Changes: Universal Lucha Libre

Revision as of 15:20, 20 January 2019

Federación Universal de Lucha Libre (also known as "Universal Pro Wrestling" and "Universal Wresting Federation" from 1990 to 1993) was the first promotion of its kind in Japan to be based around the Mexican style of professional wrestling, known as Lucha Libre (free fighting).

History

Since 1956 some Mexican wrestlers had appeared in Japanese promotions, their style had had to mix with the American-originated standard, and not many of them could rise above mid-card level because of their size, which on average was less than American wrestlers.

The first Mexican luchador (wrestler) to become a star in Japan was Mil Máscaras, who competed for the Japanese Wrestling Association and one of its successor groups, All Japan Pro Wrestling.

The first Japanese to win a Mexican-based title was Mashio Koma, who also competed in JWA; he won the NWA World Middleweight Championship while on a tour of EMLL in 1970, and later co-founded AJPW with Giant Baba.

However, the first Japanese to fully and truly adopt the gymnastics-oriented Lucha Libre style actually came from rival New Japan Pro Wrestling: Gran Hamada, who had gone on excursion several times to Mexico due to his lack of size and won many titles there.

In 1990, after passing through New Japan, the original Japanese UWF, and All-Japan, Hamada decided to form his own promotion, with the aid of his disciple Yoshihiro Asai, his former New Japan boss Hisashi Shinma, and some Mexican wrestlers and Japanese rookies he had recruited.

In 1993, with Universal Lucha Libre on the decline, Sasuke, Taka and Yuga decided to form their own promotion, Michinoku Pro. Jado and Gedo moved to hardcore independent promotions such as IWA Japan, while Último Dragón joined Genichiro Tenryu's WAR. Hamada continued promoting shows until he himself joined Michinoku in 1995, which brought Universal Lucha Libre to an end.

Talent

Over the years, the roster of Universal's trainees would go on to become major stars in both the Japanese major promotions and the independents. Among Universal Lucha Libre alumni, they include Yoshihiro Asai (Último Dragón), Masa Michinoku (The Great Sasuke), Monkey Magic Wakita (Super Delfin, Punish (Gedo), Crush (Jado), Taka Michinoku, Shiryu (Kaz Hayashi), Mongolian Yuga (Jinsei Shinzaki), Terry Boy (Men's Teioh) and Sakigake Gantetsu (Dick Togo).

Among the few Americans origin who competed for the promotion were Madusa, Lightning Kid and Jerry Lynn.

Championships

Championship	Current champion(s)	Date won
UWF Super Middleweight Championship	Vacant	1995
UWF Super Welterweight Championship	Vacant	November 28, 1999
UWA/UWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship	Vacant	March 6, 2005

