WAR (wrestling promotion)
Wrestle Association R (formerly known as Wrestle and Romance and abbreviated as WAR) was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. The promotion initially established as Wrestle and Romance in 1992, had very few regular contracted workers, instead most of the workers were either freelance or employed in other promotions. Because of this WAR ran many all-star cards. It had inter-promotional feuds against New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, the new Tokyo Pro Wrestling, and UWF International. WAR also continued, albeit in a loose fashion, SWS's old working agreement with the World Wrestling Federation, when they backed the WWF's first Japanese tour, in 1994.
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| Acronym | WAR |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Defunct | 2000 (reunion show in 2006) |
| Style | Puroresu Strong style |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Founder(s) | Genichiro Tenryu |
| Owner(s) | Genichiro Tenryu |
| Formerly | Wrestling And Romance |
On July 28, 1995, WAR was renamed "Wrestle Association R" at a show held in the Korakuen Hall. In 1998, WAR cancelled contracts to the roster and began running fewer and fewer events due to Tenryu's comeback in New Japan, and in July 2000, it promoted a farewell show that served as the prelude to Tenryu's return to All Japan Pro Wrestling (many wrestlers from WAR also joined AJPW to fill the void by those who joined Mitsuharu Misawa in forming Pro Wrestling Noah). The WAR name was kept for the use of a stable led by Tenryu during brief angles in All Japan and FMW in 2001.
On July 27, 2006, WAR staged a reunion show at Tokyo Korakuen Hall. The show was supported by various Japanese wrestling promotions including New Japan, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Dragon Gate. This was also the final card promoted under the WAR banner.
WAR was the first promotion to create a steady junior heavyweight tag team title long before New Japan Pro-Wrestling, WCW, and Pro Wrestling Noah hit upon the idea.
In 2010, the Tenryu Project was organised, and is somewhat of a successor to WAR.
Championships
J-1 Heavyweight Championship
| J-1 Heavyweight Championship | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Details | |||||||||
| Promotion | Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance | ||||||||
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This title used the championship belt originally used in the 1950s by the old Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance for their JWA Japanese Heavyweight Championship, held throughout its existence by Rikidōzan.
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genichiro Tenryu | 1 | January 14, 1998 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Nobutaka Araya in a tournament final to become the first champion.[1] |
| Title abandoned | 2000 | Title was abandoned when WAR closed (may have been abandoned earlier when Tenryu won IWGP Heavyweight Championship (won on December 10, 1999). The company held their official final event on July 27, 2006. | ||
Alumni
These are not exhaustive lists. Guest Japanese wrestlers from other promotions, such as Nobuhiko Takada from UWF International and The Great Sasuke from Michinoku Pro Wrestling, are not listed.
| Birth name: | Ring name(s): | Tenure: |
|---|---|---|
| Genichiro Shimada | Genichiro Tenryu | 1992–2000 2006 |
| Masao Orihara | Masao Orihara | 1992–1999 2006 |
| Susumu Hara | Ashura Hara | 1992–1994 |
| Takashi Ishikawa | Takashi Ishikawa | 1992–1994 1996–1997 |
| Hiromichi Fuyuki | Hiromichi Fuyuki | 1992–1996 |
| Keiji Takayama | Gedo | 1994–1996 |
| Shoji Akiyoshi | Jado | 1994–1996 |
| Heigo Hamaguchi | Animal Hamaguchi | 1994–1995 |
| Yoshihiro Asai | Ultimo Dragon | 1992–1997 |
| Kōji Kitao | Kōji Kitao | 1994–1998 |
| Isao Takagi | Arashi | 1995–1999 |
| Tatsumi Kitahara | Koki Kitahara | 1992–2000 2006 |
| Nobutaka Araya | Nobutaka Araya | 1995–2000 |
| Nobukazu Hirai | Nobukazu Hirai | 1992–2000 |
| Osamu Kawahara | Osamu Tachihikari | 1994–2000 |
| Tomohiro Ishii | Tomohiro Ishii | 1996–2000 2006 |
| Masaaki Mochizuki | Masaaki Mochizuki | 1994–2000 2006 |
| Koji Iibashi | Koji Ishinriki | 1993–1994 2006 |
| Yuji Yasuraoka | Yuji Yasuraoka | 1992–1999 |
| Chris Irvine | Lionheart / Lion Do | 1994–1996 |
| Scott Bigelow | Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow | 1994 1996 |
| Rick Bognar | Big Titan / Ti Do | 1995–1996 |
| Rick Wilson | Rio, Lord of the Jungle | 1993–1994 |
| Lance Evers | Lance Storm | 1995–1998 |
| Robert Backlund | Bob Backlund | 1994–1995 |
| James Bernardski | Scott Putski | 1994 |
| Terry Szopinski | The Warlord | 1993–1994 |
| Terry Gordy | Terry Gordy | 1998 |
| Oscar Gutierrez | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 1995–1996 |
