Women’s wrestling can be great anywhere in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s exactly the same. Japan and the United States are the major powers in women’s wrestling right now. They are different styles of wrestling, but they also have some similarities, and after all, they have the same goal, which is to entertain the fans.
In both Japan and the United States, there are female superstars in promotions like WWE, AEW and NJPW, which offer sensational combat, although you could say that they use different methods. Without further ado, let’s take a look at five ways women’s wrestling in Japan is different from that in the United States, and four ways it’s the same.
9 It’s Different: Intensity
In Japan, women’s wrestling is physical, with hard-hitting action and hard work. In Japanese promotions, women aren’t afraid to put their bodies on the line and endure a lot of pain. Intensity is always present in Japanese women’s matches.
In America, on the other hand, we don’t see intense matches on a regular basis. Matches like Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in WrestleMania 39they are unusual, and not all women on the list are capable of such punishment.
8 It’s the same: talent
Although they differ in the style of techniques used, both in America and Japan, women wrestlers have great skills and movements because at the end of the day, the talent is present in both places.
In both Japan and the United States, there are women with strength, athleticism, technique, or speed, each using their tools to try to become superstars. In recent years it has become clear that a woman from anywhere in the world can be as talented as a Japanese wrestler.
7 It’s Different: In-Ring Performance
While the talent is pretty much the same, the in-ring performances are different. In Japan, in-ring psychology, selling, character work, and action all work in harmony to build an incredible fight. Small details matter.
In America, in-ring sales and psychology are generally pushed aside, with the focus largely on making flashy announcements without strict logic and structure. That is one of the most notable differences between Japanese women’s wrestling and American women’s wrestling.
6 It’s the same: star power
In Japan there are Mayu Iwatani, Syuri, Momo Watanabe, Kairi Sane, Utami Hayashishita, Tam Nakano, among others. In America there are Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Jamie Hayter, Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley (although the last three were not born in America, it is worth clarifying).
So star power is everywhere, every promotion has its biggest stars, who work hard week in and week out and make women’s wrestling just as enjoyable as men’s wrestling.
5 It’s Different: Longer Games
Most of the time, women’s matches in SmackDown, Raw, Dynamite, either Rampage last less than 10 minutes, even less than five minutes. They certainly get more time on pay-per-views, but it’s still rare to see women wrestle for more than 20 minutes in America.
In Japan, on the other hand, we see matches longer than 20 minutes in almost every event, and there are matches longer than 30 minutes from time to time. Japanese fighters are used to long fights and their stamina is remarkable.
4 It’s the same: passion
In both the United States and Japan, female fighters are passionate, always working hard and doing their best in and out of the ring to become superstars and build a memorable legacy.
The women show their passion both in the ring and on the microphone, to try to tell the best possible story and entertain the fans. Certainly there are some women more passionate than others, but passion in general is a common factor in women’s wrestling in Japan and the United States.
3 It’s Different: Crowd
Live crowds in Japan are different because generally Japanese fans are more quiet and respectful. In Japan, there’s usually not the big pop that there is in America, and most of the time the fans just clap.
In America, on the other hand, fans tend to react and chant not only at games, but also during promos and segments, especially if it’s a Chicago or Philadelphia crowd.
2 It’s the same: innovation
In both Japan and the United States, female fighters have innovated their art and developed new and unique techniques and moves. Anyone would say that all wrestling moves have already been invented, but there is always something new, as even a small variation of a move can completely change the perspective.
For example, Sol Ruca has an original and spectacular finisher, and in multi-female matches we also tend to see innovative points.
1 It’s Different: Story
Japanese women’s wrestling has a long and rich history dating back to the 1950s. In the 1970s and 1980s, women’s wrestling in Japan was great and popular, but in America, women’s wrestling was a Joke of bad taste – Disagreeable joke.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Japanese promotions held huge events and produced incredible women’s wrestling, but the biggest promotions in America didn’t take women’s wrestling seriously, to say the least, until the 2010s. Finally, in the 2020s, despite the totally different story, it’s safe to say that American women’s wrestling can be just as good as Japanese women’s wrestling.