GLEAT

**GLEAT** is a professional wrestling promotion established on August 20, 2020, by advertising company LIDET Entertainment. Founder Kiyoshi Tamura emphasized that the promotion would continue Universal Wrestling Federation's legacy of shoot-style wrestling, which pioneered Japanese wrestling during the 1980s. The meaning of GLEAT is a coined word in which GR is combined with L, which is the initial for LIDET Entertainment.

In January 2019, LIDET Entertainment bought all shares of Pro Wrestling Noah, before selling them later to CyberAgent on the following year. Afterwards, LIDET looked for new ways to get involved in professional wrestling, leading them to contact with UWF legend Kiyoshi Tamura for the creation of the promotion.

## History

### Formation

Since November 2018, advertising company LIDET Entertainment began investing in various business ventures in the branch of professional wrestling such as Riki Choshu's *Power Hall* show on December 28 at the Korakuen Hall. On January 29, 2019, LIDET Entertainment bought 75% shares of Pro Wrestling Noah, with the attempt to relaunch the promotion as the second largest promotion in Japan. However, in the following year, due to Noah's financial struggles, LIDET Entertainment sold all shares of Noah to internet advertising company CyberAgent. Afterwards, LIDET looked for new ways to get involved in professional wrestling, leading them to enter in contact with Universal Wrestling Federation's legend Kiyoshi Tamura, with the first meeting between the two parties being on January 25, at a Pro Wrestling Noah show in Osaka, Japan.

On August 20, 2020, LIDET Entertainment announced the foundation of a new promotion, named "GLEAT", the meaning of the name of the promotion is a coined word in which GR is combined with L, which is the initial for LIDET Entertainment. Kiyoshi Tamura announced that the promotion would continue UWF's legacy of shoot-style wrestling, which pioneered Japanese wrestling during the 1980s. Afterwards, Nosawa Rongai was announced as the Chief Strategy Officer, Kaz Hayashi the Chief Technical Officer, and Riki Choshu as an observer for the new promotion, with Takanori Ito and Soma Watanabe from the recently folded Wrestle-1, being announced as the first members of the roster for the new promotion. The promotion announced its inaugural event for October 15, 2020, at Korakuen Hall. On August 27, GLEAT released the match card for the event, which revealed some of the GLEAT signed workers taking part in the event, as well as several freelancers and wrestlers from other promotions such Big Japan Pro Wrestling, DDT Pro-Wrestling and LIDET Entertainment's former subsidiary Pro Wrestling Noah.

 2
 3
 4
 5

* (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
* – refers to the video of that match

### Establishment and recruiting talent

After the event, GLEAT's Chief Strategy Officer Nosawa Rongai announced his departure from the promotion in order to focus on working for Pro Wrestling Noah. GLEAT also announced the joining of former MMA fighter Josh Barnett, as well as the Pillars of Destiny (Paraviz Memari and Hunter Gray), whom both made their appearance in the event during a pre-taped vignette. In December, GLEAT announced the signing of Yu Iizuka from Pro Wrestling HEAT-UP, after his contract with HEAT-UP had expired.

On March 12, 2021, GLEAT announced the signing of Strong Hearts wrestlers CIMA, T-Hawk, El Lindaman, and Issei Onitsuka. This was followed by the signing of Ryuichi Kawakami from Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) on March 17, after GLEAT reportedly paid Kawakami's contract release clause, a practice common in soccer involving clubs, managers and players. On June 24, it was announced that New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Sho would make his debut for the promotion, leading to a working relatioship between both promotions.

On September 7, GLEAT and Pro Wrestling Zero1 announced the end of their talent-sharing agreement, following an alleged contract tampering between Hayato Tamura and GLEAT President and CEO Hiroyuki Suzuki, with the latter confirming the mutual interest between parties to reach an agreement. Zero1 were also not satisfied with Tamura’s behavior towards them, resulting in the termination of the working relationship. As a result, El Lindaman was stripped of the International Junior Heavyweight and World Junior Heavyweight Championships with Shinjiro Otani apologizing to the GLEAT talent for the decision. On September 29, GLEAT confirmed the signing of Tamura on a full-time contract.

On December 30, GLEAT announced the creation of its first own title the G-REX Championship, with the inaugural champion being determined in a twelve-man single-elimination tournament taking place between January 26 and February 22. On February 22, El Lindaman defeated Hayato Tamura in a tournament final to become GLEAT's first G-REX Champion. On July 1, GLEAT announced the creation of its second own title G-INFINITY Championship with the inaugural champion taking place between August 20 and August 24. During that day Maya Fukuda was announced as the newest signing of the promotion as part of their LIDET UWF brand. On August 24, Kaito Ishida made his debut for the promotion before announced as the newest signing of the promotion as part of their G Pro-Wrestling brand.

On September 19, GLEAT announced the creation of their own new MMA brand GLEAT MMA becoming the promotion's third brand after G Pro-Wrestling and LIDET UWF. On November 23, GLEAT announced the signing of Check Shimatani.

## Roster

GLEAT divides their roster based on its two sub-brands, G Prowrestling and Lidet UWF. GLEAT also recognizes a third roster division, "M" – these wrestlers have legitimate martial arts experience and may wrestle on either G Prowrestling or Lidet UWF events.

* G – Wrestlers affiliated to G Prowrestling, GLEAT's sub-brand that promotes matches using traditional professional wrestling rules.
* U – Wrestlers affiliated to LIDET UWF, GLEAT's sub-brand that promotes matches using UWFi-inspired shoot style rules.
* M – Wrestlers that have legitimate mixed martial arts (MMA) experience or are affiliated to GLEAT MMA, GLEAT's sub-brand that promotes MMA fights.

## Championships

 G-INFINITY Championship |  | The Saito Brothers(Jun Saito and Rei Saito)
 LIDET UWF Championship |  | Fujita Jr. Hayato | 1