Wrestling News, Analysis, and Rumors
NJPW has revealed the Wrestle Kingdom 17 full card and abolished its ban on cheering. Fans will be allowed to chant, repeat catchphrases, have short conversations and boo under new rules released today December 15, 2022. All together now: RAIIIIINMAAAKKEERRR!!! The new rules come after the company was forced to ban fans from being vocal as […] READ MORE
Antonio Inoki has been named the Honorary Lifetime Chairman of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, following his death on September 30, 2022. Free Inoki matches have also been added to NJPW World to mark his passing. More information on this Inoki Memorial Playlist can be found below. In a statement, NJPW revealed plans had been in place […] READ MORE
On September 30, Yahoo! Japan reported that Antonio Inoki passed away at age 79. Since 2021, Inoki had been dealing with health issues, being confined to a wheelchair due to spinal issues. However, he made a rare television appearance in May of last year, being featured in the Collision in Korea episode of Dark Side […] READ MORE
On January 13, 2022, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) turned 50, joining a very small class of wrestling promotions that made it to at least a half-century of operation. There’s a lot of history for Japan’s premier organization (which we here at Last Word on Pro Wrestling will be covering throughout the year), but one interesting […] READ MORE
Hulk Hogan is one of the most controversial and contentious figures professional wrestling has ever seen. Others revile him due to his politicking and various scandals. With that being said, one would be remiss not to mention how big of an icon “The Immortal One” was to the wrestling industry. He took the WWE, with the scorching […] READ MORE
Ten years ago today, one would be surprised at the climate of New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2021. At the beginning of the 2010s, the Japan-based wrestling promotion was one of the biggest in the world, filling out the Tokyo Dome yearly and putting together many of the decades best stars and matches. Wrestling had become […] READ MORE
Dark Side of the Ring is here once more! Following on from last week’s tragic episode, which centered around the tragic life and death of Chris Kanyon, this week’s episode focused on an entire wrestling promotion: the Japanese, Atsushi Onita-founded Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW). A pioneering, deathmatch promotion which would inspire modern promotions such as […] READ MORE
On Friday, it was announced by the Japanese Wrestling Hall of Fame (NPH) that there will be a special 70th Anniversary of Japan Pro Wrestling History show titled “LEGACY.” The show will take place from the historic Korakuen Hall on Sep. 14 and 15. It will bring nine of Japan’s biggest male promotions together for […] READ MORE
On Sunday night at IMPACT Rebellion, the IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Rich Swann goes one on one with the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) World Champion Kenny Omega in a title vs title match of historic proportions. In wrestling’s storied 100+ year history, major promotions putting their titles on the line against others is a rarity. […] READ MORE
A huge announcement was made on February 21, 2020, that seemed to get lost in the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Japan, Japanese puroresu legend Genichiro Tenryu and others announced the creation of Japan’s first true pro wrestling Hall of Fame, Nippon Puroresu Hall of Fame (NPH). While originally slated to be opened this […] READ MORE
