Oriental Wrestling Entertainment

{{Infobox Company

| name = Oriental Wrestling Entertainment

| logo = Oriental Wrestling Entertainment.jpg

| type = Private

| founder = Fu Huayang

| image =

| image_size = 250px

| image_caption =

| industry = Professional wrestling
Sports entertainment

| products = {{Plainlist|

Television
Films
Merchandise
Live events

}}

| services = Licensing

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Fu Huayang (CEO)|Cima (President)|Michael Nee (Vice President)}}

| owner = Fu Huayang

| revenue_year =

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year =

| divisions =

| subsid =

| foundation = {{Start date and age|2017}} in Shanghai, China

| defunct = {{End date and age|2021|3|12}} https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=2123

| hq_location_city = Shanghai

| hq_location_country = China

| homepage = {{Official URL}}

}}

{{Chinese

| title = Oriental Wrestling Entertainment

| s = 东方职业摔角

| t = 東方職業摔角

| p = dōngfāng zhíyè shuāijiǎo

| l = eastern professional shuai jiao

}}

Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (OWE) ({{zh|s=东方职业摔角}}) was a Chinese-based professional wrestling promotion founded in 2017. OWE shows normally combined wrestling with musical performances by the C-pop all-girls group SNH48. The promotion promoted one championship as part of their events. OWE had working relationships with the U.S.-based All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Future Stars of Wrestling, and Mexican The Crash Lucha Libre promotions. In 2019, OWE ceased operations in China, and after unsuccessfully tried to relocate to Cambodia, ceased all operations in 2021.

History

While the concept of professional wrestling has been well established in Europe and North America since the 19th century,{{cite web | url=http://www.fila-official.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=100246&lang=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011195312/http://fila-official.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=100246&lang=en | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 11, 2011 | title=Roots and history of Olympic wrestling | last=Anon | work=International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles | publisher=FILA | access-date=August 2, 2013}} and in Japan since the end of World War II, China had no exposure to professional wrestling prior to the turn of the millennium. The first Chinese professional wrestling promotion, China Wrestling Entertainment, was created in 2004, promoting traditional professional wrestling events, but struggled to stay profitable. In 2017, Chinese film director Fu Huayang created Oriental Wrestling Entertainment, based out of Shanghai, starting a talent search amongst over 200,000 applicants that all had a martial arts background, selecting a group of 50 people to be trained for professional wrestling.

In early 2018, OWE started a working relationship with Dragon Gate, featuring trainees from OWE working at Dragon Gate events and Dragon Gate main-stay Cima training them,{{cite web|url=https://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2018/07/21/what-gates-may-come-dragon-gates-turbulent-year/|title=What Gates May Come: Dragon Gate's Turbulent Year|date=July 21, 2018}} helping OWE to promote its first official show, "The Legend of the Dragon" held on February 2, in Shanghai, featuring the Dragon Gate wrestlers and OWE's roster. On May 7, Cima announced that he, T-Hawk, El Lindaman and Takehiro Yamamura were all leaving Dragon Gate, relocating from Japan to China to be involved with OWE. Cima was announced as the head coach and the President for OWE and began training the rookies.{{cite web|url=https://www.solowrestling.com/new/70822-cambios-en-la-presidencia-de-dragon-gate-y-apertura-de-la-division-internacional-en-china|title=Cambios en la presidencia de Dragon Gate y apertura de la división internacional en China|last=Solowrestling|date=May 8, 2018|website=www.solowrestling.com}}

OWE later began a partnership with Las Vegas, Nevada based Future Stars of Wrestling, sending CIMA and three trainees to FSW shows as well as several members of the FSW roster traveling to China. Cima and several OWE students also appeared for other promotions, such as the Australasian Wrestling Federation (AWF),{{cite web | url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=219262| title=AWF Wrestling Supercard Brisbane | date=May 20, 2018 | access-date=February 9, 2019 | work=CageMatch | quote=CIMA & Fan Logan defeat Bushido & Cyprien}} Wrestle-1,{{cite web | url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=200912 | title=W-1 WRESTLE-1 Tour 2018 Outbreak – Tag 4| date=June 22, 2018 | access-date=February 9, 2019 | work=CageMatch | quote=Strong Hearts (El Lindaman, Gao Jingjia & T-Hawk) defeat Andy Wu, Manabu Soya & Shuji Kondo}} and DDT Pro-Wrestling shows.{{cite web | url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=209989 | title=DDT Live! Maji Manji #18 ~ Shibuya Stream Opening Commemoration Pro-Wrestling Kokera Otoshi Special | date=September 25, 2018 | access-date=February 9, 2019 | work=CageMatch | quote=Strong Hearts (CIMA, Duan Yingnan, El Lindaman & T-Hawk) defeat ALL OUT (Akito, Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Ino)}}

