GAEA Japan
Encyclopedia
Gaea Japan was a Japan
ese women's professional wrestling promotion
. (Japanese female professional wrestling, also known as joshi puro, is a style first recognised in 1948. Since then it has gained more recognition both in Japan and internationally.) GAEA's name comes from the Greek mythological goddess of the Earth, Gaea or Gaia
.
, a professional wrestler who achieved huge success in the 1980s with her tag team partner, Lioness Asuka
, as the Crush Gals. She helped to train a lot of the younger wrestlers that were featured in GAEA.
GAEA's formation was first announced at a press conference held on August 24, 1994. Present at the event were charter members Nagayo, KAORU, and Bomber Hikaru. GAEA's first rookie auditions were also held on this occasion.
On April 15, 1995 the new promotion held its first show. It was at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall
, and was called Memorial First Gong. The event was a sellout and received good press. From this point on, GAEA held monthly shows at Korakuen and also occasionally went on the road to other Japanese cities.
GAEA's reputation grew as a result of the acquisition of some well-known wrestlers, and the organization of some very successful interpromotional shows. GAEA acquired highly-respected freelance wrestler Akira Hokuto on September 16, 1996 and Toshiyo Yamada
on July 3, 1997. The promotion established a relationship with the Japanese hardcore promotion Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW) on July 29, 1995, and worked with the prominent American promotion World Championship Wrestling
(WCW) in 1996. As a component of the relationship with WCW two GAEA wrestlers, Akira Hokuto and Toshie Uematsu
, became the first WCW Women's Champion
and WCW Women's Cruiserweight Champion
respectively.
GAEA's most famous storyline involved the reunion of 80's tag team sensations, the Crush Gals, in 2000. The Crush phenomenon in Japan was roughly akin to the American phenomenon of Hulkamania
, and the first appearance of the reunited partnership, on May 14, 2000, at GAEA's fifth anniversary show, drew the attention of the entirety of the Japanese press.
On March 15, 2004, a weekly show with matches from GAEA started on The Wrestling Channel.
On April 10, 2005, GAEA closed its doors for good, with a farewell show at the Tokyo Korakuen Hall called Eternal Last Gong.
and a tag team championship
, on November 2, 1996. Originally, the singles belt was labeled "Heavyweight", while the tag team belts were labeled "Junior Heavyweight", but the weight class requirements were eliminated on May 31, 1998. The first AAAW Champion was GAEA founder Chigusa Nagayo. The belt was subsequently held by some of the most prominent Japanese women's wrestlers of the 1990s, including Manami Toyota
and Aja Kong. The AAAW Tag Team Championship was first held by Meiko Satomura
and Sonoko Kato. Also, Uematsu's WCW Women's Cruiserweight Title was solely defended in GAEA after Uematsu won it in the United States, until the title was abandoned after GAEA and WCW ceased their relationship.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese women's professional wrestling 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...
. (Japanese female professional wrestling, also known as joshi puro, is a style first recognised in 1948. Since then it has gained more recognition both in Japan and internationally.) GAEA's name comes from the Greek mythological goddess of the Earth, Gaea or Gaia
Gaia (mythology)
Gaia was the primordial Earth-goddess in ancient Greek religion. Gaia was the great mother of all: the heavenly gods and Titans were descended from her union with Uranus , the sea-gods from her union with Pontus , the Giants from her mating with Tartarus and mortal creatures were sprung or born...
.
History
GAEA was founded in 1995 by Chigusa NagayoChigusa Nagayo
is a retired Japanese female professional wrestler best known for her mainstream popularity in the 1980s as a member of the tag team The Crush Gals with long-time partner Lioness Asuka. She was the founder of the GAEA Women's Professional Wrestling organization . She briefly competed as alter-ego...
, a professional wrestler who achieved huge success in the 1980s with her tag team partner, Lioness Asuka
Lioness Asuka
is a Japanese professional wrestler from Tokyo. Along with long-time tag team partner Chigusa Nagayo she formed The Crush Gals, known for their mainstream popularity in the 1980s, and the most successful women's tag team of all time.-Career:...
, as the Crush Gals. She helped to train a lot of the younger wrestlers that were featured in GAEA.
GAEA's formation was first announced at a press conference held on August 24, 1994. Present at the event were charter members Nagayo, KAORU, and Bomber Hikaru. GAEA's first rookie auditions were also held on this occasion.
On April 15, 1995 the new promotion held its first show. It was at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall
Korakuen Hall
is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing...
