JTO (also known as Professional Wrestling Just Tap Out) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned by Taka Michinoku.[1] The promotion places an emphasis on a unique style of puroresu that combines high-flying wrestling, technical wrestling and various martial arts. Most matches are held under submission-only rules.
The promotion was founded by Michinoku after his previous promotion, Kaientai Dojo (now Active Advance Pro Wrestling) dismissed him after he was involved in scandal caused by an extramarital affair.[2][3] JTO held their first show on July 8, 2019 in Korakuen Hall.[4]
Unlike most professional wrestling promotions, their top honor isn't a championship, instead wrestlers who are officially signed to the promotion compete in tournaments and ranking matches under JTO rules, with the top ranking ("King of JTO" for men and "Queen of JTO" for women) considered the highest honor.[5] Those honors are currently held by Ryuya Takekura and Aoi respectively.
The promotion holds partnerships with various other promotions from the Japanese wrestling scene such as World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom). Tomoka Inaba and Aoi are two of JTO's wrestlers who appeared in several events promoted by Stardom such as New Blood 1 and New Blood 2.[6][7]
Roster
Current rankings
Wrestlers compete in three separate rankings under JTO rules: the JTO Ranking, the JTO J2 Ranking and the JTO Girls Ranking. The JTO Ranking is the primary ranking for male wrestlers, with the highest ranked wrestler crowned King of JTO. The JTO J2 Ranking is a secondary ranking in which matches are fought under slightly different rules (2 lost points before a TKO instead of 3). The JTO Girls Ranking is the primary ranking for female wrestlers, with the highest ranked wrestler crowned Queen of JTO.
As of January 2024[update], the rankings are as follows.[8][9]
Defeated Naoya Akama in a battle royal also involving ARA, Arata, Blazer Tanni, Kensuke, Maxi, Mizuna and Mr. Mask at JTO Michinoku The Super Best 2024. Yanagawa became the first female wrestler to win the title.
The King of JTO is the top accomplishment of JTO. There have been a total of eight reigns shared between six different champions. The current title holder is Fire Katsumi who is in his first reign.
The Queen of JTO Championship is the female's top accomplishment of JTO. There have been a total of seven reigns shared between five different champions. The current title holder is Tomoka Inaba who is in her third reign.
The JTO Openweight Championship is the secondary accomplishment of JTO. There have been a total of two reigns shared between two different wrestlers. The current champion is Gladio who is in his first reign.
The JTO Girls Championship is the secondary accomplishment of JTO. There have been a total of three reigns shared between three different champions. The current title holder is Aoi who is in her second reign.
^"9・27JTOHouse試合結果 │ JUST TAP OUT 公式サイト". pwjto.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-12.
^Richards, Alex (March 11, 2022). "Miyu Amasaki Joins Queen's Quest". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
^World Wonder Ring Stardom (April 20, 2022). [New series 2nd] 5/13 "FIBREPLEX presents NEW BLOOD 2" decided !!. stardom.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 20, 2022.
^JTO [@JUST_TAP_OUT] (December 21, 2023). "JUST TAP OUT Official Ranking] (as of December 2023)" 【JUST TAP OUT公式ランキング】(2023.11月現在) (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved January 7, 2024 – via Twitter.
^JTOガールズランキング [JTO Girls Ranking]. Syu-Kaku Kombu (in Japanese). January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
^ abcdKreikenbohm, Philip (March 1, 2024). "JTO". cagematch.net. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
^"QUEEN of JTO". Syu-Kaku Kombu (in Japanese). January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
^JTOガールズ選手権. Syu-Kaku Kombu (in Japanese). January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 10, 2024). "JTO Michinoku The Super Best 2024". cagematch.net. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
^Daly, Wayne (October 17, 2020). "JTO Results: House – Tokyo, Japan (10/16)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^Daly, Wayne (September 2, 2021). "JTO Results: Yume – Tokyo, Japan (9/2)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ abDaly, Wayne (November 18, 2021). "JTO Results: Itadaki – Tokyo, Japan (11/18)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^Dark Angel (March 15, 2022). "JTO: "JTO Tournament 2022" Ryuya Takekura is the winner". superluchas.com. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 4, 2022). "JTO Ran". cagematch.net. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 9, 2023). "JTO". cagematch.net. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
^Daly, Wayne (July 17, 2023). "JTO Results: 4th Anniversary Show – Tokyo, Japan (7/17)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^Daly, Wayne (December 6, 2020). "JTO Results: Girls – Warabi, Japan (12/6)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^Dark angel (July 13, 2021). "JTO: «Just Tap Out 2nd Anniversary» Tomoka Inaba wins the Queen of JTO". superluchas.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 5, 2022). "JTO". cagematch.net. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 23, 2023). "JTO". cagematch.net. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
^ abJTO (November 10, 2023). 大会名:JTO後楽園ホール大会. prowrestlingjto.com (in Japanese). Retrieved November 10, 2023.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 10, 2023). "JTO J1 League & GIRLS League - Tag 6". cagematch.net. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
^ abKreikenbohm, Philip (January 7, 2024). "JTO Girls Special". cagematch.net. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
^Black, Ethan (November 10, 2023). "JTO J1 League & Girls League 2023 Night 6 Results – November 10, 2023". pwmania.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 10, 2024). "JTO Michinoku The Super Best 2024". cagematch.net. Retrieved May 12, 2024.