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 main women's wrestling powers 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.
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In both Japan and America there are female superstars across promotions like WWE, AEW, and NJPW, who deliver sensational matches, although you could say they use different methods. Without further ado, let's take a look at five ways that women's wrestling in Japan is different from America, and four ways it's the same.
9 It’s Different: Intensity
In Japan, women's wrestling is physical, with hard-hitting action and stiff work. In Japanese promotions, women are not afraid to put their bodies on the line and endure a lot of pain. The 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. Such matches, like the one between Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 39, are unusual, and not every woman on the roster is capable of undergoing 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 moves because at the end of the day, talent is present in both places.
In both Japan and America, there are women with strength, athleticism, technique, or speed, and each uses 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 practically the same, the in-ring performances are different. In Japan, the in-ring psychology, the selling, the character work, and the action work in harmony to build an amazing match. The small details matter.
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In America, in-ring psychology and selling are usually left aside, and the focus is mainly on performing flashy spots without strict logic and structure. That is one of the most noticeable differences between Japanese women's wrestling and American women’s wrestling.
6 It's The Same: Star Power
In Japan, there is Mayu Iwatani, Syuri, Momo Watanabe, Kairi Sane, Utami Hayashishita, Tam Nakano, among others. In America, there is 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 big stars, who work hard week after week and make women's wrestling as enjoyable as men's wrestling.
5 It’s Different: Longer Matches
Most of the time, women's matches on SmackDown, Raw, Dynamite, or Rampage last less than 10 minutes, even less than five minutes. Certainly, they get more time on PPVs, but it's still rare to see women wrestle for more than 20 minutes in America.
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In Japan, on the other hand, we see 20+ minute matches at pretty much every event, and there are 30+ minute matches from time to time. Japanese wrestlers are used to long matches and their stamina is remarkable.
4 It's The Same: Passion
In both America and Japan female wrestlers are passionate, they always work hard and do their best in and out of the ring to become superstars and build a memorable legacy.
Women show their passion both in the ring and on the microphone, to try to tell the best story possible and entertain the fans. Certainly, there are some women more passionate than others, but overall passion is a common factor in women's wrestling in Japan and America.
3 It’s Different: Crowd
The live crowds in Japan are different, because, in general, Japanese fans are quieter and more respectful. In Japan, there is usually not the huge pop that there is in America, and most of the time the fans just clap their hands.
In America, on the other hand, the fans tend to react and chant not only in matches 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 America, female wrestlers have innovated their art and developed new and unique moves and techniques. 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-women matches, we usually see innovative spots as well.
1 It’s Different: History
Japanese women's wrestling has a long and rich history, dating back to the 1950s. By the 1970s and 1980s, women's wrestling in Japan was great and popular, but in America, women’s wrestling was a bad joke.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Japanese promotions held big events and produced amazing women’s matches, 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 history, it is safe to say that American women’s wrestling can be as good as Japanese women’s wrestling.