| Lawrence Shreve | Abdullah the Butcher | 1997–1998 |
| John Tenta | John Tenta | 1993–1996 |
| Dionicio Torres | Psicosis | 1995–1996 |
| Tonga Fifita | King Haku | 1992–1994 |
Notable events
WAR/WWF
An inter-promotional show between WAR and the World Wrestling Federation was held on September 15, 1992, at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuji Yasuraoka defeated Koji Inomata | Singles match | 8:48 | ||
| 2 | Chavo Guerrero and Paul Diamond defeated Nobukazu Hirai and Yoshiro Ito | Tag team match | 10:11 | ||
| 3 | Masashi Aoyagi defeated Masao Orihara by count-out | Singles match | 9:29 | ||
| 4 | Ultimo Dragon defeated Negro Casas | Singles match | 14:55 | ||
| 5 | Heisei Ishingun (Kengo Kimura and Shiro Koshinaka) defeated Hiromichi Fuyuki and Tatsumi Kitahara | Tag team match | 13:44 | ||
| 6 | The Great Kabuki defeated Takashi Ishikawa | Singles match | 9:36 | ||
| 7 | Animal Warrior defeated The Beverly Brothers (Beau and Blake) | Handicap match | 6:14 | ||
| 8 | The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated King Haku | Singles match | 5:22 | ||
| 9 | Ric Flair (c) vs. Genichiro Tenryu ended in a draw | Two out of three falls match for the WWF Championship | 37:50 | ||
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WAR Anniversary Show
WAR Anniversary Show was the flagship event of WAR which was used to celebrate the anniversary of the promotion. The event was held between 1993 and 2000, when the promotion was discontinued.
WAR/LLPW
An inter-promotional event featuring talent from WAR and Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling was held on November 28, 1993, at the Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
| No. | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noriyo Tateno defeated Carol Midori | Singles match |
| 2 | Michiko Nagashima and Rumi Kazama defeated Shara and Utako Hozumi | Tag team match |
| 3 | Carol Midori won | Battle royal |
| 4 | Nobukazu Hirai defeated Yuji Yasuraoka | Singles match |
| 5 | Koki Kitahara defeated Shigekazu Tajiri | Singles match |
| 6 | Hiromichi Fuyuki vs. Super Strong Machine ended in a draw | Singles match |
| 7 | Genichiro Tenryu and Masao Orihara defeated Ashura Hara and Ultimo Dragon | Tag team match |
Revolution
Revolution was a special event held on December 15, 1993, at the Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nobukazu Hirai and Yuji Yasuraoka defeated Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Yuji Nagata | Tag team match | 9:02 | ||
| 2 | The Great Kabuki defeated Black Cat | Singles match | 7:20 | ||
| 3 | Ultimo Dragon (c) defeated Atlantis | Singles match for the UWA World Middleweight Championship | 15:54 | ||
| 4 | John Tenta defeated The Warlord | Singles match | 9:19 | ||
| 5 | Ashura Hara and Ishinriki defeated King Haku and Masao Orihara | Tag team natch | 17:04 | ||
| 6 | Hiroshi Hase defeated Koki Kitahara | Singles match | 20:24 | ||
| 7 | Mil Mascaras defeated Gran Markus Jr. | Singles match | 8:08 | ||
| 8 | Hiromichi Fuyuki and Super Strong Machine defeated Heisei Ishingun (Shiro Koshinaka and Tatsutoshi Goto | Tag team match | 11:36 | ||
| 9 | Genichiro Tenryu defeated Tatsumi Fujinami | Singles match | 14:14 | ||
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Revolution Rumble '94 In Ryogoku Kokugikan
Revolution Rumble '94 In Ryogoku Kokugikan was a special event held on March 2, 1994, at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. The event was notable for an inter-promotional tag team main event match in which Genichiro Tenryu and Ashura Hara represented WAR against Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling's Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto. Onita pinned Tenryu and the match set up a major main event between Tenryu and Onita for FMW's 5th Anniversary Show at the Kawasaki Stadium on May 5, 1994.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jado and Gedo defeated Masanobu Kurisu and Nobukazu Hirai | Tag team match | 11:02 |
| 2 | Koki Kitahara defeated Kim Duk | Singles match | 10:44 |
| 3 | Arashi versus Hiromichi Fuyuki ended in a time limit draw in Round 5 | Singles match | — |
| 4 | Hiromichi Fuyuki defeated Arashi | Singles match | 1:27 |
| 5 | Masao Orihara and Ultimo Dragon defeated Sato and The Great Sasuke | Tag team match | 28:13 |
| 6 | Super Strong Machine defeated Lionheart | Singles match | 8:11 |
| 7 | King Haku defeated Mr. Hughes | Singles match | 10:36 |
| 8 | Koji Kitao defeated Ishinriki by knockout | Singles match | 4:05 |
| 9 | Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto defeated Ashura Hara and Genichiro Tenryu | Tag team match | 18:13 |
Super J-Cup
