The International Wrestling Association of Japan , more commonly known as IWA Japan , was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion operating from 1994 to 2014.
41-829: It was formed by Víctor Quiñones as a successor to the W*ING promotion, which was folding as a rival to Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW), the pioneer of deathmatch wrestling in Japan and the only deathmatch promotion in Japan at the time. Most of the wrestlers jumped ship to Quiñones' new IWA Japan group. He found a sponsor in Tatsukuni "Kinroku" Asano, a businessman who owned several restaurants in Tokyo and had bought and run several wrestling shows prior to IWA Japan. They had their first show in Yokosuka, Kanagawa on May 21, 1994, which
82-458: A Pro-Wrestling A-Tean (Apache Army's successor promotion) event. After this he would come back as a wrestler having matches with Combat Zone Wrestling , Big Japan Pro-Wrestling , World Wonder Ring Stardom and DDT Pro-Wrestling . In 2021, Onita announced that he would be starting Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling-Explosion , a promotion under the FMW name that specialized in exploding death matches,
123-472: A Western audience as FMW could now be seen officially on VHS and DVD in the United States . They would go on to release 12 programs which were old FMW cards shortened down to feature the best matches or they were compilations of specific talent like Hayabusa. They also featured dubbed commentary from Eric Gellar and John Watanabe. Later releases would feature Dan Lovranski replacing Eric Gellar. As
164-399: A changing of the guard as Onita would retire and Hayabusa would step up and be the face of FMW. Onita would go on and sell the company to FMW ring announcer, Shoichi Arai . The Shoichi Arai era of FMW would end up issuing changes to the promotion and gave the promotion a new look and feel. Arai would slowly phase out the deathmatches that Atsushi Onita would help popularize and what put
205-461: A day No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref. Date Event Location Reign Days Defenses Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling 1 Emi Sakura November 16, 2013 IWA Japan house show Tokyo, Japan 1 41 0 Defeated Kyonin Shihan to unify the vacant IWA World Heavyweight Championship,
246-589: A decade of gradually declining interest the promotion folded on October 13, 2014, following its 20th anniversary event and the retirement of Asano. Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling-Explosion ( FMW-E ) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989, by Atsushi Onita as Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (フロンティア・マーシャルアーツ・レスリング,Furontia Māsharuātsu Resuringu) ( FMW ). The promotion specializes in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989. In
287-434: A match type in which Onita became famous for. The new promotion will have Hidetaka Kajiki serving as president. Onita stated he got the idea for the promotion after All Elite Wrestling 's 2021 Revolution PPV in which the event held an exploding barbed wire death match and seeing that there was still a market for these types of matches internationally in the pro wrestling world and with the popularity of online media streaming
328-552: A nasty gash on his arm. Onita would take it one step further as he would go on to have the first ever exploding barbed wire match in August of 1990, as he challenged his rival, Tarzan Goto . As the years would progress further, we would see an influx of American & Foreign talent begin to appear in FMW with talent ranging from Chris Jericho , Lance Storm , The Original Sheik , Sabu , Damián 666 , Dr. Luther , Leon Spinks , Tiger Jeet Singh and so forth. During these years,
369-530: A six-man tournament final to win the vacant title. — Vacated April 27, 2005 — — — — Vacated due to unknown circumstances. 6 Black Buffalo July 2, 2009 House show Tokyo, Japan 1 156 Defeated Keizo Matsuda to win the vacant championship. 7 Keizo Matsuda December 5, 2009 House show Tokyo, Japan 1 531 — Vacated May 20, 2011 — — — — Vacated when Matsuda left
410-454: A successful dog breeding business that is still active as of 2023. Bossman eventually died on September 22, 2004, and by 2005, Jim Duggan and George Hines left the promotion. Johnny Smith's much promoted debut on IWA TV never happened because he decided to retire due to injuries like Rotunda did. IWA held a show dedicated to Steve Williams on October 15, 2004, which AJPW mainstay and "Four Pillars of Heaven" member Toshiaki Kawada main-evented
451-494: A successor promotion, Apache Pro-Wrestling Army , which continued the WEW titles until 2016 when Kanemura retired and closed the promotion. Today the WEW titles are administered by Tomohiko Hashimoto 's Pro-Wrestling A-Team promotion. On April 3, 2015, Hideki Takahashi, Hayabusa and Choden Senshi Battle Ranger held a press conference, announcing they were reviving FMW under the new name "Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW". Takahashi would serve as
