Oz Academy

Oz Academy
Acronym Oz
Founded June 21, 1998[1]
Style Joshi puroresu
Hardcore wrestling
Headquarters Shinjuku, Tokyo[1]
Founder(s) Mayumi Ozaki[1]
Website Oz-A.com

Oz Academy (OZアカデミー OZ Akademi) is a Japanese joshi puroresu or female professional wrestling promotion founded by Mayumi Ozaki. The promotion's full official name is Oz Academy Women's Professional Wrestling (OZアカデミー女子プロレス OZ Akademi Joshi Puroresu).[1] In addition to the contracted members of the roster, Oz Academy also employs some of the top freelancers in all of joshi puroresu, including Hiroyo Matsumoto, Manami Toyota and Tomoka Nakagawa. The promotion has a television deal with Gaora, which airs Oz Academy events Saturdays as part of the "Puroresu King" program.[2]

History

Oz Academy founder Mayumi Ozaki

While working in the Gaea Japan promotion in mid-90s, Ozaki formed the villainous Oz Academy stable with Chikayo Nagashima, Rieko Amano and Sugar Sato, eventually opening a training school under the same name.[3] Oz Academy eventually started promoting sporadic independent events, featuring members of the stable and Ozaki's trainees, with the first event held on June 21, 1998.[1] Following the folding of Gaea Japan in 2005, Ozaki turned Oz Academy into a full promotion with a full schedule of approximately one to two events per month, while also recruiting veteran wrestlers Aja Kong, Dynamite Kansai and Sonoko Kato to serve as the backbone of the promotion.[1][4][5] Oz Academy remained without championships for nearly nine years, before introducing the Oz Academy Openweight Championship in March 2007 and the Oz Academy Tag Team Championship in July 2008.[6][7]

Mayumi Ozaki has always been a focal point of Oz Academy events and storylines, with different variations of her original Oz Academy stable trying to dominate and keep themselves on top of the promotion. The stable has gone under many different names, including D-Fix,[8] Ozaki-gun,[9] Ozaki-gundan,[10] and currently, Seikigun.[11] At the end of each year, Oz Academy allows its fans to vote on different awards, including MVP of the Year, Singles Match of the Year and Tag Team Match of the Year, which are then presented to the winners at the "Best Wizard" award ceremony.[12] Oz Academy is based in Shinjuku, Tokyo and holds most of its events in Shinjuku Face.[1][4] The promotion itself considers the formation of the stable in August 1996 as its starting point and celebrated its 15th anniversary on August 21, 2011.[3][13]

Roster

Wrestlers

width:15%;"|Ring name width:15%;"|Real name width:20%;"|Notes
Aja Kong Shishido, ErikaErika Shishido[14]
Akino Akino, MikaMika Akino[15] Freelancer
Chikayo Nagashima Nagashima, ChikayoChikayo Nagashima[16]
Dynamite Kansai Suzuki, ChiekoChieko Suzuki[17]
Hikaru Shida Shida, HikaruHikaru Shida[18] Freelancer
Hiroyo Matsumoto Matsumoto, HiroyoHiroyo Matsumoto[19] Inactive; knee injury
S-Ovation
Kagetsu Yukari Ishino[20] Oz Academy Tag Team Champion
Freelancer
Kaho Kobayashi Kaho Kobayashi[21] Oz Academy Tag Team Champion
Asuka Project/Pro Wrestling Wave
Kyusei Sakura Hirota Unknown Freelancer
Manami Toyota Toyota, ManamiManami Toyota[22] Freelancer
Mayumi Ozaki Ozaki, MayumiMayumi Ozaki[23] Inactive; knee injury
Shirai, MioMio Shirai Unknown[24] Signed to four-way joint contract with Ice Ribbon, Pro Wrestling Wave and Union Pro
Miyako Matsumoto Matsumoto, MiyakoMiyako Matsumoto[25] Gake no Fuchi Puroresu
Sonoko Kato Kato, SonokoSonoko Kato[26]
Tsubasa Kuragaki Kuragaki, YasukoYasuko Kuragaki[27] Oz Academy Openweight Champion
Freelancer
Yumi Ohka Abe, YumikoYumiko Abe[28] Pro Wrestling Wave

