International Wrestling Enterprise
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Acronym | IWE |
---|---|
Founded | October 1966 |
Defunct | September 30, 1981 |
Headquarters | Harada Building, 2-14-2, Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
Founder(s) | Isao Yoshihara |
Parent | Tokyo Broadcasting System |
Split from | Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance |
Successor | IWA Kakutō Shijuku/International Wrestling Promotion (unofficial) |
International Wrestling Enterprise (国際プロレス, Kokusai Puroresu)
When IWE closed its doors in 1981,
History
Formation and partnership with Tokyo Pro Wrestling
Isao Yoshihara was a former professional wrestler and member of the wrestling team at Waseda University. He had also served as sales manager for the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA). However, following Rikidōzan's death in 1963, conflicts arose between Yoshihara and JWA head of accounting Kokichi Endo over the sale of Riki Sports Palace, a 9-storey building located in Shibuya,[7] and on October 5, 1966, Yoshihara left JWA to found International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE).[8] Initially facing a shortage of talents, the promotion did not follow the traditional wrestling promotion structure, opting instead to implement a freelance system more akin to the American wrestling industry, where wrestlers were contracted for each tour.[9] This system rapidly proved ineffective, and after Yoshihara's attempt at seeking a partnership with JWA didn't go through, IWE transitioned to a more traditional structure with its own roster of contracted wrestlers.[10]
In early 1967, Yoshihara initiated negotiations with
Throughout July and August 1967, IWE held the Pioneer Summer Series. As part of the tour, an event was scheduled at the
Reboot as TBS Pro-Wrestling
On September 11, 1967, the TBS Television deal was signed, and a signing ceremony was attended by Isao Yoshihara, TBS Sports Director Masao Tsuruta and TBS Sports Vice Director Tadahiro Mori.[19] In order to raise funds, IWE, through the intermediary of Mori, who was a friend of Yoshihara from their days at Waseda University, transferred its shares to Hiroshi Iwata, the president of a dairy company in Hiroshima, and asked him for a loan. Iwata thus became the new owner of IWE, and the company was restructured with the backing of TBS.[20] Around the same time, Hiro Matsuda left IWE after a dispute with Yoshihara over how to handle debts.[18] The Great Togo, whose contract with JWA ended four years ago, was brought in to replace Matsuda as the booker for the foreign wrestlers.[21]
On December 22, 1967, Mori held a press conference and announced the promotion would change its name to TBS Pro-Wrestling to "take advantage of the name value of TBS".[19] In January 1968, the Opening World Series featured Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Hans Schmidt, Waldo Von Erich, Bulldog Brower, and referee Fred Atkins.[22]
Roster
- Japanese talent: Mighty Inoue, Animal Hamaguchi, Ashura Hara, Isamu Teranishi, Goro Tsurumi, Hiromichi Fuyuki, Ryuma Go, KY Wakamatsu, Mach Hayato, Kintarō Ōki, Kim Duk, Mr. Hito, Umanosuke Ueda, Masa Saito, Mr. Seki
- Foreign talent: The Wild Samoans, Gil Hayes, Pierre Martin, Michel Martel, Ricky Martel, Jake Roberts, Big Daddy Ritter, David Schultz, Dynamite Kid, Mike George, Bob Sweetan, Johnny Powers, Killer Karl Krupp, Ron Bass, Randy Rose, Moose Morowski, Norvell Austin, The Invader, Luke Graham, Ray Candy, Paul Ellering, Steve Olsonoski, Percy Pringle III, Ric Flair, The Sheepherders.
Championships recognized by IWE
IWE's governing body was called the International Wrestling Alliance and administered the following titles:[23]
- IWA World Heavyweight Championship[24]
- IWA World Mid-Heavyweight Championship[25]
- IWA World Tag Team Championship[26]
Near the end of IWE's existence, it billed a World Wrestling Union title, supposedly based in Germany, to give a push to wrestler Ashura Hara:
Before the IWA system was created, IWE recognized the Trans-World Wrestling Alliance titles:
See also American Wrestling Association for the AWA World titles.
International Wrestling Promotion (revival)
In 1994, Goro Tsurumi formed a promotion called IWA Kakutō Shijuku (IWA格闘志塾, International Wrestling Alliance Fighting Hope Training School), but in 1997 he renamed the promotion International Wrestling Promotion (国際プロレス・プロモーション, Kokusai Puroresu Puromōshon). The only recognizable name in the promotion was Tsurumi himself; the rest of the roster used masked identities. Wrestlers from other independents were invited to participate, including Shoji Nakamaki and Yukihide Ueno.
Championships recognized by IWP
- IWA World Heavyweight Championship — Goro Tsurumi[30]
- IWA World Mid-Heavyweight Championship — J.R.F. Lion[31]
- IWA World Middleweight Championship — Phantom Funagoshi[32]
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (International Pro Wrestling) — Super Iron Hercules and Iron Hercules I[33]
- IWA World Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship — Tomoya and Macho Bump[34]
See also
Notes
- ^ The promotion's official trade name was International Wrestling Enterprise Co., Ltd. (インターナショナル・レスリング・エンタープライズ株式会社, Intānashonaru Resuringu Entāpuraizu Kabushiki-gaisha)
References
- ^ International Wrestling Enterprise history at Puroresu.com
- ^ Laflamme, Steve (2004). "Int'l Wrestling - Montreal #10 Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com. Regional Territories: Int'l Wrestling - Montreal. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ )
- ^ "New Japan Pro Wrestling". Promotions. OnlineWorldofWrestling.com. 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ Horie, Masanori (May 15, 2000). "Nippon Budokan". View From the Rising Sun. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ History of Puroresu - 1981 at Puroresu.com
- ^ G Spirits Vol. 15 2010, p. 68.
