NJPW Roster in 1988: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions
On this page you find the full NJPW Roster in the year 1988. This includes the list of all NJPW Wrestlers, active Tag Teams & Stables, the current reigning Champions, as well as Managers, Announcers, Authority figures, Producers and other personalities in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Our complete Pro Wrestlers Database allows you to travel through time and see the NJPW Roster by Year or any specific Date in history. Simply use the filters below! You even have the option to view a breakdown of the rosters split by Face and Heel divisions.
![NJPW Logo 1988 NJPW Logo 1988](/images/wrestling/promotions/white/njpw.png)
NJPW: All (48)
![Adrian Adonis Adrian Adonis](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/adrian-adonis-1987.png)
![Akira Maeda Akira Maeda](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/akira-maeda-1987.png)
![Akira Nogami Akira Nogami](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/akira-nogami-1984.png)
![The American Ninja The American Ninja](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/c/crush-1987.png)
![Antonio Inoki Antonio Inoki](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/a/antonio-inoki-1984.png)
![Bad News Brown Bad News Brown](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/bad-news-brown.png)
![Bam Bam Bigelow Bam Bam Bigelow](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/bam-bam-bigelow.png)
![Big Van Vader Big Van Vader](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/v/vader-1987-big-van-veder.png)
![Black Cat Black Cat](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/black-cat-1983.png)
![Black Tiger Black Tiger](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/black-tiger-i.png)
![The Blue Blazer The Blue Blazer](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/o/owen-hart-1988-the-blue-blazer.png)
![Bob Orton Bob Orton](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/bob-orton-1984.png)
![Buzz Sawyer Buzz Sawyer](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/b/buzz-sawyer-apr-11-1987.png)
![Dick Murdoch Dick Murdoch](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_d_dick-murdoch-1984.webp)
![Don Arakawa Don Arakawa](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/d/don-arakawa-1985.png)
![Great Kokina Great Kokina](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/y/yokozuna-1984-great-kokina.png)
![Hidekazu Tanaka Hidekazu Tanaka](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_k_kero-tanaka-1980.webp)
![Hiro Saito Hiro Saito](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hiro-saito-2.png)
![Hiroshi Hase Hiroshi Hase](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hiroshi-hase-3.png)
![Hisashi Shinma Hisashi Shinma](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/h/hisashi-shinma-1983.png)
![Kantaro Hoshino Kantaro Hoshino](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kantaro-hoshino-1986.png)
![Keiichi Yamada Keiichi Yamada](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_j_jushin-thunder-liger-1987.webp)
![Kendo Nagasaki Kendo Nagasaki](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_k_kazuo-sakurada-kendo-nagasaki-1982.webp)
![Kengo Kimura Kengo Kimura](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_k_kengo-kimura-1986.webp)
![Kensuke Sasaki Kensuke Sasaki](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kensuke-sasaki-1990.png)
![Kerry von Erich Kerry von Erich](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kerry-von-erich.png)
![Kuniaki Kobayashi Kuniaki Kobayashi](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/k/kuniaki-kobayashi-1982.png)
![Masaharu Funaki Masaharu Funaki](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_m_masakatsu-funaki-1985.webp)
![Masahiro Chono Masahiro Chono](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/m/masahiro-chono-1987.png)
![Minoru Suzuki Minoru Suzuki](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/m/minoru-suzuki-1.png)
![Mr. Pogo Mr. Pogo](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_m_mr-pogo-1985.webp)
![Nobuhiko Takada Nobuhiko Takada](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_n_nobuhiko-takada-1984.webp)
![Norio Honaga Norio Honaga](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/n/norio-honaga-2.png)
![Osamu Kido Osamu Kido](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/o/osamu-kido-1986.png)
