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Gleat
View on WikipediaGleat (stylized 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]
Key Information
History
[edit]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
[edit]Background
[edit]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
[edit]Contracted
[edit]| Ring name | Real name | G | U | M | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brass Knuckles Jun[22] | Jun Tonsho | Anti-Gle Monsters | ||||
| Check Shimatani[23] | Nobuhiro Shimatani | Bulk Orchestra | ||||
| Cima[24][25] | Nobuhiko Oshima | #StrongHearts | Chief Strategy Officer | |||
| El Lindaman[24][26] | Yuga Hayashi | #StrongHearts | ||||
| Go Miyake[27] | Go Miyake | Gleat Main Unit | ||||
| Hayato Tamura[28] | Hayato Tamura | Bulk Orchestra | ||||
| Issei Onitsuka[24][29] | Issei Onitsuka | Yan's Family | ||||
| Junjie[30] | Zhao Junjie | Gleat Main Unit | ||||
| Kaito Ishida[31] | Kaito Ishida | Black Generation International | G-Rex Champion | |||
| Kazma Sakamoto[32] | Unknown | Bulk Orchestra | ||||
| Kotaro Suzuki[33][34] | Yasuhiro Suzuki | Black Generation International | ||||
| Michiko[35] | Michiko Miyagi | Diamond Egoist | ||||
| Minoru Tanaka[36][37] | Minoru Tanaka | Gleat Main Unit | UWF Rule Technical Officer | |||
| Ryo Aitaka[38][39] | Ryo Aitaka | Gleat Main Unit | ||||
| Soma Watanabe[40] | Soma Watanabe | Gleat Main Unit | ||||
| T-Hawk[24][41] | Takuya Onodera | #StrongHearts | ||||
| Takanori Ito[42] | Takanori Ito | Yan's Family | ||||
| Takehiro Yamamura[43] | Takehiro Yamamura | #StrongHearts | ||||
| Tetsuya Izuchi[44] | Tetsuya Izuchi | Black Generation International | ||||
| Yu Iizuka[45] | Yu Iizuka | Gleat Main Unit |
Regular outsiders
[edit]| Ring name | Real name | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Vice | Unknown | Anti-Gle Monsters | Affiliated with Real Zero1 |
| Hartley Jackson | Unknown | Black Generation International | Freelancer |
| Hideki "Shrek" Sekine | Hideki Sekine | Hard Hit | Freelancer |
| Hikaru Sato | Hikaru Sato | Hard Hit | Freelancer affiliated with Pancrase Mission |
| Katsuhiko Nakajima | Katsuhiko Nakajima | — | Lidet UWF World Champion Freelancer |
| Keiichi Sato | Keiichi Sato | Black Generation International | Freelancer |
| Kouki Iwasaki | Unknown | Bulk Orchestra | Freelancer |
| Masato Kamino | Masato Kamino | Yan's Family | Affiliated with Pro-Wrestling Basara |
| Oji Shiiba | Oji Shiiba | — | Freelancer |
| Parker Boudreaux | Parker Boudreaux | — | Freelancer |
| Quiet Storm | Unknown | Bulk Orchestra | Freelancer |
| Ryuichi Kawakami[46] | Ryuichi Kawakami | Anti-Gle Monsters | Freelancer |
| Seiki Yoshioka | Seiki Yoshioka | #StrongHearts | Freelancer |
| Shigehiro Irie | Shigehiro Irie | #StrongHearts | Freelancer |
| Yusuke Kodama | Yusuke Kodama | Yan's Family | Freelancer |
| Yutani | Unknown | Black Generation International | Freelancer |
Other personnel
[edit]| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chiho Tomiyama | Chiho Tomiyama | Ring announcer (G Prowrestling) |
| Haruo Murata | Haruo Murata | Commentator Freelancer |
| Hiroyuki Suzuki | Hiroyuki Suzuki | Owner President of Lidet |
| Katsumi Tamagawa | Katsumi Tamagawa | Referee (G Prowrestling) |
| Kaz Hayashi[24][47] | Kazuhiro Hayashi | Chief Technical Officer[3] |
| Kiyoshi Tamura[48] | Kiyoshi Tamura | Executive Director[3] Commentator |
| Masato Yoshino[49] | Masato Yoshino | Gleat Championship Belts Manager G Prowrestling Commissioner |
| Riki Choshu[50] | Mitsuo Yoshida | Observer[3] |
| Ryogaku Wada | Ryogaku Wada | Referee (Lidet UWF) |
| Soft Imai | Daisuke Imai | Referee (G Prowrestling) |
| Takahiro Yoshimizu | Takahiro Yoshimizu | Ring announcer (Lidet UWF) Affiliated with Aoni Production |
| Takehiro Yamamura | Takehiro Yamamura | Ring announcer (G Prowrestling) |
| Yoshinori Umeki | Yoshinori Umeki | Referee (Lidet UWF) Affiliated with Pancrase |
| Yoshiro Yabu | Yoshiro Yabu | Ring announcer (G Prowrestling) |
Notable alumni/guests
[edit]- 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
[edit]| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held |
Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-Rex Championship | El Lindaman | 1 | October 9, 2025 | 23+ | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima at Gleat Ver. EX ~ GLEAT vs. Kyoteki. | [51] | |
| G-Infinity Championship | Cima and Kuroshio Tokyo Japan | 1 (2, 2) |
October 9, 2025 | 23+ | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Anti-Gle Monsters (Brass Knuckles Jun and Ryuichi Kawakami) at Gleat Ver. EX ~ GLEAT vs. Kyoteki to win the vacant titles. | [52] | |
