Gleat

Gleat (stylized in all caps as GLEAT and pronounced as "great") is a Japanese professional wrestling and mixed martial arts promotion founded in 2020 by former Pro Wrestling Noah parent company Lidet Entertainment after the acquisition of Noah and DDT Pro-Wrestling by CyberAgent. The promotion is overseen by Hiroyuki Suzuki and former mixed martial artist and professional wrestler Kiyoshi Tamura. The promotion emphasizes the use of the UWFi combat sports-based wrestling style.^[2][3][4]

History

In November 2018, Japanese advertising company Lidet Entertainment began investing in various business ventures in the professional wrestling industry including Riki Choshu's Power Hall show in December 2018. On January 29, 2019, Lidet Entertainment bought 75% shares of Pro Wrestling Noah, with the goal of transforming the promotion into the second largest promotion in Japan after New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). A year later due to Noah's financial struggles, Lidet Entertainment sold all shares of Pro Wrestling Noah to internet advertising company CyberAgent. Lidet's President Hiroyuki Suzuki wanting to continue to be involved with professional wrestling met with Kiyoshi Tamura several days after the sale of Noah.^[5] Suzuki later announced the formation of a new promotion, Gleat – it was additionally revealed that Kaz Hayashi and Nosawa Rongai would become the Gleat Chief Technical Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, respectively. Gleat promotes shows via its two sub-brands – G Prowrestling, a traditional puroresu brand, and Lidet UWF, a UWFi-inspired shoot style brand.

Gleat held its inaugural event, "Gleat Ver. 0", on October 15, 2020, which aired on Fighting TV Samurai on October 22, with the main event pitting NOAH's Sugiura-gun (Takashi Sugiura, Kazuyuki Fujita and Kendo Kashin) against Jun Akiyama, Shuhei Taniguchi, and Daisuke Sekimoto.^[6] The participation of NOAH wrestlers on Gleat events would cease after Nosawa Rongai resigned from his positions at Gleat to focus on his role as NOAH booker.^[7][8] Following the end of the NOAH partnership, Gleat would see the participation of wrestlers from other Japan-based wrestling promotions, such as Sho from NJPW and Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka from Pro Wrestling Zero1.

In February 2021, shoot style veterans Minoru Tanaka and Daijiro Matsui were signed by the company, shortly after Tanaka was given the UWF Rule Technical Officer executive role.^[9][10] In May, it was announced that Cima, El Lindaman, T-Hawk, and Issei Onitsuka would be leaving Oriental Wrestling Entertainment and Ryuichi Kawakami would be leaving Big Japan Pro Wrestling to join Gleat.^[11][12] Gleat also operates a developmental division, with Yu Iizuka, Soma Watanabe, and Takanori Ito being the promotion's inaugural trainees.^[13]

In December 2021, Gleat announced a 12-man tournament would be held from January 26 to February 22, 2022 to crown the inaugural G-Rex Champion.^[14][15] The tournament and championship were won by El Lindaman.

In July 2022, Gleat announced the creation of the G-Infinity Championship for its G Prowrestling brand. A four-team tournament was held from August 20, 2022, to August 24 to crown the inaugural champions.^[16] The tournament was won by Bulk Orchestra (Kazma Sakamoto and Ryuichi Kawakami).^[17] On December 14, Gleat promoted its first mixed martial arts (MMA) event, Gleat MMA Ver. 0.^[18]

Personnel

Background

Gleat divides their roster based on its two wrestling sub-brands, G Prowrestling and Lidet UWF. Gleat also recognizes a third roster division, Gleat MMA – wrestlers affiliated to Gleat MMA have legitimate martial arts experience and may wrestle on either G Prowrestling or Lidet UWF events.^[19][20]

• 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.^[21]
• M – Wrestlers that have legitimate mixed martial arts (MMA) experience or are affiliated to Gleat MMA, Gleat's sub-brand that promotes MMA fights.

