   (ajpw/ajp) is a japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. all japan pro wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation. == history == === the giant baba era (1972â1999) === ====nwa membership (1973â1989)==== the promotion was founded by shohei "giant" baba and the momota brothers, the sons of rikidÅzan. baba, a former professional baseball pitcher, joined the japan pro wrestling alliance (jwa) in 1960. in october 1972, he left the jwa and formed his own group, all japan. their first card was on october 21, 1972 at machida city gym in tokyo, japan. baba established the pacific wrestling federation (pwf) as the governing body for all future titles in all japan. in the beginning the pwf recognized a world heavyweight championship and several "regional championships" given as billing to foreign stars depending from which region they came from, but after all japan joined the national wrestling alliance, the pwf world title was downgraded to a regional championship. the first pwf chairman, who presented the belts to the winners in title bouts, was lord james blears. as a loyal member of the nwa, all japan enjoyed the ability to bring in foreigners, and the nwa world heavyweight championship was frequently defended. in the beginning baba continued the japanese vs. foreigner formula for the championships, but gradually dory funk jr. and his brother terry funk, as well as mil mÃ¡scaras from mexico became fan favorites when wrestling other foreigners and subsequently one of the few foreign wrestlers to become icons in japan. ====separation from nwa and new stars (1989â1999) ==== when the nwa territorial system collapsed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, baba distanced himself from other promoters at home and abroad, and began a system of promoting talent (both japanese and foreign) who competed exclusively for his promotion. with the unification of the titles in all japan into the triple crown heavyweight and the world tag team championship, as well as the promotion of talent including [[jumbo tsurut
1972_establishments_in_Japan All_Japan_Pro_Wrestling National_Wrestling_Alliance_members