United Japan Pro-wrestling (Japanese: 日本プロレスリング連盟, Hepburn: Nihon Puroresuringu Renmei, UJPW), also stylised as United Japan Pro-Wrestling,[1] is an association of several professional wrestling promotions in Japan, acting as an industry group in order to facilitate the sharing of resources and practices as well as strengthen connections to other sectors.
Prompted by Hase's call to establish a unified commission of wrestling promotions and recognizing the necessity for collaboration between the government, local authorities, and the wrestling industry, an organization was formed by nine promotions owned by six companies. The United Japan Pro-Wrestling (UJPW) group was announced to be established on December 15, 2023. On May 6, 2024, a launching event is scheduled to be held at the Nippon Budokan.[5] The inaugural chairman is Seiji Sakaguchi, a former wrestler, president and current advisor of NJPW, and the secretary-general is Naoki Sugabayashi, the current chairman of NJPW.[6] While maintaining healthy competition among the industry, the organization aims to provide a space for exchanging opinions and information regarding common issues within the professional wrestling industry. By doing so, it intends to ensure the industry's image enhancement, foster sustainable development, and address shared challenges. UJPW also plans to welcome additional member promotions in the future.[7] The inaugural UJPW event, the 2024 All Together, was held on May 6, 2024.
On July 17, 2024, UJPW held a general meeting in Tokyo, where World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana and Kyushu Pro-Wrestling were admitted into the association. Also at the meeting, Sanshiro Takagi was declared the UJPW spokesman and Ryota Chikuzen, Ryo Saito, and Naoki Sugabayashi were declared the association's trustees.
^11/19 会長は馳氏、野田元総理らが役員 プロレス・格闘技支援へ「超党派 格闘技(プロレス・総合格闘技等)振興議員連盟」設立 [11/19 Chairman Hase, former Prime Minister Noda, and other executives establish "Cross-party Pro-Wrestling and Martial Arts Promotion Parliamentary Group" to support professional wrestling and martial arts]. Professional Wrestling Martial Arts DX (in Japanese). November 19, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
^新日、全日、ノアら９団体が「日本プロレスリング連盟」設立 来年５月には設立記念興行も [Nine organizations, including NJPW, AJPW, and Noah, establish "United Japan Pro-wrestling"; launching event to be held next May]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
^主要プロレス９団体が「日本プロレスリング連盟」設立へ…来年５・６に日本武道館で設立記念興行開催 [Nine major pro-wrestling organizations to establish "United Japan Pro-wrestling"...to hold a commemorative event at Nippon Budokan on May 6 next year]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
^新日本が事務局となり9つの団体が所属する『日本プロレスリング連盟』が設立！ ["United Japan Pro-wrestling" is established with New Japan as the secretariat and nine promotions as members!]. battle-news.com (in Japanese). December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
