji Ito is a Japanese professional wrestler currently competing in Big Japan Pro Wrestling. He is well known for his death match style of wrestling.- Career :... |
May 15, 2010 |
| BJW Tag Team Championship | Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto | May 5, 2011 |
Defunct
| Championship: | Final champion(s): | Date won: |
|---|---|---|
| BJW Heavyweight Championship | Men's Teioh | September 5, 2004 |
| BJW Junior Heavyweight Championship | Homicide | November 15, 2002 |
| BJW Women's Championship | Kaori Yoneyama | |
| BJW 8-Man Scramble Championship | The Great Kojika |
Former
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship The FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship was a tag team hardcore wrestling championship contested in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling from April 2000 until FMW closed in February 2002... |
Kengo Mashimo & Ryuichi Sekine | May 5, 2011 |