Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)

Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan) was a Major and Shoot Style pro wrestling promotion based in Tokyo, Japan.

The UWF J promotion was founded on March 1, 1984 by Hisashi Shinma, and it ceased operations on December 1, 1990.

The Universal Wrestling Federation was a company founded by Hisashi Shinma after his exile from NJPW following a scandal involving Antonio Inoki. Under the guidance of Shinma and (eventually) Satoru Sayama, the UWF would pioneer in shoot style wrestling, a style of wrestling based on emulating legitimate combat sports, a precursor to modern MMA. Due to various scandals, internal rivalries, and involvement with the yakuza, the original UWF with clothes and only one year. The reincarnated or “Newborn” UWF was created after Akira Maeda was fired from NJPW following a shoot on main eventer Riki Choshu. This version would prove even more successful than the original, though like its predecessor was marred by internal fracturing. After a fallout between co-owners Maeda and Shinji Jin over the direction of the company, the UWF came to an abrupt end and would have its talent splintering off into different companies:

Nobuhiko Takada’s Union of Wrestling Forces International

Yoshiaki Fujiwara’s Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi

Akira Maeda’s Fighting Network Rings

Gran Hamada’s Universal Lucha Libre

Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan): Info