All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)

All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), also known as AJP, is a privately owned Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 1972 by Giant Baba after his departure from the Japanese Wrestling Association. Initially formed with several wrestlers who left with Baba, AJPW's roster expanded significantly following the dissolution of the JWA the next year. By the mid-1970s, it had become Japan's largest wrestling promotion. The 1990s saw a generational shift in AJPW's roster, with rising stars such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and Toshiaki Kawada contributing to a period of significant financial success for the company.