| G-Rush Championship | Vacant | — | July 9, 2025 | — | — | Title vacated after Issei Onitsuka retired from professional wrestling. | ||
| Lidet UWF World Championship | Katsuhiko Nakajima | 1 | July 1, 2024 | 488+ | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Takanori Ito to win the vacant title at Gleat Ver.12. | [53] | |
G-Rush Championship
[edit]| G-Rush | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Details | |||||||||||||||||||
| Promotion | Gleat | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date established | January 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current champion | Vacant | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date won | July 9, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
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 two reigns shared between two different champions. The title is currently vacant.
| No. | Overall reign number |
|---|---|
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| Defenses | Number of successful defenses |
| + | Current reign is changing daily |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Defenses | ||||
| 1 | El Lindaman | February 22, 2025 | Gleat Ver. 16 | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 56 | 1 | Defeated Lio Rush in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion. | [54] |
| 2 | Issei Onitsuka | April 19, 2025 | Gleat Ver. 88 | Osaka, Japan | 1 | 81 | 2 | [55] | |
| — | Vacated | July 9, 2025 | — | — | — | — | — | Title vacated after Issei Onitsuka retired from professional wrestling. | [56] |
Lidet UWF World Championship
[edit]| Lidet UWF World Championship | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current design of the title (2023–present) | |||||||||||||||||
| Details | |||||||||||||||||
| Promotion | Gleat | ||||||||||||||||
| Date established | April 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Current champion | Katsuhiko Nakajima | ||||||||||||||||
| Date won | July 1, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
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.[57]
As of November 1, 2025, there have been a total of three reigns shared between three different champions and one vacancy. The current champion is Katsuhiko Nakajima who is in his first reign.
| No. | Overall reign number |
|---|---|
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| Defenses | Number of successful defenses |
| + | Current reign is changing daily |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Defenses | ||||
| 1 | Takanori Ito | June 7, 2023 | Gleat Ver.EX "Face-Off" Access 2 TDCH | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 24 | 0 | Defeated Shinya Aoki in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion. | [58] |
| 2 | Fujita "Jr." Hayato | July 1, 2023 | Gleat Ver.6: 2nd Anniversary Show | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 356 | 1 | [59] | |
| — | Vacated | June 21, 2024 | Michinoku 2024 Tokyo Conference Vol.1: Buryō Tōgen | Tokyo, Japan | — | — | — | Due to illness, Fujita "Jr." Hayato had been on a hiatus since his appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4, 2024. On June 21, at a Michinoku Pro Wrestling event, Fujita announced he was relinquishing both the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight and Lidet UWF World Championships. | [60] |
| 3 | Katsuhiko Nakajima | July 1, 2024 | Gleat Ver.12 | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 488+ | 4 | Defeated Takanori Ito to win the vacant title. | [61] |
Gleat events
[edit]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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "GLEAT". Cagematch. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Blanchard, Matthew (August 21, 2020). "Former Pro Wrestling Noah Owners LIDET To Debut New Promotion, GLEAT". Overtimer. The Overtime. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Daly, Wayne (August 20, 2020). "Former Pro Wrestling NOAH Owner Announces Launch Of New Promotion GLEAT". Wrestling News. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (August 20, 2020). "Former Pro Wrestling NOAH Owner Announces New Promotion GLEAT". Fightful. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "GLEAT " History "". Cagematch (in German). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "GLEAT Ver. 0". Cagematch. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ 【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
- ^ "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.
