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Housekeeping and general notes

This blog's primary purpose is to cover the period of "early" Pancrase from its founding in 1993, all the way to the anniversary show in 1999, after which Pancrase ended the old rule system. Think of it as a "partial" "Complete and Accurate" project. I will be reviewing every Pancrase show and match in that period, warts and all. 

As you might have figured from reading the introductory essay, the central thesis of this project is that Pancrase can be considered pro wrestling within a larger definition, and that such a definition is more fitting than what is traditionally considered to be pro wrestling. Of course, I don't claim to have the correct view, and I'm sure some will disagree, even you, the reader, but I hope the way I will approach this project will give food for thought at the very least.

One of the major inspirations for this project came from the TKScissors RINGS blog, which was perhaps one of the best pro wrestling writing projects I have ever read. It is a magisterial look at Fighting Network RINGS, which operated between 1991 and 2002 as a pro wrestling and later MMA promotion. The way my friend, Kendall, explored every show and every match with such a beautiful understanding of the grappling arts was quite breathtaking. If you haven't perused his writings yet, I highly encourage you to do so. Another inspiration came from the recent Greatest Wrestler Ever 2026 project. During this project, I encountered several interesting takes on Pancrase and how the careers of certain wrestlers like Masakatsu Funaki or Minoru Suzuki should be analyzed. I believed that their Pancrase careers should be considered, and that Pancrase itself should be viewed through the lens of pro wrestling, even if it was mostly a shoot. Some disagreed, and I wanted to build my case in a more thorough way. This blog will serve as a vehicle for that, and I hope it will provide a rich source for information and analysis for those who wish to explore this argument further, or for those who already agree with it.

Yes, I intend to complete this project. When? I can't say exactly. I am in the middle of preparing to apply to law school, and while I hope the LSAT is behind me for good, there is always a chance I will need to take it again this summer, and that could interfere with the initial pace of this project. Law school applications will, of course, take time as well, but I hope to make a new post every other week, if not more often. Law school, of course, will be a huge commitment, and this blog might be inactive to a greater degree once I enroll, but I will see things through. Somehow. Eventually. They do say the journey is worth more than the destination, right? 

Feel free to comment along the way, of course! I am open to any feedback, meaningful critique, insight, comments, questions, etc. If you haven't read the introductory essay yet, I would highly encourage you to do so. It's a long read, but I think it's worth it!

“We’re not the 17th wrestling group in Japan, we’re the first to use this style.”


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