:JWP Joshi Puroresu
{{Short description|Japanese professional wrestling promotion}}
{{Infobox Wrestling promotion
|name = JWP Joshi Puroresu
|image = JWP Joshi Puroresu logo.png
|image_size = 250px
|caption =
|acronym = JWP
|established = April 3, 1992
|folded = April 2, 2017
|style = Joshi puroresu
|location = Adachi, Tokyo
|founder = Masatoshi Yamamoto
|owner = Kiyoshi Shinozaki
|parent =
|sister =
|formerly =
|merged =
|split = Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
|predecessor =
|successor =Pure-J
|website = [http://www.jwp-produce.com/ JWP-Produce.com]
}}
{{nihongo|JWP Joshi Puroresu|JWP女子プロレス|JWP Joshi Puroresu}}, also known as {{nihongo|JWP Project|JWPプロジェクト|JWP Purojekuto}} or simply JWP, was a Japanese joshi puroresu (women's professional wrestling) promotion, founded in 1992 as a splinter promotion of Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. Celebrating its 25th anniversary at the time of its folding in 2017, JWP was the oldest joshi puroresu promotion in Japan and its Openweight Championship was the oldest championship in all of joshi.{{cite web | url = http://representingpuroresu.wordpress.com/joshi-puroresu/jwp/ | title = JWP (Japan Women Project) | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=Puroresu Representin'}}{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/21348-wedupdate-rocks-return-punk-on-ice-cream-barswwe-back-on-nbc-marquardt-update-ratings-doc | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715224558/http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/21348-wedupdate-rocks-return-punk-on-ice-cream-barswwe-back-on-nbc-marquardt-update-ratings-doc | title = Wed.update: Rock's return, Punk on Ice Cream bars, WWE back on NBC, Marquardt update, Ratings, doc | last=Meltzer | first=Dave | author-link=Dave Meltzer | archive-date=July 15, 2011 | date=July 13, 2011 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter | quote={{Sic|nolink=y|Haily}} Hatred, the first American to win the JWP title (which is actually the longest running women's title in Japan)...}} Command Bolshoi, who had worked for the promotion since the beginning, served as the final president of JWP.{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1321466188 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111122053156/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1321466188 | title = Indy News #3: Chikara's JoshiMania in December | last=Martin | first=Adam | archive-date=November 22, 2011 | date=November 16, 2011 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=Chikara | publisher=Wrestleview}} The promotion's slogan was "Pure Heart, Pure Wrestling".{{cite web | url = http://jwpinfo.blog53.fc2.com/blog-entry-775.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120210100853/http://jwpinfo.blog53.fc2.com/blog-entry-775.html | title = グッズ情報 JWP激闘史2008 ~Pure Heart Pure Wrestling~ | archive-date=February 10, 2012 | date=April 3, 2009 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=JWP Joshi Puroresu | publisher=FC2 | language=ja}}
History
JWP Joshi Puroresu was founded in early 1992, when Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (JWP), ravaged by internal politics, split up into two camps, dubbed the "shooters" and the "entertainers",{{cite web | url = http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/7487/history-of-womens-wrestling-part-13/ | title = Lipstick, Dynamite and Glowworms, Part 13 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=Online World of Wrestling}} and eventually folded on January 18.{{cite magazine|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=January 20, 1992|title=Jan 20 1992 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 1991 year-end awards issue, Herd leaves WCW, more (back issue)|magazine=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|location=Campbell, California|issn=1083-9593|page=11|quote=The biggest news of the week in Japan is that after Sunday afternoon's show at Korakuen Hall, the JWP promotion announced it was folding. The death of the group, the least popular of all the promotions running full-time schedules in Japan, wasn't unexpected and had been rumored since late last year. It is expected that with the ending of the JWP group that two of its wrestlers, Rumi Kazama and Shinobu Kandori, were going to approach Hachiro Tanaka (who already owns SWS and PWF and apparently is going sponsor Antonio Inoki in some ways) about financing a new women's promotion which would employ most of the old JWP women. No word if All Japan Women will hire any of the JWP wrestlers who are now out of wrestling work.}}{{cite magazine|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=January 27, 1992|title=Jan 27 1992 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Flair wins Royal Rumble, more awards, WCW courts Bret (back issue)|magazine=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|location=Campbell, California|issn=1083-9593|page=15|quote=JWP finishing up its final tour before it goes out of business drew 1,132 on 1/18 in Hiroshima as Pink Cadillac & Cutie Suzuki beat three girls in a handicap match and Harley Saito & Devil Masami beat Eagle Sawai & Dynamite Kansai.