It’s no secret that New Japan Pro-Wrestling has been welcoming more and more women’s wrestling onto it’s programming recently. Over the past year, we saw STARDOM and NJPW have a crossover show, we saw Kairi defend her IWGP Women’s Title at Wrestle Kingdom 17 against Tam Nakano and we saw the introduction of a NJPW STRONG Women’s title currently held by STARDOM’s Giulia.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling President Takami Ohbari was recently interviewed by Monthly Puroresu and discussed the growing women’s division in NJPW.
Many traditions in Japanese pro-wrestling derive from professional sumo wrestling. There are no women wrestler in Japanese professional sumo. On the other hand, the ratio of men and women participants in the Olympics is almost 5:5. The world has changed and the speed of change has been exponential. We cannot stick to the outdated ideas of male-only professional wrestling. We often say that professional wrestling is a mirror reflecting the world. All wrestlers and all matches should be appreciated, and any wrestlers should be provided fair opportunities in the ring regardless of gender or anything else. If we can maximize the business value of that, then so much the better. I think this will be realized in the US first, and then in Japan. In the last few years since STARDOM has become one of Bushiroad’s group companies, I think Japanese pro wrestling fans’ way of thinking is getting closer to a global standard. The first time we had STARDOM wrestlers participate in our Tokyo Dome show, we faced major criticism from fans and our partners in and outside the company. But now, it is taken for granted.
NJPW and STARDOM held a co-promoted event called Historic X-Over in November 2022.
Mayu Iwatani is the current IWGP Women’s Champion having defeated Mercedes Mone back in April 2023.
You can follow Lewis Carlan on Twitter @ShootingUpNorth
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