Wrestling New Classic

{{Infobox Wrestling promotion

|name = Wrestling New Classic

|image = WNC new logo.jpg

|acronym = WNC

|established = April 5, 2012

|folded = June 26, 2014

|location = Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo{{cite web | url = http://wrestling-newclassic.com/ja/contact-us.html | script-title=ja:会社概要 | access-date=December 27, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}}

|founder = Tajiri
Akira
Kana

|owner =

|parent =

|sister = Reina Joshi Puroresu

|formerly =

|merged = Wrestle-1

|split =

|predecessor = Smash

|successor =

}}

{{nihongo|Wrestling New Classic (WNC)|レスリング・ニュー・クラシック|Resuringu Nyū Kurashikku}} was a Japanese puroresu or professional wrestling promotion, founded in April 2012 by Yoshihiro Tajiri. WNC was the follow-up promotion to Smash, which folded in March 2012.{{cite web | url = http://www.smashxsmash.jp/news/smash/episode1final.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231107034858/http://www.smashxsmash.jp/news/smash/episode1final.html | title = 【※重要】「Smash」第１章活動休止のお知らせ | archive-date=November 7, 2023 | url-status = dead | date=February 10, 2012 | access-date=April 16, 2012 | work=Smash | language=ja}}{{cite web | url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/quicknews/article_57974.shtml | title = Japanese promotion shutting down | last=Caldwell | first=James | date=February 10, 2012 | access-date=April 16, 2012 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}

History

On April 5, 2012, Tajiri held a press conference to announce the forming of Wrestling New Classic, which would hold its first two events on April 26 at Shinjuku Face and on May 24 at Korakuen Hall.{{cite web | url = http://wrestling-newclassic.com/news-navi/4-news2.html | script-title=ja:プレ旗揚げ戦決定！ | date=April 5, 2012 | access-date=April 16, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}}{{cite web | url = http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20120406-929400.html | title = Tajiri新団体発表「若手を海外に」 | date=April 6, 2012 | access-date=April 16, 2012 | work=Nikkan Sports | language=ja}} The promotion's new financial backer at the time was Tsutomu Takashima, the executive director of real estate company Avance Avant Corporation.{{cite web | url = http://wrestling-newclassic.com/2012-05-09-pressconf2.html | title = WNC高島代表が就任挨拶！ | date=May 9, 2012 | access-date=May 9, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}} WNC continued Smash's working relationship with Finnish professional wrestling promotion Fight Club Finland.{{cite web | url = http://wrestling-newclassic.com/ja/2012-7-15-korakuen-1.html | title = 7・15Wrestling New Classic後楽園大会（後楽園ホール）開場11：00 開始12：00 | date=June 22, 2012 | access-date=June 22, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}} Unlike Smash, which held, on average, one event per month, WNC had a more regular schedule, producing three events in its official opening month, May 2012.{{cite web | url = http://wrestling-newclassic.com/news-navi/30-5.html | script-title=ja:5月旗揚げシリーズ全カード決定！ | date=May 4, 2012 | access-date=May 26, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}} The promotion is named after a comment made by final Smash Champion Dave Finlay, who, at the promotion's penultimate event, told Tajiri to "keep wrestling classic" with his new promotion.{{cite web | url = http://archive.sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/text/201203080008-spnavi.html | title = ＴajiriとＡkira、最後の闘いで謎解きへ!!=Ｓmash フィンレーが残した"Ｋｅｅｐｗｒｅｓｔｌｉｎｇｃｌａｓｓｉｃ"とは？ | date=March 8, 2012 | access-date=April 16, 2012 | work=Sports Navi | publisher=Yahoo! | language=ja}} Several WNC wrestlers also booked and promoted their own events in collaboration with the promotion, including Kana's Kana Pro,{{cite web | url = http://wrestling-newclassic.com/ja/6-17-result.html | script-title=ja:6・17 ぷちカナプロ試合結果 |date=June 18, 2012 | access-date=July 21, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}} Makoto's Mako Pro,{{cite web | url = http://wrestling-newclassic.com/ja/149-2012-06-27-04-49-44.html | script-title=ja:7・8 まこプロ開催延期およびぷちクズプロ開催のお知らせ |date=June 27, 2012 | access-date=July 21, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}} Syuri's Stimulus,{{cite web | url = http://www.wnc-pro.com/performance/performance03.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130129005323/http://www.wnc-pro.com/performance/performance03.php | title = WNC朱里自主興行「Stimulus」新宿Face大会 | archive-date=January 29, 2013 | url-status = live | access-date=August 9, 2013 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}} and Takuya Kito's Kuzu Pro.{{cite web | url = http://wrestling-newclassic.com/ja/news-navi/175-2012-7-8-kuzupro-result.html | script-title=ja:7・8『ぷちクズプロ』全試合結果 |date=July 9, 2012 | access-date=July 21, 2012 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}}

