Puroresu

Another fan of the style here.

The Japanese bouts always seemed to have less theatrics and a stiffer style. Many of the holds like the arm bars and ankle locks were legitimate finishing holds. Often the audience applauds a wrestler’s fighting spirit if he holds out and doesn’t submit.

It’s a fascinating style and has a realness and solemnity to it. Submissions when they come can be sudden and loud. It has a real feel of a shoot match and that sets it apart from the theatricality of WWE or WCW (as was) matches.

Great to watch.

Tout à fait d'accord ! La notion de jobber vs heel est très atténuée.

D'accord avec toi. J'adore voir les matchs des lutteurs américains au Japon. L'extraordinaire Tom Magee !
Sympa ton message !
Bearhug !

Japanese pro wrestling of the 1980's was brutal and rough, as it should be, it left the USA effort for dead, and still does to some degree today.
Many American stars wrestled in Japan and gave the best matches of their lives.
I still rewatch these classics for my fix!

Ah, Puroresu, the true essence of the sport! You can't beat those Japanese wrestlers for their no-nonsense approach. They don't bother with all the flashy lights and over-the-top theatrics you get in the WWE. It's all about skill, strength, and sheer determination. The gear they use is like nothing else, it's not just for show, it's part of the art form, the class in spandex trunks and boots as it should be. It's not the garish costumes and bedazzled belts that make the wrestler, but the sweat, the strain, and the unyielding spirit they embody. The way they move in the ring, it's like watching a ballet of brutality, every motion calculated to deliver maximum impact.

The snap of a perfectly executed suplex, the grimace of pain as they lock in a submission hold, it's all bloody poetry in motion. And let me tell you, it's not just the gear that's fantastic. The holds, oh, the holds! Each one is like a fine wine, with its own flavor and bouquet of agony. You see a Japanese wrestler lock in a dragon sleeper, and you know it's not just a fancy move for the cameras, it's a declaration of war on the very fabric of their opponent's will to continue. When you watch Puroresu, you're not just a spectator, you're a witness to a sacred dance of domination and submission, each participant pushing themselves to the brink and beyond. It's not about the glitz and glamour, it's about the raw, unbridled power that fuels every single grapple.

Awesome reply as you've touched on why I'm enjoying it so much. It's far more physical and rough than a lot of mainstream wrestling. And the story isn't constructed from outside the ring, but unsure the ring itself. The battle is the brutal story itself

So I've always thought that I wasn't a fan of pro wrestling. Growing up in the 80s/90s - the choices were either WCW or WWE - but mainly the attitude era which on the whole didn't have that much wrestling but lots of tables, chairs and ladders. So I've never really been that involved or interested. Until I've found the Japanese companies and particularly the Puroresu style. Anyone else enjoy this or have any recommendations for matches?

You can spend weeks on YouTube viewing Puroresu matches. Here is just one playlist to enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTYZuvjJPVnFsTvBUS28fNcuyWnBdjh60

Thanks. We so much choice it's hard to know where to start. This should really help. Thanks