It's time for another edition of the Puro Wrestling Academy, as we talk the year of 1961 in Japan. We look at the Third World League Tournament, The Great Antonio’s rise (and fall), an epic Title vs. Mask showdown, Kintaro Oki’s breaking out, Antonio Inoki moving up the card, Giant Baba leaving for the U.S., Rikidozan attempts to promote boxing and forces his local talent to build him a new wrestling complex, there’s also multiple unmaskings including the Zebra Kid, Bill Miller,, Lord James Blears, & others! Plus, additional topics including The Ultimate Warrior, Candlepin Bowling, & more!

How Rikidozan finds Inoki AND Baba in an unbelievable story. Then, it's the DEBUT of Antonio Inoki! The DEBUT of Shohei "Giant" Baba! The 2nd Annual World League Tournament. Toyonobori's Troubles. The Ricky Waldo story. Hombre Montana arrives in Japan, Yoshimura moves to Heavyweight, Yoshinosato moves up to Junior Champion, New Light Heavyweight Champion crowned, Midget Matches, King Curtis Iaukea, Tex McKenzie, & much more!

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NEW Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty is here! We talk the huge year of 1960 in Japan as business is BOMING! How Rikidozan finds Inoki AND Baba in an unbelievable story. Then, it's the DEBUT of Antonio Inoki, and the DEBUT of Shohei "Giant" Baba in the ring! Plus, the 2nd Annual World League Tournament. Toyonobori's Troubles. The Ricky Waldo story. Hombre Montana arrives in Japan, Yoshimura moves to Heavyweight, Yoshinosato vacates the Light weight title as he becomes Junior Champion, New Light Heavyweight Champion crowned, Midget Matches, King Curtis Iaukea, Tex McKenzie, & much more!

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Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier & $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier featuring our VIDEO CASTS, Patreon Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), Early Show Releases, REMASTERED editions of the early Grenade episodes including NEW content! PLUS, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure!

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It's time for another session of the Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty. This time out we look at the year of 1959 in Japanese Wrestling History. A ton of firsts as Rikidozan turns his misfortunes around... The first ever World League Tournament, the debut of "Mr. Atomic", the first ever unmasking in Japan, the first color TV broadcast of Japanese wrestling, the first ever TV Studio wrestling bout in Japan... and the first real blade job(?)! Plus, MR. ATOMIC DEBUTS, Yoshinosato & Kokichi Endo Return, Enrique Torres, King Kong Czaya, Lord James Blears, Mike Paidousis, Danny Plechas, Bull Ortega, and so much more!

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The Professor of Puroresu, Dan Ginnetty, is back with the latest edition of the Puro Wrestling Academy! This week we cover the year of 1958 in the world of Japanese wrestling history (and even dive into early 1959). Many of the topics discussed on this episode include... The JWA going from TWO weekly TV programs to having their shows CANCELED, leading to the company essentially fading to black for SIX LONG MONTHS! We question the reasoning and rumors as to why Rikidozan competed in only one match in Japan over the course of the first 8 months of the year. Stories of misappropriation of funds, “Black Market” money to pay the Gaijin, local talent not being paid at all, & more titillating stories involving Rikidozan! With the JWA dormant for much of the Spring & Summer months, the local talent are left without work and many still waiting for back-pay, threatening to go on Strike!

We look into Gimmick Matches being used for TV, Battle Royals and multi-man tag matches (including the first ever 8-Man Tag in Japan!). Rkidozan refutes to wrestle, but acts as a Special Referee for many contests early in the year, before making another trip to the United States where Riki will capture the International Title from LOU THESZ in Los Angeles! Foreign talent discussed on this episode include Don Leo Jonathan, “Handsome” Johnny Barend, Ski Hi Lee, Tiny Mills & “Big K” Stan Kowalski! Plus, it’s AZUMAFUJI to the rescue! Hear what Azumafuji does to pacify and help the JWA talent while Dozan is abroad. Then upon Riki’s return to Japan, Wrestling returns as well. NEW TOURS for the JWA in September 58 through January 59. Toyonobori returns after a year in Hawaii, and captures the Hawaii Tag Titles along with Rikidozan. It’s near the end of 1958 that Azumafuji announces his RETIREMENT FROM PRO WRESTLING after having been fed up with Rikidozan’s practices. Plus, we talk Rikidozan’s excursion to Brazil, did Don Leo Jonathan break kayfabe(?), exciting news for our listeners regarding our Patreon, & so much more!

