The Puro Wrestling Academy

The Puro Wrestling Academy returns for the Season Finale episode, as Professor Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell cover the first 8 months of 1963 in Japan. Giant Baba returns from his 2 -Year North American excursion, the 5th Annual World League is upon us, Rikidozan married for a 4th time, even in losing Antonio Inoki continues to generate much-needed experience, "Mammoth" Suzuki demoted to a "Gorilla", Toyonobori comes out of hiding due to gambling debts (again), a young Umanosuke Ueda appears, rules of a Japanese Battle Royal, Buddy Rogers' entourage, both Killer X and Mr. ZERO unmasked. Plus, a loaded ensemble of foreign talent arrive including The Destroyer's debut in Japan, Haystacks Calhoun, Killer Kowalski, Gino Marella (Gorilla Monsoon), Pat O'Connor, Fred Atkins, Bob Ellis, Sandor Szabo, Hard Boiled Haggerty, Don Jardine, Bull Ortega, Tony Marino, & much more!While you await Season Two of the free-for-all podcast, please consider joining us for a separate VIDEO version of the Puroresu Academy currently covering 1970s All Japan with 30+ episodes already available. Located at the VIP Tier of https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopiaIf you're enjoying WrestleCopia and interested in helping us continue to grow, please consider Subscribing to our Patreon to help us cover some of our costs! https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopiaYOU CAN ALSO GIFT SOMEONE A PATREON MEMBERSHIP (OR ASK THEM TO GIFT YOU ONE) AT https://www.patreon.com/WrestleCopia/giftIncludes the $5 “All Access” Tier $9 "VIP Superfan" Tier, and "The ULLLTIMATE Tier", featuring our various VIDEO-CAST Series, Early Show Releases, our insanely detailed show notes (for the Grenade, Monday Warfare, Regional Rasslin, Puro Academy, & Retro Re-View), monthly DIGITAL DOWNLOADS for your viewing and reading pleasure, & more!HELP SUPPORT THE SELF-FUNDED WRESTLECOPIA BRAND, CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR PAYPALWRESTLECOPIA MERCHANDISE - https://www.teepublic.com/user/wrestlecopiaVisit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.comFollow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenadeFollow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenadeSubscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's time for another edition of the Puro Wrestling Academy, as Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell 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!Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopiaIncludes 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!Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.comFollow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenadeFollow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenadeSubscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's time for another session of the Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell. 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!Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopiaIncludes 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!Visit the WrestleCopia Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.comFollow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenadeFollow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenadeSubscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell 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/wrestlecopiaIncludes 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 our Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.comFollow us on "X" (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenadeFollow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE - https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenadeSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell 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/wrestlecopiaIncludes 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 our Podcast Network https://wrestlecopia.comFollow us on "X" (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenadeFollow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE - https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenadeSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week, class is back in session with Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell as we look into 1954... We dive into TWO separate JWA Tours, Toshio Yamaguchi launches All Japan (Version 1), Kimura gets jobbed, The Sharpe Brothers reign supreme, Rikidozan thrives, Hans Schnabel & Lou Newman arrive as "Champions", more early TV wrestling results from Japan, matches taking place in the water(?!), Yoshinosato debuts, plus we talk Bobby Bruns, Kokichi Endo, Mitsuo Surugaumi, and so much more!Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopiaIncludes 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.comFollow WrestleCopia on “X” (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenadeFollow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenadeSubscribe to the WrestleCopia Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenadeThis week, class is back in session with Dan Ginnetty as we look into 1954... We dive into TWO separate JWA Tours, Toshio Yamaguchi launches All Japan (Version 1), Kimura gets jobbed, The Sharpe Brothers reign supreme, Rikidozan thrives, Hans Schnabel & Lou Newman arrive as "Champions", more early TV wrestling results from Japan, matches taking place in the water(?!), Yoshinosato debuts, plus we talk Bobby Bruns, Kokichi Endo, Mitsuo Surugaumi, and so much more! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell 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/wrestlecopiaIncludes 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.comFollow us on "X" (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenadeFollow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE - https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenadeSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenade ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Welcome to the launching pad of The Puro Wrestling Academy Podcast with the Professor of Puroresu himself, Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell! In this episode we set the stage for the things to come. We look into Dan's background in studying Japanese Wrestling history, and also his former TV show where Dan produced American commentary over legendary Japanese matches for the better part of six years! Tune in for 45 minutes of fun, get to know Dan before we REALLY begin the ride on the next episode!Available everywhere your Podcast Streaming needs are met.Please Subscribe to our Patreon to help pay the bills, https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopiaIncludes 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.comFollow us on "X" (Formerly Twitter) @RasslinGrenadeFollow & LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE - https://www.facebook.com/RasslinGrenadeSubscribe to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/RasslinGrenadeListen at your leisure and pick back up later if need be!Welcome to the launching pad of The Puro Wrestling Academy Podcast with the Professor of Puroresu himself, Dan Ginnetty! In this episode we set the stage for the things to come. We look into Dan's background in studying Japanese Wrestling history, and also his former TV show where Dan produced American commentary over legendary Japanese matches for the better part of six years! Tune in for 45 minutes of fun, get to know Dan before we REALLY begin the ride on the next episode! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★