ChocoPro, first established as Bangkok Girls Pro Wrestling (BKK Pro), is a Thai-Japanese joshi puroresu (women's professional wrestling) promotion founded in 2012 by Emi Sakura and Prachapoom "Pumi" Boonyatud. The promotion is known for hosting shows in Tokyo at Ichigaya Chocolate Square, where there is no wrestling ring, but instead a small performing space in the shape of a square.[2] From May 2012 until August 2024, the promotion was known as Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (Japanese: プロレスリング我闘雲舞, Hepburn: Puroresuringu Gatōmūbu, Thai: กาโตห์ มูฟ).
 ChocoPro logo used since August 2024 | |
| Founded |
|
|---|---|
| Style | Joshi puroresu |
| Headquarters | |
| Founder(s) |
|
| Owner(s) | Emi Sakura |
| Formerly | Bangkok Girls Pro Wrestling (BKK Pro) Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (Gatoh Move) |
| Split from | Ice Ribbon |
| Website | gatohmove |
The promotion's previous Japanese language name Gatōmūbu (我闘雲舞, "I, War, Cloud, Dance") written as a yojijukugo, is derived from the Japanese expression "We want to dance above the clouds" (私たちは雲よりも高く舞いたい, Watashitachi wa kumo yori mo takaku maitai), while also evoking the French word "gâteau" (French for "cake") and the English word "move".[3]
History
editEarly history (2012–2019)
editOn January 7, 2012, Emi Sakura, founder of Ice Ribbon, departed the promotion and traveled to Thailand.[4][5] While in Thailand, Emi Sakura met Prachapoom "Pumi" Boonyatud, a long-time wrestling fan. By meeting Boonyatud, Sakura learned that there were many fans of professional wrestling in Thailand, which led to the two creating Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (Gatoh Move) in February 2012. Originally, the promotion was named Bangkok Girls Pro Wrestling (BKK Pro), but was re-branded as Gatoh Move in May 2012.
In March 2016, Gatoh Move introduced their first non-IWA Japan branded championship, the Asia Dream Tag Team Championship, with Mizuki and Saki being crowned the inaugural champions on March 26. There have been ten tag team champions since 2016, with Calamari Drunken Kings (Chris Brookes and Masahiro Takanashi) being the current titleholders.[6] On September 22, 2017, Gatoh Move crowned their first Super Asia Champion, when Riho defeated "Kotori" in the finals of a tournament to become the inaugural champion.[7][8] Riho left Gatoh Move in June 2019, while reigning as the inaugural Super Asia Champion.[9] This left the championship vacant until a new champion was crowned in 2021.
In November 2019, Gatoh Move held its final show in Thailand, while still remaining active in Japan.
Launch of ChocoPro and name change (2020–present)
editIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in Japan, Gatoh Move began airing a YouTube exclusive show, ChocoPro, on March 29, 2020, with Minoru Suzuki wrestling against Baliyan Akki in the main event of the inaugural episode.[10][11]
In February 2021, Emi Sakura and Mei Suruga represented Gatoh Move in the Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), however, neither managed to win the tournament.[12][13] On March 22, 2021, the Super Asia Championship was revived during the 99th episode of ChocoPro, where a championship match between Minoru Fujita and Baliyan Akki was announced for day 2 of the 100th Show Anniversary of ChocoPro on March 28.[14] At ChocoPro 100 day 2, Fujita won the title.[15]
On August 31, 2024, during the For The Future event, Emi Sakura announced that Gatoh Move would be renamed to ChocoPro, adopting the name of the promotion's YouTube program.
