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 Tomoka Inaba 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]
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]
The King of JTO is a professional wrestlingchampionship serving as the top accomplishment of JTO's male division. There have been a total of nine reigns shared between seven different champions. The current title holder is Keita who is in his first reign.
The JTO Openweight Championship is a professional wrestlingchampionship serving as the secondary title of JTO's male division. There have been a total of three reigns shared between three different wrestlers. The current champion is Genta Yubari who is in his first reign.
The JTO Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestlingtag teamchampionship serving as the male division's tag titles. There have been a total of two reigns ahared between two different teams consisting of four distinctive champions. The current titleholders are Ara and Naoya Akama who are in their first reign as a team as well as individually.
Key
No.
Overall reign number
Reign
Reign number for the specific team—reign numbers for the individuals are in parentheses, if different
The Queen of JTO Championship is the female's top accomplishment of JTO. There have been a total of eight reigns shared between five different champions. The current title holder is Aoi who is in her second reign.
The JTO Girls Championship is the secondary accomplishment of JTO. There have been a total of four reigns shared between four different champions. The current title holder is Yuu Yamagata who is in her first reign.