JWP Joshi Puroresu

JWP Joshi Puroresu (JWP女子プロレス, JWP Joshi Puroresu), also known as JWP Project (JWPプロジェクト, JWP Purojekuto) or simply JWP, was a Japanese joshi puroresu (women's professional wrestling) promotion, founded in 1992 as a splinter promotion of Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. Celebrating its 25th anniversary at the time of its folding in 2017, JWP was the oldest joshi puroresu promotion in Japan and its Openweight Championship was the oldest championship in all of joshi.[2][3][4] Command Bolshoi, who had worked for the promotion since the beginning, served as the final president of JWP.[5] The promotion's slogan was "Pure Heart, Pure Wrestling".[1]

JWP Joshi Puroresu
AcronymJWP
FoundedApril 3, 1992
DefunctApril 2, 2017
StyleJoshi puroresu
HeadquartersAdachi, Tokyo[1]
Founder(s)Masatoshi Yamamoto
Owner(s)Kiyoshi Shinozaki
WebsiteJWP-Produce.com

History
Command Bolshoi

JWP Joshi Puroresu was founded in early 1992, when Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (JWP), ravaged by internal politics, split up into two camps, dubbed the "shooters" and the "entertainers",[6] and eventually folded on January 18.[7][8] The "shooter" side went on to form Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW), while the "entertainer" side, led by Jackie Sato and financed by Masatoshi Yamamoto, founded JWP Project, later renamed JWP Joshi Puroresu, which held its first event on April 3, 1992.[6][9][10] Already the following year, JWP managed to sign a television deal with the WOWOW channel.[11] In 1994, Jaleco published the JWP Joshi Pro Wrestling: Pure Wrestle Queens (JWP女子プロレス ピュア・レッスル・クイーンズ, JWP Joshi Puroresu Pyua Ressuru Kuīnzu) video game for the Super Famicom game console.[12]

JWP's goal from the start was to rival All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), the top joshi puroresu promotion in the country, but always remained in its shadow.[13] After closing the gap between the two promotions in 1996, JWP was hit hard in 1997, when two of its top workers, Candy Okutsu and Hiromi Yagi retired, Dynamite Kansai was sidelined with health problems and finally, when, on August 16, another top worker, Plum Mariko, died in the ring during one of its events.[13] These were followed by Jackie Sato's death from stomach cancer on August 9, 1999.[6] After a co-promoted event with AJW in February 2000 turned out to be a failure, JWP closed its doors at the end of the year.[6] However, the promotion returned just a few months later, now under new management, headed by wrestler Command Bolshoi.[5] JWP continued working with former rival promotion AJW until the promotion folded in April 2005. JWP then adopted AJW's premier wrestling tournament, Tag League the Best,[14] and also inherited the promotion's old sponsor, the Daily Sports newspaper, which led to JWP most notably introducing the Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championship in August 2008.[15][16]

JWP not only trained a large number of wrestlers, but was also able to recruit wrestlers from other folding joshi puroresu promotions, including Arisa Nakajima, Leon and Sachie Abe from AtoZ, Kazuki from JDStar and Hanako Nakamori and Tomoko Morii from Ito Dojo, while also employing freelancers such as Emi Sakura, Kana and Misaki Ohata.[17] JWP had a close working relationship with the Ice Ribbon promotion.[18] JWP also had a relationship with American promotion Chikara, with Hanako Nakamori, Tsubasa Kuragaki and Kaori Yoneyama, a replacement for an injured Command Bolshoi, representing the promotion at Chikara's JoshiMania weekend in December 2011.[19][20] JWP has also participated in Chikara's premier tournament, the King of Trios, on two occasions, with Bolshoi, Kuragaki and Yoneyama participating in 2012,[21][22] and Bolshoi, Hanako Nakamori and Manami Katsu in 2016.[23]

On February 8, 2017, JWP held a press conference to announce that the promotion would fold following its 25th anniversary event on April 2, 2017, after which all of its wrestlers would become freelancers. The group's contract with the JWP production company was set to expire in April and the two sides had not been able to come to terms on a new one. Bolshoi would remain in charge of Pure Dream kabushiki gaisha, which she had established the previous November and through which she would launch a new promotion on August 11, 2017. The new company would retain control of the Daily Sports Women's Tag Team and Princess of Pro-Wrestling Championships, while the JWP name and the JWP Openweight, Tag Team and Junior Championships all remained with the JWP production company. JWP's folding marked the end of the oldest women's professional wrestling promotion still in operation at that point in time.[24][25][26] The following month, it was announced that Bolshoi's new promotion would be called "Pure-J".[27][28] JWP's final show in Korakuen Hall on April 2, 2017, was attended by 1,180 people, and featured appearances by several wrestlers from the promotion's past, including Azumi Hyuga, Cutie Suzuki, Dynamite Kansai, Hikari Fukuoka, Kayoko Haruyama and Mayumi Ozaki.[2][29]