![Osamu Matsuda Osamu Matsuda](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_e_el-samurai-1986.webp)
![The Pirate The Pirate](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/m/masa-saito-1987.png)
![Riki Choshu Riki Choshu](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/r/riki-choshu-1980s.png)
![Scott Hall Scott Hall](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/scott-hall-1984.png)
![Seiji Sakaguchi Seiji Sakaguchi](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/seiji-sakaguchi-1979.png)
![Shinya Hashimoto Shinya Hashimoto](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/shinya-hashimoto-2.png)
![Shiro Koshinaka Shiro Koshinaka](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/shiro-koshinaka-1986.png)
![Steve R. Blackman Steve R. Blackman](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/steve-blackman-1986.png)
![Steve Williams Steve Williams](/images/jch-optimize/ng/images_wrestling_wrestlers_s_steve-williams-1988.webp)
![Super Strong Machine Super Strong Machine](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/s/super-strong-machine-5.png)
![Takayuki Iizuka Takayuki Iizuka](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/takashi-iizuka-1987.png)
![Tatsumi Fujinami Tatsumi Fujinami](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tatsumi-fujinami-1980.png)
![Tatsutoshi Goto Tatsutoshi Goto](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/t/tatsutoshi-goto-1986.png)
![Yoshiaki Fujiwara Yoshiaki Fujiwara](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/y/yoshiaki-fujiwara-1984.png)
Teams
Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami
Golden Combi
Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami
Champions
IWGP Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Tatsumi Fujinami
Defeated Riki Choshu to win the vacant title. | 190+
|
![]() | Vacant
The title was held up after a defense against Riki Choshu ended in a no contest. | 28
| |
![]() | Tatsumi Fujinami
Defeated Big Van Vader to win the vacant title. | 19
| |
![]() | Vacant
The title was vacated due to Inoki fracturing his left foot. | 6
| |
![]() | Antonio Inoki
Defeated Masa Saito in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion. | 325
|
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Shiro Koshinaka
| 190+
|
![]() | The Blue Blazer
| 28
| |
![]() | Hiroshi Hase
| 152
|
IWGP Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() ![]() | Riki Choshu & The Pirate
| 204+
|
![]() ![]() | Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami
| 144
| |
![]() | Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kazuo Yamazaki
| 139
|
WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Antonio Inoki
The WWWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship was created for a partnership between WWWF and NJPW, and was awarded by Vincent J. McMahon to Inoki for his achievements in matches against fighters from other combat sports. During this reigns the title changes name to WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship. | 3666+
|
Extras
Ring Announcer
Promoters
Referees
Producers
Coaches
Ambassador
The profile of each NJPW wrestler features their Career History, Ring Names, Face / Heel Turns, Accomplishments, Pictures, Bio and more information and statistics.
Also, check out these useful articles we put together:
- Today in Pro Wrestling History: Events, Births, Titles and more
- Most Appearances in WWE Games Main Series: Top 50 Wrestlers
- Top 50 Wrestlers With Most Video Game Appearances
- List of Current Pro Wrestling Champions in WWE, AEW, TNA, NJPW & more
- List of Current Pro Wrestling Tag Teams & Stables
- Top 50 Tallest Wrestlers of All Time | Wrestler Heights List
- Top 50 Heaviest Wrestlers of All Time: List Ranked by Weight
- List of Current Youngest Wrestlers in WWE, AEW, TNA, NJPW & more
- List of WWE Superstars Releases by Year: All Wrestlers & Dates
- Wrestling Obituaries: List of Recent Wrestler Deaths
- Wrestlers Birthdays: Full List Sorted by Month and Age
- Wrestlers Real Names: Full List for WWE, AEW, Legends and more
- Wrestlers Entrance Themes: WWE & AEW Theme Songs List
- Pro Wrestlers Finishers: List of WWE & AEW Finishing Moves
- Pro Wrestling Hall of Fames: Full List of Members & Inductees
- Pro Wrestlers Database: All Current Wrestlers, Alumni & Legends
- WWE Current Roster by Brand (Raw, SmackDown, NXT)