Wrestlers

Contracted

Regular outsiders

Other personnel

Notable alumni/guests

• Abdullah Kobayashi
• Akane Fujita
• Ami Miura
• Atsuki Aoyagi
• Bandido
• Chihiro Hashimoto
• Daijiro Matsui
• Daisuke Nakamura
• Daisuke Sekimoto
• Drew Parker
• Flamita
• Gringo Loco
• Hartley Jackson
• Jake Lee
• Janai Kai
• Josh Barnett
• Jun Akiyama
• Jun Masaoka
• Kazuyuki Fujita
• Kendo Kashin
• Koji Iwamoto
• Komander
• Kota Ibushi
• Kota Sekifuda
• Masakatsu Funaki
• Masato Kamino
• Masato Tanaka
• Maya Fukuda
• Mochi Miyagi
• Musashi
• Nosawa Rongai
• Seichi Ikemoto
• Shigehiro Irie
• Shinjiro Otani
• Sho
• Shuhei Taniguchi
• So Daimonji
• Syuri
• Takashi Sugiura
• Takuya Nomura
• Tomoaki Honma
• Thekla
• Tyson Maeguchi
• Yukari Hosokawa
• Yutaka Yoshie

Championships

G-Rush Championship

The G-Rush Championship (Gラッシュ王座, G Rasshu Ōza) is a professional wrestling championship owned and created by the Japanese company Lidet Entertainment and is currently disputed in the Gleat promotion. There have been a total of three reigns shared between three different champions. The current champion is Minoru Tanaka who is in his first reign.

Lidet UWF World Championship

The Lidet UWF World Championship (LIDET UWF世界王座, Ridetto UWF Sekai Ōza) is a professional wrestling championship owned and created by the Japanese company Lidet Entertainment and is currently disputed in the Gleat promotion. The main characteristic of the championship is that it can be defended and won only under UWF rules matches and in combat sports-based wrestling style bouts.^[53]

As of , , there have been a total of five reigns shared between four different champions and one vacancy. The current champion is Takanori Ito who is in his second reign.

Combined reigns

As of , .

Gleat events

Most Gleat events are separated into the three brands G Prowrestling, Lidet UWF and Gleat MMA. Numbered "Gleat Ver." events air bigger cards featuring a mix of the three brands. Specials events such as "Gleat Ver.EX", "Gleat Ver.Mega" and "Gleat Ver.&" are held in larger venues and usually feature wrestlers from other wrestling promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) or Pro Wrestling Freedoms. All events air live on Gleat's YouTube channel.