- ^ "【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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ #STRONGHEARTS GLEAT入団インタビュー|GLEAT公式YouTube, 13 March 2021, retrieved 2021-05-10
- ^ 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
- ^ "【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". Togetter (in Japanese). 28 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ Gleat [@LIDET_ENT] (December 30, 2021). GLEAT初のベルト"G-REX"初代王者を巡り 12選手が勝ち抜き戦 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Gleat [@LIDET_ENT] (January 13, 2022). G-REX初代王座争奪戦 トーナメント表発表 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Gleat [@LIDET_ENT] (July 1, 2022). "GLEAT ni taggu beruto "G-INFINITY" shinsetsu" GLEATにタッグベルト「G-INFINITY」新設 [New tag team belt "G-Infinity" established in Gleat] (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ 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. Professional Wrestling Martial Arts DX (in Japanese). August 24, 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ "【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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "【GLEAT実験マッチ 第6弾】第3試合 配信開始!|LIDET ENTERTAINMENT". LIDET ENTERTAINMENT (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- ^ UWFルール説明動画|GLEAT公式YouTube, retrieved 2021-07-26
- ^ ブラスナックルJUN. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ チェック島谷. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Taylor, Oliver (March 12, 2021). "GLEAT ANNOUNCES BIG SIGNING, NJPW, BIG JAPAN AND MORE FROM JAPAN". PWInsider. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "CIMA". Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ エル・リンダマン. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ 三宅豪. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ 田村ハヤト. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ 鬼塚一聖. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ 俊桀(ジュンジェ). Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ 石田凱士. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ "KAZMA SAKAMOTO". Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ Thompson, Andrew (September 24, 2024). "Kotaro Suzuki signs contract with LIDET Entertainment, officially becomes member of GLEAT". POSTWrestling. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
- ^ 鈴木 鼓太郎. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ 宮城倫子. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ Thompson, Andrew (February 11, 2021). "Minoru Tanaka joins GLEAT promotion". POST Wrestling. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ 田中 稔. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ Thompson, Andrew (October 1, 2024). "Ryo Aitaka signs contract with LIDET Entertainment, officially joins GLEAT". POSTWrestling. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024.
- ^ 愛鷹 亮. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ 渡辺 壮馬. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ "T-Hawk". Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ 伊藤 貴則. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ 山村武寛. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ 井土徹也. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ 飯塚 優. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ 河上隆一. Gleat (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ カズ・ハヤシ. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ 田村 潔司. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ 吉野正人. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ 長州力. Gleat (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ G-REX選手権 [G-Rex Championship]. Syu-Kaku Kombu (in Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ G-INFINITY選手権 [G-Infinity Championship]. Syu-Kaku Kombu (in Japanese). Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ LIDET UWF選手権 [Lidet UWF Championship]. Syu-Kaku Kombu (in Japanese). Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 22, 2025). "GLEAT Ver. 16". cagematch.net. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 19, 2025). "GLEAT Ver. 88". cagematch.net. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ Hetfield, James (July 9, 2025). "Issei Onitsuka Retires After GLEAT Determines He Violated His Contract". pwmania.com. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Daly, Wayne (June 7, 2023). "GLEAT Results: Ver. EX ~ Face-Off: Access 2 TDCH – Tokyo, Japan (6/7)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 1, 2023). "GLEAT Ver. 6 ~ 2nd Anniversary". cagematch.net. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ ガンの再発で欠場中の山本”KID”徳郁の愛弟子・フジタ”Jr”ハヤトが王座返上「また強いハヤトが帰ってくる日が絶対来る」 [Fujita "Jr." Hayato, apprentice of Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto, who has been sidelined due to a recurrence of cancer, relinquished his titles: "The day will definitely come when a strong Hayato will return."]. battle-news.com (in Japanese). June 22, 2024. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 1, 2024). "GLEAT Ver. 12". cagematch.net. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
External links
[edit]Gleat
View on GrokipediaCompany Overview
Founding and Ownership