External links

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 |tab2=Alumni
 |tab3=Event history
-|tab4=Roster
 }}
-{{Images needed}}
 {{Infobox Wrestling company
 | name = {{PAGENAME}}
-| image =
+| image = [[File:UnivLogo.png|thumb]]
-| acronym=
+| acronym= FULL
 | established = [[1990]]
 | folded =[[1995]]
 | style = [[Lucha libre]]
 | location = [[Japan]]
-| founder =
+| founder = [[Gran Hamada]]
-| owner = [[Gran Hamada]]
+| owner = [[Gran Hamada]] <br> [[Hisashi Shinma]]
 | parent =
 | sister =
+| formerly = Universal Pro Wrestling <br> Universal Wrestling Federation
-| formerly =
 | website =
 }}
-'''Universal Lucha Libre''' ('''Universal Pro-Wrestling''' until 1991; '''Federación Universal de Lucha Libre''' afterward) was a [[professional wrestling]] [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotion]] in Japan from 1990 to 1995. The name Universal Lucha Libre is used to differentiate the promotion from the Japanese [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|UWF]], which presented a very different style of professional wrestling.
+'''Federación Universal de Lucha Libre''' (also known as "Universal Pro Wrestling" and "Universal Wresting Federation" from [[1990]] to [[1993]]) was the first promotion of its kind in Japan to be based around the Mexican style of professional wrestling, known as ''[[Lucha Libre]]'' (free fighting).
+== History ==
-The promotion was the first of its kind in Japan to be based around the Mexican style of professional wrestling, known as ''[[Lucha Libre]]'' (free fighting). Although since 1956 some Mexican wrestlers had appeared in Japanese promotions, their style had had to mix with the American-originated standard, and not many of them could rise above mid-card level because of their size, which on average was less than American wrestlers.
+Since 1956 some Mexican wrestlers had appeared in Japanese promotions, their style had had to mix with the American-originated standard, and not many of them could rise above mid-card level because of their size, which on average was less than American wrestlers.
-The first Mexican ''luchador'' (wrestler) to become a star in Japan was [[Mil Máscaras]], who competed for the [[Japanese Wrestling Association]] and one of its successor groups, [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]]. The first Japanese to win a Mexican-based title was [[Hideo Koma|Mashio Koma]], who also competed in JWA; he won the [[NWA World Middleweight Championship]] while on a tour of [[EMLL]] in 1970, and later co-founded AJPW with [[Shohei Baba|Giant Baba]]. However, the first Japanese to fully and truly adopt the gymnastics-oriented Lucha Libre style actually came from rival [[New Japan Pro Wrestling]]: [[Gran Hamada]], who had gone on excursion several times to Mexico due to his lack of size and won many titles there. In 1990, after passing through New Japan, the original Japanese UWF, and All-Japan, Hamada decided to form his own promotion, with the aid of his disciple [[Último Dragón|Yoshihiro Asai]], his former New Japan boss [[Hisashi Shinma]], and some Mexican wrestlers and Japanese rookies he had recruited.
+The first Mexican ''luchador'' (wrestler) to become a star in Japan was [[Mil Máscaras]], who competed for the [[Japanese Wrestling Association]] and one of its successor groups, [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]].
+The first Japanese to win a Mexican-based title was [[Hideo Koma|Mashio Koma]], who also competed in JWA; he won the [[NWA World Middleweight Championship]] while on a tour of [[EMLL]] in 1970, and later co-founded AJPW with [[Shohei Baba|Giant Baba]].
-Over the years, the roster of Universal's trainees would go on to become major stars in both the Japanese major promotions and the independents. Among Universal Lucha Libre alumni, they include:
+However, the first Japanese to fully and truly adopt the gymnastics-oriented Lucha Libre style actually came from rival [[New Japan Pro Wrestling]]: [[Gran Hamada]], who had gone on excursion several times to Mexico due to his lack of size and won many titles there.
-*[[Último Dragón|Yoshihiro Asai]] (later Último Dragón)
-*[[Masa Michinoku]] (later [[Masanori Murakawa|The Great Sasuke]])
-*Monkey Magic Wakita (later [[Hiroto Wakita|Super Delfin]])
-*Punish (later Gedo)
-*Crush (later Jado)
-*[[Takao Yoshida|Taka Michinoku]]
-*Shiryu (later [[Kaz Hayashi]])
-*Mongolian Yuga (later [[Jinsei Shinzaki]])
-*Terry Boy (later [[Takeo Otsuka|Men's Teioh]])
-*Sakigake Gantetsu (later [[Dick Togo]])
+In 1990, after passing through New Japan, the original Japanese UWF, and All-Japan, Hamada decided to form his own promotion, with the aid of his disciple [[Último Dragón|Yoshihiro Asai]], his former New Japan boss [[Hisashi Shinma]], and some Mexican wrestlers and Japanese rookies he had recruited.
-Among the few foreigners of [[United States|American]] origin who competed for the promotion were [[Sean Waltman|Lightning Kid]] and [[Jerry Lynn]].
-In 1993, with Universal Lucha Libre on the decline, Sasuke, Taka and Yuga decided to form their own promotion, [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling|Michinoku Pro]]. Jado and Gedo moved to hardcore independent promotions such as [[IWA Japan]], while Último Dragón joined Genichiro Tenryu's [[WAR (wrestling promotion)|WAR]]. Hamada continued promoting shows until he himself joined Michinoku in 1995, which brought Universal Lucha Libre to an end.
+In 1993, with Universal Lucha Libre on the decline, Sasuke, Taka and Yuga decided to form their own promotion, [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling|Michinoku Pro]]. [[Shoji Akiyoshi|Jado]] and [[Keiji Takayama|Gedo]] moved to hardcore independent promotions such as [[IWA Japan]], while Último Dragón joined Genichiro Tenryu's [[WAR (wrestling promotion)|WAR]]. Hamada continued promoting shows until he himself joined Michinoku in 1995, which brought Universal Lucha Libre to an end.
+== Talent ==
+Over the years, the roster of Universal's trainees would go on to become major stars in both the Japanese major promotions and the independents. Among Universal Lucha Libre alumni, they include Yoshihiro Asai ([[Último Dragón]]), Masa Michinoku ([[Masanori Murakawa|The Great Sasuke]]), Monkey Magic Wakita ([[Super Delfin]], Punish ([[Keiji Takayama|Gedo]]), Crush ([[Shoji Akiyoshi|Jado]]), [[Takao Yoshida|Taka Michinoku]], Shiryu ([[Kaz Hayashi]]), Mongolian Yuga ([[Jinsei Shinzaki]]), Terry Boy ([[Takeo Otsuka|Men's Teioh]]) and Sakigake Gantetsu ([[Dick Togo]]).
+Among the few [[United States|Americans]] origin who competed for the promotion were [[Madusa]], [[Sean Waltman|Lightning Kid]] and [[Jerry Lynn]].
+== See also ==
+*[[Universal Lucha Libre/Alumni|Alumni]]
 ==Championships==
@@ Line 68: / Line 66: @@
 ==External links==
-*[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/others/#full Universal Pro/FULL Title Histories]
+*[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/full/ Universal Pro/FULL Title Histories]
 *[[File:Cm logo.jpg|50px]] [https://www.cagematch.net//?id=8&nr=807 Profile]
 [[Category:Japanese wrestling promotions]]