}} The "shooter" side went on to form Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW), while the "entertainer" side, led by Jackie Sato and financed by Masatoshi Yamamoto, founded JWP Project, later renamed JWP Joshi Puroresu, which held its first event on April 3, 1992.{{cite magazine|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=March 30, 1992|title=Mar 30 1992 Observer Newsletter: No buzz for 92 Mania, WWE steroid symposium, Donahue fallout, more (back issue)|magazine=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|location=Campbell, California|issn=1083-9593|page=8|quote=JWP, after closing down for re-financing, starts back in business on 4/3 in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall headlined by Dynamite Kansai & Hikari Fukuoka vs. Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki and they'll be back 4/11 in the same building with Kansai vs. Plum Mariko in the main event.}}{{cite magazine|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=May 4, 1992|title=May 4, 1992 Observer Newsletter: NWA Title tourney, Luger lawsuit, early Russo heat, Wrestlemarinpiad (back issue)|magazine=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|location=Campbell, California|issn=1083-9593|pages=9–10|quote=Next major JWP show is 5/23 in Yashio. The new JWP consists of ten women and it's like PWF and UWFI where they pretty much have the same match-ups all the time. Of the ten, the major names are Devil Masami, Cutie Suzuki, Plum Mariko and Dynamite Kansai. The other three major names from the old JWP, Harley Saito, Rumi Kazama and Shinobu Kandori are trying to start up their own company which is tentatively scheduled to open in June.}} Already the following year, JWP managed to sign a television deal with the WOWOW channel.{{cite magazine|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=July 26, 1993|title=July 26, 1993 Observer Newsletter: Beach Blast, WWF and WCW booking discussions, tons more (back issue)|magazine=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|location=Campbell, California|issn=1083-9593|page=13|quote=JWP's first television show aired on WOWOW channel on 7/10 featuring a hot 27:00 main event with Dynamite Kansai & Plum Mariko vs. Devil Masami & Cutie Suzuki that was in the four-star range.}} In 1994, Jaleco published the {{nihongo|JWP Joshi Pro Wrestling: Pure Wrestle Queens|JWP女子プロレス ピュア・レッスル・クイーンズ|JWP Joshi Puroresu Pyua Ressuru Kuīnzu}} video game for the Super Famicom game console.{{cite web | url = http://www.super-famicom.jp/data/si/si_0010.html | title = JWP女子プロレス ピュア・レッスル・クイーンズ | access-date=July 28, 2012 | work=Super-Famicom.jp | language=ja}}
JWP's goal from the start was to rival All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), the top joshi puroresu promotion in the country, but always remained in its shadow. After closing the gap between the two promotions in 1996, JWP was hit hard in 1997, when two of its top workers, Candy Okutsu and Hiromi Yagi retired, Dynamite Kansai was sidelined with health problems and finally, when, on August 16, another top worker, Plum Mariko, died in the ring during one of its events.{{cite web | url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_2542.shtml | title = 5 Yrs Ago: Zavisa ranks the top Japanese promotions (part two) | last=Zavisa | first=Chris | date=January 31, 1998 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}} These were followed by Jackie Sato's death from stomach cancer on August 9, 1999. After a co-promoted event with AJW in February 2000 turned out to be a failure, JWP closed its doors at the end of the year. However, the promotion returned just a few months later, now under new management, headed by wrestler Command Bolshoi. JWP continued working with former rival promotion AJW until the promotion folded in April 2005. JWP then adopted AJW's premier wrestling tournament, Tag League the Best,{{cite web | url = http://ameblo.jp/ringstars/day-20110107.html | script-title=ja:1月7日更新ニュース | date=January 7, 2011 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=Ringstars | publisher=Ameba | language=ja}} and also inherited the promotion's old sponsor, the Daily Sports newspaper, which led to JWP most notably introducing the Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championship in August 2008.{{cite web | url = http://jwpinfo.blog53.fc2.com/blog-entry-507.html | script-title=ja:デイリースポーツ創刊60周年記念・女子プロレス「サマードリーム2008」チケット発売のお知らせ | date=March 12, 2008 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=JWP Joshi Puroresu | publisher=FC2 | language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://jwpinfo.blog53.fc2.com/blog-entry-617.html |script-title=ja:(結果)8月3日(日)デイリースポーツ創刊60周年記念大会「サマードリーム2008」東京大会 |date=August 4, 2008 |access-date=July 1, 2012 |work=JWP Joshi Puroresu |publisher=FC2 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211022018/http://jwpinfo.blog53.fc2.com/blog-entry-617.html |archive-date=February 11, 2012 }}
