New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Pro Wrestling was one of two wrestling promotions (the other being All Japan Pro Wrestling) to split off from the JWA in the 1970s. Founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972, it competed with AJPW for supremacy in the wrestling field. Despite floundering during the 1990s due to AJPW's dominance, NJPW is currently the largest wrestling promotion in Japan and one of the largest in the world.

From its creation in 1972 until 1986, NJPW was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance. While more of a "sports entertainment" approach is used by NJPW compared to its counterpart in AJPW, the company is also known for openly engaging in working agreements with various MMA and pro wrestling promotions around the world, including: World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship Wrestling, TNA, Ring of Honor, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Pro Wrestling NOAH and various other MMA and pro wrestling promotions. Their biggest yearly show is the January 4th Tokyo Dome show, equivalent to Japan's Wrestlemania.


 * Ax Crazy: Takashi Iizuka.
 * Big Van Vader.
 * The Bad Guy Wins: This was Masahiro Chono's calling card.
 * Bad Intentions.
 * No Remorse Corps did this to Apollo 55.
 * Boring Invincible Hero: A common complaint leveled at Hiroshi Tanahashi.
 * Bunny Ears Lawyer: Many over time, most recently Tetsuya Naitō.
 * Cast Full of Pretty Boys: Not as prominent as Dragon Gate, but long haired pretty boys make up a portion of the roster.
 * Confusion Fu: Shinsuke Nakamura
 * Creator Breakdown: This certainly happened to Antonio Inoki near the end of his run
 * Determinator
 * Estrogen Brigade Bait: Hiroshi Tanahashi's selling point.
 * Kota Ibushi.
 * Prince Devitt has become one of the most popular foreigners in any puro company, and not without good reason.
 * Lightning Bruiser: The other prerequisite for competing there, seemingly.
 * Expy: Quite a few. The 2011 G-1 Climax Final, Shinsuke Nakamura vs Tetsuya Naitō was essentially a remake of 1991's Masahiro Chono vs Keiji Mutoh championship match.
 * Start My Own