1972

  • Antonio Inoki makes New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
  • Dojo in Setagaya district opens.
  • NJPW has its first event in Otaku Gymnasium.
1973

  • Sakaguchi Seiji joins NJPW.
  • NET (TV Asahi) starts the TV program "World Pro-Wrestling".
  • Antonio Inoki attacked by Tiger Jet Singh in the Department Store. Police separated the two from fighting, successful publicity for their match.
  • Antonio Inoki defeats Johnny Powers for the NWF Title.
1974

  • Antonio Inoki defeats Strong Kobayashi becomes the #1 Japanese pro-wrestler.
  • Antonio Inoki defeats Carl Gotch for the number one world wrestler title.
  • Antonio Inoki & 10 wrestlers from NJPW have a match in Brazil.
1975

  • Antonio Inoki & 5 wrestlers from NJPW have a match in S. Korea.
  • Antonio Inoki VS Bill Robinson is considered one of the great historical match.
1976

  • Antonio Inoki defeats Olympic Judo Gold Medalist, William Ruska for the World Mixed Martial Arts Match.
  • Antonio Inoki VS Johnny Powers for the NWF belt.
  • World Heavyweight Champion Pro-wrestler VS World Heavyweight Champion Boxer. Antonio Inoki VS Muhhamad Ali goes to a 15 round draw.
  • NJPW participates in a wrestling event in Brazil.
  • Antonio Inoki defeats Akram Perul-one, Pakistan, broke his arm with armlock.
1977

  • The first death match between Tiger Jet Singh and Antonio Inoki.
  • (3/ 31 and 4/1) Sold-out two consecutive days at the Kuramae Sumo Hall.
  • Mixed martial arts match continues with Antonio Inoki VS The Monsterman.
  • Sakaguchi Seiji VS Bad News Allen becomes the Judo Jacket Match.
1978

  • Fujinami wins the WWF Jr. Heavyweight Title in Madison Square Garden NY.
  • Antonio Inoki VS Ueda Umanosuke; death match, nails on board around the ring.
  • Bob Backland's WWF VS Antonio Inoki's NWF Double Title Match.
  • Antonio Inoki has 20 matches in Europe.
1979

  • Pro-wrestling All Star Event is held in Budokan. Main event:Giant Baba( All Japan) and Antonio Inoki VS Abdullah the Butcher & Tiger Jet Singh.
  • Antonio Inoki defeats Bob Backland for the WWF Heavyweight Title.
1980

  • Antonio Inoki VS Willie Williams; World Mixed Martial Arts; ends in a draw.
  • Bob Backlund & Antonio Inoki wins MSG Tag League Tournament.
1981

  • Tiger Mask debuts.
  • Abdullah the Butcher comes to New Japan from All Japan.
  • NJPW VS Kokusai Pro-wrestling.
1982

  • NJPW First event held in United Emirates of Arab.
  • Hulk Hogan & Antonio Inoki win the MSG Tag League Tournament.
1983

  • Maeda Akira returns from Europe.
  • IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) Tournament starts. Hulk Hogan defeats Antonio Inoki in the final match, Inoki ends up in the hospital.
1984

  • New Japan VS Choshu's Ishingun 5 VS 5 match.
  • New Japan hosted an event in Pakistan.
  • The Strong Machines attacks NJPW. The feud starts.
1985

  • Antonio Inoki VS Bruiser Brody
  • Antonio Inoki VS Hulk Hogan ends in a count out.
  • NJPW in Hawaii; Andre the Giant & Antonio Inoki tag match together first time.
1986

  • Maeda Akira along with the UWF returns to NJPW.
  • UWF VS NJPW for the 5 VS 5 Elimination Match.
  • Antonio Inoki becomes the first IWGP Belt Champion.
  • Antonio Inoki VS Boxing legend, Leon Spinks; Inoki wins in 8th round, submission.
1987

  • First Young Lion Tournament is held; Chono beats Hashimoto in the finals.
  • Antonio Inoki VS Masa Saito in Ganryu Island. Historic battle of the two men fighting in the historical deserted island until one gives up.
  • NJPW produced wrestler, Big Van Vader makes his debut.
1988

  • Three star fighters returns to Japan (Muto, Chono, and Hashimoto)
  • Fujinami Tatsumi VS Antonio Inoki; full 60 minute draw.
1989

  • NJPW's Tokyo Dome Event with Japan, USA, former Soviet Union.
  • Sakaguchi retires and becomes the President of NJPW.
  • Antonio Inoki runs as a senator and wins the election. First pro-wrestler / senator.
1990