On January 8, 2019 the newly created All Elite Wrestling (AEW) U.S.-based promotion announced that they had reached a partnership agreement with Oriental Wrestling Entertainment that would include OWE wrestlers working for AEW and vice versa.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/new-promotion-all-elite-wrestling-announced-along-with-aew-double-or-nothing-event/|title=New promotion All Elite Wrestling announced along with AEW Double or Nothing event|first=Jack|last=Crosby|work=CBS Sports|date=January 1, 2019|access-date=January 1, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/all-elite-wrestling-rally-video/|title=WATCH: All Elite Wrestling Rally Outside of TIAA Bank Field|first=Ryan|last=Satin|date=January 8, 2019|website=Pro Wrestling Sheet|access-date=January 9, 2019}} In January 2019, Mexican based The Crash Lucha Libre promotion announced that they had reached a deal with OWE to collaborate on wrestling events in the future.{{cite web | url=https://superluchas.com/the-crash-anuncia-alianza-con-owe-vendran-strong-hearts/| title=The Crash anuncia alianza con OWE, ¿Vendrán Strong Hearts? | trans-title=The Crash announces alliance with OWE. will the Strong Hearts come | date=January 18, 2019 | access-date=February 8, 2019 | language=es | author=Dark Angelita | work=Súper Luchas}} On March 26, OWE signed a video-on-demand television deal with Nothing Else On TV to distribute their content in the United Kingdom and Worldwide, becoming the first "Sino-British" wrestling agreement in professional wrestling.{{cite web|url=https://www.orientalwrestlingentertainment.com/post/owe-reaching-global-audiences|title=OWE Reaching Global Audiences|date=March 26, 2019|website=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=March 26, 2019}} On March 31, OWE announced their first active championship, the Dragon's Legend Championship,{{cite web|url=https://www.orientalwrestlingentertainment.com/post/manage-your-blog-from-your-live-site|title=OWE's first championship contest!|date=March 31, 2019|website=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=March 31, 2019}} with the inaugural champion to be crowned during the promotion's OWE First Time Japan shows in Osaka and Tokyo on April 18 and 20, while also becoming the first Chinese professional wrestling promotion to promote a show in Japan, which both sold out.{{cite web|url=https://www.orientalwrestlingentertainment.com/post/owe-sell-s-out-in-japan|title=OWE Sell's out in Japan|date=April 16, 2019|website=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=April 16, 2019}} The first night of the show was broadcast by Japanese television network Fighting TV Samurai and featured wrestlers from Wrestle-1, whom OWE as a working relationship.{{cite web | url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=229995 | title=W-1 WRESTLE-1 Tour 2018 Outbreak – Tag 4| date=April 18, 2019 | access-date=April 20, 2019 | work=CageMatch | quote=OWE First Time Japan - Tag 1}} On April 23, OWE announced a television deal with Jiangsu Television, which would see the company's programming brought to one billion Chinese viewers.{{cite web|url=https://www.orientalwrestlingentertainment.com/post/reaching-billions|title=Reaching Billions!|date=April 23, 2019|website=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=April 23, 2019}}

On June 26, 2019 OWE announced a plan to expand their product in the United Kingdom in September, while also announcing the establish of UK-based brand and new titles.httpsl://www.fightful.com/wrestling/oriental-wrestling-entertainment-announces-uk-division-will-launch-september The plans would be due to disagreements between OWE and NEO TV owner Sean McMahon, while also claiming that OWE made broken promises and made misconduct towards him with OWE later offering refunds to attendees of the tour.{{Cite web|url=http://uproxx.com/prowrestling/owe-uk-postpones-events-resignations-allegation-misconduct/3/|title = OWE UK Postpones Events Amidst Resignations and Social Media Drama|date = September 4, 2019}}, OWE folded in 2021.https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=2123

Style and cultural influences

Oriental Wrestling Entertainment presents shows and in-ring performances to the culture of mainland China, adjusting the professional wrestling concept to their audience. Chinese wrestler Ho Ho Lun described the difference between OWE and other companies who have promoted wrestling as "OWE is putting wrestling into Kung Fu, whereas people such as The Slam have strived to put Kung Fu into wrestling".{{cite web | url=https://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2018/06/01/oriental-wrestling-entertainment-truly-chinese-pro-wrestling/ | title=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment: Truly Chinese Pro Wrestling | first=James | last=Snelgrove | work=Voices of Wrestling | date=June 1, 2018 | access-date=February 9, 2019}} Most of OWE's Chinese roster have a martial arts, especially Shaolin Kung Fu, background with the style and concepts of the martial arts influencing the in-ring product and presentation.{{cite web | url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2181823/all-elite-wrestling-collaboration-can-be-huge-says-owe-ahead-talks-cody | title=All Elite Wrestling collaboration 'can be huge' says OWE ahead of talks with Cody Rhodes, Young Bucks | date=January 13, 2019 | access-date=February 9, 2019 | work=South China Morning Post | first=Nicolas | last=Atkin}}

