![Zen-Nihon Pro Wrestling [Model SHVC-JP] screenshot](images/game/62666_2.png "Zen-Nihon Pro Wrestling [Model SHVC-JP]")
Zen-Nihon Pro Wrestling © 1993 Masaya
Zen-Nihon Pro Wrestling is the inaugural video game to feature the official license of the All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW) promotion. The game provides a robust simulation of the promotion's competitive landscape, allowing players to vie for the Triple Crown Championship and World Tag Team Championship, or participate in the annual Champion Carnival and World's Strongest Tag Determination League tournaments. It is noted for its accessible gameplay, including a dedicated tutorial mode hosted by AJPW founder Giant Baba, and a "Team Battle" mode that thematically pits the veteran "Old Guard" against the rising "Super Generation" stars.
GAME ID: SHVC-JP
BARCODE: 4988616008046
Released in July 16, 1993 in Japan. This release is historically significant as the first time the AJPW brand was officially licensed for a home console video game, setting the stage for a long-running series on the Super Famicom.
Promotion History: All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW) was founded by Shohei Giant Baba on October 21, 1972. It quickly grew into one of the most respected and influential puroresu (professional wrestling) promotions in history, known for its "King's Road" style.
The Roster: The game features 16 wrestlers who were active within the promotion at the time: Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, Mitsuharu Misawa, Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue, Kenta Kobashi, Masanobu Fuchi, Yoshinari Ogawa, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Rusher Kimura, Stan Hansen, Terry Gordy, Dan Spivey, Steve Williams, The Patriot, and Johnny Ace.
Narrative Context: The "Old Guard vs. Super Generation" mode highlights a pivotal era in AJPW history, where the company’s veteran wrestlers were being challenged by a younger, high-energy core (led by Misawa and Kawada), a dynamic that drove the promotion's massive popularity in the 1990s.