Non-wrestlers

width:15%;"|Ring name width:15%;"|Real name width:20%;"|Notes
Mika Nishio Mika Nishio[29] Manager of Seikigun
Police Unknown[30] Manager of Seikigun
Ring Ana Nakamura Hiroyuki Nakamura[31] Ring announcer
Sayuri Kokushō Koda, SayuriSayuri Koda Occasional manager of Seikigun
Sachiko Ito Sachiko Ito[32] Referee

Notable alumni

width:15%;"|Ring name width:15%;"|Real name width:20%;"|Notes
Ayumi Kurihara Kurihara, AyumiAyumi Kurihara[33] Retired August 4, 2013
Carlos Amano Amano, RiekoRieko Amano[34] Retired August 17, 2014
Devil Masami Yoshida, MasamiMasami Yoshida[35] Retired December 30, 2008
Hiren Yurie Kaneko[36] Retired November 8, 2011
Kaori Nakayama Kaori Nakayama[37] Retired October 23, 2002
Kaoru Maeda, KaoruKaoru Maeda[38]
Nao Komatsu Nao Komatsu[39] Injured on December 9, 2012
Ran Yu-Yu Miyaguchi, TomokoTomoko Miyaguchi[40] Retired December 9, 2012
Rie Rie Nakamura
Sugar Sato Toshie Sato[41] Retired June 26, 2005
Takako Inoue Inoue, TakakoTakako Inoue[42]
Tomoka Nakagawa Nakagawa, TomokaTomoka Nakagawa[43] Retired December 4, 2014

Championships

Championship Current champion(s) Date won Previous champion(s)
Oz Academy Openweight Championship Tsubasa Kuragaki October 13, 2014 Akino
Oz Academy Tag Team Championship Mission K4
(Kagetsu and Kaho Kobayashi) 		March 1, 2015 Ozakura Princess
(Kyusei Sakura Hirota and Mayumi Ozaki)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Ozアカデミー女子プロレス". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  2. ↑ "プロレスKing". Gaora (in Japanese). Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ozアカデミー". Gaea Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Event". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  5. ↑ アジャコング選手の電撃入団につきまして. Oz Academy (in Japanese). November 1, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Ozベルト設立の理由について". Oz Academy (in Japanese). October 23, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  7. ↑ "「～The Wizard of Oz～　Ozアカデミー認定タッグ選手権」トーナメントについて". Oz Academy (in Japanese). November 1, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  8. ↑ "2007/08/16（木）　 Oz後楽園大会　18:30～". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Oz大阪大会　17:30～　「Good☆day@大阪」". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 19, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  10. ↑ "2009/02/05 Oz新宿大会　対戦全カード". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  11. ↑ "2011/09/23(金) 12:00～「Stand By My Woman」". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  12. ↑ "2011年ファンが選んだ Best Wizard". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  13. ↑ "2011/08/21(日) 16:00～「ﾌﾟﾗﾑの花咲くOzの国2011 Yokohama Dreams Park」". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  14. ↑ アジャコング. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Akino". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  16. ↑ 永島千佳世. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  17. ↑ ダイナマイト関西. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  18. ↑ 志田光. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  19. ↑ 松本浩代. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  20. ↑ プロフィール. Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  21. ↑ 小林 香萌. Pro Wrestling Wave (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  22. ↑ 豊田真奈美. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  23. ↑ 尾崎魔弓. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  24. ↑ 紫雷美央. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Miyako Matsumoto". Puroresu Central. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  26. ↑ 加藤園子. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  27. ↑ 倉垣翼. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  28. ↑ 桜花由美. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  29. ↑ 西尾美香. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  30. ↑ ポリス. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  31. ↑ 中村ﾘﾝｸﾞｱﾅ. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  32. ↑ 伊東幸子. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  33. ↑ 栗原あゆみ. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  34. ↑ カルロス天野. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Devil Masami". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  36. ↑ 悲恋. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Kaori Nakayama". Sherdog. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Kaoru". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  39. ↑ 小松奈央. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  40. ↑ 輝優優. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  41. ↑ シュガー佐藤. Gaea Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 28, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  42. ↑ 井上貴子. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  43. ↑ 中川ともか. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.

External links