Roster
editCurrent wrestlers
edit| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baliyan Akki[16] | Ankur Baliyan | |
| Chie Koishikawa[17] | Unknown | Asia Dream Tag Team Champion |
| Choun Shiryu | Unknown | |
| Chris Brookes | Chris Brookes | Signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling |
| Emi Sakura[18] | Emi Motokawa | Founder/owner of ChocoPro Signed to All Elite Wrestling |
| Erii Kanae[19] | Unknown | |
| Hagane Shinno | Yuki Yagi | |
| Kaho Hiromi | Unknown | |
| Masahiro Takanashi | Masahiro Takanashi | Signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling |
| Mei Suruga[20] | Unknown | Super Asia Champion |
| Minoru Fujita | Unknown | |
| Miya Yotsuba[21] | Unknown | |
| Mizuki | Mizuki Kaminade | Signed to Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling |
| Nonoka Seto[22] | Unknown | |
| Saki | Saki Watanabe | Freelancer |
| Sayaka[23] | Unknown | |
| Sayaka Obihiro[24] | Unknown | Asia Dream Tag Team Champion |
| Shin Suzuki | Kokoro Suzuki | |
| Tokiko Kirihara[25] | Unknown |
Alumni
edit| Ring name | Real name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ancham | Unknown | |
| Aoi Kizuki | Unknown | |
| Hanako Nakamori | Hanako Kobayashi | |
| Mitsuru Konno | Unknown | Left Gatoh Move on January 29, 2021[26] |
| Kotori | Unknown | |
| Lulu Pencil[27] | Syuka Yamada | Inactive since August 8, 2021 |
| Mizuki | Unknown | |
| Riho | Unknown | Left Gatoh Move in June 2019[9] |
| Rin Rin | Unknown | Left Gatoh Move on July 20, 2021[28] |
| Saki | Saki Watanabe | |
| Sayuri | Unknown | Left Gatoh Move on December 30, 2023[29] |
| Waka Tsukiyama | Unknown | |
| Yuna Mizumori | Unknown | Left Gatoh Move on September 29, 2022[30] |
Championships
editCurrent
editAs of December 1, 2024:
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held |
Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Asia Championship | Mei Suruga | 1 | August 31, 2024 | 92+ | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Emi Sakura at Gatoh Move For The Future. | |
| Asia Dream Tag Team Championship | Popcorn Carnival (Chie Koishikawa and Sayaka Obihiro) |
1 (1, 2) |
August 31, 2024 | 92+ | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Buribato (Mizuki and Saki) at Gatoh Move For The Future. | |
Retired
edit| Championship | Last champion(s) | Reign | Date retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWA Triple Crown Championship | Emi Sakura | 4 | August 5, 2017 | Deactivated when Sakura returned the championship to IWA Japan. |
Tournaments
edit| Tournament | Last winner | Last held | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Of A Kind Tag League | Saki and Yuna Mizumori | July 17, 2021 | Tag Team | Defeated Melt Brain Dancing (Chango and Psycho) in the finals.[31] |
| Go Go! Green Curry Khob Khun Cup | Riho and Hikaru Sato | May 1, 2019 | Tag Team | Defeated Ringo to Hachimitsu (Mei Suruga and Antonio Honda) in the finals.[32] |
References
edit- ^ a b Sutter, Robbie (January 3, 2020). "Gatoh Move - A Brief History of". ProWrestlingPost.com.
- ^ Pratt, Emily (April 14, 2020). "'The Gatoh Move Experience' Showcases The World's Most Joyful Pro Wrestling". Pro Wrestling Uproxx.