JWP not only trained a large number of wrestlers, but was also able to recruit wrestlers from other folding joshi puroresu promotions, including Arisa Nakajima, Leon and Sachie Abe from AtoZ, Kazuki from JDStar and Hanako Nakamori and Tomoko Morii from Ito Dojo, while also employing freelancers such as Emi Sakura, Kana and Misaki Ohata.{{cite web | url = http://jwpinfo.blog53.fc2.com/blog-category-6.html | script-title=ja:選手紹介 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=JWP Joshi Puroresu | publisher=FC2 | language=ja}} JWP had a close working relationship with the Ice Ribbon promotion.{{cite web | url = http://ice-ribbon.ne07.jp/page/newsData_439.html | script-title=ja:【大会情報】7/28横浜大会は『J Ribbon-2012夏女決定トーナメント』!! | date=June 19, 2012 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | work=Ice Ribbon | language=ja}} JWP also had a relationship with American promotion Chikara, with Hanako Nakamori, Tsubasa Kuragaki and Kaori Yoneyama, a replacement for an injured Command Bolshoi, representing the promotion at Chikara's JoshiMania weekend in December 2011.{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/23019-wed-update-record-audience-for-dos-santos-vs-cain-ratings-spike-adding-new-tv-show-tna-cancel | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119232725/http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/23019-wed-update-record-audience-for-dos-santos-vs-cain-ratings-spike-adding-new-tv-show-tna-cancel | title=Wed. update: Record audience for Dos Santos vs. Cain; Ratings, Spike adding new TV show; TNA cancel | last=Meltzer | first=Dave | author-link=Dave Meltzer | archive-date=November 19, 2011 | date=November 16, 2011 | access-date=July 3, 2012 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1322823060 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111206215835/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1322823060 | title=JoshiMania tonight in Phily with Toys for Tots | last=Magee | first=Bob | archive-date=December 6, 2011 | date=December 2, 2011 | access-date=July 3, 2012 | work=Wrestleview}} JWP has also participated in Chikara's premier tournament, the King of Trios, on two occasions, with Bolshoi, Kuragaki and Yoneyama participating in 2012,{{cite web | url = https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/radicanstake/article_65794.shtml | title = Radican's DVD Review Series - "Chikara 2012 King of Trios Night 1" 9/14: Team ROH vs. Faces of Pain, Team WWF | last=Radican | first=Sean | date=October 8, 2012 | access-date=November 18, 2017 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1347767033 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120919191838/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1347767033 | title = 9/15 Chikara "King of Trios: Night 2" Results: Easton, PA | last=Namako | first=Jason | archive-date=September 19, 2012 | date=September 15, 2012 | access-date=September 16, 2012 | work=Wrestleview}} and Bolshoi, Hanako Nakamori and Manami Katsu in 2016.{{cite web | url = http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/09/05/92-94-chikara-king-trios-results-three-night-tournament-featuring-cwc-former-wwfe-womens-teams/ | title = 9/2-9/4 Chikara King of Trios Results – three-night tournament featuring CWC & former WWF/E Women’s Teams | date=September 5, 2016 | access-date=September 5, 2016 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}
On February 8, 2017, JWP held a press conference to announce that the promotion would fold following its 25th anniversary event on April 2, 2017, after which all of its wrestlers would become freelancers. The group's contract with the JWP production company was set to expire in April and the two sides had not been able to come to terms on a new one. Bolshoi would remain in charge of Pure Dream {{lang|ja-latn|kabushiki gaisha}}, which she had established the previous November and through which she would launch a new promotion on August 11, 2017. The new company would retain control of the Daily Sports Women's Tag Team and Princess of Pro-Wrestling Championships, while the JWP name and the JWP Openweight, Tag Team and Junior Championships all remained with the JWP production company. JWP's folding marked the end of the oldest women's professional wrestling promotion still in operation at that point in time.