A Look At All Japan Pro Wrestling's 1999
April 11, 2025
By Ryan Porzl
Anyone who is an expert on wrestling history knows All Japan Pro Wrestling and that it's one of wrestling's greatest promotions. Having it's first show on October 21, 1972, the promotion was founded by one of Japan's greatest legends in Shohei "Giant" Baba and as of writing, has lasted over 52 years making it one of wrestling's long running promotions. In fact, with the exception of promotions such as the WWE, the Mexican based CMLL, and fellow Japanese promotion New Japan, almost no promotion has lasted as long as the house that Baba built. However, it hasn't always been smooth sailing to say the least. With a promotion that's been around for more than half a century, it has experienced many highs and triumphs to hosting legendary shows featuring many of the greatest wrestlers and greatest matches the sport as ever had. At the same time, the promotion has seen it's shares of setbacks and turmoil, specifically three exoduses which either damaged or damn near killed the promotion. Obviously, when it comes to the latter, people look at the year 2000 as that was the year everything hit the fan when top star Mitsuharu Misawa left All Japan and took almost everyone from talent to crew with him as well as their main Television time slot to start Pro Wrestling NOAH. However, as fascinating as 2000 is, we're going to take a look at the previous year. 1999 was almost as big and tumultuous as 2000. The year featured some changes with some young talent beginning to get opportunities while established names would sort of take a step back. Backstage, the promotion's founder and patriarch would pass away, one of the all time greats bid farewell to the ring as well as the promotion, and two important figures would start a power struggle that led to the eventual NOAH exodus.
Note: I don't own the picture. Credit to All Japan