Final roster

Wrestlers
Ring name Real name
Command Bolshoi Unknown[30]
Hanako Nakamori Hanako Kobayashi[30]
Ibis Sara Itsuka Fukuda[31]
Kazuki Kazuko Fujiwara[30]
Leon Rena Takase[30]
Manami Katsu Manami Katsu[30]
Morii Tomoko Morii[30]
Rino Rino Orikono[32]
Rydeen Hagane Noriko Matsumoto[30]
Yako Fujigasaki Yako Fujigasaki[33]
Yua Hayashi Yua Hayashi[33]

Notable alumni/guests

Staff
  • Tessy Sugo (referee)

Championships

Singles
Championship Date of entry First champion Date retired Final champion Years active Notes
JWP Openweight Championship December 2, 1992 Dynamite Kansai April 2, 2017 Hanako Nakamori 24 The title was retired when JWP Joshi Puroresu goes out of business.[2][29]
JWP Junior Championship June 16, 1995 Candy Okutsu April 2, 2017 Yako Fujigasaki 21 The title was retired when JWP Joshi Puroresu goes out of business.[2][29]
Princess of Pro-Wrestling Championship June 17, 2007 Tyrannosaurus Okuda April 2, 2017 9 Originally created in JDStar,[34] the title was defended at JWP Joshi Puroresu with the closing of JDStar. On April 2, 2017, after the closing of JWP, Pure-J owned the rights of the title.[35]

Tag Team
Championship Date of entry First champion Date retired Final champion Years active Notes
Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championship August 3, 2008 Harukura
(Kayoko Haruyama and Tsubasa Kuragaki)		 April 2, 2017 P-Ray-L
(Command Bolshoi and Leon)		 8 On April 2, 2017, after the closing of JWP, Pure-J owned the rights of the title.[35]
JWP Korakuen Tag Team Championship April 21, 1996 Tomoko Kuzumi and Yuki Miyazaki 1997 Kanoko Motoya and Tomoko Kuzumi 1 The championship was deactivated for undocumented reasons. The exact date the title was deactivated is uncertain, somewhere in 2017 at or after September 20, where Kuzumi and Motoya won the title.
JWP Tag Team Championship August 9, 1992 Cutie Suzuki and Mayumi Ozaki April 2, 2017 Command Bolshoi and Leon 24 The title was retired when JWP Joshi Puroresu goes out of business.[2][29]

Tournaments
Tournament Last winner(s) Last held Notes
JWP Tag League the Best /
JWP Tag Tournament		Makafushigi
(Hanako Nakamori and Makoto)		February 21, 2016Round-robin tournament, with a head-to-head final match between the top two teams.[36] Held in a single-elimination format in 2016.[37]
Natsu Onna Kettei TournamentHanako Nakamori and Maki NarumiyaJuly 28, 2012Single-elimination tournament; every other year for tag teams and every other for singles wrestlers.[38]

