Халықаралық Күрес Одағы: Жапония Күресінің Тарихы

the two promotions that have administered the International Wrestling Alliance titles in Japan
Professional wrestling promotion active from 1966 until 1981

International Wrestling Enterprise (国際プロレス) was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1966 to 1981. Founded by Isao Yoshihara, it was affiliated with the American Wrestling Association in the United States and also had tie ins with promotions in Canada and Europe. In 1972, it became the first Japanese promotion to bring European wrestler André the Giant to the country. The promotion cooperated with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and later, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW); the three promotions later came together for an interpromotional event, organized by Tokyo Sports, held at Budokan Hall on August 26, 1979. When IWE closed its doors in 1981, Inoue, Hara, Tsurumi, and Fuyuki joined AJPW, while Kimura, Hamaguchi and Teranishi joined NJPW as a stable that formed the first "invasion" angle in history, later copied by the Japanese UWF, Japan Pro Wrestling, and the nWo in WCW in America. The promotion is also credited for making Rusher Kimura a major star in Japanese Puroresu and holding Japan's first steel cage match. On April 4, TBS President Junzo Imamichi announced to the press that TBS was considering broadcasting professional wrestling and had started discussions with IWE. Just two days later, Inoki announced he was returning to JWA. After parting ways with IWE, TPW folded and Masaru Eigen, Tomoyuki Kitazawa, and Katsuhisa Shibata followed Inoki back to JWA; meanwhile Masao Kimura and Isamu Teranishi stayed with IWE. Coincidentally, Toyonobori, who did not take part in the Pioneer Series, joined IWE, and his tag team with Matsuda became central to the promotion. Eventually, both TBS and Fuji Television would greenlight an IWE broadcast, but Yoshihara ultimately chose to work with TBS. Throughout July and August 1967, IWE held the Pioneer Summer Series. As part of the tour, an event was scheduled at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on August 14. Shortly after the announce, JWA announced their own event at the Osaka Stadium to be held on the same day as part of their Summer Series I. This promotional war, later dubbed the "Osaka Summer Battle", gained a lot of attention, with JWA hosting a main event featuring Giant Baba defending the NWA International Heavyweight Championship against Gene Kiniski in a best 2 out of 3 falls match, and IWE presenting a main event with Hiro Matsuda and Sam Steamboat facing Bill Dromo and Roger Kirby. Although IWE had announced their event first, JWA successfully attracted 20,000 spectators at the Osaka Stadium; in contrast, IWE struggled in terms of attendance, only drawing 4,200 spectators in the Prefectural Gymnasium.

On September 11, 1967, the TBS Television deal was signed, and a signing ceremony was attended by Isao Yoshihara, TBS Sports Director Masao Tsuruta and TBS Sports Vice Director Tadahiro Mori. In order to raise funds, IWE, through the intermediary of Mori, who was a friend of Yoshihara from their days at Waseda University, transferred its shares to Hiroshi Iwata, the president of a dairy company in Hiroshima, and asked him for a loan. Iwata thus became the new owner of IWE, and the company was restructured with the backing of TBS. Around the same time, Hiro Matsuda left IWE after a dispute with Yoshihara over how to handle debts. The Great Togo, whose contract with JWA ended four years ago, was brought in to replace Matsuda as the booker for the foreign wrestlers. On December 22, 1967, Mori held a press conference and announced the promotion would change its name to TBS Pro Wrestling to "take advantage of the name value of TBS". In January 1968, the Opening World Series featured Lou Thesz, Danny Hodge, Hans Schmidt, Waldo Von Erich, Bulldog Brower, and referee Fred Atkins.

Japanese talent: Toyonobori, Strong Kobayashi, Rusher Kimura, Hiro Matsuda, Thunder Sugiyama, Great Kusatsu, Mighty Inoue, Animal Hamaguchi, Ashura Hara, Isamu Teranishi, Goro Tsurumi, Hiromichi Fuyuki, Ryuma Go, KY Wakamatsu, Mach Hayato, Kintarō Ōki, Kim Duk, Mr. Hito, Umanosuke Ueda, Masa Saito, Mr. Seki. Foreign talent: Bill Robinson, Verne Gagne, André the Giant, George Gordienko, Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, Danny Hodge, Don Leo Jonathan, Bill Miller, Dick the Bruiser, Crusher Lisowski, Mad Dog Vachon, Butcher Vachon, Nick Bockwinkel, Ray Stevens, Baron Von Raschke, Horst Hoffman, Édouard Carpentier, Peter Maivia, John da Silva, Ivan Koloff, Tarzan Tyler, Larry Hennig, Bobby Heenan, Blackjack Lanza, Blackjack Mulligan, Superstar Billy Graham, Wahoo McDaniel, Red Bastien, The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, The Kiwis, Mario Milano, Bill Watts, Dusty Rhodes, Dick Murdoch, Buddy Wolfe, Skandor Akbar, Dale Lewis, Greg Gagne, Jim Brunzell, The Brute, Tony Marino, Tex McKenzie, Cowboy Bob Ellis, Moose Morowski, Ox Baker, Wild Angus, Killer Tor Kamata, Gypsy Joe, Alexis Smirnoff, The Mongolian Stomper, The Cuban Assassin, Killer Brooks, Jos LeDuc, Sailor White, Big John Quinn, Kurt Von Hess, Professor Tanaka, Dean Ho, Haystacks Calhoun, The Wild Samoans, John Tolos, Gil Hayes, Pierre Martin, Michel Martel, Ricky Martel, Jake Roberts, Big Daddy Ritter, David Schultz, Dynamite Kid, Mark Rocco, Mike George, Bob Sweetan, Johnny Powers, Killer Karl Krupp, Ron Bass, Spike Huber, Randy Rose, Norvell Austin, The Invader, Luke Graham, Ray Candy, Paul Ellering, Steve Olsonoski, Mike Miller, Terry Gibbs, Percy Pringle III, Ric Flair.

In 1994, Goro Tsurumi formed a promotion called IWA Kakutō Shijuku (IWA格闘志塾), but in 1997 he renamed the promotion International Wrestling Promotion (国際プロレス・プロモーション). The only recognizable name in the promotion was Tsurumi himself; the rest of the roster used masked identities. Wrestlers from other independents were invited to participate, including Shoji Nakamaki and Yukihide Ueno.