Post by 円相! TV on Jul 2, 2024 14:34:52 GMT
THE PRO-WRESTLING UNIVERSE IN JAPAN
While IRON ROAD Pro-Wrestling represents MAX-J's chief promotional partner in North America, given that the brand is based in Japan, it has relationships with several promotions on the Japanese mainland.
Similar to the relationship to IRON ROAD, MAX-J will at times send its ambassadors or GLOBAL HEROES to participate on these shows - each of which tends to have a regional focus.
Below will give you a brief primer on these promotions, each of which has its own unique identity and relationship to MAX-J.
ELITE JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING
The most prestigious promotion in the country, ELITE Japan boasts the shows with the biggest production value, recruits the best fighters, and any appearance is considered extremely important for a MAX-sponsored fighter. While the company is headquartered in Tokyo, it is the only promotion in the country that has national touring potential.
One important aspect to note about the promotion is that it strictly follows a pro-wrestling blueprint. As a result, it has an innate hostility towards the MMA/shoot-wrestling culture, believing it to be below the dignity of the art of pro-wrestling. Competitors with a shootfighting background that do not show the proper respect to pro-wrestling may find themselves subject to the mercy of the powers-that-be at ELITE Japan. This puts a lot of pressure on a MAX-J brand that values its bona fides in the shoot-wrestling community in order to maintain its endorsement by and association with the All-Japan Sports and Wrestling Commission.
Performing well at an ELITE Japan show is likely to result in significant attention and a massive push from MAX-J, as the corporate benefactors greatly benefit from sponsorship. On the other hand, an underwhelming performance might just cause MAX to turn their backs on such a wrestler. Ultimately, this is a high-risk, high-reward environment.
Championships: EJPW All-World Unified Heavyweight Championship (a/k/a the "Earth Crown"), EJPW All-World Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, EJPW Tag Team Championship
Tournaments: The ELITE Open (singles, April), World's Best Tag League (November)
Bushidō FC (Fighting Convention)
A smaller promotion based out of Tokyo, its claim to fame is that it regularly features MMA and other shootfighting events. As a result, it has a good working relationship with the All-Japan Sports and Wrestling Commission (AJSWC) that serves as MAX-J's primary regulatory body. If a fighter is willing to fight under sport form or other shootfighting rules, there is a good chance that Bushidō FC will book it.
One of the more uniquer characteristics of this company is that it doesn't have any championships or tournaments and likewise refuses to book them. This comes from the ownership's belief that fighting should occur for its own sake, to get stronger and become better. While this purist attitude is likely one of the factors that keeps the promotion from becoming "big time", among sympathetic minds it also has earned them a great deal of respect.
Championships: N/A
Tournaments: N/A
Ōkinasaru ("Great Monkey") Championship Wrestling
This promotion is based out of Fukushima and focuses on heavyweight and super-heavyweight competition. Fighters who weigh less than 100kg (< 220lb) must receive a special exemption to even compete. The vibe tends to be quite fantastic and theatrical, but the action is as hard-hitting as it comes.
While this is not a territory that MAX-J has made a focus of its domestic promotional efforts, with the establishment of the GLOBAL HEROES program bringing in more fighters from overseas - particularly from North America - MAX views OCW as a site where they can send some of the heavier they may sign in order to make in-roads into a niche that is less of a priority for the majority of their domestic ambassadors, who typically tend to be cruiserweight fighers.
Competition in this environment is regulated by the Union of Pro-Wrestling Alliance (UPWA).
Championships: UPWA World Ultra Heavyweight Championship
Tournaments: Mammoth Cup (February)
BLIZZARD PRO
A Sapporo-based company, BLIZZARD PRO is heavy into supporting pro-wrestling in the Hokkaido area. Action in the ring is frenetic and fast-paced, while also attracting an audience that appreciates a variety of sporting contests. There is even some room for comedic moments, so it is a great place for junior heavyweight fighters, who regularly compete for the top prize of the company which is a heavyweight belt.
The main drawback is that in the winter it can be hard to get to; however, the company does have a show in late November called Pro-Wrestling ONSEN (hot springs) that occurs at a resort each year that attracts a rather large audience.
Four of its fighters - Takeda Izumi, Hiroyuki Fukudome, Akira Nakamura, and Shinzo Takamori - are signed on a full-time basis to BLIZZARD PRO where they formed the Sapporo Hansou & Yacht Club (SHYc) HANSOU & YACHT CLUB (SHYc).
Championships: Yama no Kami Heavyweight Championship, BLIZZARD Pro Trios Tag Championship
Tournaments: Whirlwind Tag Carnival (January)
POSEIDON-1
This company covers southern Japan all the way down to Okinawa and the southernmost islands. P-1 has something of a relationship to MAX-J in that - at an auction in 2020, at an auction the company purchased the TOUKON Maru, the MAX-J cruise that traveled the world as part of the TOUKON ROAD super-tour. The company uses the vessel to host pro-wrestling matches at sea and in port.
This promotion has the most international reach, occasionally holding shows in South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and even India. As a result, MAX-J sees POSEIDON-1 as an opportunity for levels of exposure in the Asian market that would otherwise be impossible.
One of the more unusual features of this promotion is its Sea of Japan Championship which cannot be defended on land and must be defended in the eponymous geographic area. Additionally, the Daiōika Invitational is held
Championships: P-1 Heavyweight Championship, P-1 Tag Team Championship, Sea of Japan Championship
Tournaments: Daiōika Invitational (June)
Tengoku Pro-Wrestling
This Osaka-based company generally doesn't leave the city and is known for its elaborate productions, many of them occurring outdoors in the vicinity of Osaka Castle. The promotion caters to fighters of all weightclasses and many believe its Kingdom of Heaven Openweight Championship has the potential to be one of the foremost titles in pro-wrestling, not only Japan but the entire world. Additionally, the Heavenly Tag League is considered by some to be among the most prestigious As a result, MAX-J is extremely interested in the company.
However, perhaps as a result of the perceived value of their company's top prizes, Tengoku is rather risk averse to book outside talent or allow their superstars to appear outside of the company. It takes a special kind of talent to manage to pull this off. The partnership between the two companies currently does not allow for their respective talent to compete against one another. However, MAX-J can host fights between their own sponsored personnel and many see Tengoku as an ideal neutral venue for high-profile matches.
Championships: Kingdom of Heaven Openweight Championship
Tournaments: Heavenly Tag League (December)
Japan Chessboxing League
The JCL and MAX-J go way back when the former held their annual Tactical Bowl at the BLACK Lion's Road BOM-BA-YE III of which MAX-J was a co-sponsor. GM Masaaki Sano formed a working relationship with the JCL that saw him actually join their management team as the Chief Operating Officer when he was let go by MAX.
Given the demands of the JCL, it is not often that MAX will send wrestlers to compete in their tournaments. However, the JCL likes to sponsor its own matches on shows that are produced by MAX and often lobbies for them to include more chessboxing. The official relationship between MAX and the JCL was cemented when the latter held their GUSUKU Bowl at the MAX-J promoted GRAPPLING SONATA ZERO SPACE show in Okinawa in September 2023.
Championships: N/A
Tournaments: Various