International Wrestling Enterprise

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International Wrestling Enterprise

Acronym	IWE
Founded	October 1966
Defunct	September 30, 1981
Headquarters	Harada Building, 2-14-2, Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Founder(s)	Isao Yoshihara
Parent	Tokyo Broadcasting System
Split from	Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance
Successor	IWA Kakutō Shijuku/International Wrestling Promotion (unofficial)

International Wrestling Enterprise (国際プロレス, Kokusai Puroresu)^[a] was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1966 to 1981.^[1] Founded by Isao Yoshihara, it was affiliated with the American Wrestling Association in the United States and also had tie-ins with promotions in Canada^[2] and Europe. In 1972, it became the first Japanese promotion to bring European wrestler André the Giant to the country.^[3] The promotion cooperated with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and later, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW);^[4] the three promotions later came together for an interpromotional event, organized by Tokyo Sports, held at Budokan Hall on August 26, 1979.^[5]

When IWE closed its doors in 1981,^[6] Inoue, Hara, Tsurumi, and Fuyuki joined AJPW, while Kimura, Hamaguchi and Teranishi joined NJPW as a stable that formed the first "invasion" angle in history, later copied by the Japanese UWF, Japan Pro-Wrestling, and the nWo in WCW in America. The promotion is also credited for making Rusher Kimura a major star in Japanese Puroresu and holding Japan's first steel cage match.^[3] Isao Yoshihara eventually became a booker in New Japan, until his death in 1985.

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