Osaka Pro Wrestling

Osaka Pro Wrestling (大阪プロレス) 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Notable alumni

 * Apple Miyuki (RDPW)
 * Atsushi Kotoge (Noah)
 * Azumi Hyuga (JWP Joshi Puroresu)
 * Daigoro Kashiwa (Kaientai Dojo)
 * Daisuke Harada (Noah)
 * Gamma (D-Gate)
 * Gami (Wave Pro)
 * Hayata (Noah)
 * Kaito Ishida (D-Gate)
 * Kanjyuro Matsuyama
 * Kuuga
 * Magnitude Kishiwada (Freelancer)
 * Masamune (DES)
 * Orochi (DES)
 * Rising Hayato (AJPW)
 * Sawako Shimono (Freelancer)
 * Super Delfin (Okinawa Pro Wrestling)
 * Tadasuke
 * Thunder
 * Yuu Yamagata

Staff

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

Major events

 * Osaka Hurricane