Gleat was established on August 20, 2020, by Hiroyuki Suzuki, president of Lidet Entertainment, and Kiyoshi Tamura, a veteran wrestler and executive director.[6][7] The promotion operates as a subsidiary of Lidet Entertainment, a Japanese advertising and event production company that had previously invested in professional wrestling.[6] Lidet Entertainment acquired a 75% stake in Pro Wrestling Noah in January 2019, aiming to revitalize the promotion as Japan's second-largest wrestling entity, before selling its shares to CyberAgent in January 2020.[8][9] Following the divestment, Lidet redirected resources toward launching Gleat, drawing on its advertising expertise and prior wrestling involvement to fund the new venture initially.[6] The company's headquarters are located in Yūrakuchō, Tokyo, Japan, facilitating operations in the heart of the city's entertainment district.[2] Kiyoshi Tamura played a pivotal role in conceptualizing Gleat as a hybrid promotion blending traditional puroresu elements with shoot-style wrestling, inspired by his background in promotions like UWF International and RINGS.[7][2] This vision led to the creation of the Lidet UWF division as an extension of shoot-style traditions.[2] Under Lidet's full ownership, Gleat maintains a corporate structure focused on innovative event production and wrestler development.[1]Divisions and Wrestling Styles
Gleat structures its programming around three primary divisions, each offering distinct wrestling formats that contribute to the promotion's hybrid identity. The G Prowrestling division emphasizes modern puroresu, characterized by athletic, high-impact matches that incorporate dynamic aerial maneuvers, strong-style strikes, and a focus on tag team competition.[10] This division highlights championships such as the G-Rex title, which underscores its emphasis on individual and team prowess in fast-paced bouts.[11] In contrast, the Lidet UWF division revives shoot-style wrestling, prioritizing realism through submission holds, ground fighting, and limited strikes, including elbows and attacks on downed opponents, under a points-based ruleset where competitors start with five points and lose them for rule infractions or pins.[2] Overseen by veteran Kiyoshi Tamura, this brand pays homage to the Universal Wrestling Federation's legacy by blending worked wrestling with martial arts-inspired authenticity, often featuring intense grappling exchanges over theatrical elements.[10] Complementing these wrestling-oriented divisions, Gleat MMA is a mixed martial arts division that produces legitimate MMA events featuring striking, takedowns, and submissions under standard MMA rules.[12] Launched in late 2022, this division develops athletes through a balanced curriculum of 50% pro wrestling and 50% martial arts techniques, aiming to showcase versatile fighters transitioning between entertainment and combat sports.[1] Within the G Prowrestling framework, a women's division was established early in the promotion's history, featuring joshi wrestlers in high-energy matches that align with the brand's athletic puroresu style; this segment expanded in 2023 to include more prominent freelance talent and integrated bouts, enhancing gender diversity on cards.[2] These divisions coexist seamlessly on Gleat event cards, allowing for varied programming that mixes styles to create dynamic shows. For instance, typical events intersperse G Prowrestling tag matches with Lidet UWF submission showcases and occasional Gleat MMA hybrids, fostering crossover appeal and narrative depth without rigid separation.[10] This blended approach was evident from the promotion's inaugural event in October 2020, which combined puroresu and early shoot-style elements to establish Gleat's multifaceted vision.[11]Historical Development
Origins and Launch (2018–2020)
Lidet Entertainment, a Japanese advertising company, entered the professional wrestling industry in late 2018 through investments in various projects, including the production of Riki Choshu's Power Hall event held on December 28, 2018, at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.[13] This marked Lidet's initial foray into wrestling promotion, building on prior experience with entertainment events. In January 2019, Lidet acquired a 75% stake in Pro Wrestling Noah, aiming to revitalize the promotion as Japan's second-largest wrestling entity behind New Japan Pro-Wrestling.[9] By early 2020, amid financial challenges at Noah, Lidet sold its entire stake to CyberAgent Inc. on January 29, 2020, allowing the company to redirect resources toward new ventures.[14] This divestment freed Lidet to establish an independent promotion, leveraging its wrestling expertise and connections with veterans. On August 20, 2020, Lidet announced the formation of Gleat, a new promotion co-founded by company representative Hiroyuki Suzuki and wrestler Kiyoshi Tamura, who served as executive director. The name "Gleat" combined "great" with elements of Tamura's UWF heritage, emphasizing a blend of traditional puroresu and shoot-style wrestling through sub-brands like G Pro-Wrestling. Gleat's inaugural event, "Gleat Ver. 0," took place on October 15, 2020, at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall with limited attendance of 612 due to COVID-19 restrictions.