What Makes Japanese Wrestling So Great?

[WUOnline]

Hi everyone, I'm Michael and I hope to make some friends soon. Anyway, I was just wondering why a lot of people enjoy watching Japanese wrestling? I've never seen anything so it might be something you have to view. But I'm very intrigued as to why people enjoy it. Also, I just want to say that I LOVE THIS WEBSITE!

[Sofa Kingdom]

Well for one thing... some people like Japanese wrestling because of the in-ring action, determination, and emotion that goes into a match.

[DANGEROUS DAN]

Welcome to the site Michael!
Let me first state that Puroresu is not any different than any other form of beauty or interest. It is truly in the eye of teh beholder. In Japan, the promotions run a little differently, and that is due to differences in cultures. Over there they have a multitude of flavors to choose from so to speak, unlike here where it seems most everybody wants to be the WWE or ECW.
I personally can state that my preference is in the ultra dramatic hard hitting action of Baba's All Japan (not the current product that is run by Mutoh). Many rave about the Jrs over in New Japan and the level of workrate they produce combined with awe inspiring high spots.
If oyu are looking for a paticuular style of wrestling, odds are you will find it somewhere in the land of the rising sun. THey have garbage (death match) organizations, worked shoot groups,groups that work old school American style (somewhat)and leagues that cater to house wives even!
Over there rit is no different than going to an ice cream parlor with 31 flavors!

[Jason]

I could go on and on with this topic, but to sum it up in 2 sentences, I like that puroresu actually takes itself seriously rather than as a circus freakshow. You could actually believe that wrestlers in Japan are competitive athletes whereas in the U.S. you are constantly reminded that it's just entertainment.

[edgehead1984]

I agree with Jason.

Also in a world of wrestling incresingly dominated by the WWE I find puroresu as a refreshing alternative to the crap that Vinnie Mac puts on twice a week.

[Luds]

What makes Puroresu so great?

1) Wrestlers are athletes, not entertainers
2) In WWE, 95% of matches end in a DQ, chair shot, cheat, fast count, buddy helps you win, no contest. In Puroresu, 95% of matches end with a CLEAN PIN or CLEAN SUBMISSION
3) Fighting Spirit in Japan is unreal. Watch the passion in their eyes!
4) In Japan, almost no wrestler will dictate who he'll lost to. No Triple H in Japan. No Hogans, Austins, Michaels. The booker tells you what to do and you do it. You ALWAYS put the other guy over when asked and make him look good.
5) The technique. Most WWE stars couldn't go 5 minutes in the ring. Look at Test!!! Most puroresu stars could make a 30 minute fantastic match.
6) The ending. In WWE, there are only 3 ways someone can win. Their finisher, cheating (like chair shots, title belts) or interference that causes a rollup) In Japan, most wrestlers have 2 or 3 main finishers and 3 other moves that can end a match.

Examples: Yuji Nagata. Finishers: Nagata Locks I, II, and III. Also, Backdrop Suplex Hold. Any of his hich kicks can end a match, and his Exploder or wrist-clutch Exploder.

A match in Japan can end with a backdrop, a german suplex, a lariat, a dragon suplex, a brainbuster, a full nelson suplex, a powerbomb or any other type of suplex at ANY MOMENT!!!

This brings TONS of excitement to a match.

[DANGEROUS DAN]

Luds I could not have said it better myself!

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Great post, Luds!

If I may make one small addition to your list, however, it would be:

5a) Innovation. Almost every new match I see has something that I have never seen before. Not just in cruiser/junior/light heavyweight matches, but in heavyweight, women's, and even "garbage" wrestling. The list of moves from Japan (and Mexico, let's not forget lucha libre!) is HUGE: the Dragonrana, Exploder Suplex, Shooting Star Press, the STF, Orange Crush Bomb, Senton Bomb, the Vertabreaker, the Michinoku Driver 2, and so on. The moves you see in Japan are the moves you will see copied in the WWE in about 2 years time (if anyone dares to try... some of the moves are a little risky).

[Luds]

Very true... So we could say that not only do Japanese wrestlers have the option to try ANY move they want to (WWE banned piledrivers, brainbusters, Top Rope moves) but they also create new and fantastic looking movies...

You'll have Misawa's Emerald Frozion, Kobashi's Burning Hammer and Diamond Head, Akiyama's Exploders & Sterness Dust... The list goes on...

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Welcome to the Family Michael!!

Puroresu, and I think it has been stated over and over on here, is pure athleticism, the atheletes are just that. There is no storylines, scripts or anything of that nature in Puroresu. If you get the chance, buy a tape of New Japan or All Japan (Before Misawa and half the roster left) and watch how the men work, how they move. This is why Puroresu is great

[Mayo Chaos]

And if I might add to the move discussion, the puroresu wrestlers modify and improve the moves all the time, and with all the spinning and turning and twisting and whatnot you just really can't believe you're seeing a Head Scissors Takedown.

[Jeremy Goss]

Luds stated it exactly. The amount of work these men put in is amazing. You don't see lazy punches and kicks you see pure wrestling. Puro is one of my favorite styles of wrestling for that reason alone.

[Daishikaze]

also, In Japan women's wrestling is equal to the mens. and the female athletes are judged by their talent, not their bra size.

[EvilMidnightBomber]

In addition to the reasons everyone's already mentioned, one of the reasons I love puro, regardless of the style, is that it's about Wrestling, not Sports Entertainment. That, and it's McMahon-free!!

[naterob2003]

good post by luds. I agree with the innovation factor also, but to be honest, it is a completley different entity compared to wwe and american wrestling. Wrestling is taken serious. Like someone earlier said, people train for years to get into the sport. It IS a sport. They work hard to stay on top. I love the stuff. The impact of moves is also amazing to me. You see them honestly giving their bodies to the crowd for our enjoyment, where vince makes his talents limit their skills. And, 1 major thing to me is the history of the promotions. Sure america's companies have a great history, but japanese companies usually have a great history. They have had a lot of the american greats wrestle for them, where as america hasn't had a lot of the japanese greats wrestle for them. I highly recommend watching some misawa and kobashi matches and you WILL be won over compared to austin and rock matches.