Osaka Pro Wrestling

Japanese professional wrestling From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Osaka Pro Wrestling (Japanese: 大阪プロレス, Hepburn: Ōsaka Puroresu) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Osaka. The promotion was founded by Super Delfin on March 4, 1999 following his departure from Michinoku Pro Wrestling, and has been operated by Zeus since July 2021. Commonly associated with the comedy wrestling and lucha libre genres, Osaka Pro features a variety of masked wrestlers inspired by Osaka characters.

AcronymOPW
FoundedMarch 4, 1999; 27 years ago (March 4, 1999)
HeadquartersOsaka, Japan
Quick facts Acronym, Founded ...
Osaka Pro Wrestling
AcronymOPW
FoundedMarch 4, 1999; 27 years ago (March 4, 1999)
StylePuroresu
Comedy
Lucha libre
HeadquartersOsaka, Japan
FounderSuper Delfin
OwnerZeus
Split fromMichinoku Pro Wrestling
Websitewww.osakaprowres.com Edit this at Wikidata
Close

History

In January 1999, Super Delfin announced that due to disagreements with The Great Sasuke regarding the direction of Michinoku Pro Wrestling, he would be leaving the promotion alongside several wrestlers and backstage personnel. On March 4, he officially founded Osaka Pro Wrestling (OPW) in his hometown of Osaka. Starting April 29, OPW produced their first tour, the Spicy Series 1999. The first event took place at the Namihaya Dome  now the Towa Pharmaceutical Ractab Dome  in Kadoma, Osaka and saw the team of Super Delfin, Masato Yakushiji and Naohiro Hoshikawa defeat Dick Togo, Black Buffalo and Violencia.[1]

The promotion held a major flagship event called the Osaka Hurricane each year from 2003 to 2012 and also hosted the fourth edition of the Super J-Cup in 2004, which was the second edition of Osaka Hurricane.

In 2010 Osaka Pro started a close working relationship with American promotion Chikara.

On March 1, 2014, Osaka Pro announced that it would fold on April 20, 2014 due to financial difficulties, after which all of its wrestlers would become freelancers.[2] Osaka Pro later announced that the promotion would continue under new president Yuji Sakagami and wrestlers Kuishinbo Kamen and Takoyakida. The new Osaka Pro Wrestling lost many of the old one's key wrestlers as well as their home base of Nasci Hall Umeda, forcing them to employ a new tour format.[3]

In October 2021, it was announced that Zeus had been appointed as the owner and president of OPW. He became president on July 30, and on August 26, he received a share transfer from former owner Yuji Sakagami. However, he remained under contract with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) for the rest of the year.[4]

Roster

More information Ring name, Real name ...
Ring name[5] Real name Notes
Aran Sano Undisclosed Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champion
Billyken Kid Undisclosed
Black Buffalo Keisuke Yamada Sales manager
The Bodyguard Noboru Kurakawa
Ebessan III Osamu Suganuma
Goliath Undisclosed Freelancer
Hub Yuto Kigawa
Joichiro Osaka Undisclosed
Kuishinbo Kamen Akinori Tsukioka
Osaka Banpaku Machine Undisclosed Alter ego of Billyken Kid
Quiet Storm Undisclosed Freelancer
Ryuya Matsufusa Ryuya Matsufusa Osaka Pro Wrestling Champion
Signed to Dotonbori Pro-Wrestling
Shigehiro Irie Shigehiro Irie Freelancer
Shu Asakawa Taisuke Asakawa Freelancer
Super Delfin Hiroto Wakita Affiliated with Sea Food Pro Wrestling
Suzaku Undisclosed
Takoyakida Undisclosed Osaka Meibutsu Sekaiichi Champion
Tigers Mask Atsushi Maruyama Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champion
Toru Toru Matsunaga Freelancer
Tsubasa Undisclosed
Ultimate Spider Jr. Undisclosed Osaka Light Heavyweight Champion
Yasutaka Oosera Yasutaka Oosera Signed to Michinoku Pro Wrestling
Yuto Kikuchi Yuto Kikuchi Freelancer
Signed to Dotonbori Pro-Wrestling
Zeus Kensho Obayashi Owner and president of OPW
Close

Notable alumni

Staff

  • Keigo Yoshino (Referee)
  • Naoki (Ring announcer)
  • Shinjiro Miyao (Ring announcer)
  • Zeus (President and Owner)

Championships

Active

More information Championship, Current champion(s) ...
ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays
held
LocationNotesRef.
Osaka Pro Wrestling Championship Ryuya Matsufusa 1 December 7, 2025 99+ Osaka, Japan Defeated Toru at Excalibur 2025. [6]
Osaka Light Heavyweight Championship Ultimate Spider Jr. 1 December 7, 2025 99+ Osaka, Japan Defeated Yasutaka Oosera at Excalibur 2025. [7]
Osaka Meibutsu Sekaiichi Championship Takoyakida 1 December 7, 2025 99+ Osaka, Japan Defeated Ebessan and Billy Ken Kid at Excalibur 2025. [8][9]
Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship
Aran Sano and Tigers Mask 1
(1, 4)
December 7, 2025 99+ Osaka, Japan Defeated Rogue Nation (Goliath and Shu Asakawa) at Excalibur 2025. [10]
Close

Inactive

More information Championship, Last champion(s) ...
ChampionshipLast champion(s)ReignDate wonLocationNotesRef.
Osaka Owarai Championship Joichiro Osaka January 8, 2023 Osaka, Japan Won a battle royal to win the championship. The title change was voided when Billyken Kid confessed he had lost the physical title belt prior to the match. It was then replaced with the revived Osaka Meibutsu Sekaiichi Championship.
Super Welterweight Championship Super Delfin 5 November 28, 1999 Osaka, Japan Defeated Black Buffalo then immediately abandoned the title to create the Osaka Pro Wrestling Championship. [11]
MWF World Junior Heavyweight Championship Goya Mask 2 October 3, 2008 Naha, Japan Won a 10-man battle royale by last eliminating Kaijin Habu-otoko to win the vacant title. Title deactivated in 2012 when Okinawa Pro-Wrestling, where the title had moved to in May 2008, closed. [12]
Tenpohzan Grand Prix Championship Miracle Man 2 November 22, 2011 Osaka, Japan Defeated Takoyakida at Osaka Happy Weekday. Title moved to FFF Pro-Wrestling. [13][14]
Osaka Pro Wrestling Battle Royal Championship Tigers Mask 1 April 20, 2014 Osaka, Japan Won a 18-man battle royale by last eliminating Billyken Kid to win the title. Title deactivated two days later when Tigers Mask left the promotion. [15]
Close

Annual tournaments

More information Tournament, Last winner(s) ...
Tournament Last winner(s) Date won
Tennōzan Ryuya Matsufusa September 28, 2025
Osaka Tag Festival Aran Sano and Tigers Mask February 24, 2025
Osaka Light Heavyweight Tournament Suzaku May 25, 2025
Close

Major events

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI