The Puro Wrestling Academy & Dan Ginnetty are back to continue to tell the story of PURORESU! This week we finish up Rikidozan's first tour of the United States in early 1953, and talk the "3-headed snake" of Rikidozan, Masahiko Kimura, & Toshio Yamaguchi who all attempt to run their own promotions in 1953 Japan! From there, we discuss Rikidozan vs. NWA World Champion Lou Thesz, the first ever Wrestling Events to be aired on Japanese TV, and the birth of the JWA. Other topics include "Juken" Matches, Kokichi Endo, The Rikidozan Dojo, Hawaii Promoter Al Karasick, Bobby Bruns, San Francisco Promoter Joe Malcewicz, The Sharpe Brothers, Hideyuki Nagasawa, Junioe Champion Mitsuo Surugaumi, Count Rossi Mucci & "Moochie Mania", plus muchh more!

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This week we pick up where we left off in 1951 and travel through the entire year of 1952. We introduce two new names to the fold in Toshio Yamaguchi & the legendary Masahiko Kimura. We discuss the first year in the wrestling business for Rikidozan and take a thorough look into his 1952 Record book. We do a deep dive into Rikidozan's opponents that helped contribute to building the star. We talk the legendary battle between the Godfater of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Helio Gracie vs. the man the Kimura Lock is named after, Masahiko Kimura. Listen in as we continue to show that many of the commonplace promotional tactics of today were taking place more than 75 years ago. All of that 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 a $5 “All Access” Tier featuring our Patreon Exclusive Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare & Regional Rasslin), Early Show Releases, REMASTERED editions of the early Grenade episodes including NEW content that was originally edited out! PLUS, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure!

Visit our Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com

Follow us on "X" (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade

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The time has arrived, as we begin our journey through the history of Japanese Professional Wrestling (Puroresu)! Host Dan Ginnetty and I (Ray Russell) go all the way back to the beginnings in the early 1880s with Sumo's Sorakichi Matsuda and work our way forward to the very first full-fledged tour of Pro Wrestling in Japan, circa 1951. We discuss several failed attempts at wrestlers attempting to bring Pro Wrestling to Japan in the late 1800's and early 1900s. We discuss names like William Muldoon, Ad Santel, Boxing Legend Joe Louis, Harold "Oddjob" Sakata, Bobby Bruns, Promoter Al Karasick, Kokichi Endo, and other early Japanese stars, including the one and only RIKIDOZAN!

Available everywhere your Podcast Streaming needs are met.

Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia
Includes a $5 “All Access” Tier featuring our Patreon Exclusive Watch-Along Series, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare & Regional Rasslin), Early Show Releases, REMASTERED editions of the early Grenade episodes including NEW content that was originally edited out! PLUS, monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure!

Visit our Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.com

Follow us on "X" (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenade

Follow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE - https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenade

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade

Listen at your leisure and pick back up later if need be!

The time has arrived, as we begin our journey through the history of Japanese Professional Wrestling (Puroresu)! Host Dan Ginnetty and I (Ray Russell) go all the way back to the beginnings in the early 1880s with Sumo's Sorakichi Matsuda and work our way forward to the very first full-fledged tour of Pro Wrestling in Japan, circa 1951. We discuss several failed attempts at wrestlers attempting to bring Pro Wrestling to Japan in the late 1800's and early 1900s. We discuss names like William Muldoon, Ad Santel, Boxing Legend Joe Louis, Harold "Oddjob" Sakata, Bobby Bruns, Promoter Al Karasick, Kokichi Endo, and other early Japanese stars, including the one and only RIKIDOZAN!