, and was called Memorial First Gong. The event was a sellout and received good press. From this point on, GAEA held monthly shows at Korakuen and also occasionally went on the road to other Japanese cities.
GAEA's reputation grew as a result of the acquisition of some well-known wrestlers, and the organization of some very successful interpromotional shows. GAEA acquired highly-respected freelance wrestler Akira Hokuto on September 16, 1996 and Toshiyo Yamada
Toshiyo Yamada
is a retired Japanese female professional wrestler. In the 1990s, Yamada wrestled for the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling promotion .-Career:A year after her professional wrestling debut in 1987, Toshiyo Yamada was awarded the AJW Junior Championship. She then formed the tag team "Dream Orca" with...
on July 3, 1997. The promotion established a relationship with the Japanese hardcore promotion Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW) on July 29, 1995, and worked with the prominent American promotion World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW) in 1996. As a component of the relationship with WCW two GAEA wrestlers, Akira Hokuto and Toshie Uematsu
Toshie Uematsu
is a female Japanese Professional Wrestler best known for her popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. She was one of the members of the first class of wrestlers trained by Chigusa Nagayo when Nagayo formed the GAEA Japan promotion...
, became the first WCW Women's Champion
WCW Women's Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Women's Championship was a short-lived title for the women's division in World Championship Wrestling. It lasted from 1996 until 1997, when it was abandoned...
and WCW Women's Cruiserweight Champion
WCW Women's Cruiserweight Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Women's Cruiserweight Championship was a short-lived singles championship in World Championship Wrestling for the smaller women. It was created as a joint venture between WCW and GAEA Japan. The weight limit for the women's cruiserweight division was 130 lb...
respectively.
GAEA's most famous storyline involved the reunion of 80's tag team sensations, the Crush Gals, in 2000. The Crush phenomenon in Japan was roughly akin to the American phenomenon of Hulkamania
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, and the first appearance of the reunited partnership, on May 14, 2000, at GAEA's fifth anniversary show, drew the attention of the entirety of the Japanese press.
On March 15, 2004, a weekly show with matches from GAEA started on The Wrestling Channel.
On April 10, 2005, GAEA closed its doors for good, with a farewell show at the Tokyo Korakuen Hall called Eternal Last Gong.
Championships
GAEA established the two All Asia Athlete Women's (AAAW) titles, a singles championshipAAAW Singles Championship
The GAEA AAAW Athletic Singles Championship or AAAW Championship was a championship belt contested in the Japanese women's professional wrestling promotion GAEA Japan The belt was abandoned in 2005, after GAEA was closed down.-History:...
and a tag team championship
AAAW Tag Team Championship
The AAAW Tag Team Championship was a title in the GAEA Japan promotion. The title was abandoned when GAEA closed in 2005.-Title history:-External links:*...
, on November 2, 1996. Originally, the singles belt was labeled "Heavyweight", while the tag team belts were labeled "Junior Heavyweight", but the weight class requirements were eliminated on May 31, 1998. The first AAAW Champion was GAEA founder Chigusa Nagayo. The belt was subsequently held by some of the most prominent Japanese women's wrestlers of the 1990s, including Manami Toyota
Manami Toyota
is a professional wrestler best known for her work with the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling wrestling promotion. Following AJW's closure she has continued to work in other joshi promotions such as GAEA and NEO...
and Aja Kong. The AAAW Tag Team Championship was first held by Meiko Satomura
Meiko Satomura
Meiko Satomura is a Japanese professional wrestler. She co-founded Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling-Media:Satomura appeared in the 2000 documentary made for the BBC by Kim Longinotto and Jano Williams.-In wrestling:*Finishing moves...
and Sonoko Kato. Also, Uematsu's WCW Women's Cruiserweight Title was solely defended in GAEA after Uematsu won it in the United States, until the title was abandoned after GAEA and WCW ceased their relationship.
Final champions
| Championship | Last Champion(s) | Previous | Date Won | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAEA AAAW Athletic Singles Championship | Aja Kong | Meiko Satomura Meiko Satomura Meiko Satomura is a Japanese professional wrestler. She co-founded Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling-Media:Satomura appeared in the 2000 documentary made for the BBC by Kim Longinotto and Jano Williams.-In wrestling:*Finishing moves... |
April 3, 2005 | Yokohama, Japan |
| GAEA AAAW Tag Team Championship | Toshie Uematsu and Ran YuYu | Manami Toyota and Carlos Amano | April 3, 2005 | Yokohama, Japan |