Part of OWE's presentation focuses on educating spectators on the details of professional wrestling, such as videos prior to matches explaining that matches can be won by a 3-fall pinfall. During events the commentary is broadcast over the public address system in the arena, helping guide the fans on whom to cheer for and so on. In Asian culture it is generally considered disrespectful for people to be loud or boo, which in turn leads to the fans either remaining quiet and politely clapping during matches, or generally cheering the action without booing any of the in-ring competitors. Most of the heels (the "bad guys") have been foreigners. OWE shows have been described as variety shows, combining martial arts exhibits by the OWE roster, musical performances from C-pop acts such as SNH48 and wrestling matches.{{cite web | url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2148395/turning-shaolin-monks-entertainers-shanghai-wrestlers-tell-world-about | title=Turning Shaolin monks into entertainers: Shanghai wrestlers tell the world about Chinese martial arts in the ring | date=May 30, 2018 | access-date=February 9, 2019 | work=South China Morning Post | first=Nicolas | last=Atkin}}

Another aspect of their presentation is the impact of the Chinese government rules and standards for entertainment events. OWE Vice President Michael Nee explained that "Typical wrestling can be a little too violent. If we try to copy the Japanese way and put that into the Chinese market, our product will be killed by the government". As a result of the cultural restrictions and in an effort to present a more "Chinese" product OWE focuses on the culture of Chinese martial arts and spreading awareness on a global scale, presenting wrestling angles, storylines and in ring characters very differently and more sedate compared to western companies such as WWE.

Due to this, governmental control and censorship of the Chinese Communist Party in addition to increasing economic issues in the marketplace and uncertainty facing the country, in late 2019 it was reported that the promotion would cease all operations in China, leave the country and relaunch and incorporate in Cambodia.{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Joseph |title=OWE Reportedly Done in China and Moving To Cambodia |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/owe-reportedly-done-in-china-and-moving-to-cambodia/ |website=411Mania |date=11 October 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://english.cambodiadaily.com/business/owe-done-in-china-moving-to-cambodia-154195/|title=OWE Done in China, Moving to Cambodia|date=October 12, 2019}}, it eventually went defunct in 2021,https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=2123 with most of the japanese wrestlers like Cima and T-Hawk moving to a new promotion in Gleat.

OWE Openweight Championship

{{Infobox pro wrestling championship

|name = OWE Openweight Championship

|image =

|promotion = Oriental Wrestling Entertainment

|currentholder = Shigehiro Irie

|created = 2019

|won = November 24, 2019

|firstchamp = Zhao Junjie

|mostreigns = All titleholders (1 reign)

|longestreign = Shigehiro Irie ({{age in days nts|month1=11|day1=24|year1=2019}}+ days)

|shortestreign = Zhao Junjie

|oldest = Shigehiro Irie ({{age in years and days|1988|03|28|2019|11|24}})

|youngest = Zhao Junjie

|heaviest = Shigehiro Irie (253 lb)

|lightest = Zhao Junjie

}}

{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes|dayless=yes}}

{{PWtitlereign

|number = 1

|champion = Zhao Junjie

|reign = 1

|date = 2019

|days = N/A

|location =

|event =

|notes = The exact length of this reign is uncertain.

|ref =

}}{{PWtitlereign

|number = 2

|champion = Shigehiro Irie

|reign = 1

|date = November 24, 2019

|days = {{age in days nts|month1=11|day1=24|year1=2019}}+

|location = Fukuoka, Japan

|event = OWE Stronghearts vs OWE

|notes =

|ref ={{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=4684&page=5&reign=2|title=OWE Openweight Championship » Title Reigns

|website=CageMatch}}

}}

Broadcasters

Domestic:

Jiangsu Television (2019–present, currently broadcasting weekly highlights show Baichang Daren)

International:

Fighting TV Samurai (2019–present, Japan, dubbed with Japanese commentary)

Worldwide:

Nothing Else On TV (2019, online linear television service, live-streaming episodes)
FITE TV (2020–present, internet streaming service, live-streaming episodes)

Roster

File:CIMA1.jpg]]

OWE has a permanent roster of 35 Chinese wrestlersSome from the group are still only training. who are all under a 10-year contract and are provided training facilities and accommodations in the same vein as C-pop groups backed by record labels. OWE also has four Japanese wrestlers under full-time contracts and usually brings in foreign wrestlers on a show-by-show basis.

