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Osaka Pro Wrestling

Osaka Pro Wrestling (Japanese: 大阪プロレス, Hepburn: Ōsaka Puroresu) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Osaka. The promotion was founded by Super Delfin on March 4, 1999 following his departure from Michinoku Pro Wrestling, and has been operated by Zeus since July 2021. Commonly associated with the comedy wrestling and lucha libre genres, Osaka Pro features a variety of masked wrestlers inspired by Osaka characters.

History

In January 1999, Super Delfin announced that due to disagreements with The Great Sasuke regarding the direction of Michinoku Pro Wrestling, he would be leaving the promotion alongside several wrestlers and backstage personnel. On March 4, he officially founded Osaka Pro Wrestling (OPW) in his hometown of Osaka. Starting April 29, OPW produced their first tour, the Spicy Series 1999. The first event took place at the Namihaya Dome – now the Towa Pharmaceutical Ractab Dome – in Kadoma, Osaka and saw the team of Super Delfin, Masato Yakushiji and Naohiro Hoshikawa defeat Dick Togo, Black Buffalo and Violencia.[1]

The promotion held a major flagship event called the Osaka Hurricane each year from 2003 to 2012 and also hosted the fourth edition of the Super J-Cup in 2004, which was the second edition of Osaka Hurricane.

In 2010 Osaka Pro started a close working relationship with American promotion Chikara.

On March 1, 2014, Osaka Pro announced that it would fold on April 20, 2014 due to financial difficulties, after which all of its wrestlers would become freelancers.[2] Osaka Pro later announced that the promotion would continue under new president Yuji Sakagami and wrestlers Kuishinbo Kamen and Takoyakida. The new Osaka Pro Wrestling lost many of the old one's key wrestlers as well as their home base of Nasci Hall Umeda, forcing them to employ a new tour format.[3]

In October 2021, it was announced that Zeus had been appointed as the owner and president of OPW. He became president on July 30, and on August 26, he received a share transfer from former owner Yuji Sakagami. However, he remained under contract with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) for the rest of the year.[4]

Roster

Notable alumni

Staff

Championships

Active

Inactive

Annual tournaments

Major events

See also

References

  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Osaka Pro Debut Spicy Series - Day 1". wrestlingdata.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024.
  2. ^ 大阪プロ"解散"へ…所属選手ゼロに. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). March 1, 2014. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  3. ^ 大阪プロレスが新体制で活動継続. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  4. ^ 【大阪プロレス】ゼウスが選手兼オーナー社長に就任「必ずオンリーワン、日本一の団体を作り上げます」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). October 18, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  5. ^ 選手名鑑. Osaka Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "Ōsaka Open-weight Title / Ōsaka Open-weight Title (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "Ōsaka Light Heavyweight Title (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  8. ^ 大阪名物世界一選手権. Wrestling-Titles.com (in Japanese). Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  9. ^ 大阪名物世界一選手権｜タイトル名鑑｜収穫昆布｜新日好きプロレス全般ファンサイト. Syu-Kaku Kombu (in Japanese). December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  10. ^ "Ōsaka Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "Super Welterweight Title (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  12. ^ "MWF World Junior Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tenpohzan Grand Prix Title [Ōsaka Pro]". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Tenpohzan Championship" 天保山選手権. Syu-Kaku Kombu (in Japanese). Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "Ōsaka Pro-Wrestling Battle Royal Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.

External links