[15] The card featured early recruitment of veterans such as Tamura and guest appearances by figures like Minoru Suzuki, headlining in a singles match against Tamura that highlighted Gleat's focus on high-profile, hard-hitting encounters.[15] Additional matches showcased young talents including Takanori Ito and Soma Watanabe, establishing the G Pro-Wrestling brand's emphasis on athletic, story-driven puroresu. The event aired on Fighting TV Samurai on October 22, underscoring Gleat's reliance on broadcasting and streaming amid pandemic constraints that prohibited full crowds.[15] Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which enforced capacity limits and no-spectator policies at many venues, Gleat prioritized digital distribution to build visibility.[16] This launch phase positioned Gleat as a platform for veteran wrestlers and emerging stars, drawing briefly on Lidet's shoot-style roots through the concurrent development of the LIDET UWF division.Expansion and Milestones (2021–2023)
In 2021, Gleat expanded its roster by incorporating shoot-style veterans into its LIDET UWF division, including Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Tanaka, to emphasize hybrid wrestling-MMA elements.[16] On December 30, 2021, the promotion announced the creation of its flagship G-Rex Championship, with an inaugural 12-man single-elimination tournament scheduled for early 2022.[17] The tournament concluded on February 22, 2022, at Korakuen Hall, where El Lindaman defeated T-Hawk in the final to become the first champion.[18] This milestone helped solidify Gleat's G Pro-Wrestling division as a platform for openweight competition. By 2022, Gleat further diversified its championships with the introduction of the G-Infinity Championship on July 1, marking the top tag team title for the G Pro-Wrestling brand.[4] A four-team tournament commenced on August 20, culminating on August 24 when BULK Orchestra (Kazma Sakamoto and Ryuichi Kawakami) defeated Strong Hearts (Cima and T-Hawk) to claim the belts.[19] Later that year, on December 14, Gleat held its debut MMA event, "GLEAT MMA Ver. 0," at Korakuen Hall, featuring seven hybrid rules bouts involving wrestlers like Soma Watanabe and Minoru Tanaka alongside pure MMA fighters.[12] The event highlighted Gleat's integration of combat sports, drawing a crowd for matches under modified rules blending grappling and striking.[20] Gleat's event schedule grew to consistent monthly outings by 2022, with attendance rising from initial figures of 200-300 fans per show in 2021 to over 500 by late 2023, reflecting increased interest in its unique pro-wrestling-shoot hybrid format.[10] Ongoing crossovers with Pro Wrestling Noah persisted through 2021, featuring talents like Takashi Sugiura and Jun Akiyama in joint cards, until the partnership concluded following Noah's ownership change.[16] In 2023, Gleat incorporated more women's matches into its programming, expanding the roster with female competitors like Michiko and integrating them into multi-person bouts on the G Pro-Wrestling cards.[10] Collaborations with domestic promotions such as DDT Pro-Wrestling began emerging through talent exchanges, enhancing event variety. A key milestone came with the promotion's growing prominence at Korakuen Hall, where shows like Ver. 49 in April drew stronger crowds, building toward larger-scale productions.[21]Recent Years (2024–2025)
In 2024, Katsuhiko Nakajima solidified his dominance in Gleat's shoot-style division by capturing the Lidet UWF World Championship on July 1 and extending his reign through multiple defenses, including a successful retention against Masakatsu Funaki in October.[22][23] This period marked a strategic emphasis on hybrid wrestling-MMA bouts, with Nakajima's victories highlighting Gleat's ongoing experimentation in blending professional wrestling with mixed martial arts elements to attract crossover audiences.[10] The year 2025 brought significant roster changes, beginning with the July 9 vacancy of the G-Rush Championship after Issei Onitsuka's abrupt retirement due to a confirmed contract violation, which led to a one-year suspension offer he declined in favor of leaving the industry.[24] This event prompted Gleat to accelerate talent recruitment, while attendance at smaller-scale Yokohama Buntai shows consistently exceeded 400 fans, reflecting steady fan engagement despite broader industry challenges.[25] A pivotal moment occurred on October 9 at Korakuen Hall during the Gleat Ver. EX event, where major title shifts reshaped the main roster: El Lindaman dethroned Nakajima to claim the G-Rex Championship in a high-stakes singles match, ending Nakajima's brief 100-day reign that began in July; simultaneously, Cima and Kuroshio Tokyo Japan captured the G-Infinity Championship from the defending champions.[26][27] These changes underscored Gleat's dynamic booking approach, emphasizing veteran leadership transitions. In November 2025, the international trio CPF—comprising Joe Lando, Danny Black, and Maverick Mayhew—made their team debut at the Ver. MEGA event on November 3 in Yokohama Buntai. El Lindaman retained the G-REX Championship against CIMA, while Katsuhiko Nakajima defeated Suwama in a non-title match, signaling expanded global outreach with potential collaborations involving Mexico's Triple A promotion.[28][29] Complementing this, the women's division continued its gradual evolution from 2023 initiatives by integrating more intergender and tag matches to enhance diversity.[30]Roster and Personnel