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#1732791573391492-549: A tumor in December 2015. She would succumb to the disease in 2018, she was 36 years old. On March 3, 2016, Haybusa would pass away at his home from a brain aneurysm, he was 47 years old. On October 31, 2017, FMW founder Atsushi Onita retired after 43 years in the ring. The promotion held its most recent event as Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW in 2018. Although not officially closing once again the revival seemed to have been forgotten about. In 2018, Onita would come out of retirement at
533-413: The booker , he would put forth his vision on how FMW should be run as Arai would sign the checks and book the arenas for the promotion. During this time, Onita would return to professional wrestling and start a faction that would rival FMW and they were known simply as ZEN . This group was loosely based on World Championship Wrestling 's group known as The New World Order . Onita would run shows under
574-665: The AWF World Women's Championship and the IWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship to create the IWA Triple Crown Championship. IWA Triple Crown Championship [ edit ] Key No. Overall reign number Reign Reign number for the specific champion Days Number of days held Defenses Number of successful defenses <1 Reign lasted less than
615-1488: The IWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and the AWF World Women's Championship. 2 Antonio Honda December 27, 2013 Japan Tour #79: Last Itabashi Of 2013 Tokyo, Japan 1 29 0 This was an Ogiri Deathmatch . 3 Emi Sakura January 25, 2014 Japan Tour #87 Tokyo, Japan 2 197 2 This was a Wasabi Cream Deathmatch . 4 Konaka Pahalwan August 10, 2014 Japan Tour #122: Sakura 7 Days War Tokyo, Japan 1 55 1 5 Emi Sakura October 4, 2014 Japan Tour #131 Tokyo, Japan 3 29 1 6 Riho November 2, 2014 Japan Tour #135: Thinking of Culture Tokyo, Japan 1 323 4 7 DJ Nira September 21, 2015 Japan Tour #187: First Time in Yokohama Tokyo, Japan 1 92 2 8 Kaori Yoneyama December 22, 2015 Japan Tour #202: Last Itabashi of 2015 Tokyo, Japan 1 183 1 9 Riho June 22, 2016 Riho 10th Anniversary: Flowers Blooming for 10 Years Tokyo, Japan 2 150 0 10 Makoto November 19, 2016 Japan Tour #258 Tokyo, Japan 1 224 2 — Vacated July 1, 2017 — — — — — Vacated due to Makoto suffering
656-519: The ZEN label and these shows would feature FMW talent. Hayabusa would continue to be featured as the ace of FMW and would go on to feud with the likes of Mr. Gannosuke , Kintaro Kanemura , and, Tetsuhiro Kuroda . As the booker of FMW, Kodo Fuyuki also continued to wrestle and he would go on to help form the top heel faction known as Team No Respect . In 2000, FMW would sign a distribution deal with Tokyopop which would help get their product out to
697-640: The charisma of some of their wrestlers, they decided to produce a show called Kawasaki Dream , which was held on August 20, 1995, at the Kawasaki Baseball Stadium . The main attraction of the show was the first ever 8-man single elimination deathmatch tournament, which featured Cactus Jack , Terry Funk , Shoji Nakamaki, Hiroshi Ono , Leatherface , Tiger Jeet Singh , Terry Gordy and former FMW wrestler Mr. Gannosuke . The show also featured an NWA World Heavyweight Championship defense, as Tarzan Goto challenged then-champion Dan Severn for
738-639: The company on the map and would bring in a more "sports entertainment" look and feel for the promotion that would be almost similar to that of the WWE . In a nod to the WWE, the old Brass Knuckles and Independent championships were abandoned and replaced with new titles, the World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW) championships. Arai would enlist the help of professional wrestler , Kodo Fuyuki as both men would usher in this new era. Having Fuyuki as
779-511: The crowds continued to decrease, the amount of debt became too much for Arai, as he finally decided to announce that he has filed for bankruptcy and FMW would go on to have their final show on February 4, 2002. As 2001 came to a close, it was stated that Arai owed the sum of what would be the equivalent of one million US dollars to yakuza due to the money he would constantly borrow but never pay back. Running out of options, on May 16, 2002, Shoichi Arai would commit suicide so his family could collect
820-847: The day before retiring got his revenge on Matsuda, defeating him in singles competition. Instead of Williams, Bossman feuded with "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, who defeated Bossman in a TV tournament for the IWA World Heavyweight Title on IWA's 10th anniversary episode. This would be Bossman's last match before he died a month later. After an uptick in interest, IWA would find itself seriously struggling after its main prospects in Williams, Miyake, Rotunda and Bossman were no longer on TV due to uncontrollable circumstances. Miyake decided to retire in July 2004 when Williams's health further deteriorated. Miyake after ending his wrestling career has run
