Japan's Attempt At Combining MMA With Pro Wrestling, Explained
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Professional wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts are two different genres, as one is entertainment, and one is a competitive sport. However, some in the professional wrestling and MMA industry have attempted to combine the two genres into something spectacular and unique. Because of the entertainment aspect of professional wrestling and the competitive nature of MMA, mixing the two forms of entertainment seemed like an appealing idea to many, which explains the hybrid-wrestling Japanese MMA promotion Pancrase.
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The Correlation Between Professional Wrestling And MMA
Professional wrestling may be a form of entertainment, but the professional wrestling industry has incorporated elements of MMA or any other form of shoot fighting. For instance, many remember the infamous Brawl for All tournament in 1998 during the Attitude Era, where WWE superstars would fight for real. Because of the noticeable similarities between MMA and professional wrestling, it makes sense for promoters to use such similarities to attract fans from both genres.
Professional wrestling is an entertainment spectacle, and MMA is a competitive combat sport, but that doesn't mean both genres couldn't intertwine and be successful. When the UFC started becoming a mainstream powerhouse during the mid to late 2000s, many WWE fans got into MMA because it featured professional wrestling-like elements to its product. Those fans can appreciate charismatic fighters like Conor McGregor, Chael Sonnen, or any other fighter that can talk their way into selling tickets, as the MMA industry relies on self-promotion to get people interested in its fights.
But even long before UFC broke out in the new millennium, one could go back to the 1990s and find MMA promotions utilizing elements of professional wrestling in its product. A case in point is Pancrase, a Japanese-based MMA organization specializing in shoot fighting.
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Pancrase Was MMA With A Professional Wrestling Tone
Pancrase is among the most uniquely-created MMA promotions in the world. When the promotion started in 1993, the same year the UFC held its first event, Pancrase offered something different from the many prominent MMA organizations. As the promotion was located in Japan, a country with a deep history regarding professional wrestling, what made Pancrase appealing when it first arrived on the scene was the inclusion of elements of wrestling.
For instance, Pancrase initially had rules where closed-fist or open-handed strikes were not allowed to an opponent's head during an MMA fight. And much like traditional professional wrestling, if one's opponent reached the ring ropes if applying a submission maneuver unto them, that person only had a few seconds to break the hold before getting disqualified. It also helped Pancrase stand out as its fighters used to dress like the professional wrestlers one would see on TV. If one were to watch a classic Pancrase fight, it would look like a professional wrestling match as the fighters also used to compete in a squared-circle ring.
Some fans may not know this, but many successful professional wrestlers competed in MMA under Pancrase, specifically in its former rules. Before getting his big break in UFC, Ken Shamrock competed in Pancrase during the beginning of his professional fighting career. Japanese professional wrestling legend Masakatsu Funaki has also fought for Pancrase MMA, as he gets considered among the all-time best Japanese MMA fighters. Prominent MMA fighters like Bas Rutten, Maurice Smith, and Josh Barnett also fought for Pancrase during its early years.
RELATED: 10 Facts You Didn't Know About WWE's Brawl For AllAnd speaking of professional wrestlers like Masakatsu Funaki, along with Takaku Fuke Minoru Suzuki, they were the ones who founded Pancrase as they wanted to create an MMA promotion where it'd get based on the shoot-style aspect of professional wrestling. It's also worth noting that because Menoro Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki were trained under Antonio Inoki, and they also were inspired by the "Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki" 1976 shoot match as the inspiration helped build the foundation of Pancrase.
As the sport of MMA grew, Pancrease had to change its rules, similar to practically any other MMA organization. Changes also included the shift towards fighting in the octagon and the use of attire of traditional mainstream MMA. However, it's worth noting that Pancrase is still operating after thirty years, as its rich legacy continues to live on in the MMA world, with classic fights available on YouTube and UFC Fight Pass for professional wrestling and MMA fans to enjoy.