;Male roster

class="wikitable sortable" !scope="col"\|Ring name !scope="col"\|Real name !scope="col"\|Notes !class="unsortable" scope="col" \|{{Tooltip\|Ref(s).\|Reference(s)}}
{{sortname\|Captain Achilles\|Ben\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team E", originally billed as "A-Ben:	{{cite web \| url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=188310 \| title=OWE The Legend of the Dragon \| date=February 2, 2018 \| access-date=February 9, 2019 \| work=CageMatch \| language=de}}
{{sortname\|Sugar\|Brown\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	FSW representative, member of "Real Money Brothers"
{{sortname\|Jake\|Cafe\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	FSW representative	{{cite web \| url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=199047\| title=OWE \| date=May 7, 2018 \| access-date=February 9, 2019 \| work=CageMatch}}
{{sortname\|Sun\|Chao\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team E"
{{sortname\|Mao\|Chenxiang\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team W"
Cima	{{sortname\|Nobuhiko\|Oshima\|nolink=1}}	Head trainer, President
{{sortname\|The\|Commando\|nolink=1}}	Duan Yingnan
{{sortname\|Duan\|Dihang\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team W"
{{sortname\|Damian\|Drake\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	FSW representative, member of "Midnight Marvels"
{{sortname\|The\|General\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain
{{sortname\|Yang\|Hao\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team O"
{{sortname\|Fan\|Hewei\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team E"
{{sortname\|Tang\|Huaqi\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team O"
{{sortname\|Minor Gregory\|Jade\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	FSW representative
{{sortname\|Wang\|Jin\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team O"
{{sortname\|Gao\|Jingjia\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team O"
{{sortname\|Zhao\|Junjie\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team W"
{{sortname\|Clutch\|Kucera\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	FSW representative, member of "Real Money Brothers"
{{sortname\|El\|Lindaman}}	{{sortname\|Yuga\|Hayashi\|nolink=1}}	Japanese	{{cite web \| url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=2123&page=15 \| title=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (OWE) >> Roster \| access-date=February 11, 2019}}
Mario Bugatti	Unknown		{{cite web \| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7NokkoJ4e4\| title=Women's Angle-wrestling Balloon Competition，Owe Oriental Professional Wrestling Alliance \| author=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment \| publisher=YouTube \| date=December 27, 2018 \| access-date=February 11, 2019}}
{{sortname\|CheChe\|Tovey\|nolink=1}}	Christopher Tovey 克里斯托弗台湾虎	Uxbridge Unicorns"	{{Citation needed\|date=March 2022}}
{{sortname\|Remy\|Marcel\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	FSW representative, part of "WG"
{{sortname\|Fan\|Qiuyang\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team E"
Spyder Warrior	Uncertain	FSW representative, member of "Midnight Marvels"
Titan	Uncertain		{{cite web \| url=https://twitter.com/ORIENTALWRESTL1/status/1088722067304833024\| title= #OWE TALENTS: ACHILLES BEN, TITAN, GENERAL GUAN, THE COMMANDO\| publisher=Twitter \| author=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment \| date=January 25, 2019 \| access-date=February 9, 2019}}
T Hawk	{{sortname\|Takuya\|Onodera\|nolink=1}}	Japanese
Wuljijimuren	Uncertain	Member of "Team O"
{{sortname\|Chen\|Xiangke\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team W"
{{sortname\|Cui\|Xiangmeng\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team O"
{{sortname\|Liu\|Xinxi\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team E"
{{sortname\|Takehiro\|Yamamura}}	{{sortname\|Takehiro\|Yamamura\|nolink=1}}	Japanese
{{sortname\|Lu\|Ye\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team O"
{{sortname\|Duan\|Yingnan\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team W"
General Guan	{{sortname\|Zhao\|Yilong\|nolink=1}}	Member of "Team W"
{{sortname\|Ren\|Yuhang\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team E"
{{sortname\|Xiong\|Zhiyu\|nolink=1}}	Uncertain	Member of "Team E"

;Female

class="wikitable sortable"

!scope="col"|Ring name

!scope="col"|Real name

!scope="col"|Notes

!class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

Mazzerati

Unknown

{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/ORIENTALWRESTL1/status/1078217610104172544 | title=#OWE #prowrestling the balloon match between @TheZedaZhang and OWE Maserati | date=December 27, 2018 | access-date=February 9, 2019 | author=Oriental Wrestling Entertainment | publisher=Twitter}}

{{cite web | url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2181802/model-and-former-wwe-star-zeda-zhang-shines-spotlight-chinese-wrestling | title=Former WWE star and model Zeda Zhang shines spotlight on Chinese wrestling scene with OWE | work=South China Morning Post | date=January 13, 2019 | access-date=February 9, 2019 | first=Nicolas | last=Atkin}}

;Backstage personnel

class="wikitable sortable"

!scope="col"|Ring name

!scope="col"|Real name

!scope="col"|Notes

!class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

Skayde

Trainer

Vice president, commentator