861-478: The inaugural champion. — Vacated August 15, 1995 — — — — Vacated due to Slater leaving Japan to return to the United States because of his mother's illness. 2 Tarzan Goto August 15, 1995 Kawasaki★Dream: The Indie Dream Yokkaichi, Japan 1 438 Defeated Leatherface to win the vacant title. — Vacated October 26, 1996 — — — — Vacated when Goto left
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#1732791573391902-433: The late 1990s, FMW had a brief working agreement with Extreme Championship Wrestling , and as well had 14 DVDs released in the U.S. by Tokyopop . On March 4, 2015, FMW was resurrected under the name Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW (超戦闘プロレスFMW, Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW). With the resurrected FMW not holding any events since 2018, Onita announced in 2021 that he would be starting Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling-Explosion (FMW-E) in which
943-418: The life insurance to pay back the money owed to the yakuza. The talent divided into two promotions: Kodo Fuyuki's World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW), the name of FMW's title governing body since 1999, and Mr. Gannosuke 's Wrestlings Marvelous Future (WMF). Some of the talent also made appearances on Onita's special shows. Following Fuyuki's death in 2003, most of the WEW talent under Kintaro Kanemura formed
984-1120: The new promotion was formed. The promotion, however, held its last card to date on December 19, 2021, after which Onita went freelance yet again. In October 2022, FMW-E started back up promoting cards. Deceased individuals are indicated with a dagger (†). IWA World Heavyweight Championship (IWA Japan) For other uses, see IWA World Heavyweight Championship . IWA World Heavyweight Championship Details Promotion International Wrestling Association of Japan (1994–2014) Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (2014–2017) Date established July 20, 1994 Date retired August 5, 2017 Other name(s) IWA Triple Crown Championship Statistics First champion(s) Doug Gilbert Final champion(s) Emi Sakura Most reigns Emi Sakura (4 reigns) Longest reign Doug Gilbert (455 days) Shortest reign Emi Sakura (<1 day) The IWA World Heavyweight Championship ( Japanese : IWA世界ヘビー級王座 , Hepburn : IWA Sekai Hebī-kyū Ōza )
1025-596: The president and Hayabusa as the executive producer of the promotion, which would also feature participation from Atsushi Onita. The promotion held its first event on April 21. On October 30, 2015, they announced that they were reviving the FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship , as they set a match to determine new champions on December 22. In 2016, two tragedies had befallen FMW. On February 17, 2016, Ray would announce that she had inoperable stage three brain cancer after being diagnosed with
1066-401: The promotion for his high flying style and it was known that Hayabusa was the "ace" of FMW. Onita was fixing to retire once again from professional wrestling and his retirement match was held at the annual May 5th, Kawasaki Stadium show. This was FMW's biggest show of the year and Onita would take on Hayabusa in an exploding barbed wire cage, timebomb deathmatch. This match now signified
1107-794: The promotion would specialize in exploding death matches . The promotion was highlighted in the third season of the Vice TV 's pro wrestling docuseries Dark Side of the Ring in September 2021. The Atsushi Onita era of FMW originally consisted of a promotion that featured not only professional wrestling but the best martial arts fighters in the world. Onita would bring in American talent that were known in Japan like Jos LeDuc and Dick Murdoch , as well female talent and midget wrestlers. As
1148-696: The promotion. 3 Doug Gilbert January 13, 1998 House show Tokyo, Japan 1 455 Won a 15-man Battle Royal Deathmatch by last eliminating Keisuke Yamada to win the vacant title. 4 Ghost Face April 13, 1999 House show Tokyo, Japan 2 129 Previously held the title under the name Tarzan Goto. Reverted to this name on June 27, 1999. — Vacated August 20, 1999 — — — — Vacated due to unknown circumstances. 5 Hacksaw Jim Duggan August 31, 2004 IWA Japan 10th Anniversary Show Tokyo, Japan 1 239 Defeated Big Boss Man in
1189-459: The promotion. — Deactivated July 30, 2011 — — — — 8 Emi Sakura November 16, 2013 House show Tokyo, Japan 1 <1 Defeated Kyonin Shihan to win the vacant title. This match was also contested for the AWF World Women's Championship and the IWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. — Unified November 16, 2013 — — — — Unified with
1230-496: The show in Williams's honor defeating Keizo Matsuda. Kawada also defeated Matsuda in the main event of the prior IWA 10th Anniversary Show on August 31, 2004. Despite Kawada's prominent appearances, a full-time contract was never signed due to struggling financials and major loss of talent. Williams showed his electrolarynx for the first time publicly on the March 27, 2005 edition of IWA TV when his first bout of throat cancer recovery