In late 2013, WNC also established a working relationship with joshi puroresu promotion Reina Joshi Puroresu,{{cite web | url = http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20131118-1219999.html | title = WNCとReina女子プロレスが業務提携 | date=November 18, 2013 | access-date=November 18, 2013 | work=Nikkan Sports | language=ja}} as part of which all of WNC's female wrestlers became officially affiliated with both promotions in January 2014.{{cite web | url = http://www.wnc-pro.com/information.php?p=4&ckey=571 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109181304/http://www.wnc-pro.com/information.php?p=4&ckey=571 | title = 旗揚げ前から波乱のReina!!1・30WNC新宿で4Wayマッチが決定!! | archive-date=January 9, 2014 | url-status = live | date=January 9, 2014 | access-date=January 9, 2014 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}} On June 18, 2014, Tajiri held a press conference with Keiji Mutoh, where he announced that WNC would be going inactive following June 26. Afterwards, all female WNC wrestlers remained affiliated with WNC-Reina, while six male wrestlers, Tajiri and Akira included, transferred over to Mutoh's Wrestle-1 promotion.{{cite web | url = http://wnc-pro.com/information.php?p=1&ckey=847 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20140619065656/http://wnc-pro.com/information.php?p=1&ckey=847 | title = Tajiri、Akiraら6選手W-1へ移籍のお知らせ | archive-date=June 19, 2014 | url-status = live | date=June 19, 2014 | access-date=June 19, 2014 | work=Wrestling New Classic | language=ja}} WNC held its final event on June 26, 2014, in Tokyo's Shinjuku Face.{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/283229/ | script-title=ja:ＷＮＣ超満員のラスト興行 | date=June 27, 2014 | access-date=June 27, 2014 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja}}

Final roster

=Wrestlers=

class="wikitable sortable" align="left center" style="width:65%;"
width:15%;"\|Ring name !width:15%;"\|Real name !width:20%;"\|Notes
{{sort\|Akira\|Akira}} \|{{sortname\|Akira\|Nogami}} \|
{{sort\|Kato, Haruka\|Haruka Kato}} \|{{sort\|Kato, Haruka\|Haruka Kato}} \|WNC-Reina
{{sort\|Kuroshio, Jiro\|Jiro Kuroshio}} \|{{sortname\|Soujiro\|Higuchi\|Jiro Kuroshio}} \|
{{sort\|Doi, Koji\|Koji Doi}} \|{{sort\|Doi, Koji\|Koji Doi}} \|
{{sort\|Makoto\|Makoto}} \|{{sort\|zz\|Unknown}} \|WNC-Reina
{{sort\|Fujiwara, Rionne\|Rionne Fujiwara}} \|{{sort\|McAvoy, Rionne\|Rionne McAvoy}} \|
{{sort\|Tajiri\|Tajiri}} \|{{sortname\|Yoshihiro\|Tajiri}} \|
{{sort\|Kodama, Yusuke\|Yusuke Kodama}} \|{{sortname\|Yusuke\|Kodama}} \|
{{sort\|Takahashi, Masaya\|Masaya Takahashi}} \|{{sort\|Takahashi, Masaya\|Masaya Takahashi}} \|
{{sort\|Syuri\|Syuri}} \|{{sortname\|Syuri\|Kondo\|Syuri}} \|WNC-Reina
{{sort\|Kito, Takuya\|Takuya Kito}} \|{{sort\|Kito, Yuji\|Yuji Kito}} \|

class="wikitable sortable" align="left center" style="width:65%;"

width:15%;"|Ring name

!width:15%;"|Real name

!width:20%;"|Notes

|{{sortname|Akira|Nogami}}

|{{sort|Kato, Haruka|Haruka Kato}}

|WNC-Reina

|{{sortname|Soujiro|Higuchi|Jiro Kuroshio}}

|{{sort|Doi, Koji|Koji Doi}}

|{{sort|zz|Unknown}}

|WNC-Reina

|{{sort|McAvoy, Rionne|Rionne McAvoy}}

|{{sortname|Yoshihiro|Tajiri}}

|{{sortname|Yusuke|Kodama}}

|{{sort|Takahashi, Masaya|Masaya Takahashi}}

|{{sortname|Syuri|Kondo|Syuri}}

|WNC-Reina

|{{sort|Kito, Yuji|Yuji Kito}}

=Staff=

class="wikitable sortable" align="left center" style="width:65%;"
width:15%;"\|Name !width:20%;"\|Notes
{{sort\|Tomiyama, Chiho\|Chiho Tomiyama}} \|Ring announcer
{{sort\|High Step Shota\|High Step Shota}} \|Referee
{{sort\|Tamagawa, Katsumi\|Katsumi Tamagawa}} \|Referee
{{sort\|Higa, Serena\|Serena Higa}} \|Ring announcer
{{sort\|Imai, Soft\|Soft Imai (Daisuke Imai)}} \|Referee
{{sort\|Yula\|Yula}} \|Ring announcer

