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| Acronym | JWP |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986[1] |
| Defunct | 1992[2] |
| Style | Joshipuroresu |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Successor | |
Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling; (In Japanese: ジャパン女子プロレス, also known asOriginal JWP) was ajoshipuroresu (women's professional wrestling)promotion established in 1988. The first event took place on August 17, 1986.[1]
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling was the onlywomen's professional wrestlingpromotion prior to 1986. All Japan Women's was experiencing a boom period due to theCrush Gals ofLioness Asuka andChigusa Nagayo as wasOnyanko Club, aJapanese idol music group. Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling was imagined to be a wrestling version ofOnyanko Club.[3]
All Japan Women's had strict rules, including what became known as "the three no's" of no drinking, no smoking and no boys, along with a rule that all wrestlers must retire once reaching the age of 25 years old. Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling countered this by having no such rules and due to this were able to recruitJackie Sato, who was a top All Japan Women's star that was forced to retire at the age of 25.
The promotion also was able to recruitShinobu Kandori, a judoka who had captured the bronze medal at the1984 World Judo Championships and Nancy Kumi, a former All Japan Women's wrestler.Gran Hamada andAtsushi Onita also joined as coaches.
Japan Women's Wrestling had their first show on August 17, 1986.Antonio Inoki andMinako Honda, a famousJapanese idol appeared.[3] This show was notable for featuring the debut of future stars such asMayumi Ozaki,Dynamite Kansai,Cutie Suzuki andRumi Kazama along with the main event being Jackie Sato's return from retirement as she facedShinobu Kandori.[3] Suzuki and Kazama becameidol's through music and television, with Kazama appearing in Japan's version ofPenthouse.[4][5]
The promotion started to fracture on July 6, 1987, when Sato hit the injured eye of Kandori. The two exchanged words and on July 18, 1987, a match between the two turned into ashoot, which became an infamous incident.[6] In October 1987, Kandori, who had become a free agent due to the incident, appeared at an All Japan Women's show to challenge Yukari Omori. She attempted to join All Japan Women's, but was prevented from doing so due to contractual disputes and eventually returned to Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling.[6] Jackie Sato retired on March 20, 1988.
The promotion officially closed on January 26, 1992 and split into two groups:Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling which featuredShinobu Kandori, Rumi Kazama, Harley Saito and others whileJWP formed withMayumi Ozaki,Dynamite Kansai,Cutie Suzuki and others.[2][7][8]
| Championship | Final champion(s) | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| UWA World Women's Championship | Miss Janeth | 2002 |
| UWA Women's International Title | Harley Saito | February 11, 1991 |
| Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship | Miss A andHarley Saito | October 10, 1990 |
| UWA & JWP Women's Junior Title | Cutie Suzuki | October 10, 1991 |
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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.
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