- ^ a b BBM 2014, p. 108.
- ^ a b G Spirits Vol. 15 2010, p. 69.
- ^ a b G Spirits Vol. 15 2010, p. 71.
- ^ G Spirits Vol. 15 2010, p. 70.
- ^ G Spirits Vol. 52 2019, p. 61.
- ^ a b NPJ vol. 8 2015, p. 48.
- ^ "Shin Nihon Puroresu bāsasus Zen Nihon Puroresu "Jingi-naki" gojū-nen tōsōshi [3] Matto-kai no niji ni natta Inoki no hataage" 新日本プロレスVS全日本プロレス「仁義なき」50年闘争史【3】マット界の孤児になった猪木の旗揚げ [New Japan Pro-Wrestling vs. All Japan Pro Wrestling "Honorless" History of a 50-Year War [3] Inoki's New Venture, Orphaned in the Mat World]. Asagei Biz (in Japanese). May 29, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "Shin Nihon Puroresu bāsasus Zen Nihon Puroresu "Jingi-naki" gojū-nen tōsōshi [19] Baba bāsasus Inoki "chōjō kessen" no omowanu yukue" 新日本プロレスVS全日本プロレス「仁義なき」50年闘争史【19】馬場VS木村“頂上決戦”の思わぬ行方 [New Japan Pro-Wrestling vs. All Japan Pro Wrestling "Honorless" History of a 50-Year War [19] The Unexpected Outcome of Baba vs. Inoki's "Battle to the Top"]. Asagei Biz (in Japanese). September 25, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ a b NPJ vol. 2 2014, p. 46.
- ^ Sekai resurā sen-nin meikan 世界レスラー1000人名鑑~THE WRESTLER BEST 1000~ (in Japanese). Nippon Sports Publishing. April 1996. p. 126.
- ^ a b NPJ vol. 8 2015, pp. 34, 40.
- ^ a b NPJ vol. 2 2014, p. 47.
- ^ G Spirits Vol. 19 2011, pp. 84–85.
- ^ G Spirits Vol. 19 2011, p. 84.
- ^ G Spirits Vol. 19 2011, p. 88.
- ^ International Wrestling Enterprise titles at Wrestling-Titles.com
- ^ "IWA World Heavyweight Title (IWE)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "IWA World Mid-Heavyweight Title (IWE)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "IWA World Tag Team Title (IWE)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "WWU World Junior Heavyweight Title (IWE)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "TWWA World Heavyweight Title (IWE)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "TWWA World Tag Team Title (IWE)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "IWA World Heavyweight Title (Kokusai Pro)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "IWA World Mid-Heavyweight Title (Kokusai Pro)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "IWA World Middleweight Title (Kokusai Pro)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "IWA World Tag Team Title (Kokusai Pro)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "IWA World Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title (Kokusai Pro)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
Blibliography
- "Jitsuroku Kokusai Puroresu daigokai" 実録・国際プロレス 第5回 [True Account of International Wrestling Enterprise vol. 5]. Jī Supirittsu ISBN 978-4777807727.
- "Jitsuroku Kokusai Puroresu dairokkai" 実録・国際プロレス 第6回 [True Account of International Wrestling Enterprise vol. 6]. Jī Supirittsu ISBN 978-4777808014.
- "Jitsuroku Kokusai Puroresu dainanakai" 実録・国際プロレス 第7回 [True Account of International Wrestling Enterprise vol. 7]. Jī Supirittsu ISBN 978-4777808298.
- "Jitsuroku Kokusai Puroresu daikyūkai" 実録・国際プロレス 第9回 [True Account of International Wrestling Enterprise vol. 9]. Jī Supirittsu ISBN 978-4777808922.
- "Jitsuroku Kokusai Puroresu daijūrokkai" 実録・国際プロレス 第16回 [True Account of International Wrestling Enterprise vol. 16]. Jī Supirittsu ISBN 978-4777811168.
- "Jitsuroku Kokusai Puroresu daijūhachikai" 実録――国際プロレス 第18回 [True Account of International Wrestling Enterprise vol. 18]. Jī Supirittsu ISBN 978-4777811748.
- "Tōkyō Jūni-channeru no Kokusai Puroresu" 東京12チャンネルの国際プロレス [International Wrestling Enterprise on Tokyo Channel 12]. Jī Supirittsu ISBN 978-4777823390.
- Wasureji no Kokusai Puroresu 忘れじの国際プロレス [Unforgettable International Wrestling Enterprise] (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4583620800.
- Nihon puroresu jikenshi boryūmu tsū: Terebi puroresu no seisui 日本プロレス事件史 vol.2 テレビプロレスの盛衰 [History of Japanese Pro-Wrestling vol. 2: Rise and Fall of TV Wrestling] (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4583621876.
- Nihon puroresu jikenshi boryūmu eito: Iseki, hikinuki, kōgyō sensō 日本プロレス事件史 vol.8 移籍・引き抜き・興行戦争 [History of Japanese Pro-Wrestling vol. 8: Transfers, poaching, and promotional wars] (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4583622699.