Asia-Pacific Federation of Wrestling#Antonio Inoki Memorial Show

{{Short description|Group of Asian professional wrestling promotions}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Asia-Pacific Federation of Wrestling

| logo = Asia-Pacific_Federation_of_Wrestlinglogo.png

| formation = {{start date and age|2023|10|10}}

| native name = アジア太平洋プロレス連盟

| native_name_lang = ja

| abbreviation = APFW

| type = Association

| purpose = Promotion of professional wrestling in Asia and the Pacific

}}

The {{nihongo|Asia-Pacific Federation of Wrestling|アジア太平洋プロレス連盟|Ajia Taiheiyō Puroresu Renmei|APFW|lead=yes}} is an association of several professional wrestling promotions in the Asia–Pacific, acting as a governing body and industry group with the goal of promoting professional wrestling across Asia.

History

The association establishment was announced during a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Stardom joint business strategy presentation held in Tokyo at the Hikosen Theater.{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2023 |title= |script-title=ja:【会見】新日本プロレス＆スターダムが合同戦略発表会を実施！“アジア進出”を目指し『アジア太平洋プロレス連盟』の発足や『Historic X-over』第2回大会の開催など重大発表目白押し |trans-title=New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Stardom held a joint strategy presentation! The event was packed with major announcements, including the launch of the "Asian Pacific Pro-Wrestling Alliance" for "expansion into Asia" and the second "Historic X-Over" event |url=https://battle-news.com/?p=105706 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=battle-news.com |language=ja}} The name of the organization was initially translated in English as "Asian Pacific Pro-Wrestling Alliance".{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2023 |title=Positive results, powerful alliances from NJPW & STARDOM presentation |url=https://www.njpw1972.com/160917 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=New Japan Pro-Wrestling}} The purpose of the association, as stated by Bushiroad owner Takaaki Kidani, was to "further promote professional wrestling in the Asia–Pacific region through cooperative relationships with each organization".{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2023 |title= |script-title=ja:新日本プロレス×スターダム合同興行“Historic X-over 2”の開催を発表！アジア太平洋地域へのプロレス浸透を目的に、“アジア太平洋プロレス連盟”を1月に発足！【合同戦略発表会②】 |trans-title=New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Stardom announce "Historic X-over 2" joint event! The "Asian Pacific Pro-Wrestling Alliance" will be launched in January to promote pro-wrestling in the Asia Pacific region! Joint strategy announcement |url=https://www.njpw.co.jp/450955 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=New Japan Pro-Wrestling |language=ja}}

On January 5, 2024, representatives from all member promotions attended a press conference. During the event, the translated name was changed to Asia-Pacific Federation of Wrestling (APFW), a logo was revealed, and it was announced that NJPW would hold an event in Taipei in April, with the event being the first sanctioned by the APFW.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2024 |title= |script-title=ja:新日本プロレスとスターダムが加盟するアジア太平洋プロレス連盟（ＡＰＦＷ）が発足 |trans-title=The Asia-Pacific Federation of Wrestling (APFW) has been launched with the inclusion of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Stardom |url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/288018 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=Tokyo Sports |language=ja}} NJPW's Wrestling World 2024 in Taiwan, the first event sanctioned by the APFW, was held on April 14.{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2024 |title= |script-title=ja:【新日本】APFW第1弾の台湾大会でファン大熱狂！棚橋・矢野・オレッグがNEVER6人タッグ新王者に |trans-title=[New Japan] Fans went wild at the first APFW event in Taiwan! Tanahashi, Yano and Oleg are the new NEVER 6-Man Tag Team champions |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/battle/news/2024/04/15/kiji/20240415s00003000212000c.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416015318/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/battle/news/2024/04/15/kiji/20240415s00003000212000c.html |archive-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Sponichi Annex |language=ja}} On December 14, 2024, the Antonio Inoki Memorial Show was organized in Shanghai, China by various APFW promotions.{{cite web|url=https://news.njpw1972.com/njpw-part-of-inoki-memorial-event-in-shanghai-52f09ad42bc6|title=NJPW set for Inoki memorial event in Shanghai!|date=September 17, 2024|accessdate=December 5, 2024|work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling}}

Members

{{flagicon|China}} Dragon Fighting Wrestling
{{flagicon|Singapore}} Grapplemax Pro Wrestling Studios
{{flagicon|Japan}} New Japan Pro-Wrestling
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Puzzle
{{flagicon|Thailand}} Setup Thailand Pro Wrestling
{{flagicon|Japan}} World Wonder Ring Stardom

Notable events

=Wrestling World 2024 in Taiwan=

The inaugural APFW event, titled "Weicker presents Wrestling World 2024 in Taiwan", took place on April 14, 2024 at Zepp New Taipei in Taipei, Taiwan. The event, organized by APFW member New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), included a four-team tournament to determine the 27th NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions, following the title's vacating due to Kazuchika Okada's departure from NJPW.

{{Pro Wrestling results table

|results={{cite web |date=April 14, 2024 |title=WEICKER presents WRESTLING WORLD 2024 IN TAIWAN |url=https://wp.bbm-mobile.com/sp2/result/resultshow.asp?s=059424 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211094847/https://wp.bbm-mobile.com/sp2/result/resultshow.asp?s=059424 |archive-date=December 11, 2024 |website=Weekly Pro-Wrestling |publisher=Baseball Magazine Sha |language=ja}}

|times=

|match1=Touyu defeated Axe Wang

|stip1=Singles match

|time1=8:53

|note1=pre

|match2=Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, and Boltin Oleg defeated United Empire (Great-O-Khan, Francesco Akira, and Callum Newman)

|stip2=NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship Tournament First Round match

|time2=11:04

|match3=House of Torture (Evil, Sho, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji and Bushi)

|stip3=NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship Tournament First Round match

|time3=9:50

|match4=Satoshi Kojima and Tiger Mask defeated El Desperado and Shoma Kato

|stip4=Tag team match

|time4=11:11

|match5=Starlight Kid defeated Hanako

|stip5=Singles match

|time5=11:38

|match6=Douki defeated Kosei Fujita

|stip6=IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship #1 Contendership match

|time6=12:11

|match7=Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi) (c) defeated Just 5 Guys (Sanada and Yuya Uemura)

|stip7=Tag team match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship

|time7=20:04

|match8=Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, and Boltin Oleg defeated House of Torture (Evil, Sho, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

|stip8=Tournament final for the vacant NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship

|time8=15:32

}}

=Antonio Inoki Memorial Show=

An APFW event, titled "Antonio Inoki Memorial Show: Immortal Fighting Spirit", took place on December 14, 2024 at Modern Sky Lab in Shanghai, China. The event, held in tribute to Antonio Inoki, was organized by APFW members NJPW and Dragon Fighting Wrestling and featured the participation of other promotions from the Asia–Pacific, like the Inoki Genome Federation, Infin Pro-Wrestling, and the Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation.

{{Pro Wrestling results table

|results={{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=410390|title=INFIN Immortal Fighting Spirit|accessdate=December 15, 2024|work=Cagematch}}

|times=

|match1=Liu Xinxi defeated Gao Jingjia and Yang Hao

|stip1=Triple Threat match

|time1=

|match2=T-Light and Zombie Dragon defeated Big Ben and Big Sam

|stip2=Tag team match

|time2=

|match3=Jason Lee vs. Zhao Junjie ended in a no contest

|stip3=Singles match

|time3=