- ^ バンコク女子プロレスニュース!正式名称が「我闘雲舞」に決定&MBKファイトで試合披露 他 [Bangkok Women's Wrestling news! Official name "Gatoh Move" to be announced & matches to be showcased at MBK Fight, and more]. thaich.net (in Japanese). May 20, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ 【選手情報】1.7でさくらえみが退団. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). December 14, 2011. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- ^ ｱｲｽﾘﾎﾞﾝ仙台大会「仙台ﾘﾎﾞﾝ」. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- ^ Sutter, Robbie (December 30, 2020). "#AndNEW: Best Bros Win the Asia Dream Tag Team Championship". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
- ^ 我闘雲舞5周年記念大会 〜みんなと一緒に6年目〜 2017年9月22日 新宿Face. Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ^ 日本一可愛くて若いアイドルベテランレスラーが初代アジア王者へ!. Battle News (in Japanese). September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
- ^ a b Michael, Casey (March 13, 2019). "Riho To Leave Gatoh Move". Squared Circle Sirens. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ ChocoProLIve! #1 'Baliyan Akki VS Minoru Suzuki' [Part 1], retrieved 2021-11-05
- ^ Sutter, Robbie (2020-05-26). "Preview: Gatoh Move ChocoPro #17 (5/27/20)". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ^ Powell, Jason (February 15, 2021). "2/15 AEW Women's Championship Eliminator tournament results: Powell's live review of Yuka Sakazaki vs. Mei Suruga, Veny vs. Emi Sakura, Maki Itoh vs. Ryo Mizunami, and Aja Kong vs. Rin Kadokura in first round matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Powell, Jason (February 22, 2021). "2/22 AEW Women's Championship Eliminator tournament results: Powell's live review of Yuka Sakazaki vs. Emi Sakura and Aja Kong vs. Ryo Mizunami in second-round Japan bracket matches, Tay Conti vs. Nyla Rose and Britt Baker vs. Madi Wrenkowski in U.S. bracket first-round matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "Singles Match Set for Vacant Super Asia Championship!". Gatoh Move Twitter.
- ^ "New Champion Crowned on Day 2 of Chocopro #100!". TDE Wrestling Twitter.
- ^ Edwards, Scott (March 27, 2021). "ChocoPro Origins: An Exclusive Interview with Gatoh Move's Baliyan Akki". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ "小石川チエ". gatohmove.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 4, 2023.
- ^ "さくらえみ". gatohmove.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 4, 2023.
- ^ gtmv (2024-03-12). "3/13（水）我闘雲舞 新木場大会「Road to Korakuen - Sakura Days」！アジアドリームタッグ選手権4way！ミヤvs瑞希！アントンvsMAO！CDKvsガイア＆レッカ！奏衣エリーデビュー！". プロレスリング我闘雲舞 / Pro Wrestling Gatoh Move - ChocoPro (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "駿河メイ". gatohmove.com (in Japanese).
- ^ "四ツ葉ミヤ". プロレスリング我闘雲舞 / Pro Wrestling Gatoh Move - ChocoPro (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ gtmv (2023-06-27). "7/5(水)我闘雲舞新木場大会「ウチはココでデビューするんよ!」の全カード決定!". プロレスリング我闘雲舞 / Pro Wrestling Gatoh Move - ChocoPro (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "沙也加". gatohmove.com (in Japanese).
- ^ "帯広さやか". gatohmove.com (in Japanese).
- ^ "桐原季子". gatohmove.com (in Japanese).
- ^ "ChocoProLIVE! #85 Mitsuru Graduation Ceremony". YouTube.
- ^ "ルルペンシル". gatohmove.com (in Japanese).
- ^ Sutter, Robbie (July 20, 2021). "Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling Announces Departure of Rin Rin". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ dogglesnake (2023-12-06). "Gatoh Move: Sayuri, who has been absent due to health problems since January of this year and has been making efforts to recover, will graduate from professional wrestling on December 30. Thank you for supporting Sayuri and all this way". r/SquaredCircle. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ Thompson, Andrew (September 22, 2022). "Yuna Mizumori leaving Gatoh Move, final show on 9/29". POST Wrestling. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ Sutter, Robbie (July 19, 2021). "Reflecting on ChocoPro's First One of a Kind Tag League". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ 第7回ゴーゴーグリーンカレーコップンカップ〜Gatoh-Move Japan Tour・424〜 2019年5月1日 板橋グリーンホール. Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling. May 2, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
External links
edit- ChocoPro official website (in Japanese)
- ChocoPro's channel on YouTube