Management Team
Hiroyuki Suzuki serves as the founder and president of LIDET Entertainment, the parent company of GLEAT, where he oversees the promotion's overall business development and strategic operations.[31] As head of LIDET, Suzuki has guided GLEAT's integration with the company's entertainment portfolio, ensuring alignment with broader event planning and marketing initiatives.[1] Kiyoshi Tamura acts as co-founder and executive director of GLEAT, with a primary focus as creative director for the LIDET UWF division, drawing on his background in shoot-style wrestling and mixed martial arts to shape its direction.[2] Tamura played a pivotal role in the promotion's establishment in 2020, emphasizing the creation of opportunities for wrestlers and the preservation of UWF-style traditions.[1] He has occasionally participated in early events to demonstrate the division's stylistic elements.[11] Kaz Hayashi holds the position of Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at GLEAT, managing wrestler development, training programs, and dojo operations across its brands.[32] Appointed in May 2020, Hayashi leverages his extensive experience in professional wrestling to mentor talent and ensure technical proficiency in both G PROWRESTLING and LIDET UWF divisions.[6] Additional executives from LIDET Entertainment, including event producers and marketing leads, support GLEAT's high-level operations, contributing to strategic decisions on title introductions and division growth.[1] These roles facilitate collaborations, event logistics, and promotional strategies that have enabled GLEAT's expansion since its launch.[2]Contracted Wrestlers
Gleat's contracted wrestlers form the core of its full-time roster, providing stability and exclusive commitments across the promotion's G Prowrestling and Lidet UWF divisions. These performers engage in dedicated storylines and training programs tailored to enhance their skills within Gleat's unique hybrid wrestling environment.[10] In the G Prowrestling division, CIMA stands as a veteran leader, leveraging his decades of experience to mentor emerging stars and anchor major events. Signed to Gleat through December 31, 2025, CIMA has been instrumental in shaping the division's high-impact style since joining in 2021.[33] El Lindaman, recognized for his technical prowess and innovative maneuvers, serves as the current G-Rex Champion, a role he solidified by defeating CIMA in a title defense on November 3, 2025, at Ver. MEGA in Yokohama BUNTAI.[34] Issei Onitsuka, a former G-Rush Champion known for his high-flying agility, was a key contracted talent until his retirement in July 2025 following a determination of contract violation by the promotion.[24] The Lidet UWF division features specialists like Minoru Tanaka, a shoot-style expert who performs under full-time contract while also acting as Gleat's UWF Rules Technical Officer to ensure authentic strong-style execution.[6] Tanaka's role emphasizes grounded, realistic grappling that contrasts with the aerial elements of G Prowrestling mainstays. Gleat's women's division includes emerging talents under full-time contracts, who pursue opportunities in tag team competitions aligned with G-Infinity pursuits, contributing to the promotion's integrated roster dynamics. Contracted wrestlers enjoy perks such as priority access to exclusive storylines and the promotion's dojo facilities for specialized training regimens.Freelancers and Collaborators
Gleat incorporates freelancers and loaned performers from affiliated promotions to diversify its roster and enrich event lineups, allowing for dynamic matchups without exclusive contracts. Katsuhiko Nakajima, the ace of Lidet UWF, exemplifies this approach with his multi-year involvement in Gleat since 2024, appearing in key events as a non-contracted talent. On July 1, 2025, Nakajima defeated Kaito Ishida to win the G-Rex Championship at the promotion's 4th Anniversary Show, marking his first reign with the title and establishing him as a dominant force in Gleat's heavyweight division.[18] He held the championship for 100 days before losing it to El Lindaman on October 9, 2025, during which his defenses elevated cross-promotional storylines blending shoot-style intensity with traditional wrestling.[35] Tomoaki Honma, a veteran tag team specialist from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, has contributed to Gleat's undercard through sporadic guest appearances, leveraging his experience from multiple IWGP Tag Team Championship pursuits. Honma teamed with Riki Aitaka to defeat Hartley Jackson and So Daimonji in a tag match on December 30, 2024, showcasing his resilient brawling style in multi-man bouts.