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The Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty returns with a special "summer school" session of the program, covering 1957 in Japan! We talk Hiro Matsuda's disdain for Rikidozan and his drive to "make it" in the business, Weekly TV begins, and NWA World Champion Lou Thesz comes to Japan to defend against Rikidozan. Plus, Bobo Brazil, Adrian Baillargeon, the Junior Title changes hands, the mystery of "Black Jimmy" is solved, & so much more!

Available everywhere your Podcast Streaming needs are met.

Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier & $9 "Superfan DELUXE" Tier featuring our VIDEO CASTS, Patreon Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), Early Show Releases, REMASTERED editions of the early Grenade episodes including NEW content! PLUS, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure!

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This week on The Puro Wrestling Academy, Dan Ginnetty schools us on the entire year of 1956 in the world of Puroresu. Rikidozan & Kokichi Endo capture the NWA World Tag Team Titles from The Sharpe Brothers (Mike & Ben). Plans are made to bring in the soon to be (once again) NWA Champion Lou Thesz. Rikidozan travels to Southeast Asia to rekindle his rivalry with King Kong Czaya. The JWA presents two more full-length tours lasting more than 60 events! Plus, we catch up with Masahiko Kimura, Unified Champions are created, and we talk names like Tom Rice, Mike Mazurki, Surugaumi, Azumafuji, Yoshinosato, Toyonobori, and so much more!

Available everywhere your Podcast Streaming needs are met.

Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier & $9 "Superfan DELUXE" Tier featuring our VIDEO CASTS, Patreon Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), Early Show Releases, REMASTERED editions of the early Grenade episodes including NEW content! PLUS, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure!

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The Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty Returns! This week we finish covering the year of 1955 as Rikidozan & Azumafuji return from the States as the JWA presents two more tours in Japan. Includes Primo Carnera, Jess Ortega, King Kong Czaya, Bob Orton Sr., Bud Curtis, Dara Singh, Tiger Joginder, the first Japanese Wrestling Champions are crowned, some Magazine talk, Booking 101 is the same everywhere, Wrestling explodes on Japanese TV, and Kids... don't try this at home!

Available everywhere your Podcast Streaming needs are met.

Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier & $9 "Superfan DELUXE" Tier featuring our VIDEO CASTS, Patreon Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), Early Show Releases, REMASTERED editions of the early Grenade episodes including NEW content! PLUS, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure!

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Welcome back to The Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty! This is a huge week in the history of Puroresu as we continue discussing 1954 and into 1955... This week we talk the infamous worked match turned SHOOT between Rikidozan vs. Masahiko Kimura, Mildred Burke and her ladies troupe, Wrestling in a Swimming Pool, Rikidozan slays the "3-Headed Snake" by defeating Yamaguchi, then Riki returns to the States for another tour, plus the debuts of Toyonobori & Azumafuji, & so much more!

Available everywhere your Podcast Streaming needs are met.

Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
Includes the $5 “All Access” Tier & $9 "Superfan DELUXE" Tier featuring our VIDEO CASTS, Patreon Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), Early Show Releases, REMASTERED editions of the early Grenade episodes including NEW content! PLUS, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure!

Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com
Follow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade
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Welcome back to The Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty! This is a huge week in the history of Puroresu as we continue discussing 1954 and into 1955... This week we talk the infamous worked match turned SHOOT between Rikidozan vs. Masahiko Kimura, Mildred Burke and her ladies troupe, Wrestling in a Swimming Pool, Rikidozan slays the "3-Headed Snake" by defeating Yamaguchi, then Riki returns to the States for another tour, plus the debuts of Toyonobori & Azumafuji, & so much more!