1271-535: The specific champion Days Number of days held <1 Reign lasted less than a day No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref. Date Event Location Reign Days International Wrestling Association of Japan 1 Dick Slater July 20, 1994 Who Is the Best Iwate Prefecture, Japan 1 391 Defeated Nobutaka Araya to become
International Wrestling Association of Japan - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-465: The spotlight from the native IWA guys. Mike Rotunda would take Williams side, Rotunda also teaming with Miyake. Rotunda would also find himself in an angle with Keizo Matsuda, who behaved as a young and cocky heel to the veteran babyface Rotunda. Both angles were cut short, the first one due to Williams being diagnosed with throat cancer in March 2004 and the latter due to Rotunda's nagging injures, who ultimately decided to retire on May 5, 2004. Rotunda
1353-598: The time. Ted DiBiase as "The Million Dollar Man" was the on-screen general manager on the show, acting as a heel. Steve Williams and up and comer Ryo Miyake formed a babyface tag-team in late 2003, Williams becoming his mentor. They would defeat Leatherface and Keizo Matsuda for the vacant IWA World Tag Team Championship . An angle between Big Bossman and Steve Williams commenced in January 2004, where DiBiase hired Bossman to force fan favorite Williams into retirement for being "an AJPW invader", kayfabe being accused of taking
1394-664: The title. Quiñones left IWA at the end of 1995, along with the NWA affiliation. Goto, Gannosuke, and Flying Kid Ichihara followed suit in late-1996 to join Tokyo Pro. Subsequently, IWA started to go downhill after losing much of the talent that Quiñones booked. IWA experienced a resurgence in the mid 2000s when "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Mike Rotunda , as well as other All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) gaijins such as Johnny Smith , George Hines and Giant Kimala found work in IWA after AJPW
1435-430: The years progressed with FMW, Onita decided to phase out the martial arts aspect of the company and focus strictly on professional wrestling . Onita would go on to have violent and bloody matches like the first ever barbed wire match in the company where he would team with Tarzan Goto as they took on the team of Mitsuhiro Matsunaga and Jerry Flynn . Onita would use real barbed wire which resulted in him receiving
1476-423: The years progressed, the audiences for the live shows began to decrease and Arai would slowly sink further and further into debt. Tragedy struck the promotion on October 22, 2001, during a match with Hayabusa and Mammoth Sasaki. Hayabusa attempted a springboard moonsault —one of his signature moves—but he accidentally slipped on the ropes and fell directly on his neck, breaking it and paralyzing him. As
1517-408: The young Eiji Ezaki started to slowly work his way through the ranks. He was known as a prodigy in the world of wrestling and like a-lot of promotions in Japan do, send him on excursion away from the company as they will learn and develop. Ezaki would go on excursion to Mexico and wrestle for a couple of different promotions and developed the character of Hayabusa . Hayabusa became a fan favorite in
1558-823: Was a title used on the Japanese independent circuit . The title was the world heavyweight championship of the International Wrestling Association of Japan (IWA Japan). It was later revived in the women's wrestling promotion Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling , where it became part of the IWA Triple Crown Championship ( Japanese : IWA三冠統一王座 , Hepburn : IWA Sankan Tōitsu Ōza ) with a separate reign history. Title history [ edit ] IWA World Heavyweight Championship [ edit ] Key No. Overall reign number Reign Reign number for
1599-527: Was showing improvement. This would be Williams's last mainstream wrestling TV appearance as he chose to pursue a lighter schedule on the independent circuit given his age and electrolarynx. After this appearance there were no AJPW or WWE wrestling veterans left on the roster to pave way for younger talents. This ultimately hurt the casual fan interest and arena attendance it quickly garnered in 2004 with AJPW's 2003 gaijin exodus, ex-WWE talent hires and Kawada's main event matches and promo appearances. After nearly
1640-413: Was sold. By late 2003 IWA also had a television deal with Fighting Samurai TV, notable for previously airing its own version of AJPW TV before AJPW was sold. Various WWE Hall of Famers also worked regularly for IWA during this IWA TV period, including Big Bossman , "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan , and Barry Windham . The veterans would work in the main event along with the younger stars, becoming similar to TNA at
1681-452: Was taped for television. The early shows often featured many ex- W*ING wrestlers like Yukihiro Kanemura , Shoji Nakamaki, Nobutaka Araya and The Headhunters . They also had fans to fill out questionnaires about the shows and sometimes gave away freebies. Quiñones booked talent from all over the world to compete in IWA, including Cactus Jack and Terry Funk who engaged in some of their most famous bouts. With IWA getting more popular due to