[36] Earlier, on September 24, 2023, he joined Kaz Hayashi and Minoru Tanaka in a six-man tag victory over BULK Orchestra, further demonstrating his utility in tag-focused narratives that build momentum for Gleat's contracted teams.[37] These outings, occurring several times annually, add reliability and fan appeal without tying Honma to full-time commitments. Collaborators from partner promotions have also featured prominently, particularly in joint events that foster temporary alliances and rivalries. In DDT Pro-Wrestling crossovers, such as the February 15, 2025, Gleat vs. DDT show at Umeda Sky Building, talents like Daisuke Sasaki and Hideki Okatani participated in tag battles, including a win over local competitors that highlighted inter-promotional tension.[38] Similarly, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide talents have appeared in Gleat's international-flavored cards; Faby Apache competed in a singles match against MICHIKO on October 9, 2024, bringing high-flying lucha elements to the roster.[39] Parker Boudreaux, a former AAA performer, has made frequent guest runs into 2025, including a Super Battle Royale victory that positioned him as a top foreign heel challenging Gleat's hierarchy.[40] These appearances, often tied to specific tours or tournaments, have driven title chases and faction wars, enhancing Gleat's appeal through external perspectives.Support Staff
GLEAT's support staff comprises a dedicated team of non-wrestling personnel who ensure the safety, fairness, and professional execution of events and training sessions across its G PROWRESTLING and LIDET UWF divisions. Referees play a pivotal role as key officials, particularly in enforcing the promotion's hybrid rulesets that blend traditional pro wrestling with shoot-style elements. In LIDET UWF bouts, referees oversee a 15-minute single round format where matches can end by submission, knockout, referee stoppage, or doctor stoppage, with a points system deducting for fouls such as eye gouges or hair pulling to maintain integrity and safety. Freelance officials, including Daisuke Imai and Yoshisato Wada, have officiated numerous high-stakes matches, monitoring rope usage restrictions and intervening to prevent injuries in intense shoot-style exchanges.[41][42] Ring announcers, medical staff, and production crew are integral to event operations, with much of the production handled by parent company LIDET Entertainment. Chiho Tomiyama serves as a prominent ring announcer for G PROWRESTLING events, delivering introductions and match calls that enhance the atmosphere while adhering to the promotion's dynamic style. Medical personnel provide on-site emergency care, crucial for the physical demands of MMA-integrated and shoot-style bouts, ensuring prompt response to potential concussions or joint injuries through standard protocols like doctor stops. LIDET's production team manages technical aspects such as lighting, sound, and live streaming on platforms like YouTube, supporting seamless broadcasts that capture the 50/50 pro wrestling-MMA hybrid experience.[43][1] Training support falls under Kaz Hayashi, Gleat's chief technical officer, who leads dojo operations focused on developing wrestlers for both divisions. Hayashi oversees hybrid training programs that incorporate MMA techniques alongside puroresu fundamentals, with assistant coaches aiding in skill-building sessions to prepare talent for versatile match types. These efforts tie into broader management objectives, emphasizing safety in event preparation, such as conditioning for high-impact shoot-style scenarios. Roles in event safety extend to all support staff, who coordinate to mitigate risks in MMA crossovers, including pre-match medical clearances and post-bout evaluations.[32][44]Championships and Accomplishments
G-Rex Championship
The G-Rex Championship is the premier openweight singles title in GLEAT's G Pro-Wrestling brand, established as the promotion's flagship championship to highlight elite competitors and embody the evolution of modern puroresu through high-stakes, technically proficient matches.[17] Created amid GLEAT's rapid growth following its 2020 founding, the title emphasizes athleticism, storytelling, and cross-promotional appeal, positioning it as the ultimate symbol of excellence within the promotion's ecosystem.[45] On December 30, 2021, GLEAT announced the championship's inception, with the inaugural holder to be determined via a 12-man single-elimination tournament spanning January 26 to February 22, 2022.[17] The tournament featured prominent wrestlers from GLEAT's roster and collaborators, culminating in El Lindaman's victory over T-Hawk in the finals at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, marking him as the first champion and setting a tone for intense, workrate-driven defenses during his 320-day reign.[45] This extended tenure included notable successful defenses against challengers like Shigehiro Irie, solidifying the title's prestige early on.