{{cite web | url = https://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2017/02/08/0009899091.shtml | script-title=ja:日本最古の女子プロ団体JWPの全選手が独立、新団体旗揚げへ | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=February 8, 2017 | work=Daily Sports Online | publisher=Kobe Shimbun | language=ja}}{{cite web | url = http://battle-news.com/?p=27316 | script-title=ja:JWPから全選手が独立し新団体を8月に旗揚げ!JWPが今後開催されるかは未定 | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=February 8, 2017 | work=Battle News | language=ja}}{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/womens_prores/649904/ | script-title=ja:【JWP】4・2「25周年大会」を最後に全選手独立 | date=February 9, 2017 | access-date=February 9, 2017 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=February 10, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210052059/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/womens_prores/649904/ | url-status=dead }} The following month, it was announced that Bolshoi's new promotion would be called "Pure-J".{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/womens_prores/667934/ | script-title=ja:JWPから「Pure-J」へ 8・11後楽園大会で旗揚げ | date=March 28, 2017 | access-date=March 28, 2017 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=March 28, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328070201/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/womens_prores/667934/ | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url = https://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2017/03/28/0010043301.shtml | script-title=ja:女子プロレス「JWP」、新団体名「Pure-J」を発表 | date=March 28, 2017 | access-date=March 28, 2017 | work=Daily Sports Online | publisher=Kobe Shimbun | language=ja}} JWP's final show in Korakuen Hall on April 2, 2017, was attended by 1,180 people, and featured appearances by several wrestlers from the promotion's past, including Azumi Hyuga, Cutie Suzuki, Dynamite Kansai, Hikari Fukuoka, Kayoko Haruyama and Mayumi Ozaki.{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/womens_prores/670105/ | script-title=ja:「JWP」25年の歴史に幕 尾崎魔弓らOGも別れ | date=April 2, 2017 | access-date=April 2, 2017 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=April 2, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402070305/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/womens_prores/670105/ | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url = https://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2017/04/02/0010059643.shtml | script-title=ja:JWPが25周年大会で日本最古の歴史に幕 C鈴木、D関西、福岡晶らOG集結 | date=April 2, 2017 | access-date=April 2, 2017 | work=Daily Sports Online | publisher=Kobe Shimbun | language=ja}}
Final roster
=Wrestlers=
=Notable alumni/guests=
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Akane Fujita
- Aoi Kizuki
- Arisa Nakajima
- Ayako Sato
- Azumi Hyuga
- Candy Okutsu
- Carlos Amano
- Cutie Suzuki
- Devil Masami
- Dynamite Kansai
- Emi Sakura
- Erika Watanabe
- Gami
- Hailey Hatred
- Kazumi Shimouma
- Kiyoko Ichiki
- Hiragi Kurumi
- Hiromi Yagi
- Jackie Sato
- Kana
- Kaori Yoneyama
- Kaoru Ito/Zap I
- Kayoko Haruyama
- Kazuki
- Keiko Aono
- Mayumi Ozaki
- Mika Iida
- Mika Iwata
- Misae Genki
- Misaki Ohata
- Miyuki Takase
- Moon Mizuki
- Nana Kawasa
- Neko Nitta
- Plum Mariko
- Rabbit Miu
- Ran Yu-Yu
- Sachie Abe
- Sawako Shimono
- Sakura Hirota
- Saki
- Sayaka Obihiro
- Saya
- Tanny Mouse
- Tomoko Watanabe/Zap T
- Toshie Uematsu
- Tsubasa Kuragaki
- Yuu Yamagata
{{div col end}}
=Staff=
- Tessy Sugo (referee)
Championships
= Singles =
= Tag Team =
class="wikitable sortable" border="2" |
width="18%" | Championship
! width="10%" | Date of entry ! class="unsortable" width="18%" |First champion ! width="10%" | Date retired ! class="unsortable" width="18%" |Final champion ! width="0" | Years active ! class="unsortable" width="25%" |Notes |
---|
Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championship
|August 3, 2008 |Harukura |April 2, 2017 |P-Ray-L |8 |On April 2, 2017, after the closing of JWP, Pure-J owned the rights of the title. |
JWP Korakuen Tag Team Championship
|April 21, 1996 |Tomoko Kuzumi and Yuki Miyazaki |1997 |Kanoko Motoya and Tomoko Kuzumi |1 |The championship was deactivated for undocumented reasons. The exact date the title was deactivated is uncertain, somewhere in 2017 at or after September 20, where Kuzumi and Motoya won the title.{{Citation needed|reason=No references founded|date=July 2023}} |
JWP Tag Team Championship
|August 9, 1992 |Cutie Suzuki and Mayumi Ozaki |April 2, 2017 |Command Bolshoi and Leon |24 |The title was retired when JWP Joshi Puroresu goes out of business. |
Tournaments
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Portal|Japan}}
{{Commons category|JWP}}
- {{Official website|http://www.jwp-produce.com/}} {{in lang|ja}}
- [http://jwp.blog.players.tv/ Official blog] {{in lang|ja}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/user/jwpproduce JWP Joshi Puroresu] on YouTube
{{JWP Joshi Puroresu}}
{{Professional wrestling in Japan}}
{{Women's professional wrestling}}
Category:1992 establishments in Japan
Category:2017 disestablishments in Japan
Category:Japanese women's professional wrestling promotions