puroresu

Puroresu is a Japanese term referring to professional wrestling in Japan and abroad. It is a loanword that stems from the Japanese pronunciation of "professional wrestling", which is abbreviated in Japanese to puro and resu.

Puroresu grew out of American professional wrestling but has become a separate entity based on Japanese culture that is distinct in its psychology, presentation, and function. It is treated much more like a legitimate competition, with fewer theatrics, and storylines are often focused on a wrestler's "fighting spirit" and perseverance. Professional wrestling in Japan led to the development of shoot wrestling and has been closely related to mixed martial arts, starting with Shooto and Pancrase, organizations which predate the UFC, and has influenced subsequent promotions such as Fighting Network Rings and Pride Fighting Championships. There is more overlap between professional wrestling and mixed martial arts in Japan than any other country.