[18] Subsequent reigns have showcased a mix of established veterans and rising stars, with the championship changing hands eight times as of November 2025. Katsuhiko Nakajima's 100-day reign from July 1 to October 9, 2025, exemplified the title's role in high-profile intra-promotional rivalries, ending when El Lindaman captured it in his second reign at the Gleat Ver. EX ~ GLEAT vs. Kyoteki event.[18] As of November 19, 2025, Lindaman has held the title for 41 days, including a successful defense against CIMA on November 3, 2025, continuing its legacy of competitive defenses.[18][29] The longest reign belongs to Hayato Tamura, who defended the title successfully over 366 days from December 30, 2023, to December 30, 2024, highlighting the championship's endurance-testing nature.[18]| # | Champion | Reign Start | Reign End | Length (Days) | Event | Successful Defenses (Notable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Lindaman | February 22, 2022 | January 8, 2023 | 320 | GLEAT Ver. 11 | vs. Shigehiro Irie (May 18, 2022) |
| 2 | Kaito Ishida | January 8, 2023 | April 12, 2023 | 94 | GLEAT Ver. 20 | vs. KAZMA SAKAMOTO |
| 3 | T-Hawk | April 12, 2023 | December 30, 2023 | 262 | GLEAT Ver. 27 | vs. Shuji Ishikawa (October 9, 2023) |
| 4 | Hayato Tamura | December 30, 2023 | December 30, 2024 | 366 | GLEAT Ver. 44 | Multiple, including vs. Yuki Iino (July 1, 2024) |
| 5 | Soma Watanabe | December 30, 2024 | January 11, 2025 | 12 | GLEAT Ver. 48 | None |
| 6 | Kaito Ishida (2) | January 11, 2025 | July 1, 2025 | 171 | GLEAT Ver. 50 | vs. Tetsuya Izuchi (June 14, 2025) |
| 7 | Katsuhiko Nakajima | July 1, 2025 | October 9, 2025 | 100 | GLEAT Ver. 19 | vs. Tetsuya Izuchi (non-title context) |
| 8 | El Lindaman (2) | October 9, 2025 | Present | 41+ | Gleat Ver. EX | vs. CIMA (November 3, 2025) |
G-Infinity Championship
The G-Infinity Championship is the premier tag team title of Gleat's G Pro-Wrestling brand, introduced on July 1, 2022, to highlight competitive partnerships within the promotion's open-weight division.[4] A four-team single-elimination tournament was held from August 20 to August 24, 2022, to crown the inaugural champions, with BULK Orchestra (KAZMA SAKAMOTO and Ryuichi Kawakami) emerging victorious by defeating Checkmate Strong Style (Soma Takao and Hayato Tamura) in the final.[47] The title emphasizes tag team dynamics and athletic collaboration, distinguishing it from Gleat's other championships by focusing on synergistic team strategies rather than individual prowess.[4] As of November 19, 2025, the championship has seen ten reigns across ten teams, involving 18 distinct wrestlers, with two vacancies and one interim reign recorded.[47] The belts have been defended in high-profile matches that showcase international crossovers and intense rivalries, such as the October 6, 2024, event where The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz), representing TNA Wrestling, captured the titles from Black Generation International (Kaito Ishida and Tetsuya Izuchi) in Osaka, marking a notable foreign challenge to Gleat's tag division.[48] Other key defenses include the 265-day reign of Voodoo Murders (Jun Saito and Rei Saito) from June 7, 2023, which solidified the title's prestige through multiple successful outings against domestic factions.[47] The current champions are CIMA and Kuroshio TOKYO Japan, who won the titles in their first joint reign on October 9, 2025, defeating Anti-GLE MONSTERS (Brass Knuckles JUN and Ryuichi Kawakami) for the vacant belts at a Tokyo event, with their reign lasting 41 days as of November 19, 2025.[47] CIMA, a contracted Gleat talent and co-founder, brings veteran leadership to the partnership.[49] Prior to this, Issei Onitsuka and Takehiro Yamamura won the titles on June 1, 2025, and held them for 38 days until July 9, 2025, following a 133-day run by Tokyo Bad Boys (SBK and TAKUMA) that began on January 19, 2025.[47]| Reign # | Champions | Date Won | Length (Days) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BULK Orchestra (KAZMA SAKAMOTO & Ryuichi Kawakami) | August 24, 2022 | 11 | Inaugural champions; tournament final win. |
| 2 | BULK Orchestra (Check Shimatani & Hayato Tamura) | September 4, 2022 | 276 | Longest reign to date. |
| 3 | Voodoo Murders (Jun Saito & Rei Saito) | June 7, 2023 | 265 | Vacated February 27, 2024. |
| 4 | Coelacanths (CIMA & Kaz Hayashi) | March 13, 2024 | 110 | Lost to Black Generation International (Kaito Ishida & Tetsuya Izuchi). |
| 5 | Black Generation International (Kaito Ishida & Tetsuya Izuchi) | July 1, 2024 | 97 | Lost to international challengers. |
| 6 | The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) | October 6, 2024 | 82 | Vacated December 27, 2024. |
| 7 | Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Seigo Tachibana | December 30, 2024 | 20 | - |
| 8 | Tokyo Bad Boys (SBK & TAKUMA) | January 19, 2025 | 133 | - |
| 9 | Issei Onitsuka & Takehiro Yamamura | June 1, 2025 | 38 | Vacated July 9, 2025. |
| 10 | CIMA & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan | October 9, 2025 | 41+ | Current; won vacant titles. |