References
  1. "グッズ情報 JWP激闘史2008 ～Pure Heart Pure Wrestling～". JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. April 3, 2009. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  2. 「ＪＷＰ」２５年の歴史に幕　尾崎魔弓らＯＧも別れ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  3. "JWP (Japan Women Project)". Puroresu Representin'. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  4. Meltzer, Dave (July 13, 2011). "Wed.update: Rock's return, Punk on Ice Cream bars, WWE back on NBC, Marquardt update, Ratings, doc". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2012. Haily [sic] Hatred, the first American to win the JWP title (which is actually the longest running women's title in Japan)...
  5. Martin, Adam (November 16, 2011). "Indy News #3: Chikara's JoshiMania in December". Chikara. Wrestleview. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  6. "Lipstick, Dynamite and Glowworms, Part 13". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  7. Meltzer, Dave (January 20, 1992). "Jan 20 1992 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 1991 year-end awards issue, Herd leaves WCW, more (back issue)". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 11. ISSN 1083-9593. The biggest news of the week in Japan is that after Sunday afternoon's show at Korakuen Hall, the JWP promotion announced it was folding. The death of the group, the least popular of all the promotions running full-time schedules in Japan, wasn't unexpected and had been rumored since late last year. It is expected that with the ending of the JWP group that two of its wrestlers, Rumi Kazama and Shinobu Kandori, were going to approach Hachiro Tanaka (who already owns SWS and PWF and apparently is going sponsor Antonio Inoki in some ways) about financing a new women's promotion which would employ most of the old JWP women. No word if All Japan Women will hire any of the JWP wrestlers who are now out of wrestling work.
  8. Meltzer, Dave (January 27, 1992). "Jan 27 1992 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Flair wins Royal Rumble, more awards, WCW courts Bret (back issue)". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 15. ISSN 1083-9593. JWP finishing up its final tour before it goes out of business drew 1,132 on 1/18 in Hiroshima as Pink Cadillac & Cutie Suzuki beat three girls in a handicap match and Harley Saito & Devil Masami beat Eagle Sawai & Dynamite Kansai.
  9. Meltzer, Dave (March 30, 1992). "Mar 30 1992 Observer Newsletter: No buzz for 92 Mania, WWE steroid symposium, Donahue fallout, more (back issue)". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 8. ISSN 1083-9593. JWP, after closing down for re-financing, starts back in business on 4/3 in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall headlined by Dynamite Kansai & Hikari Fukuoka vs. Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki and they'll be back 4/11 in the same building with Kansai vs. Plum Mariko in the main event.
  10. Meltzer, Dave (May 4, 1992). "May 4, 1992 Observer Newsletter: NWA Title tourney, Luger lawsuit, early Russo heat,Wrestlemarinpiad (back issue)". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. pp. 9–10. ISSN 1083-9593. Next major JWP show is 5/23 in Yashio. The new JWP consists of ten women and it's like PWF and UWFI where they pretty much have the same match-ups all the time. Of the ten, the major names are Devil Masami, Cutie Suzuki, Plum Mariko and Dynamite Kansai. The other three major names from the old JWP, Harley Saito, Rumi Kazama and Shinobu Kandori are trying to start up their own company which is tentatively scheduled to open in June.
  11. Meltzer, Dave (July 26, 1993). "July 26, 1993 Observer Newsletter: Beach Blast, WWF and WCW booking discussions, tons more (back issue)". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 13. ISSN 1083-9593. JWP's first television show aired on WOWOW channel on 7/10 featuring a hot 27:00 main event with Dynamite Kansai & Plum Mariko vs. Devil Masami & Cutie Suzuki that was in the four-star range.
  12. "JWP女子プロレス ピュア・レッスル・クイーンズ". Super-Famicom.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  13. Zavisa, Chris (January 31, 1998). "5 Yrs Ago: Zavisa ranks the top Japanese promotions (part two)". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  14. １月７日更新ニュース. Ringstars (in Japanese). Ameba. January 7, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  15. デイリースポーツ創刊６０周年記念・女子プロレス「サマードリーム２００８」チケット発売のお知らせ. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. March 12, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  16. (結果)8月3日（日）デイリースポーツ創刊60周年記念大会「サマードリーム2008」東京大会. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. August 4, 2008. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  17. 選手紹介. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  18. 【大会情報】7/28横浜大会は『J Ribbon-2012夏女決定ﾄｰﾅﾒﾝﾄ』!!. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). June 19, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  19. Meltzer, Dave (November 16, 2011). "Wed. update: Record audience for Dos Santos vs. Cain; Ratings, Spike adding new TV show; TNA cancel". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  20. Magee, Bob (December 2, 2011). "JoshiMania tonight in Phily with Toys for Tots". Wrestleview. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  21. Radican, Sean (October 8, 2012). "Radican's DVD Review Series - "Chikara 2012 King of Trios Night 1" 9/14: Team ROH vs. Faces of Pain, Team WWF". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  22. Namako, Jason (September 15, 2012). "9/15 Chikara "King of Trios: Night 2" Results: Easton, PA". Wrestleview. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  23. "9/2-9/4 Chikara King of Trios Results – three-night tournament featuring CWC & former WWF/E Women's Teams". Pro Wrestling Torch. September 5, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  24. 日本最古の女子プロ団体ＪＷＰの全選手が独立、新団体旗揚げへ. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  25. JWPから全選手が独立し新団体を8月に旗揚げ！JWPが今後開催されるかは未定. Battle News (in Japanese). February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  26. 【ＪＷＰ】４・２「２５周年大会」を最後に全選手独立. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  27. JWPから「Pure-J」へ　8・11後楽園大会で旗揚げ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  28. 女子プロレス「JWP」、新団体名「Pure-J」を発表. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  29. ＪＷＰが２５周年大会で日本最古の歴史に幕　Ｃ鈴木、Ｄ関西、福岡晶らＯＧ集結. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  30. 選手紹介. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  31. 【試合結果】７月１７日（日）両国・ＫＦＣホール　１３時. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). July 17, 2016. Archived from the original on July 17, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  32. 選手紹介. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  33. 選手紹介. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. January 1, 2014. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  34. "格闘美～Future～". JDStar (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 24, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  35. 日本最古の女子プロ団体ＪＷＰの全選手が独立、新団体旗揚げへ. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  36. "2015.3.22 神奈川・ラゾーナ川崎クラブソル 13時半　試合". JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  37. 【試合結果】２月２１日（日）ラゾーナ川崎プラザソル 13:30. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). February 21, 2016. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  38. (結果)７月２８日（土）横浜ラジアントホール. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. July 28, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
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