class="wikitable sortable" align="left center" style="width:65%;"

width:15%;"|Name

!width:20%;"|Notes

|Ring announcer

|Referee

|Ring announcer

|Referee

|Ring announcer

Alumni

class="wikitable sortable" align="left center" style="width:65%;"
width:15%;"\|Ring name !width:15%;"\|Real name !width:20%;"\|Notes
{{sort\|Ohara, Hajime\|Hajime Ohara}} \|{{sortname\|Hajime\|Ohara}} \|Resigned January 31, 2013
{{sort\|Yoshimura, Haruka\|Haruka Yoshimura}} \|{{sort\|Yoshimura, Haruka\|Haruka Yoshimura}} \|Retired February 28, 2014
{{sort\|Murase, Hiroki\|Hiroki Murase}} \|{{sort\|Murase, Hiroki\|Hiroki Murase}} \|Resigned January 11, 2014
{{sort\|Horizon\|Horizon}} \|{{sort\|Horaguchi, Yoshihiro\|Yoshihiro Horaguchi}} \|Signed with Kaientai Dojo on September 14, 2014
{{sort\|O'Brien, Josh\|Josh O'Brien}} \|{{sort\|O'Brien, Josh\|Josh O'Brien}} \|Resigned January 31, 2013
{{sort\|Kobayashi, Kaho\|Kaho Kobayashi}} \|{{sort\|Kobayashi, Kaho\|Kaho Kobayashi}} \|Resigned on September 16, 2014, to sign with Asuka Project and Pro Wrestling Wave
{{sort\|Kana\|Kana}} \|{{sortname\|Kanako\|Urai\|Kana (wrestler)}} \|Resigned November 28, 2012
{{sort\|Hinata, Koharu\|Koharu Hinata}} \|{{sort\|Hinata, Koharu\|Koharu Hinata}} \|Resigned June 18, 2014
{{sortname\|Lin\|Byron\|Ray (wrestler)}} \|{{sort\|zz\|Unknown}} \|Resigned June 26, 2014
{{sort\|Mitoshichi Shinose\|Mitoshichi Shinose}} \|{{sort\|Shinose, Akira\|Akira Shinose}} \|Resigned January 30, 2014
{{sort\|Nozaki, Nagisa\|Nagisa Nozaki}} \|{{sortname\|Nagisa\|Nozaki}} \|Went inactive on January 25, 2013

class="wikitable sortable" align="left center" style="width:65%;"

width:15%;"|Ring name

!width:15%;"|Real name

!width:20%;"|Notes

|{{sortname|Hajime|Ohara}}

|Resigned January 31, 2013

|{{sort|Yoshimura, Haruka|Haruka Yoshimura}}

|Retired February 28, 2014

|{{sort|Murase, Hiroki|Hiroki Murase}}

|Resigned January 11, 2014

|{{sort|Horaguchi, Yoshihiro|Yoshihiro Horaguchi}}

|Signed with Kaientai Dojo on September 14, 2014

|{{sort|O'Brien, Josh|Josh O'Brien}}

|Resigned January 31, 2013

|{{sort|Kobayashi, Kaho|Kaho Kobayashi}}

|Resigned on September 16, 2014, to sign with Asuka Project and Pro Wrestling Wave

|{{sortname|Kanako|Urai|Kana (wrestler)}}

|Resigned November 28, 2012

|{{sort|Hinata, Koharu|Koharu Hinata}}

|Resigned June 18, 2014

|{{sort|zz|Unknown}}

|Resigned June 26, 2014

|{{sort|Shinose, Akira|Akira Shinose}}

|Resigned January 30, 2014

|{{sortname|Nagisa|Nozaki}}

|Went inactive on January 25, 2013

=Notable guests=

Championships

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! Championship !! Final champion(s) !! Date won !! Defeated

WNC Championship

Yuji Kito

March 24, 2018

Retired{{cite web |url=http://puroresuspirit.net/2018/03/asuka-project-results-for-march-24-2018/ |title=ASUKA PROJECT results for March 24, 2018 – Puroresu Spirit |website=puroresuspirit.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330183747/http://puroresuspirit.net/2018/03/asuka-project-results-for-march-24-2018/ |archive-date=2018-03-30}}

WNC Women's Championship

Syuri

September 18, 2013

Serena