The Puro Wrestling Academy

After a lengthy absence, the Puroresu Academy Podcast is finally back as "The Professor of Puroresu" Dan Ginnetty and Ray Russell resume the journey through the history of Japanese professional wrestling. We spend some time at the beginning of the program re-familiarizing the listeners with the Top 8 players in Japan as of 1963. Rikidozan remains the unquestioned king of the JWA, but Giant Baba is...

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 "Goril...

The Puro Wrestling Academy returns, as Professor Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell talk 1962 in Puroresu History. Just some of the topics include, "Vampire" Fred Blassie wreaking havoc in his feud with Rikidozan, hear how Blassie's bloody style left some fans DEAD (literally)! Plus. we discuss World Title Changes, Tag Title Changes, the 4th Annual World League, Thesz vs. Rikidozan, Kanji Inoki rename...

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 tale...

NEW Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell is here! We talk the huge year of 1960 in Japan as business is BOMING! How Rikidozan finds Inoki AND Baba in an unbelievable story. Then, it's the DEBUT of Antonio Inoki, and the DEBUT of Shohei "Giant" Baba in the ring! Plus, the 2nd Annual World League Tournament. Toyonobori's Troubles. The Ricky Waldo story. Hombre Montana arrives in J...

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...

" The Professor of Puroresu" Dan Ginnetty and Ray Russell back with the latest edition of the Puro Wrestling Academy! This week we cover the year of 1958 in the world of Japanese wrestling history (and even dive into early 1959). Many of the topics discussed on this episode include... The JWA going from TWO weekly TV programs to having their shows CANCELED, leading to the company essentially fadin...

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...

This week on The Puro Wrestling Academy, Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell school us on the entire year of 1956 in the world of Puroresu. Rikidozan & Kokichi Endo capture the NWA World Tag Team Titles from The Sharpe Brothers (Mike & Ben). Plans are made to bring in the soon to be (once again) NWA Champion Lou Thesz. Rikidozan travels to Southeast Asia to rekindle his rivalry with King Kong C...

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...

Welcome back to The Puro Wrestling Academy w/Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell! This is a huge week in the history of Puroresu as we continue discussing 1954 and into 1955... This week we talk the infamous worked match turned SHOOT between Rikidozan vs. Masahiko Kimura, Mildred Burke and her ladies troupe, Wrestling in a Swimming Pool, Rikidozan slays the "3-Headed Snake" by defeating Yamaguchi, then...

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(?!), Yoshino...

Dan Ginnetty & Ray Russell 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...

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...

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...

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! T...