  • All Japan VS New Japan in Tokyo Dome.
  • Antonio Inoki with NJPW hosts the Peace Festival in Iraq. Helped release the Japanese hostages before the Gulf War.
  • NJPW was the first to host a pro-wrestling event in the former Soviet Union.
1991

  • Ric Flair's NWA VS Fujinami Tatsumi's IWGP double title match; Tokyo Dome.
  • The First G-1 Climax event is held. Chono becomes the winner.
1992

  • January 4th event becomes an annual event for the NJPW at the Tokyo Dome.
  • NJPW 20th Anniversary Event held at the Yokohama Arena.
1993

  • First pro-wrestling event held at the Fukuoka Dome.
1994

  • All star event Super J-Cup for the Jr. Heavyweights held.
  • The Count Down event for Antonio Inoki starts VS Great Muta.
1995

  • (4/28 to 3/1 )The North Korea Peace Festival Event. Special guest, Muhammad Ali attended. Biggest wrestling event in history;380,000 people in two days.
  • Kitao, former Grand Sumo champion, makes his debut in NJPW.
  • UWF Inter. VS NJPW at the Tokyo Dome.
1996

  • Hashimoto Shinya wins the IWGP Heavyweight title back from Takada Nobuhiko from the UWF-Inter.
1997

  • Judo Olympic Silver Medallist, Ogawa Naoya debuts VS Hashimoto Shinya.
  • First pro-wrestling event held at the Osaka Dome.
  • Don Frye, the Ultimate Ultimate Champion makes his debut in NJPW.
  • First pro-wrestling event held at the Nagoya Dome.
1998

  • Antonio Inoki retires; sets attendance record of the Tokyo Dome 70,000 people.
  • Chono VS Fujinami for the IWGP belt at the Osaka Dome.
1999

  • NJPW VS UFO at the Tokyo Dome.
  • Fujinami becomes the next president of NJPW.
  • The first NJPW event at the Jingu Baseball Stadium.
2000

  • Fujita Kazuyuki beats Hans Neiman in the Pride Tournament in the first round.
  • Hashimoto Shinya VS Ogawa Naoya at the Tokyo Dome. Hashimoto got TKO and was forced into retirement.
  • All Japan's Kawada VS New Japan's Sasaki held at the Tokyo Dome.
  • Inoki BomBaYe event; Osaka Dome Count Down into the 21st Century.
  • Fujita Kazuyuki beats world top fighters in Pride (Ken Shamrock, Mark Kerr and Gilbert Yvel).
2001

  • Yasuda wins against former K-1 Japan champion Satake in Pride.
  • Antonio Inoki gives Fujita the original IWGP belt.
  • Fujita wins the IWGP belt against Scott Norton at the Osaka Dome.
  • Nagata wins against Muto in the G-1 Climax annual summer event.
  • Don Frye wins the first World G-1 League Tournament.
  • 50th Pro-wrestling Anniversary, held by NJPW at the Tokyo Dome.
  • Inoki BomBaYe 2 held at the Saitama Arena. Inoki Army VS K-1 Fighters; Team Inoki wins the battle 2W 1L 4T.
2002

  • NJPW opens Dojo in Santa Monica, CA.
  • NJPW's 30th Anniversary event held at the Tokyo Dome.
  • Top stars of NJPW go to AJPW (Muto, Kojima and Kashin).
  • Former Chyna of WWE, Joanie Laurer, becomes he first female wrestler to join NJPW.
  • The first graduates of the INOKI DOJO wrestlers go on the October tour.
  • Joanie Laurer brings and introduces the new Great Muta to NJPW.
  • Former wrestler of NJPW, Hoshino Kantaro, makes the Makai Club. Yasuda, Murakami, Yanagisawa, Makai I, Makai II, Makai III and Makai IV join the Makai Club.
  • Inoki BomBaYe 3 held at the Saitama Arena.
2003

  • NWF champion belt returns to NJPW. Takayama becomes the belt holder after winning NWF tournament.
  • Antonio Inoki celebrates his 60th birthday.
  • Nagata holds the IWGP Heavyweight defense record of ten.
  • May 2nd, 2003: Ultimate Crush at Tokyo Dome, Pro-wrestling & Vale Tudo event.
      - Nakamura wins against K-1 fighter Giant Nortje.
      - Inoki Jr. Lyoto makes his debut vs Pancrase fighter Kengo with a victory.
      - Josh Barnett wins against KOTC Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Ambitz.
      - Takayama with the NWF belt vs Nagata with the IWGP belt becomes the double title match. Takayama becomes the double title belt winner.

::: TERMS :::