See also

• Professional wrestling in Japan

References

1. ^ "GLEAT". Cagematch. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
2. ^ Blanchard, Matthew (August 21, 2020). "Former Pro Wrestling Noah Owners LIDET To Debut New Promotion, GLEAT". Overtimer. The Overtime. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
3. ^ Daly, Wayne (August 20, 2020). "Former Pro Wrestling NOAH Owner Announces Launch Of New Promotion GLEAT". Wrestling News. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
4. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (August 20, 2020). "Former Pro Wrestling NOAH Owner Announces New Promotion GLEAT". Fightful. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
5. ^ "GLEAT " History "" (in German). Cagematch. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
6. ^ "GLEAT Ver. 0". Cagematch. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
7. ^ "【試合後バックステージ】10.15「GLEAT Ver.0 」NOSAWA論外 vs カズ・ハヤシ｜GLEAT公式YouTube", 22 October 2020, retrieved 2021-05-10
8. ^ "NOSAWA論外｜PROFILE｜LIDET ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS｜国内外のプロレスとコラボして企画・運営するイベント会社". ent.lidet.co.jp. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
9. ^ "【GLEAT】田中稔の入団を発表、UWF Technical Officerに就任！「もう一回、UWFスタイルのプロレスですごい熱狂的な時代を作りたい」 | プロレスTODAY" (in Japanese). 2021-02-11. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
10. ^ "田中 稔｜PROFILE｜LIDET ENTERTAINMENT｜国内外のプロレスとコラボして企画・運営するイベント会社". ent.lidet.co.jp. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
11. ^ "#STRONGHEARTS GLEAT入団インタビュー｜GLEAT公式YouTube", 13 March 2021, retrieved 2021-05-10
12. ^ "GLEAT緊急記者会見 生配信 2021年3月17日(水)14:00｜GLEAT公式YouTube", 16 March 2021, retrieved 2021-05-10
13. ^ "【HEAT-UP！】の生え抜き #飯塚優 電撃退団から急転直下GLEAT入団を発表！緊急会見をYouTube(ヒートアップ公式)生配信‼️ #heatuppw #GLEAT #プロレス #prowrestling" (in Japanese). Togetter. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
14. ^ Gleat (December 30, 2021). "ja:GLEAT初のベルト"G-REX"初代王者を巡り 12選手が勝ち抜き戦" (in Japanese). No. 1476556361949671426. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
15. ^ Gleat (January 13, 2022). "ja:G-REX初代王座争奪戦 トーナメント表発表" (in Japanese). No. 1481460998183731202. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
16. ^ Gleat (July 1, 2022). "GLEAT ni taggu beruto "G-INFINITY" shinsetsu" [New tag team belt "G-Infinity" established in Gleat] (in Japanese). No. 1542846849001787392. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
17. ^ "ja:8月24日 【GLEAT】河上＆KAZMAが初代G-INFINITY王者に 田村＆島谷との同門対決V1戦が浮上" (in Japanese). Professional Wrestling Martial Arts DX. August 24, 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
18. ^ "【大会生配信】2022年12月14日 後楽園ホール[GLEAT MMA Ver.0]". Gleat. December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
19. ^ "G PROWRESTLING (G PRO / #GPRO) GLEATの純プロレス部門 LIDET UWF (#LIDETUWF) GLEATの格闘プロレス部門 7.1(木)18:30開始 TOKYO DOME CITY HALL「GLEAT Ver.1」". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
20. ^ "【GLEAT実験マッチ 第6弾】第3試合 配信開始！｜LIDET ENTERTAINMENT" (in Japanese). LIDET ENTERTAINMENT. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
21. ^ "UWFルール説明動画｜GLEAT公式YouTube", retrieved 2021-07-26
22. ^ "ja:ブラスナックルJUN" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
23. ^ "ja:チェック島谷" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
24. ^ Taylor, Oliver (March 12, 2021). "GLEAT ANNOUNCES BIG SIGNING, NJPW, BIG JAPAN AND MORE FROM JAPAN". PWInsider. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
25. ^ "ja:エル・リンダマン" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
26. ^ "ja:三宅豪" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
27. ^ "ja:田村ハヤト" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
28. ^ "ja:鬼塚一聖" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
29. ^ "ja:俊桀(ジュンジェ)" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
30. ^ "ja:石田凱士" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
31. ^ "KAZMA SAKAMOTO" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
32. ^ Thompson, Andrew (September 24, 2024). "Kotaro Suzuki signs contract with LIDET Entertainment, officially becomes member of GLEAT". POSTWrestling. Archived September 25, 2024 at the Wayback Machine.
33. ^ "ja:鈴木 鼓太郎" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
34. ^ "ja:宮城倫子" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
35. ^ Thompson, Andrew (February 11, 2021). "Minoru Tanaka joins GLEAT promotion". POST Wrestling. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
36. ^ "ja:田中 稔" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
37. ^ Thompson, Andrew (October 1, 2024). "Ryo Aitaka signs contract with LIDET Entertainment, officially joins GLEAT". POSTWrestling. Archived October 1, 2024 at the Wayback Machine.
38. ^ "ja:愛鷹 亮" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
39. ^ "ja:渡辺 壮馬" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
40. ^ "T-Hawk" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
41. ^ "ja:伊藤 貴則" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
42. ^ "ja:山村武寛" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
43. ^ "ja:井土徹也" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
44. ^ "ja:飯塚 優" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
45. ^ "ja:河上隆一" (in Japanese). Gleat. Archived May 22, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
46. ^ "ja:カズ・ハヤシ" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
47. ^ "ja:田村 潔司" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
48. ^ "ja:吉野正人" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
49. ^ "ja:長州力" (in Japanese). Gleat. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
50. ^ "ja:G-REX選手権" [G-Rex Championship] (in Japanese). Syu-Kaku Kombu. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
51. ^ "ja:G-INFINITY選手権" [G-Infinity Championship] (in Japanese). Syu-Kaku Kombu. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
52. ^ "ja:LIDET UWF選手権" [Lidet UWF Championship] (in Japanese). Syu-Kaku Kombu. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
53. ^ Vetter, Chris (October 7, 2024). "GLEAT Wrestling “Ver Mega” results: Vetter’s review of Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Masakatsu Funaki for the LIDET UWF Title, Ricochet and Cima vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo and Soma Watanabe". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 7, 2024.

External links

• Lidet Entertainment official website