Super J-Cup is a professional wrestling tournament featuring junior heavyweight wrestlers from all over the world. The tournament was originally conceived by Japanese wrestler Jushin Thunder Liger as a showcase for junior heavyweights from promotions from Asia and North America on a national level. WAR hosted the second edition of the tournament on December 13, 1995, at the Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gran Naniwa defeated Damián 666 | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament first round | 6:36 |
| 2 | Shinjiro Otani defeated Masaaki Mochizuki via submission | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament first round | 4:00 |
| 3 | Último Dragón defeated Shoichi Funaki | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament first round | 6:52 |
| 4 | Gedo defeated Masayoshi Motegi via submission | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament first round | 6:56 |
| 5 | Dos Caras defeated El Samurai | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament first round | 7:00 |
| 6 | Lionheart defeated Hanzo Nakajima | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament first round | 6:48 |
| 7 | Jushin Liger defeated Gran Naniwa | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament quarter-final | 9:13 |
| 8 | Último Dragón defeated Shinjiro Otani | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament quarter-final | 13:30 |
| 9 | Gedo defeated Dos Caras | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament quarter-final | 8:54 |
| 10 | Wild Pegasus defeated Lionheart | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament quarter-final | 13:43 |
| 11 | Jushin Liger defeated Último Dragón | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament semi-final | 17:19 |
| 12 | Gedo defeated Wild Pegasus | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament semi-final | 9:20 |
| 13 | Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated Psicosis | Singles match | 9:39 |
| 14 | Jushin Liger defeated Gedo | 1995 Super J-Cup tournament final | 15:47 |
WAR vs. UWFI: Super Summer Wars
An inter-promotional event featuring wrestlers from WAR and UWFI, among other promotions as well. The event took place a day after the 4th Anniversary Show on July 21, 1996, at the Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kazushi Sakuraba and Yuhi Sano defeated Nobukazu Hirai and Osamu Taitoko via submission | Tag team match | 11:24 |
| 2 | Masao Orihara defeated Nobutaka Araya | Singles match | 11:24 |
| 3 | Arashi defeated John Tenta | Singles match | 7:09 |
| 4 | Lance Storm, Rey Misterio, Jr., Ultimo Dragon and Yuji Yasuraoka defeated Gedo, Jushin Thunder Liger, Juventud Guerrera and Lion Do | Eight-man tag team match | 17:35 |
| 5 | Jado defeated Yoshihiro Takayama | Singles match | 10:12 |
| 6 | Riki Choshu and Satoshi Kojima defeated Fuyuki-Gun (Hiromichi Fuyuki and Ti Do) | Tag team match | 8:34 |
| 7 | Shiro Koshinaka and Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Hiromitsu Kanehara and Nobuhiko Takada | Tag team match | 9:20 |
| 8 | Koki Kitahara defeated Masahito Kakihara via submission | Singles match | 8:25 |
| 9 | Genichiro Tenryu defeated Yoji Anjo | Singles match | 11:44 |
Final - Reborn to Future
Final - Reborn to Future was a reunion event of WAR after the promotion had closed down in 2000 and marked the final event ever in WAR history. The event took place on July 27, 2006, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The event aired via tape delay on Gaora TV on August 17. The event featured a title defense of the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship which had been in possession of Masaaki Mochizuki since WAR closed in 2000 and the main event was an eight-man tag team match, in which WAR wrestlers took on Heisei Ishingun.
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomohiro Ishii defeated Koji Ishinriki | Singles match | 6:14 | ||
| 2 | Eagle Sawai and Magnum Tokyo defeated Genichiro Tenryu and Rumi Kazama | Mixed tag team match | 6:15 | ||
| 3 | Dos Caras and Gran Naniwa defeated Damien and Super Battle Ranger | Tag team match | 7:59 | ||
| 4 | Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi and Ryo Saito defeated Kenichiro Arai, Susumu Yokosuka and Yasushi Kanda | Six-man tag team match | 14:45 | ||
| 5 | Jado and Gedo defeated Gentaro and Kintaro Kanemura | Tag team match | 14:52 | ||
| 6 | Pentagon Black defeated Masaaki Mochizuki (c) | Singles match for the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship | 19:42 | ||
| 7 | Don Fujii, Genichiro Tenryu, Koki Kitahara and Masao Orihara defeated Heisei Ishingun (Shiro Koshinaka, Akitoshi Saito, Masashi Aoyagi and Michiyoshi Ohara) (with Kuniaki Kobayashi) | Eight-man tag team match | 15:23 | ||
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References
- Hoops, Brian (January 14, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/14): Christian wins NWA World Title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.