10 Shocking Japanese Wrestling Incidents That You Need To Know About

Some of the most heinous unplanned shoots ever to occur in a wrestling ring.

By Lewis Howse /

They may both technically be called professional wrestling, but WWE's interpretation of the term is far different from that which is presented in the Land of the Rising Sun. In general, professional wrestling is treated a lot more seriously in Japan. While it may have relaxed a little in recent years, Japan has a long tradition of staging serious, gimmick-free cards which feature hard-hitting 'strong style' matches. There are no angles and very, very rarely is there a disqualification or countout finish. In Japan, the emphasis is on athleticism and in-ring performance. Displaying fighting spirit is paramount and a wrestler will fail if they are deemed not to be physically and mentally tough enough. To prepare for this, wrestling trainees go through rigorous dojo training where the boys are separated from the men, so to speak. Many American wrestlers have chosen to wrestle in Japan full-time instead of signing with a US-based company, because they feel that the Japanese promoters and fans treat them with more respect. But as much as positive qualities like conditioning, technique and honour are ingrained in the culture, Japanese professional wrestling (also known as 'puroresu') has had its fair share of regrettable instances in the past. Read all about the Japanese grapple game's ties with organised crime, instances of animal abuse and deadly in-ring mishaps right here.